What future for our church buildings?

True, they don’t always get the attention they should but these traditional and historic assemblies are an opportunity for parishioners to challenge douzaines and church property management boards on what they are doing and how much they are spending. Considerable sums are involved. In the case of this newspaper’s ‘home parishes’ of the Vale and St Sampson’s alone, it is in excess of £1m. a year to meet parochial needs and refuse collection.

And as we have seen over the years, maintenance of the ancient parish churches can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds. Ratepayers by and large do not mind meeting these costs for what after all are ancient monuments.

What, however, is more of an elephant in the room is what happens to these splendid, religious buildings if and when congregations dwindle to the point where they become redundant.

Maintaining rectories for Church of England clergy will become more of an issue as well in these increasingly secular times and as plurality – a rector serving more than one parish – becomes more common. It may be some years off, but dwindling congregations mean the parish churches no longer being used exclusively for the use of Church of England services, weddings and funerals.

If so, what then?

Worship can take place elsewhere and if that happens ratepayers have the decision to make over what use should be made of their parish church and by whom. Unless used regularly and heated, maintenance becomes more costly and what are currently much loved landmark buildings risk becoming burdens.

Yes, this is a way off but unless islanders suddenly start flocking to church, parishes face the same problem as the Methodist faith here did a few years ago – too many buildings for too few worshippers.

The latest round of parish meetings is a reminder that douzaines need to think strategically as well as parochially.