Christian housing charities are asking churches to address the housing crisis in rural areas by making their unused land and buildings available to the community.

The call was made at a conference hosted by Housing Justice, the Cumbria Rural Housing Trust and Churches Trust for Cumbria in Penrith yesterday.

The charities are asking churches to consider turning their surplus property into community spaces that include affordable housing.

Housing Justice Deputy Director, Alastair Murray, said: “We know that we need to increase dramatically the supply of affordable housing.

“Churches are uniquely placed in the community to support this aim where they have surplus assets.

“Providing housing is a very practical solution to creating social benefit and preventing rural hardship.”

The conference is the second in a series of Faith in Affordable Housing events organised by Housing Justice.

It follows the release of the charity’s ‘Faith in Affordable Housing’ guide, which was published at the Church of England’s General Synod last year.

The guide offers practical advice to churches considering making excess property available for housing.

Gina Dowding, Director of the Churches Trust for Cumbria, said it was important for churches to “think smarter” in light of the cuts taking place across all areas of government.

She said: “Church buildings can have a huge role to play in rural life. Who they are used by and how they are adapted to meet the whole community’s needs is of vital importance in keeping communities together and maximising resources.”