The Churches Regional Commission (CRC) in the North East was formed in 1995, mainly to support the social action of churches working together in the region. Fully ecumenical, governed by all the region's church leaders and based at Ushaw College, Durham, CRC also acts as an initial point of contact for various regional bodies wishing to consult with the churches and vice versa. CRC has been working in increasingly close partnership with North East Christian Churches Together (NECCT) since its launch in 2001 and is now operating as an agency of NECCT.

CRC receives core funding from the denominations which provides for two staff members and general running costs. For every £1 of core funding received we have been able to attract £3 from public and charitable sources for managing various staffed projects - e.g. Faith in Community (1999 - 2001), Housing Action North East (2002 - 2004), Promoting the Social Inclusion of Young People Project (2005-2007), Faith in North East Regeneration (2006-2007)and supporting the North East Regional Faiths Network (2007-present) .

Working with Tees Valley Ministry (TVM) which is now part of CRC, the Tees Valley Faith Communities Regeneration Group (TVFCRG) was formed in 2001. This is an interfaith group and was responsible for the first survey of 'faith communities' in the region, carried out in Redcar & Cleveland. Three practical projects have developed resulting from this, one in Redcar, the other with South Bank Mosque and the third a region-wide faith communities survey initiative, for which CRC was funded in part by the Home Office. CRC developed a regional faiths database with note of some of the social action projects generated by faith communities, so marking and celebrating the social capital and added value brought into our region by this kind of activity. Whilst still working primarily with the churches, CRC is also looking to encourage the creation of interfaith fora, both local and regional.

'Promoting Social Action by Faith Communties in the North East'

Projects

Since inception the CRC has worked with and initiated many faith-inspired projects designed to help the community. The projects section on the left is a listing of these. Clicking on any of the links takes you to a page holding more information about each one, related notices and library documents.

We are working in partnership with BECON and VONNE, and this is made possible by the funding we gratefully receive from the Big Lottery Fund, Community Development Foundation, ONE North East and Millfield House Foundation as well as the core funding we receive from each of the church denominations.

CRC Council – Trustees & Directors

Bernadette Askins - Vice Chair of Council
Ven.Stuart Bain* - Durham Diocese
Dr Mark Bonnington - House Churches
Revd John Claydon - N.Baptist Association
Alan Coultas*
Bishop Seamus Cunningham - Hexham & Newcastle Diocese
The Rt Revd Terence Drainey - Bishop of Middlesbrough
Major Mervin Fincham - Salvation Army
Revd Rowena Francis - U.R.C. Northern Synod
Revd Ruth Gee - Methodist Darlington District
Terri Leach* - (Secretary)
Canon Geoff Miller* - (Vice Chair of Board) Newcastle Diocese
Revd Lionel Osborn - Methodist Newcastle District
David Penn* - Society of Friends
Vincent Robinson OBE* - Chair of Board
Canon Bob Spence* - Hexham & Newcastle Diocese
Peter Sweeney* - Treasurer
Bishop Martin Wharton - (Chairman) Newcastle Diocese
Bishop Tom Wright - Durham Diocese

CRC Board of Management

All * as above plus:
Jo Grant - Aquila Way
Gerald Kennedy - TVM
Revd Dr David Whiting - TVM
Revd Keith Phipps

The Staff of CRC

Stuart Allan - Administration (Accounts & IT).
Sue Blackbird - Adminstration (P/T)
Paul Southgate - CRC Chief Officer
Bob Finch - Policy Officer