Sir, I do not accept the Church Commissioners’ assurance (Aug 12) that the finances of the Church of England are not, as your leader stated, “in a parlous financial state”. Try telling that to congregations. On Friday I shall stand outside my parish church, in one of the poorest wards in Devon, for nine hours in an effort to raise funds not only to maintain the building but also to pay the £36,000 demanded of us by the diocese for the “Common Fund”, our contribution to maintain me and other priests in post.
A few targeted grants, funding bishops, cathedrals and pensions conceal the reality when the commissioners have drastically cut their contribution to stipends in recent years.
THE REV PREBENDARY NIGEL JACKSON-STEVENS
Ilfracombe, Devon