Just Church launches with worship and prayer

News: 4 November 2026

The new Just Church programme has been launched, and churches have already started signing up.

A special service was held at Luther King House in Manchester this week, attended by church leaders, theology students, and partner organisations.

Stories and ideas were shared, and the congregation prayed that churches would be inspired and mobilised to further seek justice where they are.

We also broke bread together, and used the materials produced for Church Action on Poverty Sunday, to reflect on the interconnecting themes of food, faith and fellowship.

Revd Kate Gray from Dandelion Community in Wythenshawe shared her church’s experiences.

She said: “The Dandelion Community has a long history of dances with justice and injustice. The vision of the architects of this community 60 years ago were for a garden city – a social justice vision.

“It has always been important for me to listen to local people who are new to the area and local people who have lived there a long time. Listening to each other is key.

“It was really great to hear about Just Church and the process of how it came about, because it is about relationships. It doesn’t feel like an additional burden or like work, but it has given us a frame and a structure.”

She told how her church has worked with local women to identify the specific issues in their neighbourhood, leading to the women being involved in powerful campaigning around housing, which has led to a significant increase in new social housing provision.

Every church, whether just starting out or already excelling, can keep looking at the next step on its journey.

Liam Purcell

Chief exec, Church Action on Poverty

Liam Purcell, chief executive of Church Action on Poverty said: “As Christians, we know that seeking justice is central to our faith. From the Old Testament prophets, to Jesus’s own teachings, the message is clear: seek justice; challenge injustice; stand with those who are suffering.

“It is easy to see unjust structures and actors in our society today, and the consequences of that.

“Churches know they are to pursue justice, but making that an ongoing part of church life isn’t easy. During our Church on the Margins work a few years ago, we met many churches doing incredible work, but also met other churches who earnestly wanted to do more yet were stretched and didn’t know where to start. We’ve set up the Just Church programme as a direct response.

“Churches, when working well, are powerful catalysts of change. The programme equips churches to celebrate what they’re already doing, while exploring next steps they can take. It’s a membership programme to uphold and enhance what churches are doing.

“Every church, whether just starting out or already excelling, can keep looking at the next step on its journey. Like so much of what we do at Church Action on Poverty, this is all about helping churches to meet the fourth mark of mission: to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation.