Church criticised for ‘postcode lottery’

The Church of England has become embroiled in a row over a “postcode lottery” as northern churches are facing a financial black hole.

As Leeds diocese announced that it would have to lay off 14 staff and close its pension scheme to try to plug a £3 million deficit, some blamed it on a north-south divide and called on the Church’s “historic wealth” to be shared more evenly. Andy Delmege, vicar at St Bede’s, Brandwood in Birmingham and chairman of the National Estates Churches Network, which promotes inner city churches, told Radio 4’s Sunday: “This inequality [newer dioceses formed without historic assets] makes life harder for the parishes and clergy at the sharp end.

“The gospel ... certainly doesn’t advocate a postcode lottery.”