Letters to The Telegraph
SIR – Last week I attended a parish meeting. Matters discussed included how to support an expanding population; how to help a new rector with administration; how to encourage prayer and teach the faith; and, of course, money.
Matters not discussed included Israel or Palestine, net zero and slavery (Letters, July 25).
The strength of the Church of England has always been its parishes. That the hierarchy has its focus elsewhere suggests that, like the high-minded and principled folk of Laputa, they are floating away unlinked to the ground or reality.
Rev Richard Woods
Dover, Kent
SIR – Our vicar oversees five village churches, but is only paid half a full-time salary. Meanwhile, the diocese is determined to abolish oil-fired central heating as part of the drive to net zero, and is trying to push the installation of a ground-source heat pump. It employs staff to oversee this process. The Church has got its priorities wrong.
Tim Savege
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SIR – We are a small rural parish responsible for three ancient church buildings, all of which require repair work if they are to remain open and secure for future generations. One urgently needs repairs to its tower.
Over the past two years, our community has raised the necessary funds, and we were ready to begin the work this spring. We then learnt that the Government was withdrawing VAT recovery by ending the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, leaving us with a £20,000 shortfall.
We were advised that a new grant, the Places of Worship Renewal Fund, would be available, so the work was delayed while we pursued that option. This week, however, we heard that our application had been unsuccessful. After so much effort, the disappointment in the parish is considerable.
Reintroducing VAT recovery support would make a meaningful difference to parishes across the country that are working hard to maintain our precious ancient places of worship.
John Holt
Chichester, West Sussex
Power to parishes
SIR – Further to the letters from Professor R G Faulkner about his experience at General Synod in York (July 22) and Robin Self (July 23) about church priorities, I wonder whether they are aware of an organisation called Save the Parish, set up in 2021, whose aim is to resist plans to redirect money away from parochial ministry, and any further diversion of power and authority away from parishes and towards dioceses and the central Church.
This organisation needs deanery synod members to stand as General Synod candidates, as only by increasing laity representation of those who oppose the seemingly political indoctrination of the Church can it be challenged and hopefully changed.
Karen Powell
Marchamley, Shropshire
SIR – Although not a churchgoer, I used to donate yearly towards the upkeep of a lovely old building. I stopped when the churches were all locked during Covid.
Towyn Evans
Kirk Ireton, Derbyshire