Who should pay for church repairs ?

[Ashley]

Ashley you are incorrect The Parish of St. Helier owns the town church not the Church of England

Where did I say this?

Regardless of who owns the town church. There should be serious consideration given before more many hundreds of thousands of pounds are wasted on keeping it lovely and proud for the handful of people who go regularly.

[rogueelement]

User pays simple as that. If they do not want to pay it closes . Supply and demand .

[boatyboy]

JEP

THE Town Church could close if The Dean does not get the Christmas present that he wants – £1.1m to cover internal renovations.

I am uncertain as the charity given to places of worship by the non religious taxpayer. Of course whether you worship Buda, God or any other religion, thats is completely your business. It is a fact that the wealthy Catholics church,  holds priceless works of art, with a commercial property and share portfolio worth millions.

Closer to home, the town church has already had a million pounds worth of rate payers money spent on it during 2008, and the church is asking for another one point one million spending on it. Simon Crowcroft is asking the States for help. I suggest asking the organisation to put its hand in its own pocket and pay for the repairs itself.

The second issue is that should, the 2.1 million be spent, it makes this particular church elitest, when we as the public are asked to give five pounds a month to feed a family in Africa. Gods children too ? or is a town church more important. I thought the church preached against materialism. My view pay for it yourselves, we have given enough.

BB

http://planetjersey.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1604.msg22886#msg22886

There is an exciting development in that the St Helier assembly (us townies ) are to be invited to give the money as requested by the church in  a meeting tonight at St. Helier parish hall.

The church supporters will of course rally due partly through loyalty to the church, and to gain further access to the Parish coffers thus saving the churches own money.

People power could strike a decisive victory tonight by voting not to give the church
 £1,100,000 (one point one million pounds). I personally would rather see the money given to the health care for children with physiological problems. Recently they had funding withdrawn.

St. Helier parish hall 7.00pm tonight assembly meeting. Give it a go, why not we have only £1.1 million to loose !

Boatyboy.

[Ashley]

I'm with spartacus all the way on this one.

User pays!

[danrok]

Presumably, they can't find tenants for the now vacant Norwich Union House which they own, which is next to the church?

If they are given tax payers money, perhaps it should be in exchange for that building?

[Ruddler]

I believe that the parishes are responsible for the upkeep of the church building because the CofE is the "established" church.  However, the (broadly secular) parish assembly might vote not to cough up for the proposed work which, as BoatyBoy says, might be an interesting development.  If the Dean comes up short, maybe he can ask the UK Church Commissioners to chip in?

[Fritz]

User Pays. Its the only fair way.

[more]

 
 Having  been to the Town Hall meeting over the finacial increase needed for the Town church.On seeing the Dean giving his all in action. seriously stateting the claim as only asking as a parish official. Main interest for asking yet another million to spent on a church.Reason,to increase the amount of people using it,  Could'nt help notice he kept his dog collar on.Blackmail or threat to close  church down if money was,nt forth coming. As read in J.E.P. Nothing new there to change my view, Man made religion continues to be as hypercritical as its always  been thu the ages.  By keeping the populations under control.    No care given to recession or of this Islands need,  unemployment.e.c.t As we see now    .Materialistic tendencies in putting possessions before spiritual values.Is the name of the game with priests. As llong as it doesnot come out of their own coffers.
    Churches must be the richest organizations in the world,Using fear of God or whatever other names religions call him to gain power, and control populations.
    Having seen some of the worlds wealth both in paintings. precious rubies, other precious stones, along with  robes, at a cost of thousands of pounds on a visitit to the Vatican in Rome some time ago. I was disgusted to see the amount of beggars on the steps outside, with hands begging help from tourists. A Pope who's influence refuses to acknowledge birth control.So we have millions starving  in this world
  Using fear of God,( even he does't get left out.) The bible written by men, many thousand of years ago, people long dead,from the culture of the Middle east.Does not
 apply to this century. Born with free will.We can choose to steal, murder,whatever.Good or bad we make our own choices.not God,or Jesus,
      I was brought up to believe in church. Could'nt fail to notice Jesus's went to the people,and hill sides to preach .That Love was the answer to World Peace, added with Ten Commandments should have appeared to be all that was needed.    Result? Jesus was murdered for his effords, instigated by the priests.  Nature  provides food for
 both  humans and animals alike. Healing plants that cured long before doctors, as we well know. Having actual  seen the Miracle Man in
 Brazil  remove a tumour in healing.From choice do believe the spiritual teachings of the New age which includes God, Vastly different from anything taught in  church by priests.Plenty Fear and guilt taugh in churches.Anything more is best left unsaid.
 

 

[Calimachon]

The Jersey Tax payer should not take up the total burden of the cost of repairing the Town Church roof.  Not all good Jersey citizens are of that particular faith.  There should be a small proportion paid with due regard to the historical importance of the building and its benefit to the island because of its architectural features, much in the same way as Hamptonne, Le Rat and Morel Farm are considered worth keeping in good state of repair, for future generations to enjoy. 

Maybe the relevant authorities may wish to consider donating the town church to Jersey Heritage.  I recall back in the late 1980's there was a recession and it is alleged that the people who administer CofE funds lost a lot of money in investments in equities.  Times were tough then and here we go again!

[White Knight]

Each parish is responsible for maintaining their Parish Church. Old Jersey Law.

[Calimachon]

I know about the law it could always be repealed and a new one put in its place!

[White Knight]

By the time the States got round to changing the law, the church would have fallen down.

[boatyboy]

To update you White Night, the church stood little chance of falling down as it had a new roof, repointed and had other external work to make it wind and water tight during 2008.

The cost before this new vote to the ratepayer of St.Helier was over £700,000.

BB