Janet Davies, who has died at age 89, spent most of her career working on international development, ecumenical initiatives, and social justice advocacy.
From 1968 to 1986, Davies worked for Christian Aid in Merseyside and the north-west, eventually becoming regional organiser. Based in Liverpool and working alongside Edward Patey, then dean of the city, she helped establish grassroots partnerships across different Christian denominations. Her efforts contributed to the foundation of the Merseyside Churches Ecumenical Council and supported the “Better Together” partnership between Bishop David Sheppard and Archbishop Derek Worlock.
Born in Formby, Lancashire, Davies trained as a secretary before meeting her husband Alan Davies, an occupational therapist, in 1968. She travelled internationally on behalf of Christian Aid, visiting locations including Kolkata in 1975, South Africa during the apartheid era in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and the Middle East. These experiences shaped her advocacy work. In 1985, she received public recognition at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall when Christian Aid’s Ethiopian famine appeal raised funds through a concert. She later studied theology at Birmingham University, completing a certificate in 1994.
Davies became involved in Middle East peace advocacy, leading programmes for the United Society Partners in the Gospel from the mid-1980s to early 1990s and for the United Reformed Church between 1992 and 1995. In retirement, she established Sabeel-Kairos UK, a charity supporting Palestinian Christian communities. She authored contributions to works examining Christian experiences in the Middle East and was known as a public speaker who addressed large audiences without notes.
Davies is survived by her brother and nine nieces and nephews. An older brother, Chris, predeceased her.
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