‘He should put own house in order, before making political criticisms’

The Archbishop of Canterbury has, yet again, made his political views known, this time on the subject of, in his view, Britain’s broken economy. He has previously revealed that he was more shocked at the plight of Britain’s hungry stricken poor than the suffering in African refugee camps (Press Association Report Dec 7, 2014). He was against Brexit as bad for the country, including an Episcopal letter read out at churches saying what a disaster Brexit was.

Consider this: This country has the highest level of adults in work since 1971. The gap between rich and poor is smaller than a decade ago (Institute of Fiscal Studies).

Inequality in Britain is lower than France, Italy, Canada, or Australia (World Bank).

The Church of England has assets of over £7 billion (annual growth rate of over 9% over the last 30 years, which includes the financial crash). Are these assets being used to alleviate Britain’s “hungry stricken poor”?

The present system of replacing an incumbent in a parish (based upon the Parish of Bridge) is over 18 months – and again in the Parish of Bridge this is the third time in a little over six years. In this day and age the system of an interregnum (the period between the departure of one vicar and the appointment of another) is archaic and out of date. We need day to day leadership and continuity in that leadership. A vicar’s departure should coincide with his replacement’s arrival.

Our vicarage (empty again for another 18 months) cannot be rented out, yet as a parish we need funds to maintain our church.

Rationalisation of the number of churches in rural areas is long overdue, but again, because of quite understandably local loyalties, needs guidance and decision making from the top.

The Archbishop should put his own house in order, before criticising in the political area. David Spencer, Dering Close, Bridge

Archbishop Justin Welby