The United Reformed Church has played an important role in the nurturing and development of communities across Britain over many years. Many of our best buildings have brought a sense of place and identity to local communities across the land.

 

However it is also the case that there are an increasing number of churches with congregations which are, or will shortly cease to be viable. In addition there are numerous churches with unsuitable premises.

 

The Catch the Vision process addressed this issue. The 2005 URC General Assembly passed a number of resolutions set out in the Catch the Vision Report: Together Making a Difference for Christ’s Sake. Recommendation No 10: proposed establishing “An agency, which will allow buildings that are a burden to have an opportunity of new life”.

 

Southern, Thames North and Mersey Provinces have all contributed funds to enable the initial work to be done exploring the feasibility and scope of the property Regeneration Agency. Andrew Maswon, Peter Southcombe and Donald Findlay were commissioned to carry out this work. They have now produced a report entitled One Church, 100 Uses which has been printed and copies are available from rdoandmissionpa@urcsouthern.org.uk or call 01634 814240.

 

One Church, 100 Uses set out how the Agency will provide specialist property and regeneration expertise to local churches. The agency will be responsible for putting into place a plan that will redevelop church premises and then hand them over to a local church or agency to manage and run.

 

Each development will be high-quality, imaginative, yet practical and long term. The approach will be ecumenical, rooted in its local context, and sustainable, both environmentally and economically. For each situation a solution will be offered which will be:  

We are, to some degree, the places we live, work and play within. We believe that by rejuvenating may of our historic sites, bringing them once again back to life, we will not only be re-interpreting the mission of the church to a new generation, but we will also be “lifting the game” and surprising people through what we hope will be a new generation of inspiring church buildings.

 

Buildings, which we believe, will once again bring life to local communities.

 

Proposal for consideration by Synod - That Synod accepts in principle the concept of the National Agency for Transformation of Churches in anticipation of further proposals to the October 2006 Synod.