Proms Podcast

Star musicians and your favourite Times writers at the Albert Hall

Navigation - link to other main sections from here

Skip Navigation

From The Times
May 11, 2008

The Church needs to keep its churches

Sir, I hope the Rev Matthew Butler (letter, May 9) is not one of those clergy who nowadays have the fixed persuasion that the history and architecture of the Church are irrelevant.

Our research shows that the wholesale sell-off by the Church of its historic rectories and vicarages in recent years has been responsible, more than any other single factor, for the decline in church attendance among the “ordinary people” of whom Mr Butler writes. The Church in the community will not survive if it is not there for all to see, and that visibility was best achieved by the fine buildings it is busily selling off.

Anthony Jennings

Director, Save Our Parsonages

If people only go to church because the buildings are attractive, then I'm afraid for most of us God is dead.

Godfrey, York, UK

The Church is it's people NOT the building which is a meeting place for worship. If Anthony wants the church to be visble he should be encouraging the people to be more visible. Keep some buildings yes for their beauty and design. Let the church stop seeing itself as a building but a body of people

Steven, Buckhurst Hill,

As a non-Christian I have no direct interest in this question, but I am intrigued.
Surely a church must first be a community of people, not a pile of bricks - albeit of architectural interest.

Stuart Hartill, Ramsey, Isle of Man,

Have your say

* Required

Also in Letters

Also in Comment

feedback

The Sunday Times has made some changes to the paper

Tell us what you think

Letters

Fuel crisis

Should Gordon Brown scrap the 2p rise in fuel duty?

Letters

MPs' expenses

Rules that apply to ordinary people should also apply to Members of Parliament

Letters

A British soldier aims his weapon at an opium poppy field in Habibollah Kalay village in Helmand province, Afghanistan

Respect for Soldiers

Is there enough public support for British troops?

Faith in Brief

Bite-sized religious news

Pope Benedict XVI

The best on Benedict

A selection of papal biographies

Sexism or tradition: the debate on female bishops

Readers' views on the ordination of women bishops

Feedback

Sally Baker

Sally Baker

Our Feedback Editor answers your queries

Cartoon

Morland Cartoon

More cartoons

Most Read

Skip Most Read

Today

MOST COMMENTED

Skip Editor's Pick

Today

MOST CURIOUS

Skip Most Curious

Today

Focus Zone

swimmer

London Triathlon:

Follow our three athletes' progress in their preparations for the London Triathlon, and pick up training tips and more

Dr Zhivago

Top 100 Films:

Enjoy screenings of all the classic films you love, plus take advantage of two-for-one tickets

A family canoeing on a lake

Sport Safety :

We explore leisure activities that are safe and suitable for all of the family

Focus zone, pets, 100x100

Perfect Pets:

Times Online's new TV show helps you make the right decisions for your pet

Daniel Craig

James Bond:

Read our exclusive 100 Years of Fleming and Bond interactive timeline, packed with original Times articles and reviews

ba business travel clouds

Business Travel:

The latest travel news plus the best hotels and gadgets for business travellers

previous next

Popular Searches on Times Online

bollywood news | chess | dark knight review | fantasy football 2008 | fashion | london film festival 2008 | mortgages | olympics | podcasts | property | recipes | redundancy calculator | sudoku | weather forecast | wine

Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles

Services

Lewis Hamilton steers the new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 Formula One car

Keep up with all the racing gossip at our Formula One Blog

births, marriages and deaths

Announcements

Search The Times Births, Marriages & Deaths

Daniel Craig

RELATED REPORT

Fleming & Bond

Exclusive 100 year timeline

Classifieds 

Cars

Skip Cars of the Week

Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa 2dr


£26,995
Unit 1, Woodfield Business Unit, Kidderminster Road, Ombersley, Worcester.

Car insurance

Great car insurance deals online


Jobs

Skip Jobs of the Week
Head of Brand Marketing

90k + Bonus + Options
Confidential
London

Team Managers

£23,716 +
Highways Agency
National

Central Services and Facilities Manager

£ £43,405 - £48,228 pa
Notting Hill Housing
London

Field Sales Executive

£30,000 base, £100,000 OTE
Riches Consulting
London/South

Properties

Outstanding Barn con in rural Kent, 4,600 sq ft

with annexe accommodation and 5.25 acres
£1,100,000

The Gardens @ Riverside Quarter Luxury Appts in Wandsworth

Beautiful Gardens w/ stunning Thames Views

Ajman UAE (next to Dubai): Prices set to double in 18 months!

Studios £33K, 1 Beds £60K, 2 beds  £79K

Barclays

Mortgages, bank acc & money transfers to help you buy abroad

Holidays

Skip Travel of the Week

Classical Jordan guided tour

Explore mystical Jordan
From £1030 for 7nts 4*

Great Value City Break

to USA's Most Cosmopolitan City; San Francisco!
£POA

Antigua Beach Club Holidays

Book Now for Winter 08/09 and Get 10% off!


Travel insurance

Great travel insurance deals online


Place your advert now