Ideas on how churches can obtain funding and support to adapt their buildings for community use and engage strategically in delivering local services, are contained in guidelines produced by the government and the Church of England.

A document entitled ‘Churches and Faith Buildings: Realising the Potential’ will enable faith groups to improve their capacity to deliver services such as health, day care and post offices. It is also hoped that funders will be better equipped to understand the important role of churches and other faith groups in delivering public services.

No new money is at stake but there are ideas on how faith groups can better tap into existing sources of funding from government programmes. The document also sets out current government funding programmes and a list of suggested actions for both government and Churches.

The report is aimed at showing what support is available to help release the full potential of church and faith buildings as community resources, without all of the burden falling on the local congregation or worshipping community. Whilst the main focus is on the Church of England, the benefits are available for all churches and faith groups.

The Revd Graham Jones, the URC’s Rural Officer welcomed the initiative as ‘an important development in the process of churches being recognised as significant partners in creating healthy and vibrant communities’. He encouraged local United Reformed churches to access it at:

http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/cathandchurchbuild/realising.doc (also listed on the Resources for Churches page)