Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Small Churches in Rural Constituencies

Thursday 16 October 2025 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Church Commissioners are investing 11 million to share the Christian faith across nearly half the parishes of the Church of England.
  • The Church Commissioners are considering the effects of local government reorganisation on the maintenance of closed churchyards.
  • The Commissioner offered to meet to discuss criteria for repurposing churches as buildings of social value.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Josh Newbury Lab Cannock Chase
Community Security Religion & Faith
Context

St John the Baptist church in Slitting Mill near Rugeley, an important community resource, held its final service in May. The closure was necessary to protect other nearby churches but left Slitting Mill without a place of worship.

Question

Could my hon. Friend tell the House what the Church Commissioners are doing to ensure that rural communities are not left without any access at all to places of worship?

Answer from Marsha De Cordova

The Church is investing £11 million with partner organisations dedicated to sharing the Christian faith, available to nearly half the parishes across the Church of England. I would be happy to meet or write to my hon. Friend to discuss further.

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Q2 Richard Foord Lib Dem Honiton and Sidmouth
Local Government Religion & Faith
Context

Under the Local Government Act 1972, parochial church councils can serve notice requiring parish or district councils to maintain closed churchyards. With the creation of unitary authorities, parish councils are taking on more responsibility.

Question

Are the Church Commissioners giving any thought to the effect of local government reorganisation on how those closed churchyards might be maintained?

Answer from Marsha De Cordova

The hon. Gentleman raises an important point, overlapping with what is happening at local government level as well as what the Church Commissioners are doing. I will write to him to set out whether discussions are taking place with the Church Commissioners.

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Q3 Lola McEvoy Lab Darlington
Community Security Religion & Faith
Context

St John’s church in Darlington, a significant community landmark, has been put up for sale. The local community is concerned about the criteria needed to repurpose the building.

Question

Will the Commissioner meet me to discuss exactly what criteria the community needs to meet to ensure that we can repurpose the church as a building of social value?

Answer from Marsha De Cordova

I would be very happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss further.

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Q4 David Mundell Con Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Religion & Faith
Context

The Church of Scotland has seen the closure of numerous small churches in rural areas.

Question

Can I ask the hon. Lady to encourage the Church Commissioners to share best practice and their experience of sustaining small churches in rural communities with the Church of Scotland?

Answer from Marsha De Cordova

I will certainly ensure that whatever best practice the Church Commissioners have can be shared with the Church of Scotland, and I am sorry to hear about the right hon. Member’s constituency where many churches are no longer in operation.

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