From Mr Anthony Jennings
Sir, - You report ("Wells joy
as decision to move Bishop is reversed", News, 9 May) that the
committee appointed by the Archbishops' Council did not agree with
those who criticised the purchase of the Old Rectory at Croscombe
as "representing poor value for money", saying: "we accept the
Commissioners' assertion that it represents an attractive
investment asset."
Why, then, was it sold in the first place? Money was lost by
repurchasing it at a higher price. And, if Georgian rectories are
acknowledged to be such attractive assets, why has it for so long
been the policy of the Church to sell them? Does this mean that the
church institutions now accept what Save Our Parsonages has been
saying for so many years, that "redundant" rectories and vicarages
are indeed "attractive investment assets", and what they have been
doing has been wrong?
Our advice is routinely ignored, and yet it follows from what
the committee has said itself that they should never be sold, but
kept as valuable capital assets and let out for valuable
income.
ANTHONY JENNINGS
Director
Save Our Parsonages
Flat Z, 12-18 Bloomsbury Street
London WC1B 3QA