Church Commissioners
The hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the
Church Commissioners was asked—
Online and In-person
Communal Worship: Covid-19 Restrictions
(Cleethorpes) (Con)
Whether the Church of England plans to support online and
in-person communal worship as covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
The Second Church Estates Commissioner ()
The Church of England is strongly encouraging churches to support
both in-person and online communal worship, and training has been
given to thousands of clergy to enable this. It is up to local
churches to decide how best to do this.
I thank my hon. Friend for his reply. It is welcome that the
Church is encouraging this both online and in-person. For those
housebound, who perhaps in the past have only received home
communion, to be able to participate more is very welcome, but
nothing can actually replace the fellowship of being a part of a
real-life congregation. Can he give an absolute assurance that no
barriers will be put in the way of achieving that?
I could not agree with my hon. Friend more, and I can give him a
complete assurance that the Church of England fully recognises
the importance that so many people attach to worshipping
communally together in church. At the same time, we are very keen
not to lose those who join us online, and we hope we will be able
to get to know many of our new online attendees as soon as
possible in due course.
Choral Singing in
Churches and Cathedrals: Covid-19
(Lichfield) (Con)
What discussions the commissioners have had with the Secretary of
State for Health and Social Care on reintroducing choral singing
in churches and cathedrals during the covid-19 outbreak.
The Church is having ongoing discussions with the Government
about when choral and communal singing in churches and cathedrals
can return, and I am very aware how frustrating the current
situation is for choirs across the country.
Mr Speaker
Let us go to the shadow of Lichfield cathedral, with .
[V]
Some people relax with yoga, others with tai chi—perhaps you do,
Mr Speaker—but in the good old days when I used to have a week in
Westminster and then get back to Lichfield, I unwound by going to
evensong in Lichfield cathedral, which is very relaxing indeed.
Whatever reason people go to evensong—perhaps even religious
reasons, for worship—there is a need for it to be restored. What
assurance can my hon. Friend give that, come 19 July, things will
truly get back to normal in Lichfield and elsewhere?
I was praising my hon. Friend in front of all the cathedral deans
on Tuesday for his diligence on behalf of Lichfield cathedral. He
is absolutely right about the beauty of our choral tradition and
how much it is cherished. We all want to see a return as quickly
as possible.
Families and Marriages:
Support from the Church
(East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow) (SNP)
What steps the Church is taking to support and strengthen
families and marriages.
The Second Church Estates Commissioner ()
Both archbishops are very committed to strengthening families and
marriages across the country, which is why they have launched
their commission on families and households to see what greater
support the Church can provide in this vital area of our national
life.
Dr Cameron [V]
What a welcome response. Given that the Government have recently
announced the foundation of the National Centre for Family Hubs,
led by the Anna Freud Centre, and given the interest in family
hubs from our local Hope Church in Blackwood, what communication
has the hon. Member had with the Family Hubs Network to ensure
that churches are involved in this support that is being offered
to vulnerable families across our local communities?
I am grateful for the hon. Lady’s question. Like her, I am a
great fan of family hubs. The families and households commission
will be looking carefully at how family hubs can help families to
flourish and how churches could be involved in this important
work.
Rewilding in New
Tenancy Agreements
(Bristol East) (Lab)
What steps the Church of England is taking to promote rewilding
in new tenancy agreements.
I commend the hon. Lady’s continued focus on this vital area. Our
new farm business tenancies strongly encourage good environmental
practice, such as ensuring that watercourses are kept clear,
hedgerows are well maintained and topsoil is preserved. We are
reviewing tenancy obligations as our new environmental strategy
is developed.
I thank the hon. Member for his engagement with me on this
issue—and his tolerance, in some cases. I am pleased to see that
the commissioners will be carrying out a natural capital audit of
their 105,000 acres of land. Can he say whether that is likely to
result in recommendations on conservation and rewilding? If so,
will he consider looking at the National Trust’s model tenancy
agreements to see whether that is something that could be put in
future tenancy agreements on the commissioners’ land?
I continue to be grateful to the hon. Lady. The Church wants to
be an exemplar in this area. I can tell her that we expect the
results of the natural capital audit shortly and will use it to
see where we can enhance the environment of our rural land after
we have listened to and collected the necessary data from our
tenants.
