Buildings Strategy

There are over 300 Anglican church buildings in the Diocese/County; 112 of them are Gd I or II* The insured value of these is in excess of £800 million Perhaps as many as 50% of these are likely to have issues about sustainability over the next 10 - 20 years

We cannot say, “there isn’t a problem”

Risks

Risks

Risks

Risks

Risks

Risks

We cannot say, “there isn’t a problem”

We would like to have leading to Sustainable buildings Welcoming, well-used buildings Buildings open to their communities leading to Growth in discipleship and in God’s Kingdom

The Buildings Strategy Doesn’t have all the answers – indeed many unanswered questions Is provisional – will change with experience Will also change to integrate with other strategies (Outreach, Ministry) as they are completed Describes what the Diocese will do Challenges, but doesn’t tell, Parishes what to do

Toolbox Churches Trust for Cumbria DAC Buildings Survey DAC explore ways of heating/insulating buildings Parish Plans money – for feasability studies and for churches without congregations research how to use proceeds of sale of redundant churches more focussed Archdeacons’ visitations Mission Action Plans support for parochial clergy

Some questions to ask? If your church burnt down, would you really want it back exactly the same? What does good stewardship of resources mean in relation to buildings? What buildings can you really afford? How much do you need to spend on repairs How much do you need to spend on improvements How much does your church cost to run each year In what ways is your building a burden? In what ways is it a joy? What does your MAP suggest about what buildings you might need and how you would use them Is your ministry driven by buildings or by mission? Does your building attract or put off newcomers and people who are thinking about coming to church? Are there other buildings in the area which might be easier to care for than your building? or are cheaper to run ? - or more accessible ? What would people who don’t come to church give as answers to all these questions?

Some (imaginary) cases St Saviour’s Congregation of 100+ In centre of housing estate Has church room and large hall Open and used every day Probably doesn’t need much doing to it Perhaps about 130 of these in the Diocese

Some (imaginary) cases St Ogg’s Very large Victorian building Congregation of 45 In centre of town No hall Only open Sundays and funerals Could be re-ordered to create more flexible space to be used every day Feasability study, then develop building Probably about 130 of these in the Diocese

some (imaginary) hard cases St Cross and St Frideswide with St Ebb Team across two suburbs Total congregation 60 St Cross (very large) and St Frideswide (small) in one suburb, St Ebb (small) in other suburb; all buildings more or less OK Medium sized Methodist Church in excellent state next to largest Perhaps most sensible to sell St Cross (and share with Methodists) and St Frideswide?

some (imaginary) hard cases St Alpha, St Beta, St Gamma, St Delta and St Epsilon Rural team Total congregation 60 St A, St B, St G, St D in villages – all OK but needing money St Epsilon in middle of nowhere – also Ok but needing money Probably best to sell St Epsilon Probably about 30 like St Cross, St Frideswide and St Epsilon in the Diocese

more (imaginary) hard cases St Cyril, St Gregory, St Athanasius Rural group across two larger villages and a scattered hamlet All churches listed : St Cyril and St Gregory Gd II; St Athanasius a Gd I gem St Cyril and St Gregory in two larger villages; St Athanasius isolated Could just have summer services only, or weddings only, at St Athanasius; draw on new Trust Fund to help maintain it; concentrate on ministry at St Cyril and St Gregory Probably about 60 like St Athanasius in the Diocese

Buildings Strategy Some hard decisions ahead – but we cannot say, “there isn’t a problem”; we can’t say, “we won’t talk about this” Recapture the spirit of forebears – who changed buildings to meet needs Partnership – the different voices and different perspectives have proper roles Courage / Trust in God, not in anything less