Pews not full but the coffers are

The article ‘Oh come all ye faithful’ (August 18) would suggest all is well within the churches of the East Bridge Deanery (EBD).

Diocese of Canterbury director of communications Anna Drew says: “It is simply untrue to claim that there is a plan to fund two clergy for the entire deanery – no such decision has been made.”

While it may be true that no such decision has been made, this contrasts with information given out in local churches.

At Bekesbourne, on June 19 a member of the General Synod highlighted the financial problems facing the EBD, both in the provision of sufficient clergy, and the fact that only Bekesbourne was at present not dipping into its financial reserves.

On Sunday, July 3, a similar presentation was made by our church warden at Bridge, with the added information that funds for just over two vicars were available at the present time, and that a financial presentation would be made to parishioners on July 14 . That presentation was later cancelled.

Expecting our vicar to cover five churches (it used to be only three) on his own is unrealistic, and to then expect him to cover a further additional four churches because no new incumbent is available shows a lack of preparation by those responsible.

Professor Richard Norman’s statement about the decline in membership of the C of E as a percentage of the population shows the difficulties that we now face in the rural community.

As regards the financial wealth of the C of E, the investment portfolio of the Church Commissioners has grown from £2.4 billion in 1995 to £7 billion now, and continues to grow. Expenditure from the fund in 2015 was under £250 million. David Spencer Dering Close, Bridge