Alive Church

What Alive Church does

Alive Church is a strategic multi-site evangelical church operating seven physical locations across Lincolnshire, England (Gainsborough, Grantham, Horncastle, Lincoln Central, Lincoln North, Lincoln South, and Scunthorpe), with services also streamed via YouTube. The church delivers a full ministry programme including weekly Sunday worship services, Alpha courses for faith exploration, Life Groups for small-group discipleship, student and young adults ministry, and dedicated children and youth programmes (ages 0-18), alongside community outreach projects (e.g., Butterflies women's support, Men's Breakfast, Toddle In, foodbank via Acts Trust). It is a registered UK charity (No. 1140435) and a company limited by guarantee (No. 7494717), governed by a board of Directors/Trustees and led operationally by a 9-member Lead Team under Lead Pastor Howard Williams, with founding pastors Stuart and Irene Bell still active.

The organisation's technology footprint is conventional and SaaS-led: ChurchSuite provides the central member management database, event registration, and communications; the public website runs on Wix; online giving is processed through PayPal and Stripe; finance is managed in XERO; HR via BrightHR; and DBS checks via GroundLevel. There is no proprietary technology product; the offering is ministry programmes delivered through people and venues, supported by these off-the-shelf platforms.

Alive Church is funded entirely by voluntary donations and does not charge for any of its services. Revenue is split across three giving streams — general tithes and offerings (including Gift Aid), the Make A Difference missions programme (supporting partners such as Hatfield Christian Church in South Africa, Betel UK, Acts Trust, Tearfund, and Open Doors), and the annual Rise & Build capital campaign funding facilities and new location launches. Financial figures are not publicly disclosed. The customer/congregant base spans general seekers, students and young adults, children and youth, demographic-specific groups (men's, women's, inter-ethnic), and vulnerable local populations served through community projects across the Lincolnshire region.

Name

Alive Church

Legal name

Alive Church Lincoln Limited

Website

https://alivechurch.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alive Church is a UK-registered evangelical charity operating seven multi-site church locations across Lincolnshire, delivering Sunday services, Alpha courses, Life Groups, student and youth ministries, and community projects, funded entirely by voluntary donations and Gift Aid.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services and Congregational Ministry

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE), Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF)

Keywords

• Church worship services
• Christian community programmes
• Faith exploration courses
• Multi-site evangelical church
• Discipleship life groups

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings (General Giving): Members and attendees give through Sunday offerings, standing order bank transfers (Sort Code: 05-06-41, Account: 66720697), one-off or recurring card payments via PayPal, and cheques made payable to Alive Church. Gift Aid is supported, allowing UK taxpayers to increase donations by 25p per £1 at no extra cost to the donor.
2. Make A Difference (Missions Giving): Designated missions fund supporting local, national, and international mission partners. Donations can be made via PayPal or standing order to the Alive Church Missions Account (Account: 66720616). Partners include Hatfield Christian Church (South Africa, SMILE Project), Betel UK, Acts Trust, and Everything Network.
3. Rise & Build (Capital Campaign): Annual capital campaign for facilities, new location launches, and long-term church investment. Funded through one-off or standing order gifts to the Alive Church Buildings Account (Account: 66720553) and PayPal. The 2025 Rise & Build campaign was themed around 'Reopening Ancient Wells' (Genesis 26).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Alive Church is a multi-site evangelical church operating seven physical locations across Lincolnshire, UK, providing weekly Sunday worship services, Alpha courses, Life Groups, student and youth ministries, kids programmes, and community projects. Supporting activities include annual conferences (Encounter, The Gathering, Astonished), missions partnerships (Make A Difference), and a capital campaign (Rise & Build), all offered free to attendees and funded through voluntary donations.

Product overview

Alive Church is a multi-site church with seven physical locations across Lincolnshire (Gainsborough, Grantham, Horncastle, Lincoln Central, Lincoln North, Lincoln South, Scunthorpe) plus online streaming. Its core offering is a unified ministry programme encompassing Sunday worship services, the ChurchSuite member management platform, Alpha courses, Life Groups, student and young adults ministry, kids and youth programmes, and community projects. Events include the annual Encounter worship conference, The Gathering women's conference, and Astonished men's conference. Mission and giving initiatives include the Make A Difference missions programme and the Rise & Build capital campaign. The Prayer Shield provides structured daily prayer resources. All locations are coordinated through ChurchSuite for member management, event registration, and communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Make A Difference: A missions funding initiative that celebrates and funds missions locally, nationally and internationally through partnerships.
• Rise & Build

