Mariam Kizza has recently begun as a Community Organising Apprentice at CTC, and will take part in the 2023-4 Buxton Leadership Programme. In this blog, she explains why her faith has inspired this engagement with organising, and describes her journey so far… As a Christian, I have found myself increasingly challenged that we must be intentional and committed to being present in the community and in public life. When I first read up on the Buxton Leadership Programme, it resonated with me straight away. I was drawn by its aims which make the crucial link between the Christian faith and bringin ..read more

This is the last of our Director’s Lent blogs on silent prayer. His first blog described one way of putting this into practice, the second blog looked at some of its fruits in our life the third blog explained how silent prayer differs from “mindfulness,” and the fourth blog explored how silence sits alongside other forms of prayer.  “Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.” I find it rea ..read more

Last December/January, Miriam Brittenden (our Director of Leadership) visited Aotearoa New Zealand – and spent the last part of her trip with a community organising alliance in Auckland, New Zealand to reflect on organising in our respective contexts, and organising with faith institutions. In this blog she reflects on the visit. Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga (Te Ohu) is an emerging broad-based community alliance of community organisations, faith groups and trade unions. It’s inception was in 2017 when, based on the success of the broad-based organising of the Living Wage movement in Ne ..read more

On Mothering Sunday at St George-in-the-East, our Housing Organiser Rhiannon Winstanley-Sharples drew on St Augustine to reflect on how we can all be “mothers of Christ” as we support one another in deepening our faith and organising for justice. “When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.” (Luke 2.39,40) It’s been interesting to reflect on what I might say on Mothering Sunday as a woman who doesn’t have childre ..read more

This Lent, our Director Angus Ritchie is writing a weekly blog on silent prayer. His first blog describes one way of putting this into practice, while the second blog looks at some of its fruits in our life. This third blog explains how silent prayer differs from “mindfulness,” and why its value lies in more than its effects. On Tuesday of Holy Week, an anonymous woman anoints Jesus feet with costly ointment, and Judas complains that the money could have been given to the poor (Mark 14.1-9). When she is criticised, Jesus defends her, just as he defends Mary of Bet ..read more

In CTC’s 2013 Just Church report, we stressed the importance of “putting adoration before action.” This Lent, our Director Angus Ritchie is writing a weekly blog on silent prayer, describing one way of putting this into practice. His first blog, introducing the Jesus Praye is here – and this second blog looks at some of the fruits of such prayer in our life and action. I don’t know if you’ve ever stopped to watch any anglers fishing. They look both relaxed and alert. When you are fishing, you can’t allow your mind to drift off. You’ve got to be ready for when ..read more

In CTC’s 2013 Just Church report, we stressed the importance of “putting adoration before action.” This Lent, our Director Angus Ritchie is writing a weekly blog on silent prayer, describing one way of putting this into practice. This was the foundational practice for the renewal of parish life through community organising rooted in prayer at St George-in-the-East from 2015. Silence was at the heart of Jesus’ life of prayer. At the start of his public ministry, he spent forty days and forty nights praying in the desert – and on many other occasions went away to pray to ..read more

CTC is working with St Katharine Cree in the City of London to renew its ministry as a Guild Church for Workers. Along with a Living Wage Week service in November with the Bishop of London, CTC staff helped to organise the first London Cleaners Carol Service in the church last weekend. Here is a report from this pioneering act of worship and witness… God chose Mary, Joseph and the shepherds – simple people – to proclaim the new kingdom. Once we have been blessed with the presence of Jesus, we have the responsibility to share that experience, to proclaim his Gospel” A packed church heard these ..read more

On the first day of Living Wage Week, St Katharine Cree (the Guild Church for Workers) held a service entitled Praying and Acting for a Living Wage.  Led by the Bishop of London, it included testimony from care workers and music from one of the Catholic parishes in east London which founded the Living Wage Campaign. Testimony: Doris Coronado My name is Doris, I am originally from Ecuador. I am a parent, a cleaner a dance enthusiast and an active leader of Empoderando Familias, a Latin-American parent engagement group from King´s College. I participated in South London Listens, a camp ..read more

Daniel Payne is a young leader on this year’s Buxton Leadership Programme.  With applications now open for the 2022/23 cohort, he reflects on his experience… My time as a Buxton intern, Community Organising with St Mary’s Walthamstow has been spent learning by doing. I have learnt that sometimes change happens very slowly, in very ordinary ways.The St Mary’s church building is in an interesting position. It is on the borderline between The Village, an expensive, recently gentrified residential area, and the housing estates on Attlee Terrace and The Drive. Our team from St Mary’s quickly r ..read more