Across Cumbria, churches and places of worship are at the heart of local communities, providing vital links, services and facilities for all, including residents who are not part of the congregation and visitors passing through.  The Department for Communities and Local Government has issued guidance on the funding of faith-based organisations that provide publicly funded services.

For examples of good practice for what is being done in partnership with churches see Cumbria's communities using their buildings and  innovative uses of churches elsewhere .  If you are inspired to think about a new Cumbria project being based in a church or being provided in partnership with a faith community please contact us.

Eighty five per cent of people have been in a church or place of worship during the course of a year, compared to 23% who attend religious services at least once a month. The Government recognises this and government departments are promoting engagement by the public sector with faith communities. 

The Churches Trust for Cumbria aims to assist policy makers and service delivery managers in making this commitment a reality by providing potential partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors with a way to engage with Cumbria’s faith communities. 

For more details of policy on the role of faith communities see the North West Forum of Faith website.

On 4th March 2010 the Heritage Alliance launched the Places of Worship Manifesto, designed to be used in the weeks and months before the forthcoming election, to raise the profile of historic places of worship in the minds of MPs standing for re-election, prospective parliamentary candidates, and of course, the electorate as well.