An update from the management team

For more than 10 years, the Sanctuary and its team of volunteers ran a free online resource library for outward-focused worship, fuelled by a vibrant, creative, daily rhythm of prayer. Our purpose was to inspire, resource and challenge the UK church to a deeper, more heart-felt worship that is both upwardly (Matthew 26:6-13) and outwardly (Isaiah 58:5-12) focused. And to explore how to worship, pray and live in answer to Jesus’ call to love God and others – with all our passion, prayer, energy and intelligence (Luke 10:27, paraphrased from The Message Bible)

This is a vision we still passionately believe in.

the Sanctuary's vision is for unity in the church; justice for the nations; glory to Father, Son and Spirit

However, since Summer 2019, our team has been on extended sabbatical to rest following a particularly difficult season personally. Through this time, we have waited on God for the next steps. In 2021, we made the hard but right decision to put the Sanctuary on long-term hibernation.

As a result, we have now removed our online resource library from the website. Not only would it require a large overhaul given the length of time since we have been actively updating it. But also during our sabbatical, the world has been rocked by the COVID pandemic and none of our resources address this major issue. So it didn’t feel right or loving for us to just leave everything up on the site when so much is either missing or outdated. We will also not be re-establishing our daily rhythm of prayer emails that were put on hold in 2019.

What’s next?

We are continuing to actively wait on God to see whether there’s a right time to re-establish any of our previous activities in the future. And we will update this website with news if and when that happens.

In the meantime… may the Lord bless you and keep you; may he make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; may he turn his face towards you and give you peace. And thank you for all your love, support and prayers for the Sanctuary and its ministry over the years.

“God’s a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you’re never sorry you knocked.”

Psalm 9:9-10 (The Message)