Use it or lose it (From Cotswold Journal)

Use it or lose it

12:00pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in Letters

I AGREE with much of what John and Frances Smith said in their letter about removing church pews etc.

This may be an advantage in a little-used village church where a flexible space can be used to accommodate other activities for the community, and chairs, if chosen sympathetically, can blend into old buildings, but they are usually very expensive and not durable like pews.

However, it seems a pity to change a beautiful and traditional parish church like All Saints, especially as the pews are already moveable.

Unfortunately we are almost powerless against a drive by the hierarchy in the Diocese of Worcester to modernise and reorder our churches in the hope that it will attract more people.

This includes a new set of ‘rituals’ built around a circular form of worship with the altar in the centre of the nave, and this is what is causing the most concern among the congregation.

Has the Church of England not noticed that the fastest growing churches in the area are the Baptist churches who are not concerned with furnishings, rituals, or ‘reorderings’ but concentrate on what a Christian community is about: spreading the message of God’s love and meeting the needs of people struggling in these difficult times.

At a time when congregation numbers are falling, together with income, it seems inappropriate to spend large sums of money on the latest ‘fad’.

In a few years the interior of All Saints may be unrecognisable.

Whether it will be for better or worse remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure – there will be no going back. If townspeople are concerned they should make their feelings known – and start supporting your local church! If you don’t use it you’ll lose it!

MERRY PRIVETT Evesham