» Churches facing ‘apocalypse’ soon

Churches facing ‘apocalypse’ soon

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THE Church of England is to demand an urgent government cash
injection of £55 million a year to avert an “apocalypse” with the closure of hundreds of medieval churches.

According to Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, the Church has an annual repair bill of £120 million, but there is a £373 million backlog of repairs.

French cathedrals are maintained by the State and German churches benefit from a secular tax system.

Government money may help relieve the crisis of crumbling church buildings. But history reveals an inverse relationship between government support and the vitality of a Christian movement.

Source: Churches face apocalypse soon

One Response to “Churches facing ‘apocalypse’ soon” »»

  1. Comment by Tony Chimento | 02/04/06 at 1:11 am

    I have been in a handful of England cathedrals. I am in awe of the history in these buildings. But what seems to be lacking in these buildings more than repairs is a thriving group of people. In the U.S. there are buildings that were once churches and have been sold off to businesses ranging anywhere from karate studios to bars. I am not sure this will happen to the huge English cathedrals.

    I realize the archetectural viability of these buildings, not to mention many have dead buried in their floors and walls. But without an incredible revival within the walls of those buildings, they will probably end up being small churches with lots of seating, and being a click on the tourists camera.

    Your post has encouraged me to pray for the people of England that they would return to being a building in Christ, rather than going to a building.

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