21 SEPTEMBER 1951, Page 18

SIR,—Apropos of the Rev. Mervyn Stockwood's article, Disappearing Clergy, I

write in ignorance and for information. As a lay member of the Church of England, I think that many of us feel that, before an appeal is. made for more money, the existing money already in the Church should be more evenly divided. Mr. Stockwood himself writes that some livings are worth as little as f200 ; others run into four figures. Why should this continue to be ? Could it not be altered by Act of

Parliament? Also, are all the stipends in connection with our cathedrals really necessary? Could not some of this money also go to the parish