Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Community Cohesion

Thursday 3 July 2025 · 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

  • Kevin Bonavia commended the churches in Stevenage for their community service.
  • Sarah Smith praised the community cohesion work in Hyndburn following riots.
  • James MacCleary highlighted the Rewild the Church project in Lewes addressing biodiversity loss.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kevin Bonavia Lab Stevenage
Community Security Religion & Faith
Context

The MP commends the contribution of churches in his constituency and highlights a specific issue: theft of copper from St Andrew & St George church, an expensive loss to the church.

Question

I would like to take this opportunity to commend the contribution of the churches in my constituency, from All Saints in Datchworth, which is currently celebrating 850 years of service, to St Mary’s in Aston, where the Rev. Canon Jenny Gray has recently retired. However, another church, St Andrew & St George in the centre of Stevenage, is facing the ongoing problem of theft of copper from its roof—an expensive loss to the church. What can be done to safeguard our churches from such antisocial and criminal behaviour?

Answer from Marsha De Cordova (Second Church Estates Commissioner)

I thank my hon. Friend for asking two really important questions. I congratulate the Rev. Canon Jenny Gray on her retirement. Her exemplary service to the community was recognised by the diocese in 2023, when she was made an honorary canon of the cathedral. On metal theft, my hon. Friend is absolutely right that it is criminal and antisocial, and it causes real harm. The Church has been doing a lot of work on this since 2013, and I am happy to write to him to set out that work in more detail.

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Q2 Sarah Smith Lab Hyndburn
Immigration Religion & Faith
Context

The MP highlights the diversity and social response to riots in her constituency, asking about conversations with Church Commissioners on strengthening work on integration and collaboration with Government.

Question

I thank my hon. Friend for the work she is doing representing the Church Commissioners. The community of Hyndburn is vibrant and rich in its diversity, and I was proud to see how we responded to the awful riots last summer. What conversations has she had with the Church Commissioners on how the Church can continue to strengthen its work on integration and work with the Government as they develop a community cohesion strategy following the immigration White Paper?

Answer from Marsha De Cordova (Second Church Estates Commissioner)

I pay tribute to the social cohesion work happening in my hon. Friend’s constituency. I would just highlight that bishops and church officials have been in discussion with the Minister for Faith in the other place on community cohesion issues. The Church did write to the Prime Minister following the publication of the White Paper to call for a more holistic integration strategy, and this has also been raised in meetings.

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Q3 James MacCleary Lib Dem Lewes
Climate Religion & Faith Environment
Context

The MP highlights the Rewild the Church project in his constituency, a collaboration between Lewes Climate Hub and churches to tackle biodiversity loss by rewilding 30% of Church-owned land by 2030.

Question

A really positive example of community cohesion in action is the Rewild the Church project, with the Lewes Climate Hub and churches in Lewes joining forces to tackle biodiversity loss and bring people together through their parishes. They are working towards the inspiring goal of rewilding 30% of Church-owned land by 2030. Will the Second Church Estates Commissioner join me in congratulating them on this important work, and support this ambition for the Church of England to lead by example in restoring nature and supporting local communities to come together in doing so?

Answer from Marsha De Cordova (Second Church Estates Commissioner)

I congratulate the hon. Member and those in his constituency on the work taking place on that really important issue.

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