Citizenship is a statutory subject at Key Stages 3 and 4 but is increasingly studied in earlier years to help develop a sense of neighbourhood and community. Central to it is discussion and debate about civic responsibilities, diversity and equality.

The church forms an excellent focal point for much of this debate. At Key Stage 2 pupils are asked to think about ‘what improves and harms their local and built environment and about some of the ways people look after them’. In Norwich, a real-life issue about the care of its numerous medieval churches offers a fascinating case-study. Click here to see some current uses of Norwich medieval churches. Redundant churches are found everywhere in the country but in the city of churches, the problem is acute. Like all unused buildings, churches soon fall into disrepair. The care, conservation and re-use of important historical and community buildings are ideal topics for citizenship debate. Any discussion should take into account the number of churches that have been declared redundant (In Norwich, currently, there are 22), the wide variety of new uses that have been found for them, and the large sums of money that are needed for their restoration.