Caritas Westminster was pleased to partner with Stir to Action to host experts and senior leaders from across the faith, charity, academic, civil and property sectors at ‘They shall build up the ancient ruins,’ an exciting conference aimed at bringing new life to unused and underused church land and property for community benefit.
Inspired by the themes of Isaiah 61, the event sprang from a desire to bring the Church’s ethos of relationship and communion to the wider property sector, and to lead efforts to restore a sense of community in an increasingly atomised and individualistic society.
Held at Mercers’ Hall on 14th July, the event opened with keynote speaker Lord Khan of Burnley, Minister for Faith, Communities and Resettlement, who stressed the social, spiritual and cultural importance of places of worship. This was followed by presentations, examples of successfully repurposed property, and table discussions led by subject experts, and concluded with a final panel session chaired by Richard Harries, Director of Caritas Westminster.
Speaking about the continued importance and potential of churches in our communities, Lord Khan noted:
Places of worship are not relics of the past, but living, breathing assets in the present. They remain places of warmth, welcome and belonging, just as they always have. But today, they also deliver essential services; meeting daily needs, reducing isolation and strengthening local life.
Attendees heard from researchers such as Dr Tom Archer, author of Our assets, our future, and Becky Payne, author of the 2017 Crossing the Threshold toolkit. Presentations also featured case studies of current projects in the field, including community-run projects like Stretford Public Hall in Manchester, as well as Caritas Westminster’s own Seeds Hub, an unused parish social club turned into a start-up incubator for entrepreneurs experiencing economic inequality.
Table discussions revolved around subjects including reuse of historic buildings, community asset transfer, affordable homes, measuring social value and more, to enable industry professionals and thought leaders to brainstorm how property can sustainably serve and rebuild communities.
Speakers and discussion leads included Stephen Aldridge CB (MHCLG), Susie Farren (The National Lottery Community Fund), Stefano Marrone (Roman Catholic Real Estate Corporation of Montreal), Owen Garling (Bennett Institute for Public Policy), Karl Newton (National Churches Trust) and many others, as well as representatives from the Catholic Church and the Church of England.
In his closing remarks, Richard Harries captured the spirit of the day’s conversations:
I truly believe that the diverse Christian heritage of this country offers a singular opportunity to help bind up the wounds of the nation; to work with national and local government, with the private sector, and with communities themselves, to bring new life and new hope to the country.
Caritas Westminster is the voice of charity in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster, a geography covering the 5.5 million people living in north London and Hertfordshire. Our vision is of the Church fully engaged in the ministry of charity, attending to those at greatest risk of exclusion through poverty, disability, isolation and exploitation. Find out more about our services here.
Stir to Action is a national organisation dedicated to helping communities acquire and/or steward physical assets, with the aim of strengthening local economies. These assets include former public properties like community centres and parks, civic institutions such as social clubs and legion halls, and private properties like pubs and brownfield sites. Learn more about our work here.
