Church
Commissioners
The hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the
Church Commissioners, was asked—
Ukrainian Refugees
(Buckingham) (Con)
1. What steps the Church is taking to help support Ukrainian
refugees. (901367)
(New Forest West) (Con)
7. What steps the Church is taking to help support Ukrainian
refugees. (901373)
The Second Church Estates Commissioner ()
Six bishops and hundreds of clergy have Ukrainian evacuees living
with them, and the Church of England is using vacant vicarages in
a number of places. Churches are also actively involved in
recruiting new hosts where needed.
Over the summer, I was delighted to meet Reverend Peter Godden at
St Dunstan’s church in Monks Risborough—England’s oldest recorded
parish—to hear at first hand about some of the incredible work
that the church and wider deanery is doing to support 130
Ukrainian refugees who have been welcomed to the wider Princes
Risborough area in my constituency, such as English lessons, a
conversation café and a children’s summer week. Will my hon.
Friend join me in thanking all our churches for the work they are
doing to support our Ukrainian friends? What more can the Church
of England do to support churches such as St Dunstan’s in their
work?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the interest that he takes in
and the support that he gives to his local churches. It is
wonderful to hear of the practical compassion in action of St
Dunstan’s in Monks Risborough and St Mary’s in Princes
Risborough. I know that those churches are making a big
difference to the lives of Ukrainian refugees. I assure him that
the Church is actively seeking new hosts where some families want
to pass on that responsibility and it will keep on with this
important work.
As we approach the six-month point, what action can the Church
take to encourage members of their congregations to step
forward—and the congregations themselves to support them—where
some initial sponsorships are not renewed?
My right hon. Friend asks a typically pertinent question. I
reassure him that many dioceses are developing schemes to rematch
sponsors and Ukrainian refugees as the initial six-month
placements draw to an end. We are also funding other support
programmes for Ukrainians, for which I am extremely grateful. We
must all guard against compassion fatigue.
(Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that my parish church in Huddersfield
is playing a very good role in helping Ukrainian refugees, but in
a sense the honeymoon period is over? People from Ukraine in my
constituency told me last week that they need help with permanent
housing, with education and with the translation of their
qualifications into English qualifications. They also very much
need to use their high skills to help the community.
I am grateful for what the hon. Gentleman has told the House. I
know that he takes a supportive interest in what his local
churches do in this important area. He is right in everything he
says. The Government will play their part, and I can assure him
that the Church will absolutely continue to be there at a
national and local level to do everything that is needed.
(Strangford) (DUP)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his deep interest in these
matters, which is much appreciated. Following on from what other
hon. Members have said about the integration of Ukrainian
refugees, has consideration been given to allowing the use of
parish halls free of charge for English lessons and as community
hubs for small pockets of rural Ukrainians to meet?
The hon. Gentleman makes typically sensible suggestions. He has
put them on the record, and I know that the Church will do
everything possible nationally and locally. He has made good
suggestions.
Persecuted Christians: 2019 Report
(Chipping Barnet)
(Con)
2. What steps the Church is taking to help implement the
recommendations of the report of the on support for persecuted
Christians published in 2019. (901368)
I thank my right hon. Friend for her sustained and long-term
interest in freedom of religion and belief for Christians and
people of all faiths around the world. At the Lambeth conference,
the , herself a Christian
refugee from Iran, spoke about the need to challenge some of the
darker elements of faith leaders who condone persecution.
(Chipping Barnet)
(Con)
In the light of the conclusions of the independent review
assessing the implementation of the Bishop of Truro’s report on
supporting persecuted Christians around the world, what
improvements would the Church like to see in relation to the
envoy for freedom of religion or belief? My hon. Friend the
Member for Congleton () has done a wonderful job, but
we want to see the post established on a permanent basis, with
greater capacity to engage across Government and resources to
match.
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for raising an extremely
important point. Our hon. Friend the faith envoy, who is in the
Chamber, does a fantastic job. I can assure my right hon. Friend
that the Church remains completely committed to the full
implementation of the Truro review, especially recommendation 6,
which is to make the envoy a permanent position with “appropriate
resources and authority” to work across Government.
Mr Speaker
Now that the hon. Member for Congleton () has been named, I think we
ought to bring her in.
