Welcome to the Arthur Rank Centre website
The Arthur Rank Centre is a Registered Charity supported by the National Churches, the Royal
Agricultural Society of England and the Rank Foundation to serve the rural community and its
churches.
Charitable Objectives
- To be a focus and resource for the work of the Christian churches in rural areas through the
sharing of good practice, the provision of training and the encouragement of Christian ministry;
- To lead the Christian churches in their efforts to improve the quality of life of those living
and working in rural communities;
- To develop greater understanding between urban and rural communities, through the linking of
churches and other faith groups;
- To engage in research to support and develop the work of the Charity;
- To provide a chaplaincy to the Royal Agricultural Society of England
Website last updated:
30 June 2008 09:36
The Centre was named after Lord Rank who donated the original building. It was opened by the Queen
at the Royal Show in 1972 and is the recognised national rural resources unit for the churches. It
is also a project base for innovative thinking and wide ranging work in both economic and community
development in the countryside.
In 2002 the ARC moved to its current home in a newly refurbished building on the show ground
adjacent to the Grand Ring.
Key points
- Church Pavilion at the Royal Show and the Town and Country Festival, hosted by the ARC since 1972.
- Rural Ministry Induction Courses held twice a year (May and Nov.) since 1982.
- Arthur Rank Training, set up in 1981 to give work-based training opportunities and personal
and social development skills to disadvantaged young people. ART became an independent charity
in 2002.
- Living Churchyard Project, started in 1986 to increase environmental awareness in the
churches and to encourage the use of churchyards as a community environmental resource.
- Arthur Rank Centre Environmental Trust began in 1996 to help churches and community groups
access funding from the Landfill tax credit scheme.
- National Churches Tourism Group, established in 1997 (now an independent charity).
- Green Ribbon Campaign, launched in 2000 to raise public awareness of the problems affecting
farming, and encourage support for and understanding of the farming community.
- ARC-Addington Fund, set up in 2001 during the outbreak of Foot and Mouth to provide financial
help to the victims of the crisis. Responded to over 20,500 appeals for help and distributed
£10.3 million. Now an independent charity focusing on strategic housing for those who have
to exit non-viable rural businesses.
- Farm Crisis Network, was established as an independent charity by the ARC and the Agricultural
Christian Fellowship. It now has over 300 volunteers in regional groups across the country,
who provide essential support to individuals and families suffering from a wide range of
problems related to farming. Also operates a national helpline service.
- The Centre for Studies in Rural Ministry operates as a partnership between the ARC, the
University of Wales and St. Deiniols Library offering post-graduate courses in rural ministry.
- Hidden Britain Centres is about economic regeneration through community based tourism.
A highly successful pilot project in Cumbria (funded by the DTI) is now being rolled out
to the rest of the country.
- Eco-congregation was a government initiative to raise community awareness of environmental
issues through local churches. The responsibility for the development of the project in England
moved to the ARC in 2004.
- Computers for Rural People - the Arthur Rank Centre
sources high quality,
fully-refurbished, ex-government computer equipment available at very competitive prices for
anybody working in, with or for rural communities.
Links
rusource
rural worship
materials
rural
ministry resources
country way
book reviews
lfirc database
rural officers resources
Key Rural
References Database
