#GodAdventureByTheSea
Plymouth has a population of more than 250,000 people including more than 30,000 students.
Only 1% attend an Anglican church and 2% any other.
In 2014 the Bishop of London, Bishop of Exeter and Bishop of Plymouth discussed the possibility of setting up a 'Resource Church' plant in Plymouth.
In early 2015 they approached Holy Trinity Brompton to explore the possibilities of getting the plant up and running.
In October 2015 Olly and Ali Ryder were invited to consider leading the plant. Olly had been reflecting for several months on a particular verse in the Bible - ‘The name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous run into it and they are saved.’ (Proverbs 18:10) They were amazed to discover that this is also the motto for Plymouth.
As they visited the city they discovered another verse of scripture written at the top of Smeaton's Tower, one of Plymouth’s most iconic landmarks - ‘Unless the Lord builds the house the builders labour in vain’ (Psalm 127:1).
They felt God was calling them to lead this new initiative and join with all the other churches in Plymouth and the South West to help everyday people discover and apply these truths to their everyday lives and experience something of the extraordinary grace and goodness of God.
On 22 June 2016 Olly was licensed as Priest-in-Charge of St Matthias Church, North Hill as part of this wider resourcing vision.
The church officially launched on 25 September 2016.