Church blogs
Read a selection of blogs from churches and faith communities.
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How can you self-isolate without a house?
26/03/2020
Homelessness is always a serious issue, but right now people who are homeless are at considerable risk from coronavirus. This article explains how you can help.
In my house are many rooms: radical hospitality in the vicarage
10/03/2020
We’re in the midst of a housing crisis. The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Housing, Church and Community believes that, if real change is going to be made, we all need to play our part. For Lent, we’re looking at how individual Christians can get involved. This week, Revd Dr Catherine Shelley writes about her experience of taking in lodgers.
There’s no community voice without community
04/03/2020
How do you foster a strong community voice? The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Housing, Church and Community has been grappling with this question. With a Christian charity, Hope North London, Helen set about building community and empowering individuals on Strawberry Vale and two other estates.
Competitions launched for church projects tackling housing crisis
24/02/2020
Two competitions aimed at helping local churches to support people in housing need – from advocacy and advice for vulnerable tenants to ‘micro-housing’ schemes on church land – are launched today by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Housing, Church and Community.
Stress and bills or a growing church? - using church land for mission
20/02/2020
Anniesland had a small, ageing congregation, and maintaining a large building was too much for them. The congregation resigned themselves to the fact that their church would be demolished. Talking with Sanctuary - a housing association - they realised that together they could provide both a new church and housing on their site.
A theological reflection on housing, with the help of Tolkien
14/02/2020
Revd Sophie Cowan suggests that, in exploring the ground between a ‘house’ and a ‘home’, we will enrich our vision of what might be achieved by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Housing, Church and Community.
A marriage made in heaven: how a church worked alongside a housing association for the community
04/02/2020
St Bride's was approached by Trafford Housing Trust about buying their land to provide a new community centre and housing. St Bride's got a new, more appropriate building, and it gave the community badly needed facilities.
‘The door to God’s house’ – how a community converted their church into affordable homes
28/01/2020
A charity is using church land to provide affordable housing, combining shared ownership and sweat equity. The future residents work together on ‘team builds’ for up to eighteen months meaning they know one another before they’ve even moved in.
Anyone who has two buildings should share with the one who has none
21/01/2020
St Silas, Blackburn had a problem. Their church hall was falling into disrepair. At the same time, Nightsafe, a charity working with homeless young people, had issues housing 16-18-year-olds together with their older clients, aged up to 25. Together, they had an opportunity: renovating the hall to create a home for six young people at risk of homelessness.
‘No pubs, no social club, there’s a church but it’s only small'
07/01/2020
A Methodist project is seeking to tackle the feeling of helplessness that the community of Shieldfield in Newcastle is facing. Shieldfield Art Works (SAW) combines faith, art and community activism. Part church, part art gallery, part community space, SAW’s work builds community, showcases the area and stimulates the voice of residents on the issues affecting them.