FROM THE VICARAGE STUDY

My dear People,

Last month I touched upon the finances of the Parish Magazine. This time I would like to pass on some thoughts about the finances of the Parish Church. Straightaway I must make two points clear. First, this is not an appeal. Secondly, these thoughts are intended for all who call themselves members of the Church of England and all who make any sort of use of the church at one time or another in their lives - and that means, I suspect, at least three-quarters of the population of this parish.

I suppose there are two ways of looking at this subject. One is from the angle of individual responsibility. For instance, do you fully realise that this ancient parish church, bequeathed to you in good condition by your ancestors, is your church? It is not the Vicar's, or the churchwardens', or the Church Council's, it is yours. Do you also realise that the running expenses of the church, staffed with your own vicar, amount to £l 15s. 0d. a day? That figure includes items like insurance, heating, minor repairs and a small contribution to the Vicar's stipend; but it does not include, of course, major repairs or contributions to Christian work in this country or abroad. Now if you, at the minimum, expect the church to be standing in good order and staffed for your baby's christening or your daughter's wedding or your father's funeral, have you not also a moral responsibility to pay your share towards its "household expenses"? If you don't pay anything or if you limit yourself to 2/6 in the plate three times a year, are you not like a husband expecting his wife to keep the family clean and healthy on £l a week?

Or there is a second way of looking at this subject and that is from the angle of stewardship. There are many people - and they are not all regular churchgoers - who, rightly in the opinion of the Church, regard themselves as stewards of their material possessions. Stemming from their belief in God as Creator they believe, among other things, that all the material things of this life are theirs on trust. So they aim to use their possessions, whether large or small, wisely and fruitfully, in the service of God and of others. With all of you who think this way I would hope that there is the further element of sheer gratitude to a generous Creator behind your stewardship and your giving.

Your sincere friend and Vicar,

JOHN GREEN.