Oral Answers to Questions

Fiona Bruce Excerpts

Tuesday 30th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Tony Baldry]

The CCT is supporting some 340 church buildings, all of which are of considerable historic or architectural interest. We are grateful for the co-sponsoring by the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, on a 30:70 basis. This is an issue that is bigger than just the Church. Some 45% of all grade 1 listed buildings are churches, and those buildings represent an important part of the social history of our nation.

[Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)]

9. What steps the Church Commissioners are taking to support the work of the Church of England in rural areas.

[Tony Baldry]

The Church of England has a presence in almost every rural settlement and village in England and plays an important and intricate role in rural community life.

[Fiona Bruce]

Village congregations play an important part in community life in my constituency. What can the Church Commissioners do to support the widest possible use of church buildings?

[Tony Baldry]

My hon. Friend raises an important point about the use of church buildings. The cathedral and church buildings division of the archbishops’ council has been working for the last five years to help congregations do everything that they can to work with communities to identify how church buildings can be used creatively to serve the widest community use. We now see extended use of church buildings, including as post offices, shops, libraries, internet cafes, benefit advice centres and citizens advice centres. Wherever possible, we want to see churches as living buildings where as much community activity as possible takes place, and the Church Commissioners will always support such activity.