From the Revd A. Campbell-Wilson
Sir, - While not disagreeing with the Revd Paul Nicolson over
the conditions in which some tenants live (
Letters, 11 July), I would take issue with him about clergy
retirement housing.
The Church of England Pensions Board takes half of my church
pension for rent for a modest terraced house. The monthly rent is
the same as our neighbours pay for their privately rented
accommodation. The only difference is that they do not have to pay
for any repairs to the property, as we do, and they did not have to
pay for any ingoing works, as we did.
After giving service to the Church, free of charge, for a
quarter of a century, my wife has been forced to take up employment
because my state pension is only for a single person.
In order to try to rectify this inequality, we have been forced
to pay the legal fees of the Board, as well as our own, leaving us
considerably out of pocket. New clergy should be warned that the
Church will not look after them when they retire, only expect them
to prop it up, without pay, to fill in the gaps made by the bishops
in cutting staffing.
ALLAN CAMPBELL-WILSON
51 Oak Road
Scarborough YO12 4AP