In the wake of the Second World War, the churches of Britain and Ireland came together in a powerful act of solidarity. Still grappling with their own losses, they gave sacrificially to help refugees in Europe. This remarkable act of love and solidarity by churches of many denominations laid the foundation for what would become Christian Aid.
As the official development and humanitarian agency of 41 sponsoring churches in Britain and Ireland we have remained rooted in the life of the church community and a response to the call of the prophet Micah to ‘act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God’.
These ancient words echoed through Westminster Abbey, on 12 June 2025, as Christian Aid supporters, churches and partners gathered to mark our 80th anniversary.
Rooted in the call for justice, mercy and humility, this service was a reminder of why we began, and why we continue. For eight decades, a vast movement of people putting faith into action has mobilised a force that injustice cannot silence – a force that refuses to stand by while poverty destroys lives: we call it the unstoppable power of hope.
Read more about the Christian Aid 80th anniversary service.
Across the decades, churches have come together to give, act and pray, united in a commitment to help our global neighbours live life in all its fullness. We share in the knowledge poverty was never part of God’s design for the world and our hope challenges us to confront the root causes such as conflict, economic injustice and the climate crisis. And it is hope that inspired our stand against apartheid, our fight for debt relief, and the birth of the Fairtrade movement.
Hope fuels our campaigns for peace and drives our work across divides to restore dignity and freedom. As our partners continue to respond to conflict and the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, churches have joined vigils to pray for their work and for a just peace.
Christian Aid Week
For Christian Aid Week this year, churches united in solidarity, hope and action.
Churches Together in Cheadle Hulme Christian Aid group invited people to A Night at the Movies concert as part of Christian Aid Week 2025. The event, with Vernon Building Society (Poynton) Brass Band, was held at Cheadle Hulme Methodist Church. Spokesperson Gill Smith explained the brass band is celebrating 200 years while Christian Aid is marking its 80th anniversary and proceeds from the concert were split between the two.
Churches in Marlow also teamed up to organise a concert, a sponsored walk and a collection. Mike Standell from Marlow Methodist Church explained, “Our main fundraising is a house-to-house envelope collection. We work with other churches and some 60 volunteers across Marlow, Marlow Bottom, Bisham and Little Marlow to deliver around 5,000 envelopes.”
And this year we welcomed more leaders from several denominations to the Faith Will initiative, encouraging conversations about gifts in Wills to charity, and to their church or Quaker meeting. The award-winning initiative, launched in 2023, initially involved the Church of Scotland, Church of England and the Quakers. Last year, they were joined by the United Reformed Church and for 2025, there are three new Welsh partners – The Church in Wales, The Presbyterian Church of Wales and the Union of Welsh Independents.
In this our 80th year, we have reflected on all that has been made possible through the courage and compassion of our partners, churches and supporters.
And as we head into the next decade of work, we are transforming how we operate, in order to put more power and funding in the hands of local partners and communities across the world. Our intention is to make us better stewards of the resources entrusted to us – so that people can create their own opportunities for a better life.
Hope doesn’t stand still.
It walks forward—in solidarity, in action and in love.
A prayer for the 80th anniversary of Christian Aid
God of justice and mercy,
We cry out for a world where we all are treated as equals,
Where no one is oppressed, and dignity belongs to all people.
Break the chains of injustice.
Lift up the weak and humble, the powerful.
Make love our foundation.
Let peace and justice flow like a river that never runs dry.
Amen
Written by Peter Nasir, Christian Aid Partner, General Secretary, East Jerusalem YMCA
Resources to help mark the Christian Aid 80th anniversary in your church.
Photo from Westminster Abbey service credit: Dean & Chapter of Westminster.