That’s the message from the Archbishop of Canterbury in his introduction to a new report looking at the groundbreaking work of six projects supported by the Church Urban Fund.  

Dr Rowan Williams believes the ‘Churches in Action’ report also demonstrates the role the Church plays in lifting people when they most need it – often from the depths of despair.

“If you have any doubts about the contribution that the Christian faith makes to the life of our country, read this,” he urges.

Based on research carried out for CUF by Coventry University's Applied Research Centre in Sustainable Regeneration (SURGE), the report highlights how the Christian faith has inspired projects to reach out in some of the most deprived communities across England, bringing lasting change.

Adds Dr Williams: ”The stories (in the report) are of people who have found something, just when they most needed it, and in some cases when they had sunk into the depths of despair. They found warmth, welcome and friendship. They found people, often volunteers, who re-affirmed them as part of the human family. They found hospitality, respect and esteem. 

“No magic wands here, but a testimony to human worth – how it gets lost, but also how it can be rediscovered and regenerated.”

The Church Urban Fund, which works with the poorest people in England, today welcomed some specific proposals in the chancellor’s budget, but expressed disappointment that not enough was being done to help deprived families.

Government plans to create or support up to 250,000 jobs in deprived areas is a much-needed initiative but it will have to be sustained throughout the recession to have a real impact, according to CUF.

Chief executive Tim Bissett said: “In the face of a serious downturn we can understand the chancellor’s economic difficulties. But we were hoping to see greater impetus towards ending child poverty, particularly in view of earlier government commitments.”

The CUF also welcomed measures to ensure that everyone under the age of 25, out of work for 12 months or more, will be offered a job or a place on a training scheme. But CUF said these proposals must translate into real jobs to sustain communities. 

Other proposals to kick-start housing projects; maintain winter fuel allowances, and extra pension benefits for grandparents caring for grandchildren, will also help some of England’s worst off families, according to the CUF.

Tim Bissett added: “Every year we see people falling into fuel poverty, and now more people at risk of losing their homes. The government has a duty to help the poorest in our communities who have been hardest hit by the recession.”

The Church Urban Fund was born out of the controversial Faith in the City report published in 1985 which challenged many of the assumptions of the Thatcher premiership. CUF is now planning another major appeal to help communities deal with the worst effects of the downturn.