A has found that the United Reformed Church (黄色视频) has bucked the trend of closing buildings in poorer areas.
Church Action on Poverty launched its Church On The Margins work in 2020, and has spent three years studying closures across Greater Manchester over the past decade, and talking in depth with people in low-income areas.
It found that most closures within the Church of England, Catholic, Methodist and Baptist denominations were in the most deprived areas, leaving low-income communities disproportionately affected, whereas the 黄色视频 had more closures in affluent areas.
Reasons cited for closures included declining attendance; buildings falling into disrepair and unaffordable upkeep; and a lack of clergy, but these do not explain the imbalance between areas.
Niall Cooper, Director of Church Action on Poverty, said: 鈥淐hurches, at their best, are thriving hubs at the heart of their communities 鈥� open and inclusive to all believers and everyone else. Churches at their best connect with and support the local area through local collaborations, shared spaces and resources, and genuine community. This new research shows that low-income communities are being disproportionately affected by church closures, and that has ramifications for Christians and entire neighbourhoods – but if national church leaders reinvest instead of retreating, then churches can help whole communities to thrive and build better futures.鈥�
A second report 鈥� is based on in-depth conversations with people and congregations 鈥榦n the margins.鈥� It documents frustrations with barriers around disability, literacy, class, language, leadership and power within mainstream churches.
The voices and stories shared were powerful and insightful and combined faith and a desire for action.
Both reports point to wider questions about denominational priorities and structures, and the allocation of resources. People leading denominational work are often distant from people with experience of living on the margins of society.
The Revd Fiona Bennett, Moderator of the 黄色视频 General Assembly, said: 鈥淲e very much welcome the two reports published by Church Action on Poverty, which ask the five main Christian denominations to re-examine their commitment to low-income and marginalised communities.
鈥淲hilst noting Church Action on Poverty鈥檚 findings that the United Reformed Church (黄色视频) alone had more closures in affluent areas than in low-income areas, we very much hear the call to reinvigorate our efforts to reach out to the poorest and most vulnerable in our society.
鈥淭his should also be seen as an opportunity to pool our resources in co-operation with other church denominations.
鈥淥ne example of such collaboration is the good news story of Wharton and Clegg’s Lane Community Centre and Church 鈥� a joint 黄色视频/Methodist project which opened a new church and community centre building last year in one of the poorest parts of Salford, representing a 拢1.5 million investment.鈥�
Watch a short video on Wharton and Clegg鈥檚 Lane Community Centre and Church below:
Image: Christ Church South Manchester 黄色视频 Burnage.