Olympics "stealing cash from churches"

SOME of the best architectural glories to be found in England are out churches, mostly from the pre-Reformation era and some which date from before the Norman Conquest. But funding for our Established Church, clerics suggest, is being diverted from repairing these places of worship  to pay for the soaring cost of the London Olympics.

Sir Stuart Bell, who represents the Church Commissioners in Parliament, said at Commons question time today said: "It is not generally known that the State does not actually help us in terms of financing the preservation of churches, although we do work closely with English Heritage and we do receive funds from them.

"There is a great concern within the Church that funds may be diverted from the Heritage Fund for the Olympic Games, which will not assist in this preservation.''

Tory Sir Peter Viggers said: "The burden of maintaining one of the glories of this country, namely our old churches, falls heavily upon the modest number of people in the congregation.

There may not be much sympathy for the Church, because Anglicans are a dwindling minority among this country's religions and the growing number of people professing to no religious beliefs. Good use has been found for the redundant medieval church in Ipswich, thanks to the Ipswich Historic Churches Trust.

I might be accused of sentimentality, but I believe taxpayers should contribute to keeping these wonderful buildings, many of which are in the countryside - reflecting the power that the Church, firstly Catholic and then Protestant held sway in our largely pre-Elixabethan economy. I would also urge all dioceses in England to set up special appeal funds and to publish an annual at risk register.