Question

To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England has taken to support people on low-incomes in rural communities since 1 January 2026.

There are more than 10,000 Church of England churches in rural areas and, through the National Society for Education, the Church is the single largest provider of rural and village education in the country. Churches and church schools often play a particularly important role at the heart of rural communities.

St James’s Church in Audley, as an example, provides a ‘Tots’ group for the local community. It offers an opportunity for parents and caregivers to meet and for children to engage in play and crafts. These opportunities can be formative for the children and enable adults to share experiences and provide mutual support.

According to the most recent Statistics for Mission, Church of England churches were involved in 31,300 social action projects, including lunch clubs, coffee mornings, parent and toddler groups and food banks. These projects offer vital support to people living in rural communities, where a lack of access to employment opportunities, poor transport links, and hidden homelessness can be particularly acute.