CCOW's History

CCOW's History

CCOW is a unique organisation.

In 1975 the Church of England's General Synod joined the response of other British churches to the Appeal by the World Council of Churches Assembly at Uppsala in 1968. The Synod challenged every C of E member to give 1% of take-home pay to Christian Aid and the World Development Movement. Shortly thereafter, the Church of England World Development Movement Committee, chaired by Bishop Robert Runcie, asked every Diocese to appoint a Diocesan World Development Representative to promote development education and to take the 1% agenda forward.

Within the Diocese of Oxford, this led to the creation of a 1% appeal group. In 1989, that group drafted aims for an ecumenical organisation which would take the concerns of world development forward in the three counties - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire - that comprise the Diocese of Oxford.

Canon Christopher Hall became our first Co-ordinator in September 1990 and the Ecumenical Trust was formed in 1992. Funding came from individuals, congregations, Oxford Diocese and other denominations. Christian Aid gave an annual grant.  

Since this time, CCOW has worked with others on a wide variety of issues:

•  Playing a major part in promoting the Jubilee 2000 campaign in the 3 counties;
•  Promoting One World Week;
•  Promoting Fair Trade and Fair Trade networks;
•  Exploring issues of justice in trade;
•  Encouraging a wider understanding within churches of the 5 Strands of Mission;
•  Raising issues about the activities of Multi-National Corporations;
•  Raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and possible strategies to combat it
•  Enabling visits from Christian partners in the majority world;
•  Informing people about issues as diverse as energy use, the arms trade, refugees and ethical investment
•  Resourcing churches on Climate Change.

Throughout this period the generosity of individual supporters and congregations, as well as denominational bodies, has sustained and supported us.

When Christopher Hall retired in 2000, Ruth Parkyn became co-ordinator for a short time before leaving the area on her marriage. And so, in 2002, the mantle passed to our present Co-ordinator, Maranda St John Nicolle, who has worked to maintain and develop CCOW's role in informing, resourcing and networking and to enhance its reputation as a reliable source of information and help-mate to churches, organisations and individuals.  

Throughout its life, CCOW has been well-served by Trustees who have sought to promote and safeguard its reputation in the field of Development Education and to ensure a sustainable future as a charitable trust.