If you attend one of CTE’s Member Churches, want to learn more about Christian unity and are aged 18 to 35 – why not apply?
Or, if you are ‘young at heart’, why not share this opportunity with a young person at your church?
The Bill Snelson Young Ecumenists Fund was set up to allow young Christians to travel outside England to experience churches working together. This experience can be study, pilgrimage, volunteering or any activity that encourages church unity.
Up to £6,000 in grants is available each year.
As we come to the end of the second year of the Fund, we’ve had successful applications to travel to Egypt, Japan, the United States, South Korea and right across Europe. Read about the ecumenical experiences CTE has supported.
In their own words…
Rev Danny Pegg, an Anglican Vicar, visited South Dakota to explore the approaches of different churches and the local community to the ecological issues our planet faces. He said: “I could not have gained the same insight into eco-theology by reading books at home. The Snelson Fund made it possible for me to forge relationships with Christian brothers and sisters abroad and share with them in worship and fellowship. That connection is unparalleled. He added, “If we do not engage in ecumenical work, we do not listen fully to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”
Ellmina Mckenzie is a member of the leadership team at a church in Wolverhampton. After visiting the Taizé community, she said: “My most favourite experience there was worshipping together with all different denominations, cultures, ethnic backgrounds, people from all walks of life. I go to an NTCG church. Our worship is very Pentecostal, charismatic; so having moments of silence was truly insightful.”
Eleanor Datson worships at a Baptist church in Stafford. She used her Snelson Fund grant to go to Berlin for a study trip as part of the inter-denominational M4 Ready church planting course. She said: “I feel this experience has helped clarify my next steps towards becoming the church planter that I believe God is calling me to be. It has put me in touch with invaluable people from whom I can continue to learn and pray with. With God at the heart, I want to move forward in faith and pursue this calling to grow his church here on earth.
How to apply
To apply, visit The Bill Snelson Fund for Young Ecumenists microsite.
Download the guide to The Bill Snelson Fund for Young Ecumenists.
Applications to this round of The Bill Snelson Young Ecumenists Fund need to be submitted by 31 October 2025. The fund will then open for another round of applications in Spring 2026.