A pioneering reform of churches across Cumbria could pave the way for a national restructure of the house of God.

The countywide strategy, known as God For All, aims to bring together all Methodist, United Reformed and Church of England churches in Cumbria by 2020.

By reorganising churches into groups known as mission communities, the Diocese of Carlisle aims to reinvent the church and reach out to all Christians. It hopes to give everyone the chance to discover God, as well as those who regularly attend church.

The Right Reverend Robert Freeman, Bishop of Penrith, said: “My hope is that God For All will mean new vitality coming into churches.

“Part of God For All is helping people who have been part of church life for some time discover where they might fit into the work of church life.”

The adventurous programme aims to see mission communities created in every part of the county by 2020. There will be about 40 to 50 communities in total, although the speed of their creation will depend on the area.

The process will see churches group together to plan and pray, drawing on each other’s strengths and learning from each other. Bishop Robert explained how the pioneering initiative has sparked interest across the UK.

“Across the country, other areas are looking at what we’re doing here as a model of how they may need to adapt,” he said.

“There’s quite a number of other Church of England Dioceses which are looking at us and picking up on our story and plans.”

The first mission community of Binsey, made up of 12 Anglican churches and a Methodist chapel across a 250 sq mile area, was officially established last week, three years after plans for it began.

It consists of 11 rural parishes, including Bassenthwaite, Embleton, Ireby, Plumbland and Torpenhow, and will be led by the Reverend Tricia Rogers.

God For All encourages each church to form its own leadership, rather than relying on a vicar or minister.

There has been a decline in the number of paid clergy available, not just in Cumbria but across the country.

Although 1,000 people are ordained every year into the Church of England, recruitment is not sufficient and is being outweighed by the number of retirements.

The reform is also a push for churches to think about better ways of connecting with their local community and to help people outside the church discover more about God.

Bishop Robert said: “It’s not just how can we help churches on Sunday develop and go on, but how can we help the mission of the church – what you do outside the church to be stronger. That will come out in all sorts of ways.

“You’re stronger by working together, rather than each church trying to do it’s own thing.”

On the other hand the scheme aims to help Christian people work out what it means to live their life for God. For traditional churchgoers, Bishop Robert explained how the God For All programme is more of a reinvention and expansion of the church to make it work for more people, than a replacement of what currently exists with something completely new.

He said older members are starting to realise that the change will benefit their children and grandchildren .

“All the way through history the church has needed to change and adapt,” Bishop Robert said.

He continued: “There are some people who are a bit apprehensive because they’re not sure what a change might mean but they are surprisingly few in number.”