© 2020 – 2023 AEA3 WEB | AEAƎ United Kingdom News
AEA3 WEB | AEAƎ United Kingdom News
News

Churches tally up their value to society – at £12.4bn

From food banks to youth clubs, the C of E hosts 35,000 projects. Now a price has been put on its contribution

Sixteen years ago, St Stephen’s church in Bradford was on the verge of closure. Its congregation had dwindled to half a dozen, and the building – a “big old barn of a place”, in a predominantly Muslim area – was in poor repair. “People thought it had had its day,” said the Rev Jimmy Hinton.

Now, St Stephen’s is a vital hub, providing support and activities in an area of acute deprivation. The nave has been cleared of its pews, and heating has been installed. On a typical day, you might find an exercise class, a support group for asylum seekers and refugees, community meals being cooked and served, singing and stories for infants, mosaic-making, and people hunting for jobs or claiming benefits online.

Continue reading…

Related posts

Storm Bella: high winds add to flooding chaos across UK

AEA3

Bulb bailout may cost UK government billions less than feared, says watchdog

AEA3

Six Tory donors given top cultural posts since Boris Johnson became PM

AEA3

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This