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EXCLUSIVE - Stuart Anderson: "In many rural towns and villages, churches are the only buildings in which residents can come together"

South Shropshire MP Stuart Anderson writes on the invaluable role of rural churches in farming communities, and why they are currently under threat after the Government slashed annual funding by nearly £20m, in what the Conservatives have dubbed the 'Worship Tax'

Stuart Anderson

09 December 2025 • 3 min read

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Conservative MP Stuart Anderson said: "Churches require the confidence of ongoing financial support to underpin their long-term sustainability. For every £1 invested in a church building, £16 of social good is generated. Churches double up as community support hubs, hosting local projects including food banks, mental health support, and debt advice."

As Christmas approaches, churches will once again be filled with the sound of carols and the smell of mince pies. My constituency of South Shropshire is proudly home to some of the country's most historic...

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EXCLUSIVE - Stuart Anderson: "In many rural towns and villages, churches are the only buildings in which residents can come together"

South Shropshire MP Stuart Anderson writes on the invaluable role of rural churches in farming communities, and why they are currently under threat after the Government slashed annual funding by nearly £20m, in what the Conservatives have dubbed the 'Worship Tax'

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EXCLUSIVE - Stuart Anderson: "In many rural towns and villages, churches are the only buildings in which residents can come together"

South Shropshire MP Stuart Anderson writes on the invaluable role of rural churches in farming communities, and why they are currently under threat after the Government slashed annual funding by nearly £20m, in what the Conservatives have dubbed the 'Worship Tax'

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More on Farm Life

Demand for action as 10,000 die on rural roads in a decade

Save our rural school – campaigners fight for the future of primary school in Northern Ireland

World Soil Day: regen farming pioneer Gabe Brown on why the earth beneath your feet can become your biggest asset