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Weekly Sunday worship services held at 7 locations across Lincolnshire (Gainsborough, Grantham, Horncastle, Lincoln Central, Lincoln North, Lincoln South, Scunthorpe), featuring contemporary worship, Bible teaching, Holy Spirit ministry, and kids/youth programmes. Lincoln Central holds two services (9.30am and 11.30am) plus a Young Adults service at 7pm.
• ChurchSuite Member Management Platform Church management platform used for member details, event sign-ups, service rotas, Life Group coordination, and communication across the church family. Available via web browser and mobile app for iOS and Android.
• Alpha Course A regularly run course across all Alive locations enabling anyone to explore the Christian faith, ask questions, and discover more about Jesus in an open and welcoming environment.
• Life Groups Small groups meeting in-person and online throughout the week, providing community, friendship, and discipleship within the church.
• Students & Young Adults Ministry Weekly gatherings for students and young adults at Alive Lincoln Central (Sundays at 7pm, Wednesdays at 7.30pm), including weekend away events, Christmas events, and an end-of-year ball.
• Kids & Youth Programmes Age-specific programmes for children and youth running during Sunday services and throughout the week, including youth clubs, life groups, and holiday activities.
• Make A Difference (Missions Programme) A missions funding programme celebrating and resourcing local, national, and international mission partnerships, including Hatfield Christian Church (South Africa), Everything Network, Betel UK, and Acts Trust.
• Rise & Build Capital Campaign An annual giving campaign investing in church facilities, new location launches (such as Horncastle in 2026), and future visionary projects aligned with Alive Church's mission.
• Encounter Worship Conference An annual worship conference held at Alive Lincoln Central featuring worship, testimonies, and prayer for the sick, scheduled for 16-17 October 2026.
• The Gathering Women's Conference An annual women's conference planned for 5-6 February 2027, bringing women together for teaching, connection, and spiritual growth.
• Astonished Men's Conference An annual men's conference scheduled for 19-20 March 2027, focused on fellowship and spiritual development for men.
• Prayer Shield A structured daily prayer initiative with guidelines for 10-15 minutes of prayer per day, including The Lord's Prayer, Prayer of Jabez, fasting guidance, speaking in tongues, and prayer walking resources.
• Online Sunday Service Streaming Live and on-demand streaming of Sunday services and worship events via YouTube, enabling remote attendance across all seven Alive Church locations.
• General Giving (Tithes and Offerings) Voluntary donation programme enabling members and attendees to give through Sunday offerings, standing order bank transfers, one-off or recurring card payments via PayPal, and cheques. Gift Aid is supported, allowing UK taxpayers to increase donations by 25p per £1 at no extra cost to the donor.
• Alive Youth (Grantham) Weekly youth programme for ages 11-18 held every Friday evening at 7.30pm-9.30pm at Alive Grantham, featuring games, activities, socials, worship, Bible teaching, and conversation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average 1,273 weekly attendees in 2025 (11% increase on 2024)
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hatfield Christian ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlive Church has partnered with Hatfield Christian Church in Pretoria, South Africa, for over 25 years. The partnership supports the SMILE Project (community transformation initiative in Mooiplaas township), which includes early childhood education, skills development, job creation, vegetable gardens, discipleship, and running water provision. Funded through the Make A Difference missions giving stream.
• Acts TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActs Trust was founded by Alive Church Lincoln in 2006 with a vision of 'Empowered People Living in Thriving Communities.' The trust runs Grocery, Foodbank, and Life Course programmes in Lincoln, supported by volunteers from Lincoln North, South, and Central locations.
• Betel UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBetel UK is an independent Christian charity supporting men, women, and families affected by drug and alcohol addiction and homelessness. Through work, well-being, and worship, Betel restores broken lives. Supported through the Make A Difference missions fund.
• Everything NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Everything Network encourages, equips, and connects Christians to build a relational community working for cultural renewal across sectors, vocations, and life stages. Supported through Make A Difference.
• GroundLevel NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlive Church is part of the GroundLevel Network of churches, a movement with a vision to advance the Kingdom of God everywhere through relationship, unity, and partnership. DBS applications are also processed through GroundLevel. The network provides national connectivity and shared resources for member churches.
• Evangelical AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlive Church is a member of the Evangelical Alliance, the largest unity body for evangelical churches in the UK, providing national representation and belonging to a recognised network of evangelical churches.
• Open DoorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Christian persecution organisation supported through Make A Difference, receiving prayer requests and information updates from Alive Church members.
• TearfundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development and poverty relief charity supported through Make A Difference, receiving prayer requests and information updates from Alive Church members.
• Safe FamiliesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity providing support for families in crisis, supported through Make A Difference missions fund and receiving prayer and information communications from Alive Church.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hope Church: A UK multi-site evangelical church network with contemporary services, Alpha courses, and student ministries. Comparable to Alive Church in target demographics, programming, and growth orientation.
• Soul Church: A UK multi-site evangelical church operating across multiple locations with contemporary worship, small groups, and youth programmes. Highly comparable to Alive Church in scale, evangelical orientation, and multi-site operating model.
• King's Church Eastbourne: A multi-site evangelical church in the south of England running multiple Sunday venues, Life Groups, and community outreach. Comparable to Alive Church in its strategic multi-site model and evangelical identity.

Broad incumbents

• Newfrontiers: A global family of evangelical churches with UK presence focused on church planting, apostolic leadership, and training. Comparable to Alive Church in evangelical theology and multi-site reproduction ethos.
• GroundLevel Network: The parent network of churches of which Alive Church is a member. Provides shared resources (e.g., DBS processing) and national connectivity. Direct affiliation, but operates as a wider umbrella rather than a single congregation.
• HTB (Holy Trinity Brompton): One of the UK's most prominent evangelical churches and the originator of the Alpha course used by Alive Church. Comparable in evangelical identity and national influence, though at materially larger scale.
• Vineyard UK: A national network of evangelical churches in the UK with shared resources, leadership development, and church-planting infrastructure. Comparable to Alive Church as an evangelical congregational network with similar theological and missional orientation.

Regional players

• Trinity Church Cheltenham: A UK regional evangelical church with multiple sites, student outreach, and community programmes. Comparable to Alive Church in multi-site evangelical model and demographic targeting, though serving a different UK region.

Emerging players

• ChristCentral: A UK-based evangelical church network with multiple sites, Alpha courses, and church-planting programmes. Comparable to Alive Church in evangelical approach and use of Alpha as a faith-exploration pathway.
• River Church: A UK multi-site evangelical church running contemporary services, Life Groups, and outreach programmes. Comparable to Alive Church in programming and congregation profile, though smaller in scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3RO8APjRtF1D2u-GTJyC4g
• Facebookfacebook.com/wearealivechurch
• Instagraminstagram.com/wearealivechurch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alive-church-lincoln

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alive Church