Janet Davies, who has died at age 89, spent most of her career in international development and religious advocacy work. From 1968 to 1986, she worked for Christian Aid in northwest England, eventually becoming regional organizer. Based in Liverpool, she collaborated with church leaders including Edward Patey, then dean of the city, to build grassroots partnerships across different Christian denominations. Her efforts contributed to organizing Christian Aid Week and helped establish the Merseyside Churches Ecumenical Council, which supported initiatives later associated with Bishop David Sheppard and Archbishop Derek Worlock.
Davies was born in Formby, Lancashire, and trained as a secretary before her career in development work. She was an accomplished pianist and singer. In 1968, she married Alan Davies, an occupational therapist, who supported her professional endeavors until his death from cancer.
Her work with Christian Aid took her to numerous countries, including India, South Africa, and the Middle East. She described witnessing extreme poverty in Calcutta in 1975 and the effects of apartheid in South Africa in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Known as a compelling public speaker, she helped raise funds for humanitarian causes, including an appeal for Ethiopian famine relief in 1985.
Davies pursued further education later in life, obtaining a certificate in theology from Birmingham University in 1994. She became an advocate for peace and justice in the Middle East, leading programs for the United Society Partners in the Gospel from the mid-1980s to early 1990s and serving with the United Reformed Church from 1992 to 1995. In retirement, she established Sabeel-Kairos UK, an organization supporting the Palestinian Christian community.
She is survived by a brother and nine nieces and nephews. An older brother, Chris, preceded her in death.
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