Mediating Institutions in Residential Communities in the Thames Gateway

Abstract

This is the first of two chapters that contain case studies of mediating institutions in residential areas. The chapter discusses the many different ways in which religious organisations and residential communities relate to each other, describes a variety of residential communities in the Thames Gateway, and explores the ways in which the churches have created mediating institutions in order to relate to them. The chapter finds the churches’ clergy to be significant mediating institutions, and recognises that a variety of kinds of mediating institutions at various points along the religious-secular spectrum can be effective. The chapter draws lessons from four mediating institutions in North Kent; and it studies the ways in which other faith communities relate to the Thames Gateway, and finds that they do so mainly through multi faith institutions. The chapter concludes that crucial to the relationship between the churches and residential areas are congregations, clergy, and clergy housing, because these all function as mediating institutions in their own right as well as forming the necessary basis for the creation of other mediating institutions.