HISTORIC CHURCHES
SIR,—Few right-minded people are likely to disagree with the remarks of Mr. John Betjeman on this subject but, as an ordinary layman with no particular ecclesiological pretentions, it seems to me that the position is clear cut. If a man subscribes money to the Historic Churches Preservation Trust and then historic churches are declared 'redundant' and destroyed, he has been bilked! There are no two ways about it. The Trust has taken his money on false pretences.
Another question arises—when is a church 'redundant'? In these days many a tin mission hall on a new housing estate is packed out while churches in the centres of towns stand almost empty. Are they all to be declared 'redundant' and pulled down? Again, in places where there is plenty of choice, congregations are apt to fluctuate because of the quality of the incumbent, the music, or the type of service
provided (briefly, 'High' or If an unpopular incumbent empties his church or a poor organist and choir drive the congrega- tion elsewhere, is that church, old and beauti- ful though it may be, redolent of the spiritual peace of the centuries gone by, to be declared 'redundant' and marked for destruction? If the size of congregations is to be the criterion, our cities will soon become very graceless placed—Yours faithfully,
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