Church funding is drying up

The latest Old Town Parish Magazine tells us of the dire situation here for the two splendid medieval churches, St Clement’s (SC) and All Saints (AS).

Thanks to a bequest, both have been refurbished within the last five years and are now much more easily used for secular events (there are kitchens and toilets).

Both have fine modern altar windows, the ones in SC being by the local artist Philip Cole (he has portrayed himself in one).

AS has a world-renowned Father Willis organ: this needs a quarter-of-a-million pound refit.

The PCC has been warned that central funding for upkeep of these buildings is drying up.

The congregation is dwindling and parishioners cannot possibly take on the burden, which runs at nearly £8,000 per month.

It is so lucky that these buildings escaped being bombed.

Yet now, after 600-plus years, has the time come to ‘de-commission’ them?

If anyone has a particular need to see inside these churches, it can probably be arranged.

Michael Plumbe

The Bourne

Hastings
[email protected]

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/ 2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hastingsobserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @HastingsObs

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Hastings Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.