Rural Churches Support Network (RCSN)

Who?

The Rural Church Support Network was established in 2001 to support rural churches and those engaged in rural ministry and mission. It grew out of the realisation that the countryside was undergoing a period of change unprecedented in recent times.

Why?

Change has been and continues to be the dominant feature of life in the countryside. Everyone in the countryside has witnessed the withdrawal of many local services such as banks, shops, post offices and some transport services. The rise in house prices in sought after rural areas, even with the recent slump, has disadvantaged many local residents and their children who can no longer afford to live in the communities to which they belong.

Agriculture has experienced a thirty year decline in incomes and major losses to its workforce. A series of animal health crises have been the source of deep economic and personal distress to those in farming.  Although there is a current of optimism after many decades of struggle certain sectors still face huge uncertainty about their continued viability, not least those who farm and manage the precious upland areas much of which lies within our region.  Changes in public policy and new regulations continue to present challenges to the farming industry to adapt and to develop new skills.

The churches are also experiencing significant changes as they develop new patterns of ministry, and seek new ways to use and maintain the many rural church buildings. Rural churches have shown themselves to be creative and adaptable, and committed to sustaining an effective Christian presence in the countryside.     

The Network

• The Rural Church Support Network was established to support and inform the church’s response to these changes.

• It seeks to be a resource to the rural church in the Yorkshire and Humber Region.

• It is ecumenical and encourages co-operation between the denominations in order to strengthen the church’s presence in the countryside.

• It provides information through its briefing papers as well as arranging events on matters of concern and interest to those in the rural community, and encourages the sharing of good practice.

• It continues to explore the question of how the church can respond in ways that are practical, pastoral and prophetic.

 Membership of the Network is free and open to all Christians who have a concern for rural life and ministry.  Members will receive advanced information about events, and briefing papers from time to time on current issues.

The Rural Church Support Network is recognised as a Practitioner Group within the Yorkshire Regional Training Partnership.  Through membership the RCSN aims:

• to raise the profile of the rural church, its ministry and mission, within the training programmes and institutions of the region
• offer the training events and experience of the RCSN as a training resource to other institutions
• enhance the quality of its own training by being a member of the Partnership

 Publications

Bob Baker and Leslie Morley have recently produced an article on upland farming which can be downloaded here .

The Rural Churches Steering Group

 The Churches Regional Commission for Yorkshire and The Humber supports the Rural Church Support Network and is closely related to its work.  The Rural Churches Steering Group both manages the Network and acts as the rural task group or think tank for the CRC.  Events arranged by the Network are frequently sponsored by the CRC.  

 The Steering Group is made up from regional and ecumenical representatives and aims to have a balance of clergy, some of whom are denominational regional rural officers and others from rural parishes or circuits, and lay men and women.  

 For further details about joining the Rural Church Support Network contact:  rcsn@crc-online.org.uk

A leaflet giving details of the organisation is available here.

 Supporting Rural Churches & those engaged in rural ministry and mission