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| Churches Together in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough | |
|---|---|
| Name | Churches Together in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |
| Formation | 1990s |
| Type | Ecumenical body |
| Headquarters | Cambridge |
| Region served | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |
| Leader title | Director |
Churches Together in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is an ecumenical Christian association operating in the ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire and the unitary authority of Peterborough. It brings together denominations and traditions represented in dioceses such as the Diocese of Ely and the Diocese of Peterborough and engages with civic institutions including Cambridge City Council and the Peterborough City Council. The organisation works alongside national bodies like Churches Together in England and international networks such as the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches.
The organisation traces its roots to local initiatives that followed landmark events like the World Council of Churches assembly in Amsterdam and the growth of the ecumenical movement in the late 20th century, with regional predecessors aligned to the Church of England dioceses of Ely and Peterborough and to Roman Catholic structures including the Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia. Early cooperative ventures involved Anglican parishes linked to Trinity College, Cambridge and Roman Catholic communities connected to St John's College, Cambridge, alongside Free Church traditions such as the Methodist Church of Great Britain and the United Reformed Church. Influences on its formation included national developments like the Churches Together in England framework and international agreements such as the Porvoo Communion and liturgical dialogues exemplified by contacts between the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran World Federation.
Membership spans historic denominations: the Church of England, the Roman Catholic Church, the Methodist Church, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the United Reformed Church, the Salvation Army, and smaller bodies including the Assemblies of God, the Church of Scotland congregations present in the area, and independent evangelical networks. Institutional partners include theological colleges like Westcott House, Cambridge and Ridley Hall, Cambridge, as well as monastic presences tied to orders such as the Order of Saint Benedict. Civic and charitable partners have included the National Health Service (England) trusts in Cambridgeshire, the Cambridgeshire Constabulary, and agencies modelled on the Joseph Rowntree Foundation style partnerships. Leadership structures mirror ecumenical practice with a steering group composed of representatives from the Diocese of Ely synod, the Diocese of Peterborough synod, denominational moderators, and lay chairs drawn from parish networks such as the Cambridge Churches cluster and the Peterborough Faith Forum.
Programmes encompass shared worship initiatives celebrating seasons marked by the Church calendar, civic events like Remembrance Sunday ecumenical services, and educational offerings in partnership with universities including the University of Cambridge and the Anglia Ruskin University. The body organises Lent groups informed by resources from the Bible Society and joint Advent reflections using material from the Corrymeela Community, and coordinates city-centre services near landmarks such as Cambridge Market Square and the Peterborough Cathedral. It runs social outreach projects modelled on interventions by charities like Christian Aid and Cafod, engages in chaplaincy links with institutions such as Addenbrooke's Hospital and Peterborough City Hospital, and administers training in safeguarding aligned with guidance from House of Bishops and national safeguarding standards.
The organisation maintains formal links with national ecumenical structures such as Churches Together in England and with denominational bodies including the Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia, the Methodist Conference, and the Baptist Union of Great Britain. It participates in dialogues that mirror international conversations like the Anglican–Roman Catholic International Commission and hosts visits from partners across Europe involved with the Conference of European Churches. It has collaborated with multi-faith forums alongside groups representing Sikh Council UK and Muslim Council of Britain affiliates within the region, and engages civic partners including the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Governance is typically through an ecumenical council or steering group reporting to an assembly composed of denominational delegates from bodies such as the Church of England diocesan synods and the Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia college of consultors; accountability aligns with practices familiar to institutions like Cambridge University collegiate governance and to charity law overseen by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Funding streams have combined denominational contributions, grants from philanthropic foundations in the mould of the National Lottery Community Fund, and project funding from statutory sources akin to local authority community grants administered by Cambridge City Council and Peterborough City Council.
The organisation has contributed to community resilience through joint responses to crises such as flooding incidents in Fenland districts and public health emergencies coordinated with the NHS England regional teams, and has promoted civic cohesion through initiatives in partnership with bodies like the Citizens Advice network and local foodbank coalitions modelled on national networks including the Trussell Trust. Its public witness has been visible in civic ceremonies at sites including Peterborough Cathedral and in collaborative campaigning alongside national faith actors like Christian Aid on issues resonant with regional concerns such as affordable housing referenced in local work influenced by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Category:Christian ecumenical organisations in England Category:Organisations based in Cambridgeshire