(Congleton) (Con)
I thank my right hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet
() for her question and my
hon. Friend the Second Church Estates Commissioner for his
answer. The recent independent review of progress on Truro has
confirmed that there is more to be done before FORB becomes
firmly embedded in the work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and
Development Office. One area that was highlighted is the need for
better engagement with stakeholders, among which the Church is
key. Would the Second Church Estates Commissioner be willing to
join me to discuss the matter at a meeting with an FCDO Minister,
which has been agreed?
I should be delighted, and I would like to bring our bishops who
lead in the area and senior officials from Church House to that
important meeting.
Holy Trinity Church, Wingate: Review
(Easington) (Lab)
4. What progress the Church has made on the review of lessons
learned at Holy Trinity Church, Wingate. (901370)
The Second Church Estates Commissioner ()
This has been a deeply troubling time for the Bell family, and I
want to pass on my heartfelt apologies for what has happened. I
am pleased that the issue has been resolved and the lessons
learned process begins next month, and I know that the vicar of
Holy Trinity Wingate has strongly supported the family during
this difficult time.
May I place on record my thanks to the hon. Member for his
assistance with this matter during the recess?
I can report to the House that Thomas Bell’s coffin has been
located, and that his late wife Hilda was buried with him after a
heartbreaking eight-week delay. Appallingly, however, for 17
years the family—who were my constituents, living in
Easington—unknowingly attended the wrong grave, and in the
process of locating Mr Bell’s coffin several other errors were
identified. Does the hon. Member agree that we need to improve
burial records, with digital copies, introduce a new process for
marking plots after burial, and draw up rules for the orderly
organisation of plots in churchyards?
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right: record-keeping is
incredibly important. The Parochial Registers and Records Measure
1978 clearly states that records should be kept in fireproof
places, and the hon. Gentleman’s point about digital copies was
also well made. The lessons learned inquiry will focus on best
practice for all parishes. Let me add, on a personal note, that I
was very pleased that Mrs Bell’s great-grandchild was baptised in
the church last weekend.
Affordable and Sustainable Housing
(Eastbourne) (Con)
9. What steps the Church is taking to provide affordable,
sustainable housing on its land. (901375)
The Second Church Estates Commissioner ()
Following the Church’s “Coming Home” report on meeting housing
need, the Church is looking to establish a new national housing
association and to make use of Church-owned land to develop more
affordable homes where we are able to, along with pod homes to
house vulnerable people temporarily.
Understandably, there were mixed feelings when the original St
Elizabeth’s church in Eastbourne’s old town had to be demolished,
but the church community moved next door and is thriving.
Demolition created a significant site in a prime location in a
town where housing development opportunities are few and far
between. May I ask my hon. Friend what progress has been made in
order to realise the potential on the site?
St Elizabeth’s Eastbourne was due for demolition in 2019 because
the building was unsafe, and I am pleased that the congregation
are thriving in their new location. We are now looking for a new
home for the Hans Feibusch murals from the crypt, which I have to
say, from the photographs I have seen of them, are very splendid.
We are working with the local council, developers and the local
community to find an appropriate housing scheme for this
site.
Accessibility of Churches
(Sleaford and North
Hykeham) (Con)
12. What steps the Church is taking to improve the accessibility
of churches for people with disabilities. (901378)
The Church of England strongly encourages parishes and cathedrals
to ensure access for all, wherever possible. On a personal note,
I am grateful to the parish church where I grew up for providing
ramps to get my mother in and out of the church in her
wheelchair. The public worship of Jesus should always be
accessible to as many people as possible.
Dr Johnson
The Holy Trinity or West Allington church is beautiful and
historic, but access to it is quite poor. The lovely grass slope
going up to the church means that, in winter and in poor, wet
weather, the church is inaccessible to the elderly and those with
disabilities, and some of my constituents have missed family
funerals as a result. What can the Church Commissioners do to
help?
It is typical of my hon. Friend’s conscientiousness that she has
visited Holy Trinity, Allington to help get these much-needed
improvements. If she contacts the archdeacon of Boston, the
archdeacon will work with her and the parish, with the assistance
of the church buildings department, to improve their bid for the
necessary funds to help revitalise the church as a resource for
the whole community. As she says, it is appalling that people
have not been able to attend family funerals.
