The centralised Cofe banned clergy from entering their own churches

sir – The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, writing with the Rt Rev Sarah Mullaly, the Bishop of London (Comment, September 16), criticises the Government for its centralised approach to Covid-19.

This is the same Archbishop who, in March, instructed all clergy in England not to enter their own churches.

The House of Bishops, chaired by the Bishop of London, continues to issue instructions centrally instead of allowing local decision-making.

Dr Penelope Upton

Lighthorne, Warwickshire

sir – I commend to the Government the piece by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London.

What has happened whereby the Church of England promotes localism – the essence of true conservatism – while a Conservative government wields ever more power from the centre by diktat?

Graham Jones

Guildford, Surrey sir – How much I agree with the Archbishop of Canterbury when he says that Covid rules should be localised.

We are, I believe, the most centralised country in Europe, and, throughout this crisis, it has shown. Attempts to impose centralised rules governing an uneven crisis just don’t work in a democracy, except in a time of war. And Covid-19 isn’t a war. It is foolish to think that we can “defeat” the virus.

Clearly, the “moonshot” is a fantasy, and won’t work. Any lockdowns need to be local and, as far as possible, humane. The “rule of six” is a barbarous idea, asking to be flouted, and worthy of communist China.

Our huge present expenditure as a nation can only be supported by people getting back to work, not by constant national threats of lockdown and curfew.

Marian Waters

Pebworth, Warwickshire sir – For once I find myself in agreement with Archbishop Welby. What a pity that he does not apply such sensible reasoning to his own organisation.

There are many small congregations up and down the country of mainly elderly folk who are quite capable of deciding for themselves whether or not they want to run the risk of sitting next to their neighbours of many years on Sunday morning.

Instead he is subjecting us to rules which may be quite sensible for Canterbury Cathedral, but which have no relevance at all for half a dozen old friends in a country church.

David Pound

Charwelton, Northamptonshire

sir – I was confused to read in the Archbishop of Canterbury’s article that the clergy and parish “are and always have been the foundation of the church”. We used to sing: “The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord.”

Dr Max Gammon

London SE16