Letters to the Telegraph
SIR – It has been obvious for years that the Church of England has lost its way, and Professor R G Faulkner’s report after attending the General Synod confirms this (Letters, July 22).
Too much money is wasted on pointless schemes such as Project Spire, the £100m plan to pay slavery reparations.
At the very least, parishioners’ contributions should be spent on the upkeep of our wonderful historic churches. In particular, money should be diverted to rural parishes, where churches are vital for community cohesion.
Stella Govette
Holybourne, Hampshire
SIR – Historical slavery, net zero and harsh criticism of Israel are not priority issues for many Christians. However, there are other candidates for priority status that might have wider appeal, including ending rampant modern slavery and addressing the persecution of Christians around the world, especially in parts of Africa and the Middle East.
Michael Nicholson
Newton Abbot, Devon
SIR – I am a churchwarden in a parish that has been without an incumbent for more than two years. We are not alone. While the Church does not publish the figure, estimates suggest a vacancy rate of up to 15 per cent. There are as many as 1,800 parishes trying to function without a priest.
Despite my parish having a vacancy, our struggling parishioners are still expected to raise and pay the diocese a parish share – some might call it a tax – in excess of £10,000 a year.
Professor R G Faulkner questions the wisdom of the Church setting aside £290m to pursue net zero and fund reparations for historical links to slavery. If 10 per cent of these funds were instead invested in the recruitment, training, placement and development of parish priests, we could recreate the vibrant Christian communities that were once the heart of the Church.
Do our bishops have the wherewithal to rescue their sinking parishes, or will they, as Professor Faulkner suggests, simply become a protest group?
A McP Gordon
Oswestry, Shropshire
SIR – The letter from my fellow General Synod laity representative highlights the tendency of the Church to debate topics other than the Church. Thanks to an answer to a written question at the last Synod, we now know that each five-day Synod costs more than £500,000 in expenses, and close to £1m when all is factored in.
Parishioners who think the Church should use this money to address what it can change, rather than airing opinions on what it can’t, should stand for election themselves and try to improve the situation.
Andrew Orange
Andover, Hampshire