In many ways St Martin-in-the-Fields would like to be a 'normal' church, focused on congregational life, the cycle of the church year and being a good neighbour. But its location and history mean that it is far from being a normal church. The movement that was created to turn the blessings of St Martin's into blessings for church and society more broadly is called HeartEdge.
HeartEdge arose because significant numbers of delegations from the UK and overseas were coming to St Martin's to learn about the features of its life that are transferable and seeking to adapt and replicate them in their own contexts.
This recognition of its national and international vocation led St Martin's in February 2017 to launch a national movement that now has ecumenical and international dimensions.
It seeks the renewal of the church by catalysing kingdom communities. It aims to foster, not to impose; it sees the kingdom as God's gift to renew the church, rather than as a mission-field to be conformed to the church's image; and it sees churches as lively and dynamic communities, rather than defensive and narrow congregations.
Through HeartEdge communities mentor one another, offer consultancy days to one another, and meet in larger gatherings to exchange ideas, encouragement and challenge. It seeks not to create clones of St Martin's, but to become the international embodiment of those committed to the vision to be 'At the heart. On the edge.'
