Sarah Jackson
Developing UK Leaders for 1,000 Church Plants
About The Episode
In this episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Sean Morgan sits down with Sarah Jackson of Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) to explore church revitalization inside the Church of England, raising diverse leadership pipelines, and what many are calling a “silent revival” among young people in the UK. Sarah shares her personal story of coming to faith at 13 through Alpha, the bold vision behind HTB’s Church Revitalisation Trust, and the urgent mission to reverse church decline by planting and revitalizing 1,000 churches. From developing “Peter” and “Caleb” leadership streams to stories of university students encountering Jesus through dreams and social media, this conversation is both strategic and deeply spiritual, reminding leaders that while systems matter, revival ultimately belongs to the Holy Spirit.
Welcome to Episode 156 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.
Insights from Sarah
- Desperation Can Become a Catalyst
When church attendance drops below 2% of a nation, strategy alone won’t carry the mission. Sarah describes how decline in the Church of England created not despair—but urgency. Their response wasn’t retreat; it was prayer, vision, and bold experimentation. Sometimes decline clarifies calling.
- Start Smaller Than Your Vision
HTB didn’t begin with a vision to plant 200 churches. They started with three. They didn’t launch massive leadership pipelines. They began with one “Caleb.” Momentum builds through faithfulness in small beginnings.
- Different Churches Require Different Leaders
Not every leader fits every context. Apostolic entrepreneurs can launch and scale, while shepherd leaders often excel in revitalization and pastoral care. Planting the wrong leader in the wrong place can stall momentum. Discernment matters as much as ambition.
- Reimagining Leadership Pipelines
HTB is intentionally developing diverse pathways: a “Peter” stream for leaders from unconventional backgrounds, a “Caleb” stream mobilizing retirees for ministry, and part-time or self-supporting models. The goal is clear—multiply the pipeline to match the size of the harvest.
- Strategy Is Necessary. The Spirit Is Essential.
Sarah openly admires American systems and structure. But she warns against overconfidence in strategy alone. Systems prepare the soil; the Holy Spirit brings the harvest. Leadership requires both preparation and dependence.
- The Silent Revival
Across the UK, pastors are reporting university students dreaming of Jesus, young men walking into churches uninvited, record Bible sales, and first-time readers discovering Scripture with no prior background. In a post-Christian culture, many are approaching faith with a blank slate—more pre-Christian than anti-Christian.
- Revival Requires Infrastructure
As new believers arrive unexpectedly, churches are asking practical questions: How do we disciple them? Where do we find mentors? How do we scale small groups? Revival isn’t only emotional—it demands preparation and structure.
- Don’t Underestimate the Next Step
Sarah’s closing encouragement is simple: start with one. Raise one leader. Plant one church. Launch one stream. Battle and blessing coexist in leadership, and isolation is the enemy’s tactic. Faithful steps today build momentum for tomorrow.
Episode Links
Alpha
Church Revitalisation Trust
Revitalise Trust: Good Leader Podcast
If you’re a leader approaching a succession or transition, or maybe you’re a few years in and beginning to see how complex transitions leadership is… go to The Art of Pastoral Succession and check out my course in partnership with Carey Nieuwhof.
Are you in Transition or have one on the horizon? Check out our cohorts and get connected with us at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/
Who is Sarah Jackson?
Sarah is on the senior clergy team at Holy Trinity Brompton Church in London, UK. Sarah sits on the General Synod representing London in the Parliament of the Church. Sarah is Chair of the Alliance: https://alliancecofe.org. She is the founder and co-CEO of the Revitalise Trust (RT), https://revitalisetrust.org, which supports the raising up of leaders to plant churches across the UK and internationally. Prior to RT, Sarah was HTB Group Chief of Staff, Director of Operations and Executive Pastor at St Paul’s Hammersmith and was Founding Director of a Property and Design Company working in the UK and Europe. Sarah is an ordained minister in the Church of England. Sarah is married to Tom and they have three daughters and have a dog called Wilber, named after the reformer, William Wilberforce, who inspires them.
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About the Host
Sean Morgan is a coach and speaker with a national reputation as a catalyst of fresh vision. His passion is to help ministries navigate obstacles and turn them into opportunities.
Throughout his career, Sean has pioneered initiatives impacting thousands of leaders across the country. He started out serving as Executive Pastor and CFO at New Life Church in northern California.
As host, Sean gives you access to amazing conversations, hard-won wisdom, and poignant insights from world-class leaders in intimate “living room” settings.
Your Host
Sean Morgan
Leaders in Living Rooms
Craft & Character
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