Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Small Rural Communities

Thursday 17 October 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Church of England operates 16,000 parish churches, with over half located in rural areas.
  • The Church of England provides community services through its buildings, including worship, education, and community activities.
  • The minister pledges to look into a specific case regarding additional funding for a village hall.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Julie Minns Lab Carlisle
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Religion & Faith
Context

The Church of England operates a network of buildings that serve communities in various ways, including worship and education. There is particular emphasis on their role in small rural communities.

Question

What steps the Church of England is taking to support parish life in small rural communities?

Answer from Marsha de Cordova

The Church of England operates 16,000 parish churches, over half of which are in rural areas, along with Church schools. It provides the largest network of buildings in England that serve communities—buildings that are used for worship and education, as well as warm spaces and hubs for activities such as food banks, post offices, credit unions and other social and community initiatives.

Answered
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Q2 Julie Minns Lab Carlisle
Religion & Faith
Context

The parish of Bewcastle in the north-east corner of Carlisle is home to the Bewcastle cross, a significant historical monument. It hosts a vibrant community hub every month to combat social isolation and loneliness.

Question

Will my hon. Friend ask the Church Commissioners to consider additional funding for the parish to improve the village hall?

Answer from Marsha de Cordova

I will look into the specific case that my hon. Friend mentions and see what advice can be given to support her.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment on funding not provided, only promise to look into it

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Religion & Faith
Context

The Church plays a role not only in telling the gospel but also in providing practical support like childcare, nurseries, and social media events.

Question

What will the Church Commissioners do to ensure that practical activities happen alongside the telling of the gospel?

Answer from Marsha de Cordova

There is so much that the Church does by way of outreach in our communities. It also ensures that there is good infrastructure to protect all our communities, including children and young people.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions not detailed, only general statement about outreach and protection

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