Building faith in our future - the national picture Janet Gough for Crossing the Threshold Conference, Hereford, 19 November 2009

Church Buildings Division Keep Church Buildings in the vision of the CofE and GovernmentKeep Church Buildings in the vision of the CofE and Government Advocacy, CampaigningAdvocacy, Campaigning Share best practice and educationShare best practice and education Shrinking the FootprintShrinking the Footprint

Church Buildings Division Church Buildings Council and Cathedrals Fabric CommissionChurch Buildings Council and Cathedrals Fabric Commission 16 staff and draw upon further expertise e.g. conservation committees (grants)16 staff and draw upon further expertise e.g. conservation committees (grants) Encourage development of church buildings Building Faith in our FutureEncourage development of church buildings Building Faith in our Future

Building faith in our Future Strategic look at how to get best out of our church buildingsStrategic look at how to get best out of our church buildings 29 recommendations29 recommendations FundingFunding –Need better funding for repair and equal access to other funding.

Building Faith in our Future – five years on E-bulletin no 11 – keeps people up to date with recent developmentsE-bulletin no 11 – keeps people up to date with recent developments Churchcare websiteChurchcare website Pastoral (Amendment) Measure to enable leases in churches open for worshipPastoral (Amendment) Measure to enable leases in churches open for worship Churches and Faith Buildings–realising the Potential, equal access to Govt fundsChurches and Faith Buildings–realising the Potential, equal access to Govt funds

Extended use of churches Social and community activities: support for elderly, homeless, asylum seekersSocial and community activities: support for elderly, homeless, asylum seekers Education: school visits, SureStart Centres, nurseries, adult education, after-school clubs, librariesEducation: school visits, SureStart Centres, nurseries, adult education, after-school clubs, libraries Cultural: tourism, exhibitions, theatre, concertsCultural: tourism, exhibitions, theatre, concerts Post offices, doctor’s/dentist’s surgeries, health centres, gyms, community shops, cafes, farmer’s markets.Post offices, doctor’s/dentist’s surgeries, health centres, gyms, community shops, cafes, farmer’s markets.

Extended use consequences Huge amount of development activityHuge amount of development activity Over 50% of churches have loos and kitchensOver 50% of churches have loos and kitchens Some issuesSome issues –Sue Rowe’s research on Millennium Commission funded churches: positive impact on the church but issues e.g. in attracting and managing volunteers

Partnership/working with other bodies Tourism: Churches Tourism Association and working closely with local tourism boards and visitor attractions.Tourism: Churches Tourism Association and working closely with local tourism boards and visitor attractions. Post Offices – now about 25 outreach post offices in places of worshipPost Offices – now about 25 outreach post offices in places of worship Future partnerships e.g. Campaign for Community Banking Services, community cinema.Future partnerships e.g. Campaign for Community Banking Services, community cinema.

Working with other bodies English Heritage Inspired CampaignEnglish Heritage Inspired Campaign –Historic Church Support Officers –HELM course: Places of worship:Sharing Space Training in understanding and developing your church buildingTraining in understanding and developing your church building –Oxford University Department of Continuing Education, online course for clergy and churchwardens Rural Communities Buildings NetworkRural Communities Buildings Network –Village Halls Loan Fund has become Rural Communities Buildings Fund.

Concluding remarks A vision of what can be achieved in churches.A vision of what can be achieved in churches. Some practical tools.Some practical tools. Crossing the Threshold conference in Hereford to become a pilot for other dioceses?Crossing the Threshold conference in Hereford to become a pilot for other dioceses? And finally, it all depends on what you in your local church can achieve – hugely challenging but we hope exhilarating and enabling too.And finally, it all depends on what you in your local church can achieve – hugely challenging but we hope exhilarating and enabling too.