A FORUM of churches in Norfolk and Waveney is poised to discuss the changing face of church and community life in the county this week.Speakers on population, climate change and housing will debate the issues facing communities at Heacham Church on Saturday.

A FORUM of churches in Norfolk and Waveney is poised to discuss the changing face of church and community life in the county this week.

Speakers on population, climate change and housing will debate the issues facing communities at Heacham Church on Saturday.

The Bishop of Lynn, the Rt Rev James Langstaff, who works with the Flagship Housing Group in the East of England, said he will talk about affordable housing and other problems faced by rural communities. High house prices mean that certain people in communities are moving away, he said.

“As churches are involved in their local communities these are issues that they need to be involved in,” he added.

Lincolnshire-based the Rev David de Verny will be talking about population and better engagement with migrant workers, while academic Keith Tovey, who specialises in climate change at the UEA, will talk about the problems faced by climate change, what individuals, and particularly the church as a community, can do to alleviate it and the future of where we will get our energy from.

Seven Christian denominations make up Churches Together, including Baptist, Church of England, Methodist, Religious Society of Friends, Roman Catholic, Salvation Army, United Reformed Church and Russian Orthodox.

The forum will take place at Heacham Church on Saturday. There is a booking fee of £6 payable to Norfolk and Waveney Churches Together. Send it to The County Ecumenical Officer, 21 Homefield Paddock, Beccles, NR34 9NE.