Church Estates:
Rewilding, Tree-planting and Sustainable Farming
(Leeds
North West) (Lab/Co-op)
What plans there are for rewilding, tree-planting and sustainable
farming on Church estates.
(York Central) (Lab/Co-op)
What steps the Church of England is taking to increase planting
and rewilding on its land.
The Second Church Estates Commissioner ()
Ahead of the new environmental land management schemes, we are
undertaking a natural capital audit across our rural holdings.
The report, which is expected later this year, will include a
review of woodland management and new tree planting, including
riparian planting.
[V]
The Church is a significant UK landowner, owning 105,000 acres of
land, with a property portfolio worth over £2 billion. May I ask
what plans it has for rewilding, tree planting and sustainable
farming on its estates, as well as for being more transparent
about what land it owns and how that land is used?
I can tell the hon. Gentleman that like him I want to see a lot
more trees planted. The Church in 2020 planted 1.1 million trees,
on top of the 2.6 million we planted in 2019. Page 24 of the 2020
annual report shows our top 20 property holdings and our top 20
equity holdings.
The Church of England is in the business of restoration. Yet over
the centuries we have seen our natural habitats retreat into
manufactured and managed landscapes, which are just ineffective
at balancing our delicate ecosystem. As a significant landowner
lagging behind the national ambition on rewilding as well as
planting, what are the next steps the Church will take to build
our natural cathedrals of woodlands and wildernesses ahead of
COP26? How much will it invest in that project, and will it set a
diocesan and local church challenge in this year of COP26 for
them to play their part too?
There was a lot there, but I will do my best. I can tell the hon.
Lady that, of the 184,000 acres we own in total, 92,000 acres are
timber, but she is right that there is more to do. I will be
attending the Groundswell conference next week, as will some
members of the Church Commissioners, along with a number of
Environment Ministers, and we are very conscious of the important
issues that she raises.
Investment in
Companies: Transparency and Low Carbon Economy
(Lewisham East) (Lab)
What progress the Church of England has made on engaging the
companies it has invested in to (a) improve transparency and (b)
transition to a low carbon economy.
The commissioners have a long history of leveraging their
position as an investor to increase transparency and to make sure
that companies are Paris-aligned—most recently, with ExxonMobil.
The commissioners’ work alongside other investors can often play
a leading role in organisations such as Climate Action 100+, the
United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment and the
Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change.
[V]
This week, the Young Christian Climate Network began its relay
for justice, where over 500 young people will take part in the
trek from Truro Cathedral to Glasgow to call for bold action from
our political and religious leaders. We all know that warm words
will not stop the earth’s temperature rising, and although I very
much welcome the update from the commissioner today, will he
confirm that every component of the Church, including the
commissioners, is on track to reach zero carbon by 2030?
All parts of the Church are absolutely committed to reaching net
zero. The Church will shortly be meeting Environment Ministers to
see what more we can do together, and our ethical investing has
won a number of awards in that area.
Net Zero Target
(North Devon) (Con)
What progress the Church of England has made towards its 2030 net
zero target.
The Second Church Estates Commissioner ()
We estimate that the net carbon footprint for our church
buildings is 12.5% lower than in 2006. We have developed an
energy footprint tool, which has been shortlisted for an award at
this year’s Energy Awards, and 38% of our parishes have engaged
with the footprint tool. I suggest to my hon. Friend that she
encourages parishes in her constituency to do so as well.
I am sure that my hon. Friend would agree that small rural
churches, of which there are many in my North Devon constituency,
have an important role to play in hitting net zero. I know many
congregants who are keen to do more with their local church to
help. Will he explain what the Government are doing to promote
the role that individuals and small rural churches can play
together in this national issue?
I am delighted to be able to tell my hon. Friend that the diocese
of Exeter has just received a £1 million grant from the Church
for its Growing the Rural Church project. She could encourage
local churches to join the Eco Church scheme and suggest that
they move to a renewable electricity supplier. For those fit
enough to cycle to church, she might ask them about where bikes
could be left securely during services.
