A sad day,Giles. The radical hero has swallowed Beeching, Thatcher and austerity Osbornomics (Loose canon, and 16 October). I cannot believe that you have sold out to the finance committee of the Archbishops’ Council. Where is wisdom now to be found? I know you once wrote that a blade of grass makes you nervous and a field with a cow in it brings you out in a cold sweat,but the rural reality is rather different from that in your article.
I know bishops are paid to be incurably optimistic and retain bland monkey grins on their faces, but: 40% of Anglicans proceed to small rural churches; in many villages round here well over half of the population attends church at some point in the year; the churches that appear a burden in Westminster are better cared for than they have ever been since they were built. I could say more. I would like to stress that Christian faith for most is not a set of abstract propositions, or but is intimately allied to dwelling and identity,which is to say the parish church.
Edward Condry
Bishop of Ramsbury, Diocese of SalisburyContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com