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Church Commissioners
26 February 2026
Lead MP
Jessica Toale
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
No tags
Other Contributors: 7
At a Glance
Jessica Toale raised concerns about church commissioners in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
What steps the Church of England is taking to support deprived communities.
Battersea
The Church remains a major investor in deprived communities, with funding reaching £430 million from 2026 to 2028 and £91 million between 2023 and 2025. The ‘Faith in the City’ report marks its 40th anniversary this year.
Jessica Toale
Lab
Bournemouth West
The Winton Christadelphian church and St Andrew’s church are supporting community members through their community pantry and sanctuary project. The Church's support includes food banks, parent and carer groups, lunch clubs, and community cafés.
Lincoln Jopp
Con
Spelthorne
St Nicholas church in Shepperton made an application under the listed places of worship scheme but received an auto-reply stating that the funds have been exhausted. The Church Commissioners are asked to review this case.
West Dunbartonshire
Church attendance is on the rise during Christmas 2025, though long-term trends show a decline in regular weekly church attendance. The Church of England provides various resources to attract new worshippers for major festivals and Lent.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
The rise in church attendance among Generation Z is seen as good news, emphasising the importance of sharing the story of Jesus’ birth and resurrection. The Church continues to share this message widely.
Kate Osamor
Lab Co-op
Edmonton and Winchmore Hill
The Church is supporting Christian communities in Palestine, despite severe pressures and attacks faced by these communities.
Glasgow West
The Church supports Palestinians living in Gaza and the west bank through education, healthcare, employment support, and medical care. The Church continues to work closely with the diocese of Jerusalem and partner agencies.
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Assessment & feedback
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