How to save our crumbling rural churches
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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/01/how-to-save-our-crumbling-rural-churches Version 0 of 1. Simon Jenkins (Happy Easter to you. Now let’s nationalise our churches, 30 March) has identified the problem of maintaining isolated medieval rural churches, but not the solution. The statistics he quotes of falling congregations coupled with the number of Grade I listed churches in need of repair in sparsely populated areas speak for themselves. Without the injection of fresh sums of money, far beyond the resources of local church congregations, these buildings will, as Jenkins suggests, join castles and abbeys as picturesque ruins, obsolete in modern Britain. In the past, English Heritage provided an excellent service with specialist architects advising on church repairs and offering grants to keep significant churches in good order. More recently, following massive cuts in the English Heritage budget, that essential support has been removed and replaced by funding through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). That worked for a while, but increasingly the HLF has changed its priorities to public engagement rather than actual conservation. This puts their support out of the reach of most small communities. The only way ahead is to restore a system of government funding through Historic England, as it is now. There is no workable alternative. If the government does not take such an initiative quickly, Jenkins’ predictions will be all too correct. Heritage tourism will suffer with a net loss to the British exchequer.Susanna Wade-MartinsChurchwarden, North Elmham, Norfolk • Simon Jenkins espouses the fanciful notion that, if only the Church of England would give up its care of church buildings, then those buildings could be saved for the nation. He says that “a quarter of [churches] have fewer than 16 worshippers” (which means that 75% have more!). But even small rural congregations are highly dedicated to preserving their church buildings, most of which are in a better state of repair now than they have ever been. As the established church, the Church of England – the clue is in the name – exists for the whole people of England, not just those who happen to worship. Why “renationalise” something that already belongs to the nation? It’s good to see Mr Jenkins acknowledge (albeit grudgingly) that many churches are increasingly being used for both worship and other community activities. Why not build on the good things that are already happening? He suggests that “cathedral attendances have surged … [because] even nonbelievers seek somewhere quiet, beautiful and yet somehow busy”. But cathedrals are run by people committed both to their primary purpose and to their civic usefulness. Why not promote the same approach for parish churches? I don’t think (civic) parish councils would thank parochial church councils (PCCs) for offloading their responsibility for church buildings. Instead of his sweeping and simplistic solution, I wish Simon Jenkins would promote partnership working between PCCs and other community groups, for the benefit of the whole community.Rev Canon Dr Rob KelseyBerwick upon Tweed • Simon Jenkins has an interesting suggestion, but it has a flaw. He states that churches should be at the beating heart of each community, but not all rural churches are located in places where this is possible. A number (and I suspect this goes back to their pre-Conquest foundation when the local landowner had been the priest of the pagan deity) are more closely associated with a local “big house” than the homes of the majority of the parishioners, and may even have access down a privately owned road. I have visited one church in Gloucestershire where there was a notice clearly stating that local worshippers might use the direct private road through the house estate, but other visitors had to use a circuitous route round the outside. Not very welcoming. It is not obvious how such churches might be incorporated into the life of the community.Penelope StanfordLongfield, Kent • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters Anglicanism Christianity Religion Architecture letters Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via Email Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Google+ Share on WhatsApp Share on Messenger Reuse this content |