Rural links

Most people who think of the Liverpool Diocese think of a major urban concentration. However, the Diocese also has areas of rural land and thriving agricultural businesses in West Lancashire, as well as pockets of rural communities spread throughout Greater Merseyside, Wigan and Warrington.

Despite its urban character, high priority has always been given in the Diocese to the needs of its rural communities. The Diocese actively participates in national events on churches and rural communities. For Greater Merseyside it has been commissioned to take the lead for the whole Voluntary/Community and Faith sector.

There are particularly good links with the National Farmers Union and the Merseyside Association of Parish & Town Councils.

To church and world

Rural Issues Forum

The Diocese is in the process of establishing a Rural Issues Forum to ensure that the needs of rural churches and the communities that they serve are not overlooked. Alice Bradley, PCC Secretary in Rainford and a National Vice President of Young Farmers has agreed to be the first Chair of the Forum which starts work in autumn 2008.

Issues to be covered by the Forum which will have a strong inter-church element will include:

developing fresh expressions of church appropriate to rural communities
working with key bodies like the National Farmers Union, Young Farmers, and Parish Councils
encouraging our concern for fair trade to encompass the needs of local farmers
creating an awareness of rural communities throughout the Diocese