Government should support church buildings - call (From The Northern Echo)

Government should support church buildings - call

5:27pm Monday 8th February 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(1)

CHURCH leaders from North Yorkshire are calling on the Government to do more to help their ancient buildings.

They say congregations are suffering exhaustion at having to meet the costs of keeping their buildings in good repair.

And they claim the nation’s heritage could suffer if more Government support is not provided.; The Dean of Ripon, the Very Reverend Keith Jukes, is among those that has tabled a motion to this week’s General Synod from the Dioceses of Ripon and Leeds.

It calls on the Government to fully fund all Grade 1-listed cathedrals and church buildings - which make up 45 per cent of all Grade 1-listed buildings in the country.

The background paper for the motion concludes: "Appropriate funding of our listed buildings, particularly our Grade 1 Listed Buildings, is ... not only crucial to the Church of England’s mission and witness and the development of community cohesion but it is equally important if we are to continue in our role as guardians of national heritage."