Church Leaders Reflect on 40 Years Since Faith in the City

Church leaders, clergy, and community representatives gathered in Manchester Cathedral last week to mark the 40th anniversary of Faith in the City, the landmark 1985 Church of England report that called attention to poverty and inequality in Britain’s urban areas.

The joint event, organised by Greater Together Manchester and Church Urban Fund, featured inspiring local projects and reflections from Terry Drummond and Joe Forde, the authors of the new Faith in the City 40th Anniversary volume. They looked back on how the Church’s engagement with social action has evolved over four decades, and considered the ongoing challenges.

Terry and Joe talked about the need for shared responsibility for the welfare and wellbeing of people in society, including in health, education, social housing, pensions and employment between the State, the Church, family and individuals. It’s important to establish a balance which will lead to successful change. They ended by saying to the Church: “Recover the vision, interpret it for today and act on it.”

The Revd Canon Ellie Trimble, Rector of Church of the Apostles, Manchester and St Cuthbert, Miles Platting, said, “It can be hard being alongside others, but our struggles are the same. We are on the journey together. We feel like we are filling in the gaps left from the things that have been taken away from us.

“I’ve been encouraged to work in partnership with others who are creating change in our community and God is blessing what we are doing. I am encouraged and full of energy for the future.”

Lily Axworthy, Chief Executive of social justice and anti-poverty charity Greater Together Manchester, said, “Our desire is for every individual person to heed the call to take up the fight for social justice. Our work is challenging at the moment – funding is scarce, demand is high. We want the Church to bring social justice and social action back to the heart of everything it does. We can make a difference as we work together.”

Bishop David Walker reflected on the social and economic changes shaping our communities, highlighting the inequalities of deepening poverty in many areas and growing affluence in others. He said, “Faith in the City was an inspiration to me. It helped me to understand that the work of the Christian Gospel is not divided between evangelism on the one side and social action on the other, but the two go hand in glove. We still need to give hope to people in their lives, in our cities today, many of whom are living with the same problems that were around 40 years ago.”

The gathering also came at a significant national moment, just ahead of the Government’s forthcoming Budget. Church of England bishops have urged policymakers to make choices that build a fairer and more equitable society, including lifting the two-child limit on benefits. Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell said, “My hope is that the Government remembers those whose voices are too often not heard, and makes decisions that lift people up and give them hope for a better future. As followers of Christ we are called to love one another, to speak up for those who suffer and challenge those who hold the power to work for the benefit of all.”

Echoing the spirit of the original Faith in the City report, Archbishop Stephen reaffirmed the Church’s ongoing role in confronting injustice and envisioning society rooted in compassion, care, and community. With a presence in every corner of the country, the Church remains uniquely placed to serve, to challenge, and to inspire hope.