Church Commissioners
What steps the Church of England is taking to support deprived communities.
The hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, was asked—
The Church remains a major investor in deprived communities. Funding for the period from 2026 to 2028 has reached a record £430 million, focusing on strengthening ministry and providing long term support for the lowest income communities. That is in addition to the £91 million already spent in the period between 2023 and 2025 in dioceses in urban, post industrial and coastal communities. Just recently, at the last General Synod meeting, we marked the 40th anniversary of the landmark “Faith in the City” report into tackling structural deprivation.
Over the last few weeks, I have visited Winton and Parkstone community pantry at the Winton Christadelphian church, which is supported by FareShare, and the sanctuary project at St Andrew’s church in Kinson, which has a food bank supported by the Trussell Trust. Both churches go out of their way to support our community members in need. Will the hon. Lady join me in paying tribute to the churches and their volunteers? Will she outline what more they can do to provide support with the cost of living and isolation in our communities?
Churches are cornerstones of all our communities, and I congratulate the clergy, volunteers and congregation of St Andrew’s church in Kinson and the Winton Christadelphian church on their hard work and contributions to supporting the community pantry and the sanctuary project. Across the country, churches are delivering around 31,000 community projects, including 8,000 food banks, 4,000 parent and carer groups, 5,000 lunch clubs and 3,000 community cafés. These programmes offer practical support, companionship and advice to those facing hardship, demonstrating the Church’s ongoing commitment to serving and standing with all our communities nationwide.
St Nicholas church in Shepperton in my constituency made an application under the listed places of worship scheme to get £16,000 of VAT back on essential repairs that it has made. It got an auto reply saying that the scheme has been used up and that there is no money left. On behalf of the Church Commissioners, will the hon. Member entreat the Government to look again at that application and see whether the VAT can be reclaimed?
I am not quite sure that question is relevant, actually.
That is what I was going to say.
Yes, do not worry about it. Let us move on.
While church attendance statistics for 2025 are still being collated, early indications suggest an increase in attendance at Advent and Christmas services. Indeed, churches have reported fuller congregations for carol services, especially Christmas eve and Christmas day services. This is consistent with the upwards seasonal patterns seen over recent years.
Long term trends suggest a decline in regular weekly church attendance; however, there was a rise in church attendance across the UK this Christmas, and I enjoyed visits to various churches in West Dunbartonshire, not least the Hope Community church in Clydebank and Dalmuir Barclay church. Christmas and Easter are often the two occasions when people consider attending church, so what can the Church do to attract new worshippers as we approach Easter?
I thank my hon. Friend for his question. As I say, anecdotal evidence suggests that attendance is growing, especially in urban areas and among young people. The Church of England is producing a large number of resources for major festivals, in addition to its regular Everyday Faith app—my hon. Friend should download it if he has not already done so—and the online services it already provides. The Church is also producing a variety of resources for the Lent and Easter period, including booklets and reflection activities for individual groups. In this Lent season and leading into Christmas, I encourage all colleagues across the House to consider visiting some of their local churches—including during this festive period, if they have not done so already.
I thank the hon. Lady for her response. Trends seem to indicate that among the young people of Generation Z, attendance at churches is growing, which is good news. We all know that the greatest story ever told is the birth of the Lord Jesus on 25 December, and the fact that he was crucified and died to forgive us our sins and get us to heaven. That is a wonderful story—the hon. Lady knows that, I know that, and indeed I think everybody in the House knows that. We should be telling many people about that. Trends seem to indicate that attendance is growing. Is that not good news for the greatest story ever told?
I could not have put it better myself. It is the best good news story which must be shared, and we will continue to lift up our voices and share that great story.
Despite the horrific and truly devastating situation in Palestine, Christian communities continue to be steadfast and resilient in the face of war and destruction. Last month, the Bishops of Chelmsford, Gloucester and Norwich made a joint visit, which highlighted the severe pressures facing Christian communities across the region. Sadly, attacks and intimidation continue, including the destruction of farms and olive groves, and the Israel Defence Forces and settler militias shamefully attempted to obstruct pastoral visits by the Archbishop of York to Christian families on the west bank during his last visit. We know that despite all these atrocities, it is so important that we continue long term engagement and supportive visits to the region.
The Israeli Government’s new vetting rules have halted much humanitarian work in Gaza. The Palestinian Church committee has urgently appealed to Churches worldwide to intervene so that aid can continue. With local churches and faith based agencies stepping up their support, can the hon. Member update us on how the Church is strengthening that appeal and helping to ensure that Gaza is not left without vital assistance?
I commend my hon. Friend for being such a strong voice on this issue. The Church shares the concerns about the hostile new vetting restrictions and how they have disrupted humanitarian operations in Gaza—they are adversely affecting both church based agencies and international aid programmes. The Church continues to work closely with the diocese of Jerusalem and partner agencies to ensure that aid reaches those who most need it. The Anglican presence in Gaza centres on the al Ahli hospital, which despite significant damage remains one of the only functioning health facilities in north Gaza.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pizzaballa, recently said of Palestine: “Peace and reconciliation are beautiful concepts, but they risk remaining mere slogans if they are not accompanied today by concrete actions, gestures and testimonies that physically demonstrate the possibility of rebuilding trust.”
Does the commissioner agree with me that Christian Churches are ideally placed to work with other faith communities to lead that rebuilding of trust?
The hon. Lady makes an important point; the issue is about how the Church works across faith based organisations to be the leaders of peace. The Church works closely with the diocese of Jerusalem and the Anglican communion agencies, providing education, healthcare and employment across the region and in other countries, ensuring that there is co operation across the entire Christian community.
As I said earlier, in Gaza, for example, the Church is working with the Anglican communion in supporting the al Ahli hospital. I also point out some of the work that the Church is doing in the west bank. Assistance is being delivered through the diocesan schools, the Princess Basma Centre and local health centres, through financial support, advocacy and co ordination, and the Church is working hard to maintain medical care, humanitarian assistance and pastoral support for all Christians and Palestinians affected by this crisis.