Oral Answers to Questions

Marsha De Cordova Excerpts

Thursday 15th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

3. What steps the Church of England is taking to help tackle the persecution of Christians in other countries.

[The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Marsha De Cordova)]

It is a pleasure to see you at Church Commissioners questions this morning, Madam Deputy Speaker. I thank the Leader of the House for stepping in to cover questions last month, when I was unwell.

The Church of England remains deeply concerned about the rising persecution on grounds of faith and belief worldwide, including recent cases in Iran, Sudan, India and Palestine. Christian communities remain the most targeted. The Church is working closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to improve the faith literacy of its officials; supporting the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief; regularly providing resources to bishops to raise cases in the other place; and developing resources for use across the global Anglican communion.

[Matt Turmaine]

I thank my hon. Friend for her answer. I received many Christmas cards from residents in my Watford constituency who support the Open Doors campaign and are concerned about the persecution of Christians around the world. I have also met representatives of congregations in my constituency. Does she agree that the world watch list, which was published here in Parliament yesterday, is an important project to identify the locations of persecuted Christians around the world and encourage those countries to promote tolerance?

[Marsha De Cordova]

Yes, I do. I was pleased to attend the launch of the Open Doors world watch list here in Parliament yesterday, and to hear the powerful testimonies of those who have fled persecution. An estimated 338 million Christians are facing persecution across 50 countries, including Somalia, Sudan, Pakistan, Iran, Nigeria, India, Myanmar, Iraq and Egypt. Organisations such as Open Doors do vital work in raising awareness and highlighting the persecution of people of faith, and its report is a stark reminder of why global norms matter.

[Andrew Rosindell]

I thank the hon. Member for her answer, but she will be aware that in past decades over 50,000 Christians have been inhumanely slaughtered in Nigeria by murderous Islamist groups, namely Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen. These attacks have only intensified in recent months, targeting vulnerable groups such as Christian schools and missionaries. This is a tragedy of mammoth proportions. What action is the Church of England taking to prioritise the issue of Christian persecution and support the Anglican Church in Nigeria?

[Marsha De Cordova]

The hon. Member has been a strong voice on this issue, and I welcome that. He rightly highlights that thousands of Christians are being killed because of their faith, and that persecution comes in many forms; he has mentioned schools and so forth. That is why we are so grateful for the work of organisations such as Open Doors, Aid to the Church in Need and others for shining a light on what is happening globally. The bishops in the other place continue to raise these cases, and it is something that remains a priority for the Church.

[Catherine Fookes (Monmouthshire) (Lab)]

2. What recent discussions the Church of England has had with the Government on the future of the listed places of worship grant scheme.

[Marsha De Cordova]

The future of the listed places of worship scheme continues to feature heavily during Question Time, and over 200 Members have raised this issue. Faith communities with listed buildings are waiting for clarity on the future of the scheme, which is due to end in March. The uncertainty is delaying repairs and the implementation of community projects nationwide. I met the Minister for Heritage just before Christmas and was assured that the Government would be updating the House soon.

[Catherine Fookes]

I have had the privilege over the last 18 months of visiting many beautiful historic places of worship in Monmouthshire, including St James’s, Llangua; Bettws Newydd church; St Mary’s priory; and St Tewdric’s, which dates back to 600 AD. The listed places scheme is a lifeline for volunteers and charities, such as the amazing Friends of Friendless Churches, that look after buildings like Llanddewi Rhydderch Baptist chapel, which needs the scheme to fix its roof. Can my hon. Friend please update me on any discussions the Church Commissioners have recently had with the Government on this issue?

[Marsha De Cordova]

It is good to hear how the scheme has benefited churches in my hon. Friend’s constituency. While I am not responsible for the Church in Wales, I can inform her that Wales has a significantly higher proportion of listed places of worship than England, and most buildings are in areas of low economic activity and there are fewer opportunities for philanthropy. I would be happy to put her in touch with the relevant people in Wales, so she can continue to engage with them. As I have highlighted, I met the Minister recently and was assured that the Government would bring forward plans soon.

[Chris Hinchliff]

Whatever one’s faith, the historic churches in North East Hertfordshire are an incredible part of our local heritage. They are places of peace and beauty, ever-present reminders of centuries of our history and a focal point for village life, providing space for social activities and community life in what feels like an increasingly fragmented society. Does my hon. Friend agree that the Government must do everything they can to support parishes with the huge challenge of maintaining our historic churches so that they can continue to enrich our lives for generations to come?

[Marsha De Cordova]

I agree with my hon. Friend that historic churches are often cornerstones of our local communities. Even if members of a community are not regular churchgoers, they also see those churches as places they can call their own and identify with. People gather in those spaces for different events, whether that is for concerts or major life events like weddings, and all candidates have to attend them for election hustings. We all know how important our historical buildings are, and their estimated social value is £55 billion. With every investment of £1 in the Church, a return of £16 goes into the local community through outreach and community support. I am pleased that the Government will be publishing the evaluation report of the listed places of worship scheme soon.

[Sir Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con)]

Does the hon. Lady agree that there are practical consequences flowing from the failure of the—[Interruption.]

--- Later in debate ---

[Sir Christopher Chope]

Does the hon. Lady accept that there are practical consequences flowing from the intolerable delay in the Government making an announcement about the scheme? For example, repairs are under way at All Saints church in Mudeford and at Christchurch priory, and the consequence of the Government not doing anything about this scheme will be hundreds of thousands of pounds of extra costs for those churches.

[Marsha De Cordova]

The hon. Member is right that any further delay will continue to bring uncertainty to many churches across the country, so this is really important. I am reassured that the Government will come forward with plans soon, as the Secretary of State said during Department for Culture, Media and Sport questions prior to Church Commissioners questions.

