From the Revd Gerry Reilly
Sir, — I was privileged, over Pentecost, to visit and preside in a church where the vicar and about half the congregation had decamped to the Ordinariate. I was shocked (a) at the state in which the church and congregation had been left by their supposed pastor, and (b) by the serious emotional blindness of diocesan officials to the needs and bereavement of those remaining.
Great care seems to have been taken to assure those leaving for the Ordinariate of our love and care, even if their priests have been grooming them for years and poisoning their minds against the Church of England. But what of those faithful Anglicans who have decided to remain and continue their mission to their locality?
In many cases, wardens, treasurers, and PCC members have simply gone, with no handovers, nothing, and the faithful remnant have been left to fend for themselves, with some gratefully received help from overworked neighbouring priests.
This is disgraceful. Our bishops and archdeacons should have foreseen this, and, with the collaboration of their RC colleagues, not allowed such an untidy exodus. The awful thing is that there are still vicars sitting in their vicarages, awaiting retraining or reordination, and watching their erstwhile congregations, which they supposedly loved, struggling, and they do nothing.
I hope and pray that this will not be allowed to continue.
GERRY REILLY
Benedictus, 8 Victoria Square
Poples Well
Crewkerne
Somerset TA18 7ES