Church of England Launches Initiative to Transform Church Land into Affordable Housing
The Church of England is taking a significant step towards addressing the housing crisis by introducing a £3.2 million grant program. This initiative is designed to assist parishes and dioceses in creating affordable housing solutions on church-owned properties.
With the goal of mitigating the housing shortage, the scheme provides churches with up to £25,000 in funding, enabling them to access expert advice in architecture, consultancy, and planning necessary for housing development.
This grant is part of a larger £4.25 million effort that spans five years, aiming to transform underutilized church lands—like old parish halls and vacant parking lots—into valuable community housing.
The project is inspired by the 2021 Coming Home report from the Archbishops’ Commission on Housing, Church and Community, which called on the Church of England to be a leader in addressing national housing issues.
Richard Sudworth, the Church of England’s Director of Faith and Public Life, explained the initiative as an expression of Christian ethics. He stated, “This housing initiative is a simple response to a biblical mandate to God’s people towards justice: where a true fast involves bringing the homeless poor into our house (Isaiah 58:7), and where serving Christ demands that we welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35).”
Beki Winter, head of the new Church of England Housing Project team and a former Housing Justice professional, stressed the overlooked potential in church lands. She remarked, “Many parishes have issues with their buildings or property, but don’t always realise that these problems could be opportunities to provide some housing.
“There are many creative ways to use church land or property to provide housing for people in need, whilst improving community facilities or bolstering parish finances.”
Beyond monetary aid, the initiative also offers specialized guidance for Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) interested in reimagining property use to better serve those most in need.
A recent redevelopment at St Martin’s Church in Fulwood, Preston, exemplifies this transformative approach. The 60-year-old parish hall site was converted into a low-cost housing complex with 14 units, alongside an eco-friendly parish hub.
Canon Andrea Titterington, who managed the project, highlighted that the endeavor achieved the Church of England’s dual objectives of providing “affordable housing” and creating “community space for fellowship, service and worship.”
Churches looking to participate in this initiative are encouraged to reach out to the Church of England Housing Project team via email to explore how their land could play a pivotal role in meeting local housing needs.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