[Alicia Kearns (Rutland and Stamford) (Con)]

In Rutland, Stamford and the Harborough villages, we are fortunate to have one of the highest numbers of listed places of worship in the country, from Teigh to Tixover to All Saints’ in Stamford. Does the Church Commissioner agree that we cannot allow these amazing places to fall into collapse or to lose them? Once they are lost to our communities, our communities really are the ones who lose out.

[Marsha De Cordova]

The hon. Lady will not be surprised to hear that, of course, I agree with her.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

5. What support the Church of England is providing to Christians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

[Marsha De Cordova]

The situation in Palestine in beyond devastating. The Church continues to support the Anglican province of Jerusalem. During advent last year, the Archbishop of York visited the west bank and met Christian Palestinian families affected by settler violence and witnessed tensions at first hand. The Church of Scotland and the Scottish Episcopal Church are also working with the Palestinian community’s senior clergy and visited the Tent of Nations to promote peace and justice.

[Douglas McAllister]

Caritas Internationalis is just one of the 37 international aid organisations that Israel has sought to ban or deregister. This will have a severe impact on humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza. At midnight mass, Christ the Redeemer church in the west bank adorned its Christmas tree not with baubles, but with the names of the lands expected to be occupied or already stolen by illegal settlers. What support can the Church provide to these brave Christians in Occupied Palestinian Territories?

[Marsha De Cordova]

My hon. Friend will not be surprised to learn that the issue of what is happening in Palestine has featured heavily during Question Time for the past year. Israel revoking the licences of dozens of aid agencies in Gaza and the west bank will only worsen the situation. As I have outlined, during his recent visit, the Archbishop of York met Christian families affected by settler violence and faced with tense stand-offs with settlers, as well as challenges around displacement and damage to their land. I am pleased to say that bishops will be making another pilgrimage to Palestine in the very near future. I urge hon. Members to keep raising this issue. The sooner we get peace, the sooner we can see that people are being taken care of across Palestine.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

It is important that worship is retained, but one of the reasons that people will stay is that they have jobs and opportunities. When I met some Church representatives last year, they said that people were leaving not just because of persecution, but because they had nothing to do work-wise. What is the Church doing to ensure that there are work opportunities so that people will stay and worship God in their church?

[Marsha De Cordova]

As the hon. Member knows, the Church is rightly playing a role in the province in Jerusalem. I would be happy to write to him to set out further actions that the Church is taking in relation to work and other projects.

[Anna Dixon (Shipley) (Lab)]

6. What assessment the Church of England has made of the potential impact of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on end-of-life ministry.

[Emma Lewell (South Shields) (Lab)]

10. What assessment the Church of England has made of the potential impact of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on end-of-life ministry.

[Marsha De Cordova]

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is still being debated in the other place. What it will look like is yet to be decided. The Church anticipates that there will be considerable impact on the end-of-life ministry, pastoral support and bereavement counselling offered by its chaplains and clergy.

[Anna Dixon]

Chaplains work in various settings, including care homes, hospitals and hospices. If the Bill were to pass unamended, they may be required to provide assisted dying services to people who are terminally ill, as there is currently no organisational opt-out. Would the Church support an amendment in the other place to allow chaplains to conscientiously object, and an option for hospices and other organisations that have religious foundations to opt out of providing support to those who wish to end their life with assistance under the legislation if it is passed?

[Marsha De Cordova]

The Church supports the need for an institutional and individual opt-out, as many hospices have highlighted their concerns about the Bill’s impact on their operations if there continues to be no option to opt out. It is crucial that hospices can offer their vital services without being compelled to offer assisted dying if they hold a conscientious objection.

[Emma Lewell]

Where assisted dying is being legalised with opt-outs for faith-based hospices, it is now being challenged in the courts. Opt-outs and faith-based conscientious objections are unworkable and will be subject to constant legal wrangling. That is just one of the very many serious concerns associated with assisted dying. Does my hon. Friend agree that the assisted dying Bill is dangerous and the other place is right to give it thorough scrutiny?

[Marsha De Cordova]

It is right that all legislation is scrutinised, and the assisted dying Bill is no different. I commend the bishops in the other place for their diligent work on the Bill right now. My hon. Friend will probably not be surprised to learn that she and I share the same view on the Bill. In my view, we need to focus on end-of-life palliative care; we should be giving people assistance to live.

The hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, was asked—

--- Later in debate ---

[Richard Baker (Glenrothes and Mid Fife) (Lab)]

11. What steps the Church of England is taking to establish an independent safeguarding system.

[The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Marsha De Cordova)]

Last year, the General Synod voted to reform safeguarding structures. Those reforms intend to ensure greater safeguarding, independent scrutiny and consistency of delivery across the Church and will come to Parliament for final approval in due course. Other progress made since the vote in February 2025 has been the appointment of Dame Christine Ryan as the independent executive chair of the safeguarding structures programme board, who brings significant senior experience in safeguarding regulation, policy and delivery. She will provide an update on her plans and proposals to the General Synod when it meets next month.

[Richard Baker]

I thank my hon. Friend for that update. Does she agree that there should be no further delay in the Church adopting a fully independent model for safeguarding and that it is vital that Church authorities and our new Archbishop of Canterbury act to restore confidence in safeguarding in the Church?

[Marsha De Cordova]

No one will be surprised to hear that I agree with my hon. Friend; it is vital to restore confidence and trust. Work is being done across the country by local safeguarding officers—often volunteers—and I thank them for all their hard work. The archbishop-elect has repeatedly stated that safeguarding will be a significant priority for her as she takes up her role, and I look forward to working with her on this.