Vicars may not be replaced as Church hits cash crisis
THE Church of England in Sussex is due to run out of cash reserves by the end of next year.
The news means that parishioners are being asked to dig deep to help pull the Diocese of Chichester out of the red.
Falling income from parishes has forced the organisation, which is responsible for all Anglican churches across the county, to spend its savings.
It is expected to lose £700,000 this year and £500,000 in 2013, using up the last of its reserves.
The diocese has brought in a raft of cost saving measures, including stopping most new appointments. This means that departing vicars may not always be replaced.
Instead, vicars from other churches , as well as retired clergymen and lay readers are being drafted in to hold services.
The church’s current cash crisis is due in part to the global financial crisis which has significantly damaged its investments.
The diocese is exploring merging parishes as a way of cutting costs, with ten parish mergers in Sussex taking place over the last year alone.
It does have access to some emergency funds.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for St Leonards-on-Sea
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 5 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
