Rooted in Faith, Building to Flourish

We are creating homes that offer stability, dignity, and connection for all.

The Church Housing Association is a Community Benefit Society and exempt charity, registered by the Regulator of Social Housing. We were established in partnership with Gloucester Diocese to meet the housing needs of local communities, grounded in the Christian values of compassion, dignity, and stewardship.

Our work is a direct response to the 2021 Coming Home Report, a landmark publication from the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Housing, Church and Community. This report issued a bold challenge to the Church: to reimagine how its resources could be used to respond to the housing crisis and help create communities where everyone can flourish.

Who We Are

Our Vision

To deliver good homes that enable residents to live in harmony with the natural environment, are places where people feel safe, are affordable and enable people to put down roots and feel part of the community. Our homes will be places where people enjoy living in and delight to come home to.

From Vision to Action

Working closely with Gloucester Diocese, we aim to turn the Coming Home Report's vision into practical, lasting change: One home and one community at a time.

Our Guiding Values

Our mission is shaped by the five core values set out in the Coming Home Report:

  • Sustainable – Housing that respects environmental limits

  • Safe – Homes that provide security and protection

  • Stable – Tenures that offer long-term certainty

  • Sociable – Communities built for connection and support

  • Satisfying – Living spaces that are well-designed and dignified

Board Members

Bishop David Walker - Chair

Bishop David, Bishop of Manchester, leads one of the Church of England’s largest dioceses, supporting over 250 parishes and 200 schools. A passionate advocate for housing justice, he chairs the Greater Manchester Homelessness Partnership Board, serves in the House of Lords, and chairs the Church’s £8bn endowment fund, supporting poorer communities.

Jon Sawyer

Jon is a Chartered Surveyor with over 25 years’ experience in social housing and ethical leadership, including senior roles at KPMG, igloo and Manchester City Council. Now an independent consultant, he advises housing organisations and developers, supports councils to restart housebuilding, and has served on several housing association and ALMO boards, including Cosmopolitan Housing Group.

John Swanton

John has a 25-year career spanning housing associations and local government, during which he was also ordained. Until spring 2025, he served for ten years as Rector of the South Cotswolds. His key interests include rural housing and accommodation for key workers, and he contributes to several organisations focused on housing.

Karen Preece

Karen Preece is a Chartered Accountant with more than 20 years’ experience across social housing, finance, governance and asset management. She has held senior leadership roles with Solihull Community Housing, Longhurst Group and other organisations, bringing expertise in financial strategy, risk management, housing development and creating sustainable, resident-focused communities.

Crystal Hicks

Crystal is a widely known in the in the homelessness and housing sectors, having held senior roles at Crisis, Your Homes Newcastle and Oasis Community Housing. She is President of Women in Social Housing and founded the Women’s Homelessness Alliance. Her commitment to social justice was recognised with a Northern Power Women award for the 'What Women Want' campaign.

Paul Carhart

Paul Carhart brings extensive experience in housing, governance and development, having held senior roles at City West Housing Trust, ForViva and Wirral Methodist Housing Association, as well as being a Trustee at Emmaus Merseyside. He is passionate about the role churches can play in providing homes and creating thriving, connected communities.

 

Nick Pollock

Nick Pollock is Planning Director for the Duchy of Cornwall, bringing over 30 years’ experience in planning and development. He has helped deliver award-winning communities including Poundbury in Dorset and Nansledan in Cornwall. Nick has also contributed to the Archbishops’ Commission on Housing, supporting the Church of England’s work to address local housing needs and build connected communities.

Ade Adebayo

Ade Adebayo is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with over 40 years’ experience in construction, property and local government. He has held senior property roles across three London authorities and brings extensive expertise in housing, regeneration, procurement and sustainability. Ade is also an experienced non-executive director across housing organisations.