Sir, I serve a Christian charity bound by our constitution to work with people of goodwill of all faiths and of none. We do not feel marginalised and excluded by the Government or opposition parties at national or local level as the latest Church of England report tells the world (report, June 7). The level playing field we enjoy with all other agencies doing the same work is related to its quality and relevance to the impoverished people we serve. The doors of ministers and officials are wide open when we have a valid case opposing or contributing to their policies and proposals.

Government funding is a mixed blessing: we have none. And we would prefer to go without, not so much from the point of view of the productivity required but because it is motivated by the ruling party’s political need to show that its policies are successful, which can clash with our motivation to serve the interests of our clients.

The Church of England seems to be running to mother State because some new children have caught her attention. Perhaps we should grow up and state our case in the context of the facts and circumstances of today’s secular world rather than yearn for the long-lost privileges of the established Church.

The Rev Paul Nicolson
Chairman, Zacchaeus 2000 Trust
London SW1

Sir, Fifty thousand churchgoers in the country — about three people per church — engaged in social action (report, June 7)? I think not. In England there are 16,000 Anglican churches. My experience shows that even in the smallest rural church, half a dozen volunteers is the norm and in the largest churches and cathedrals the figure easily exceeds 100. More importantly, because of the Church of England’s parish system, both clergy and lay people take responsibility for helping anyone in need living within the parish boundaries, irrespective of church membership.

Jane Hald
Chichester

Sir, If the Anglican divines would but look across the water they would find in the United States a complete separation of State and religion — and a church-going population that exceeds that in this country by probably 1,000 per cent.

David Wright
Holt, Norfolk

Sir, Am I alone in being very confused by the Church of England. It is now, as I understand, moaning about being left out of government planning, whatever this means, in favour of Muslims, but only a short while ago was advocating the introduction here of a jurisdiction for Sharia.

Is it only adolescents who don’t know what they want?

Bill Haymes
Coventry

Sir, The Church of England has got into the habit of blaming everybody, from British Muslims to the Labour Government, for the nation’s ills. Actually, it should start by setting its own house in order. The parachuting Archbishop John Sentamu may have made a speciality of pulling PR stunts, which the media eagerly lapped up, but behind his sound and fury there is nothing. Both he and his Canterbury counterpart are fundamentally tepid leaders. I would advise them to meditate on the words of the angel in the Book of Revelation: “Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew you out of my mouth.”

The Rev Frank Gelli
Brentford, Middx

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