Church Buildings Trust

I have been asked to draw your attention to the website www.sanctuary-uk.org.uk The site is not a diocesan, nor indeed an official Church of England, initiative, but it does have the blessing of the Cathedrals and Church Buildings Division, who are interested to see what response it inspires. A pilot survey of three dioceses earlier this year encouraged this further research. 

"Sanctuary UK" is an attempt to grapple with the issues surrounding our church buildings imaginatively and positively. It seeks to achieve (in challenging times!) a clear distinction between our determination to develop and fund appropriate patterns of ministry and mission, and the clear responsibility of each local community to cherish its special building. 

The idea is to form a kind of community-owned national trust, but without messing up existing legislation.

The very succinct website ends with a 4-question Yes/No survey. I hope that you will want to take part in this entirely voluntary exercise and so contribute to a usefully measurable response from our diocese. You might also like to forward this to your Friends group or equivalent.
www.sanctuary-uk.org.uk