ON WEDNESDAY, Hymns Ancient & Modern, the charity that owns the Church Times, announced the closure of Third Way, another of its periodicals.

The CEO of Hymns A&M, Dominic Vaughan, said in the statement: “Although a considerable amount has been done to keep the magazine going, it has proved not to be financially viable in these difficult economic times.”

The decision had been made with regret, he said, and, on behalf of the Hymns A&M trustees, he wanted to thank all who had contributed to Third Way. “The company has been proud to be associated with the magazine, which has provided a forum for significant debate and Christian comment since its launch in 1977. Thanks are also due to staff, suppliers, subscribers, and advertisers for their support.”

Those with an existing subscription will be offered a refund, or a transfer to other publications, such as the Church Times or Magnet.

The editor of Third Way, Simon Jones, who has worked on the magazine for 14 years, will remain with the company, working on other publications. He said this week: “I stood on the shoulders of giants at Third Way, and feel the sadness of many at its end. But Hymns Ancient and Modern continues to publish material that would impress the founders of the magazine, and their mission does not end with its closure.”