Churches, COVID-19, & Communities Project

What do COVID-hit communities need most?
What have churches achieved thus far?
How can churches help communities through recovery?
What support will churches need?

How is this research making a difference?

Responses to the survey we launched in September 2020 have provided key evidence which has been fed into decision-making by the Church of England and used to inform submissions to the government demonstrating the importance of churches to communities across the country.

“The evidence of grassroots needs and experience is making a really significant contribution to decision making, providing food for helpful guidance and enabling the sharing of creative responses to COVID-19.”

Dr John Inge, Bishop of Worcester

What have churches been doing?

This year has seen one of the biggest explosions of creativity the church has ever seen, as churches around the country respond to the needs of members and wider communities.

Our first survey made this clear, with 90% of churches provided online worship and teaching and 65% using telephone-befriending. Churches are caring through delivering shopping, growing social media community groups, providing food and clothes banks, delivering letters and gifts for adults and children, and offering comfort for the grieving.

But the breadth of church activity cannot be summarised only in stats, and so we’ve been gathering stories and ideas from across the country.

What have people missed?

While churches have found creative ways to respond to COVID-19, restrictions on church buildings and activities have brought great sadness to many – especially in a time of national crisis.

We found that even those who don’t consider themselves church members missed these spaces, with 75% of the general public in our survey saying that they would have wanted to use churches for quiet reflection and comfort during lockdown, while 68% wanted a “peaceful, safe space”.

Beyond this, there was a particular longing for community activities run by churches that give essential support and social contact.

What do we need for the future?

Not only are churches helping many people through the pressures and pain caused by COVID-19; they will also have a vital role to play in helping individuals and communities rebuild their lives.

Reinstating activities which will bring back 'normality'; restarting community support services; enabling people to move on from losses of all kinds; maintaining new partnerships and outreach, will all be vital. What could your church do? What support will you need?

"Churches are the obvious go-to places to help with the country's recovery"

Claire Walker, Chief Executive, National Churches Trust

Access the reports, findings and tools

How is this research making a difference?

What have churches been doing?

What have people missed?

What do we need for the future?