On 19th January 2017 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, answered questions in the House of Commons from MPs on Israel/Palestine, human trafficking, prisons, social media, low carbon economy, tourism and lead theft. The transcript is below:
Tag: church buildings
Church Commissioners’ written answer: Church window repairs
On 19th January 2017 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, answered a written question from Mike Wood MP, on repairing historic windows in churches:
Mike Wood (Dudley South): To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what estimate the Church Commissioners have made of the potential cost of repairing historic windows in churches. Continue reading “Church Commissioners’ written answer: Church window repairs”
Church Commissioners’ written answers: War Memorials
On the 30 November 2016 Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, answered two written questions about the work of the Church to support veterans and construct war memorials.
Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what the Church of England’s policy is on erecting new war memorial plaques. Continue reading “Church Commissioners’ written answers: War Memorials”
Church Commissioner Questions – Christian persecution, church buildings, anti-Semitism, Christmas campaign
On 24th November 2016 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, answered questions from MPs on the persecution of Christians overseas, the Red Wednesday campaign, church buildings, anti-Semitism and the Church’s Christmas campaign:
Church Commissioners. The right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, was asked—
Persecution of Christians
Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con):
What recent representations the Church of England has received on the persecution of Christians overseas. [907442]
The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Dame Caroline Spelman): The Church of England remains concerned about a number of religious minorities across the world, not just Christian ones. Recently, the Lord Bishop of Coventry travelled to northern Iraq to visit the Christians in Mosul because it is clear that questions remain about their continued safety and the need to make their homes and businesses safe if they are to sustain themselves there. Continue reading “Church Commissioner Questions – Christian persecution, church buildings, anti-Semitism, Christmas campaign”
Bishop of St Albans encourages partnerships between libraries and rural churches
On the 13th October 2016 Lord Bird led a debate in the House of Lords: “That this House takes note of the cultural, civic and educational significance of libraries, bookshops and booksellers in the United Kingdom.” The Bishop of St Albans the Rt Revd Alan Smith, spoke about the impact closure could have on rural communities and the importance of imaginative partnerships which are developing between libraries and churches.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I, too, add my congratulations the noble Lord, Lord Bird, for securing this debate. I want to speak today about the future of libraries and other shared community spaces in rural areas, as a vital contributor to rural sustainability. I should declare an interest as the president of the Rural Coalition, which brings together a range of rural interest groups, and as a bishop responsible for a large number of rural parishes across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans encourages partnerships between libraries and rural churches”
Church Commissioner question – cathedral repairs and maintenance
On 13th October 2016 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, answered a written question from Karl McCartney MP on cathedral repairs and maintenance:
Karl McCartney(Lincoln): To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church of England has made an assessment of the effect of the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund on the fabric of English cathedrals. Continue reading “Church Commissioner question – cathedral repairs and maintenance”
Church Commissioners written answer: Churches in Blackburn
On 5th September 2016 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, answered a written question from Mark Hendrick MP about churches in the Diocese of Blackburn and the English Churches and Cathedrals Sustainability Review.
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, which churches and personnel in Preston and the rest of the Diocese of Blackburn have participated in the English Churches and Cathedrals Sustainability Review. Continue reading “Church Commissioners written answer: Churches in Blackburn”
Church Commissioners: Impact of Landfill Communities Fund
On the 10th March the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, answered a written question from Nic Dakin MP about the impact of changes to the Landfill Communities Fund on church buildings. Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe): To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the proposed changes to the Landfill Communities Fund on the restoration and repair of listed church properties and church buildings.
Caroline Spelman praises work of Churches Conservation Trust
On the 29 February 2016 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Mrs Caroline Spelman, briefly contributed to a debate on the Funding Order for the Churches Conservation Trust.
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden) (Con): Early in his remarks my right hon. Friend the Minister mentioned the fact that a few of the churches are isolated, with no natural community around them. Does he agree that the Churches Conservation Trust provides a wider benefit to the local rural community by creating jobs that bring people in to repair and maintain these precious buildings?
Mr Evennett: I thank my right hon. Friend for her question. Before I answer it, I congratulate her on her superb work as a Church Commissioner. She is always hard at work on such matters. I totally agree with her: we want to bring new life into our rural communities, and if we can use churches to do that, we should. I mentioned earlier the innovative champing initiative. In a rural area that might be just what is needed. I welcome my right hon. Friend’s comments. We would warmly welcome and encourage any developments that bring tourism, jobs and opportunities to rural areas.
Written Answer: Church buildings and community use
On 4th February 2016, Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, Second Church Estates Commissioner, responded to a written question from Karl McCartney MP, on the community use of church buildings:
Church of England: Community Relations: Written question –
Karl McCartney (Lincoln) To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to ensure that its buildings are open for wider community use.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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