Bishop Guli visits Birmingham to Announce Key Church Housing Initiatives

Bishop Guli at Lodge Road Community Centre, Birmingham

The Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford and the Church of England’s Lead Bishop for Housing, visited Birmingham on the 26th November to meet with local communities, civic leaders, and faith groups. During the visit, Bishop Guli announced two significant developments in the Church’s efforts to tackle housing needs.

The first is the launch of the Church Development Agency (CDA), a professional housing development company focused on creating affordable homes in areas of high need. The CDA, working alongside the Church Housing Association, has already initiated projects in Birmingham and the West Midlands to deliver affordable homes for local families.

“At CDA, we are putting community needs at the heart of our mission,” said Dan Mayes MRICS, Chief Executive of the CDA. “Our challenge now is to combine community engagement and investment to deliver for those most in need.”

The second initiative involves the creation of a national team within the Church’s Faith and Public Life team. This team will help dioceses identify opportunities for housing development and provide expert support for local church projects. Malcolm Brown, Director of Faith and Public Life, said, “We’ve learned a great deal from pilot areas like Birmingham. This new team will help dioceses map their land and realise their potential for housing.”

Reflecting on the progress, Bishop Guli said, “Housing is an essential foundation for life. The Church is committed to creating good homes and thriving communities as part of our mission. Today’s developments mark a significant step forward, but there is still much more to do.”

Bishop Guli’s visit was covered by an article in the Church Times on 29th November.