Friday 23rd September 2005
Our mission to become a Fairtrade Diocese is now well under way, with nearly half the necessary number of churches signed up to the cause.
More than 200 churches have now signed their forms and pledged to use only Fairtrade tea and coffee. Of these the vast majority have also become Fairtrade Churches, agreeing to use and promote Fairtrade goods such as biscuits, sugar and juices.
The churches that helped cross the 200 mark were from all over the diocese: SS Peter and Paul, Olney in Buckinghamshire; Holy Trinity, Sunningdale in Berkshire; St. Mary’s, Headington, Oxford; SS Peter and Paul, Deddington Oxfordshire, SS Mary the Virgin and Nicholas, Littlemore, Oxford and St Andrew’s in Shrivenham Berkshire. Rena Partridge, from SS Peter and Paul, Olney explained why her church had signed up.
She said: ‘There is a continuing misunderstanding that free trade is what we need, but it needs to be fair. ‘It may cost a little more, but it gives people the chance to earn their way out of poverty.’
There is great variation among deaneries about the number of churches who have already signed up. Leading the way is the Vale of the White Horse deanery.
Joan Plumptre, Fair Trade ‘champion’ for the Vale of the White Horse, said: ‘As Christians, it’s a must. It's not giving charity to poor people but we're giving justice, as we were told to in the Bible.
‘We need to also remember that it's not just fair trade for the third world but fair trade in this country. We should also make every effort to support our local farmers.’
In addition to the Vale of the White Horse totals, Cowley deanery now has 73% of churches signed on to the campaign, and three other deaneries have more than half their churches committed to Fairtrade: Deddington, Reading and Milton Keynes.
Last year Diocesan Synod pledged to work towards becoming a Fairtrade Diocese, To achieve that status we need 60% of our churches to sign up to use Fairtrade tea and coffee – with the hope being that they will also become Fairtrade Churches. If churches are unsure where to begin – or where to go next – a new resource, Fair Trade in our Churches, has been published to help them get involved.
The booklet, from Christian Concern for One World, offers information about Fair Trade and examples of best practice from churches around the three counties. Its 31 pages contain accounts of Fair Trade projects run by churches and Churches Together groups, as well as information about buying fairly traded products locally. The booklet costs just £1.50, or for bulk orders of ten or more copies it is only £1 each (plus postage and packing). Contact CCOW on 01865 378059 or send an email
Summertown churches are to hold a special event on Sunday 16 October at St Michael’s Church in Lonsdale Road, where they will sign a commitment to become Fair Trade Churches. Supermarket managers from Summertown will be on hand to discuss the issues and there will be an opportunity to sample offerings from their shops!