1. Buildings Strategy

2. 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 years

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

4. Risks

5. Risks

6. Risks

7. Risks

8. Risks

9. Risks

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

12. 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

13. 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

15. 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

16. 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?

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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?

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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