Lack of money could leave South Warwickshire churches without a vicar
FOUR south Warwickshire parishes will be without a vicar when the present incumbent leaves next month.
And the reason, apparently, is money – or the lack of it.
There are also fears that some of the five churches affected - which include All Saints’ at Burton Dassett, the so-called ‘Cathedral in the Hills’ – might be forced to close.
The concern stems from an announcement earlier this year when worshippers in the Dassett Magna group of parishes (Avon Dassett with Fenny Compton, Burton Dassett, Farnborough and Gaydon with Chadshunt) were told no attempt would be made to secure a new vicar after the Rev Nicki Chatterton leaves in May.
Archdeacon Barry Dugmore told members of the four parochial church councils that, as they did not collect enough money each week to cover the cost of a vicar, there would be no allocation. Current prices, which include oncosts, are estimated in the region of £60,000. Dassett Magna gives about £34,000.
One of the parishioners, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Herald: “In the past Dassett Magna’s shortfall has been supported by tourist donations collected at Holy Trinity in Stratford. This will now cease, despite increased tourism rates in Stratford post-Covid.
“Archdeacon Dugmore said many church congregations are unable to pay their way, and that Coventry diocese would prioritise those parishes in Coventry who could not meet the required £60,000.”
The parishioner added: “It was suggested that the Dassett Magna group is subsumed into the six parishes of the Edgehill group under the leadership of the Rev Barry Jackson. This would allow an opportunity for a part-time cleric known as a ‘house for duty’ priest to support the locality.
“A children’s worker may also be shared between the nine parishes, covering over 50 square miles of south Warwickshire. Members of the affected parishes are still in discussion with Rev Jackson regarding this plan.”
Sharp-eyed churchgoers have noticed, however, that vicars’ stipends are actually paid from the income of the glebe lands. These are fields which were owned by individual churches from medieval times.
The Endowments and Glebe Measures Act of 1976 allowed all glebe land to be administered by staff working for the bishop.
“This is particularly poignant as those fields local to Dassett Magna parishes, historically belonging to Burton Dassett parish, have recently been earmarked for a solar farm, the revenue from which would easily clear the missing £16,000,” said the parishioner. “Money from the parishes is used centrally to support the administration of the diocese from Coventry.
“Local parishioners are concerned that five churches involved, including the ‘Cathedral of the Hills’, All Saints’ Burton Dassett, might be closed. Those volunteers working to support the four rural churches expect to have their workload more than doubled when the Rev Nicki leaves. It is unsurprising, then, that a recent meeting at Farnborough failed to find anyone to volunteer to be churchwarden.”
A spokesman for the Diocese of Coventry told the Herald: “The Dassett Magna group of churches are greatly valued and its people are an important Christian presence in their community.
“As always, the Diocese of Coventry, in consultation with the group, are making every attempt to keep churches open and ministering at the heart of their communities; this will mean exploring a variety of solutions as part of an ongoing consultation period.
“The next consultation meeting is planned later this month with church wardens where they will discuss a number of approaches.
“Careful administration and investment of glebe lands over the last ten years and beyond has enabled more effective funding for ministry in the diocese as a whole church across Coventry and Warwickshire.”
The spokesman added: “Glebe lands are being well stewarded as one of a number of valuable resources in our commitments to maintain sustainable ministry, invest in children’s work and the need for the diocese to serve the people of Warwickshire and Coventry with its growing population.
“The DBF [Diocesan Board of Finance] is not currently aware of any solar farms planned in the area.”