Open & Sustainable Churches or ‘how the C of E

is doing something more constructive with empty

churches’Ruth Knight, Environmental Policy Officer

The Church of England has 16,000 church buildings, of which 12,500 are listed buildings. How many, if any, do you think were closed last year? Base: All respondents (1,003)

Less than 20

Open and Sustainable ChurchesAre…

• Open for worship and for visitors during normal working or daylight hours at least, if possible; otherwise clear directions

• Open in the sense of providing a welcoming atmosphere for all, regardless of reason for visiting

• Open for partnership with community and commercial interests, and for cultural, educational and tourism uses

• Open in the sense of providing wherever possible good access for all and modern facilities

Open and Sustainable ChurchesAre…

• Environmentally sustainable, striving to meet Shrinking the Footprint targets

• Sustainable in the true sense of conservation, which is “the responsible management of change”

• Socially sustainable, by providing a resource which is accessible and attractive to large sections of the community

• Economically sustainable, in terms of covering the costs of mission and maintenance, while maintaining healthy reserves

Support for churches looking at complementary uses, Cultural, Community or Commercial

• Audit – Survey Reports are written to define significance and potential

• Options - Conservation Management Plans (CMPs) and Church Development Plans (CDPs)

• Action - strategic plan for progress to be developed

A new model............

The ‘Ark’ - St Paul’s, Old Ford, Bow, London

Thank you

ruth.knight@churchofengland.org

www.churchcare.co.uk