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Diocese of Winchester proposes cutting university chaplains

24/11/2009 12:30:00


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The Diocese of Winchester is proposing huge budget cuts for 2010, which would include cutting their university chaplains, Diocesan newspaper, Communications Officer, Canon Missioner, a Schools Advisor, the number of clergy, and much more besides.

The cuts, which are to be voted on on 28 November, amount to a total £1million saving from an original budget presented in May.

There has been a strong reaction from students at the University of Southampton to the news that they could be losing their chaplain. A website and Facebook group (account required) have been set up in support of Rev Simon Stevens, known to students as 'Yellow'. It is believed that the Chaplaincy itself would be under threat as much of the funding comes from the Church of England. A protest at the Cathedral is planned (Facebook link) for this Thursday. Simon is clearly a hugely popular figure around the University - you may well have come across his 'Dark Side of the Moon Chaplaincy' blog, which hints that all is not well.

Full details of the cuts can be found in this document The Diocesan budget for 2010 (pdf) posted online by the Winchester Deanery along with an explanatory report by the Deanery Finance Committee Chairman (pdf) in which the reason for the cuts is explained:

The figures put forward by the deaneries in September fell short of the amount required to meet the budget of expenditure presented in May by £1 million more than had been allowed for through the "Deanery Abatement‟ of £600,000. All deaneries fell short.

The proposed cuts include the following:

  • Support to cease for chaplains at Southampton University, Southampton Solent University, Bournemouth FE/HE and Deaf & Hard of Hearing (Winchester University funds its Chaplain in full), from June 30th (Solent already vacant)
  • Clergy posts: a reduction of 7 posts
  • Communications: publication of "The Vine" to cease and Communications Officer to be replaced by Communications Adviser
  • Curates: posts to be reduced from 9 to 7, for 2010
  • Ceasing of funding for Canon Missioner from April 1st
  • Education: reduction of one School Adviser
  • Mission grants to parishes to be removed from the budget
  • Lettings: to be normal practice to let parsonages for 6 months during a vacancy
  • Winding up the Old Alresford Place (Conference Centre) Trust and all its assets and liabilities to be passed to the Diocesan Board of Finance by 31st December 2009

I've asked the Diocese for a comment but have had no response thus far.

ASBO Jesus has posted a cartoon on the Chaplaincy cuts: 816

Lastly, from the Church Times Archive: Articles on the value of the work done by University Chaplains.


Update: There is now a response from the Diocese of Winchester. See Diocese of Winchester responds to students' protests over proposed chaplaincy cuts


That's a real shame - there's enough pressure from academics to push Christianity out of public life as it is.

Frugal Dougal | 24/11/2009 21:07:13




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