We have found ‘Faith in the City’
Across our region, faith communities are feeding the hungry, welcoming the lonely, and tackling the climate emergency.
At Together Liverpool we are preparing to mark 40 years since the Faith in the City report, in partnership with members of Churches Together in Merseyside, to celebrate the contribution of faith communities across Liverpool City Region.
We are delighted to welcome Fran D’Arcy, our Faith in the City Lead Development Officer, to help shape this work, as we reflect on the last four decades and look forwards to how we can help shape the future.
Over the past 3½ years, we have mapped more than 470 social action projects at Anglican churches in the Diocese of Liverpool, where 69% of churches are involved in a foodbank, 58% in lunch clubs or drop-ins, and 48% in toddler and playgroups. If activities by other faith communities were taken into account, we know the number would be significantly higher.
If faith is measured by the level of social action amongst its believers then we can confidently say: We have found faith in our city.
The words of the prophet Jeremiah to an exiled Israel ring true: “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
This reminds us that faith communities are not separate from the fabric of our city – they are woven into it. As we challenge injustice today, we must remember we have a significant voice and a story to share.
The 1985 Faith in the City report, shaped in part by former Bishop of Liverpool David Sheppard, was a landmark moment in the Church’s engagement with issues of poverty, employment, housing, education, young people, social care, and community work. While it focused on urban poverty and assumed Christianity as the city’s faith, it helped bring these issues to the forefront of public and civic debate, amplifying the voices of inner-city churches.
As we celebrate this anniversary, we’ll be reflecting on the report’s legacy, sharing stories from those who were working in parishes at the time, and exploring how faith communities continue to make a difference today.
We invite you to share your stories of social justice, to help inspire and bring hope, highlighting the impact of faith and action. By sharing, you’ll be contributing to a narrative that honours our collective commitment to justice and equality.
Thanks, Rev James Green,
CEO, Together Liverpool
