SENIOR Church of Scotland leaders have criticised wealthy, middle-class parishioners who they accuse of keeping their hands in their pockets when the collection plate comes round on a Sunday.

Ministers at some of the country’s most affluent parishes are frustrated that well-heeled churchgoers are reluctant to give financial support to the cash-strapped Kirk and to donate to charity.

The church has introduced a “standing order” scheme to shame rich members into making regular contributions.

One minister, who left a parish in the east end of Glasgow for a wealthy suburb, said he was appalled at the “skinflint” attitude of his new flock.

On one occasion he discovered that a women’s group, which met at the church, was using money collected for charity to pay for their own tea and coffee.

John Millar, a former Kirk moderator, said figures had revealed that members of poor parishes were donating more, in real terms, than their richer brethren. “When an obvious need comes to their attention, people will give whatever they have.” he said.

Rev Martin Johnstone, of the church board of National Mission, said: “If members across the nation were prepared to give as sacrificially as those in the poorer congregations, some of the problems the church are currently facing would not be there.”

The church’s finances were top of the agenda at last week’s General Assembly. The Kirk is currently £19m in debt and congregations are in decline. A recent report by the national mission warned that if numbers continued to fall at their current rate of 17,000 members a year, the church would be dead within 50 years.

Church leaders are now urging those with greater financial means to accept their responsibilities. Last week the stewardship and finance committee’s annual report, delivered at the General Assembly, urged minister to put more pressure on congregations to give as much as they could afford.

“The giving per capita in urban priority areas is often higher than in more affluent parishes,” said Rev Colin Caskie, the committee convener.

“In richer areas the money might instead go on a holiday or pay off a car loan. In less affluent communities there is often a greater openness and generosity.”

Rev Erik Cramb, convenor of the Ecumenical Relations committee, agreed that less affluent communities give more than wealthier parishes.

“I think that’s because they are more dependent on each other and they can’t isolate themselves from the ups and downs in life,” he said. “The more wealth you have, the more you end up defending it and the more you become dependent on things.”

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