Celebrating 40 Years of Faith in the City - sharing stories
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Faith in the City report.
Together Liverpool is proud to lead the Faith in the City 40th Anniversary project in the Liverpool City Region, on behalf of our partners Churches Together in Merseyside (CTMR).
We’re delighted to welcome Fran D’Arcy, Faith in the City Lead Development Officer to the Together Liverpool staff team. With a wealth of experience in the charity sector, Fran’s work will be at the heart of this anniversary initiative.
Fran will lead the project as we reflect on the legacy of the 1985 report, which was published in direct response to the social and economic challenges facing Britain’s inner cities and housing estates in the 1980s.
She will be engaging with faith groups from across our region to hear and share stories of social action over the last four decades. These stories will help shape a manifesto for action which we will deliver, called Vision for the City, as a catalyst for future progress.
The Faith in the City 40th Anniversary project will focus on three key themes:
- Charity to Solidarity
- What Difference Does Faith Make?
- How can faith communities engage with civic leaders?
Key events will include the annual Micah Lecture, hosted by the Diocese of Liverpool at Liverpool Cathedral, and the annual Social Action Network Conference, hosted by the Archdiocese of Liverpool, this summer.
Together Liverpool and our CTMR partners will also host a Faith in the City 40th Anniversary celebration event this autumn, engaging stakeholders and civic leaders in the work. We’ll present the Vision for the City manifesto with a call to action for future collaboration towards real change.
Get involved
We’re calling on faith communities across the Liverpool City Region to share their stories of action and impact. Whether tackling poverty, addressing housing challenges, or confronting inequality, we want to showcase the incredible work happening in our communities.
These stories will help form the foundation of our Vision for the City manifesto, capturing the lived experiences of faith groups and exploring how we can move from charity to solidarity while reimagining faith’s role in social justice.
Fran said: “Faith in the City remains a powerful call to action for churches and communities to work for justice and solidarity.
“This anniversary is a unique opportunity to reflect on its legacy and engage a diverse range of voices—faith groups, volunteers, and local faith leaders—in shaping a vision for the future.
“We want to hear your stories and perspectives, highlighting the breadth of social action taking place across our communities. Together, we hope to inspire a renewed commitment to social justice, solidarity, and collective action as we shape a better future.”
What is Faith in the City?
Published in 1985, the Faith in the City report was a direct response to the social and economic challenges facing Britain’s inner cities and housing estates in the 1980s. It examined critical issues such as unemployment, inadequate housing, and racial tensions and called for united action from both the Church and the government to tackle these challenges and promote social justice.
One of the key authors of the report was the former Bishop of Liverpool, David Sheppard, whose leadership continues to resonate. His contributions give the report a deep connection to our region, where many of the issues it addressed remain pressing today.
Find out more
Read our Q&A with Fran about the Faith in the City 40th anniversary project
Contact us
If you have a story to share contact Fran
Stay updated
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