Crispin's blog

 ...and the third of my revived blogs connects from my CCT experience to CPREs rural focus, in an international context.  We were in 2014 and the exciting early days of our new European heritage churches network 'Future Religous Heritage' when the world sometimes seemed to be our oyster... This year FRH Europe’s international conference is on the subject of rural historic churches, chapels and other places of worship and their relevance to 21 st Century communities.   It’s an important time to be thinking about this because thousands of these buildings across Europe are at risk of being lost forever.   The reasons are many: rural depopulation and changing patterns of worship are key but the changing role of the State and Church, economic development and a wider decline in participation in public life also play a big role.   It could be that our generation is the one which saves these amazing survivors from history, or it could be that future generations will look back at us w

... this one was a year later, 2014, when CCT's community-led heritage regeneration programme was really getting into its stride... Sitting in a three quarters-empty local pub with friends recently after a couple of begrudgingly-served pints, we fantasised about taking the building on for the local community.   It seemed to us that with such a half-hearted approach to business, the Royal Bear (all names have been changed) would not be much longer for this earth.   Of course we’re all far too busy with jobs, kids, commitments generally to have really meant it – which got me thinking, how come so many – increasing numbers – of community-run buildings do thrive in this stressed-out, time-poor era?   How is it that a historic church, pub or village shop can go from being deemed totally unviable, to being the successful, sustainable heart of a community, when local people take it on?   Surely if it’s uneconomic, it’s uneconomic? Well of course that’s where Beeching got it so wrong.

  ...this one is from 2013 when I'd been at CCT for ten years. Light years from command and control: how can national organisations support local groups and communities effectively in the 21st century? A couple of weeks ago I visited Clapton-in-Gordano, where CCT’s St Michael’s church sits in a Somerset valley which could be a rural idyll but for the relentless soundtrack of the M5.   It’s an area which also has its fair share of social challenges spilling over from nearby Portishead, and the community some time ago found it could not keep up with the demands of keeping their Grade I historic church going: Complete list of churches After several years of standing empty in their midst, historic St Michael’s is now the focus for a group of people with the vision of building a stronger community.   They have the energy and a range of skills, but they can’t do it alone. So how does a national charity with limited resources help - at a local level - to improve the lives of individ

 ...welcome!  I thought it was time I started writing again, after several years of being in the thick of organisations, debate, progress, excitement and frustration I need to order my thoughts and make some sense which at the same time might - I say might - interest and stimulate others!  But actually it's easier said than done and looking back at the blog I was doing a few years ago I think, wow, he could write better than I feel able to right now.  So I'm starting by reviving a few blogs I wrote in my years at CCT, when the picture seemed to be clear and we were making something real happen for communities around the country.  Strangely they are as relevant as they were then.  I'll start this way and then begin to put down more recent thoughts...  stay with me and let me know anything which comes to you along the way. Crispin