The Churches and Rural Affairs

Much energy from the churches is directed to areas of high population, but the vast expanses of countryside cannot be neglected, both as a place for living and working and as a place for recreation. There are very particular problems and opportunities as  patterns of population and work change. Here we hope you find some useful links to organisations and groups who are focussing on a number of these issues with the mission of the churches and the needs of communities in mind

	The Churches Rural Group   This is where the churches meet. Policy matters are discussed here, while most active work is undertaken by the denominations themselves and other rural agencies. Many of the links you will find on this site will demonstrate the broad range of issues that are being addressed and which are important for the mission of the churches.
	The Arthur Rank Centre Established by the Royal Agricultural Society for England and the Rank Foundation, this centre is a focus for much work being done on rural affairs amongst the churches, along with other organisations and agencies. The ARC is the base for the national rural officers for the Church of England and the Methodist and United Reformed Churches. You will find many links here covering a broad range of rural concerns.
	Churches European Rural Network CERN (now the European part of IRCA) Canon Andrew Bowden visited Latvia in May 2010 with a group from CERN and Romania in October 2011.