Rural Migrant Workers

CHURCH-RELATED RESOURCES

Churches Together in England (CTE) are conducting a Migration Enquiry, which aims to build a network of church-related individuals and organisations involved with migrants in England. It is encouraging contributions from interested parties in four areas: Migration & Church Life, Migration & Social Concern, Migration & Evangelisation, and Theology & Migration. Each of these sections includes a number of such contributions from a variety of places. Additionally, the page devoted to each of these areas contains a blog to which anyone can contribute. Click here to enter the relevant section of the CTE website.

The benefice of Alfrick & Lulsley, Suckley, Leigh & Bransford in the Diocese of Worcester has recently produced material for two services in both Polish and English, in order to help welcome Polish workers from the surrounding area into the churches and to encourage their participation. These have been provided by Rev. Andrew Bullock, and incorporate material from both Common Worship and New Patterns of Worship; they have been slightly modified for access through the Arthur Rank Centre website.

• Service of Holy Communion in Polish & English (232Kb)
• Service of Healing in Polish & English (156Kb)

The Arthur Rank Centre would be very pleased to receive other examples or samples of this type of resource.

Articles in “Country Way”:

• “Racism” – Related to travellers & migrant workers – in Issue 27 (2001) page 11
• “Rural Migrant Workers: Modern Slavery?” (402Kb) – from Issue 40 (2005) page 25
• “The Stranger Among You: Leviticus 19v.34” (263Kb) – from Issue 41 (2006) page 14
• “Icons for Strawberries” (200Kb) – from Issue 41 (2006) page 15
• “Connecting Communities” (47Kb) – from Issue 46 (2007) page 19
• “Rome Supports Migrant Workers” (80Kb) – from Issue 46 (2007) page 20
• "Welcoming a New Congregation" (105Kb) – from Issue 49 (2008) page 18
• "Ploughing New Ground" (87Kb) – from Issue 49 (2008) page 19
• "North Poles" (99Kb) – from Issue 49 (2008) page 20

Material from the Churches’ Regional Commission for Yorkshire & the Humber:

• “Welcoming Transient Communities” (553Kb)
• “Migrant Workers: a Perspective” (28Kb)  a paper by Rev’d David de Verney, the Chaplain to Newly-Arrived Communities in Lincolnshire
• “The Labourers Who Mowed your Fields …” Briefing paper on a Church Response to Migrant Workers.
• "The pastoral Care Needs of New Migrants in the North East of England" A substantial piece of research within the North East's Catholic Community looking at migrants and migrant workers across the spectrum (i.e. not just rural)

“Mapping Migrant Workers” (201Kb) – a report from 2005 of work by Selby Communities and Industrial Mission (SCADIM)

“Immigrant Victims in Our Midst” an article from the “Church Times” in May 2006 focusing on the work of Rev’d David de Verney (see above)

A report from the Diocese of Hereford on the “Friendship Centre for Strawberry Pickers” by Leominster Churches Together. A further report, "Supporting Integration of Migrants & Seasonal Workers in the Diocese of Hereford" has also been produced from research for the Diocese of Hereford Council for Social Responsibility.

“North Poles” is a 24 minute documentary (60Kb) – commissioned by St. Cuthbert’s United Reformed Church, Seahouses – focusing on Polish migrant workers in this village in rural Northumberland. Individual copies of the DVD can be purchased.

West Cornwall Faith Forum has a project called “Let’s Talk” encouraging faith groups to use their buildings in welcoming migrant workers. This has been supported by the Commission for Rural Communities (see “General Resources” page).
Click here (219Kb) for an evaluation of the project.
Click here for “Let’s Talk” website for both faith group members and migrant workers, where resources can be ordered.

The Chaplain for Agriculture & Rural Life from the Diocese of Worcester – Rev. Robert Barlow – produced a very helpful leaflet for churches & church members, called “Who Picks, Packs & Processes our Food?” A downloadable copy is available here (254Kb). The remaining 150 copies of this leaflet are now available from The Arthur Rank Centre for the cost of postage: phone 024-7685-3068 or e-mail here.

Churches Together in Britain & Ireland (CTBI) produced a booklet in July 2007 entitled “Migration Principles: statement for churches working on migration issues”. This looks briefly at principles & issues for churches to consider as they encounter & minister to migrants & migrant communities in Britain, many of which relate to issues of migrant workers. This can be obtained from The Arthur Rank Centre for £5 plus £1 p&p: phone 024-7685-3068, e-mail here or write to us at Rural Ministry Resources, Arthur Rank Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LZ.

“Our New Neighbours” (315Kb) is a collection of stories & information from around Scotland on the arrival of migrant and the involvement of churches. Produced for the Scottish Churches’ Rural Group

“Guest Workers in Scotland” (256Kb) is an overview of migrant workers in Scotland with conclusions relevant for the church, but not specifically rural. Produced for the Scottish Episcopal Church in August 2007.

The Baptist Union of Great Britain have produced “Migration: Challenge & Opportunity” for churches. It is a short booklet listing important points & sources of information and assistance related to migrant workers within the community, although not specifically dealing with the rural context.

In March 2008, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in England & Wales released the pastoral statement, “Mission of the Church to Migrants in England & Wales”. This is not specifically about the rural situation, but contains material that will be helpful to rural churches.

The Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) has much information on its English-language website which gives the broader context for migration & migrant labour in Europe.