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 The Blackburn Diocese Rural Focus Group has been meeting on a regular basis at St James’, Shireshead. During 2008 and 2009 we have tried to become more of an action group looking at issues facing the rural church and community.
Chair of Rural Focus Group and Assistant Rural Officer - Sally-Ann Rothwell
Rural Officer and Adviser to the Rural Focus Group - Rev Tim Horobin
Link to Bishop's Staff and overview - Archdeacon John Hawley
We have looked at many issues relating to farmers that have been raised over the last twelve months, including the issues from the 'Fairtrade starts at home' report that farmers want to be treated fairly.
We have been looking at how the church should be the voice, as Amos spoke out in Amos 5 of the injustice of the time and how Israel’s lifestyle affected others, so our lifestyle has a massive effect on our communities and especially our farming community.
 Issues for the rural church and rural community covered by the group
- Ageing populations
- Affordable housing
- Rural service provision
- Changing society
- Partnership working
- Small congregations
- Lack of volunteers
- Changing nature of leadership
- Lay training
- Discipleship
- Larger groups of parishes
- Role of the deanery
- Working ecumenically
- Buildings (multi-functional use)
- Youth issues
- The needs of the elderly (isolation)
- Food issues (Fairtrade starts at home)
- Farmers issues
- Mission shaped church
- Finance
 Rural Focus Group Meetings
Held at Shireshead St James, Whinney Brow Lane, Forton, Preston, PR3 0AE
Dates and times of forthcoming meetings to be announced.
 Minutes of 7 September 2009 meeting
Minutes of 8 June 2009 meeting
Minutes of 23 March 2009 meeting
 Rural Updates
October 2009 - Blackburn Dicoese
September 2009 - Blackburn Diocese
August 2009 - National
 August 2009 - Blackburn Diocese
July 2009 - National
July 2009 - Blackburn Dicoese
June 2009 - Blackburn Dicoese
May 2009 - Blackburn Dicoese
April 2009 - National
Worship
2009 worship materials from the Arthur Rank Centre
Events
Visit of Jill Hopkinson, the National Rural Officer, in 2007
Training
Multi church ministry workshops
RTA Conference 2009
Faith and the Future of the Countryside flyer 2010
Faith and the Future of the Countryside booking form 2010
 Additional Information
RuSource Briefing Document. An Arthur Rank Centre project
Project Development Worker based in a United Benefice in Blackburn Diocese
Fair Trade begins at home report
Farm Crisis Network TB report
The place of rural within government report
Presence and buildings report
Rural Focus Group report 2008 to 2009
Rural stress helpline flyer
Signposts Farming and Rural Health Partnership
Helpful Rural Websites
 Farming Help brings together three national charities which work to benefit the farming community. Each charity provides different but complementary forms of help and support to meet a wide range of needs
 The Lancashire Rural Recovery Action Plan. Helping to deliver a dynamic rural economy for Lancashire
Life & Faith in Rural Communities (LiFRC). This project of the Arthur Rank Centre was active from 2005-2007. However, the material produced during that time continues to be relevant
Rural Evangelism Network brings together the most experienced rural evangelists, researchers writers and teachers on rural evangelism from across the Churches and mission agencies | 
