She told me how the vicar of her church is retiring in a month or two, and how his curate is off work with 'stress' and that he would not be applying to take over as vicar.
In my opinion you can't blame either of them for that.
Meanwhile most of the neighbouring benefices are bereft of clergy. Those who are there are not 'real' clergy but 'lay readers' and therefore they are not able to take communion services.
A few years ago I would have agreed that this was a tragedy. English traditions are being swiftly eroded and the church is one of those traditions.
However, these days I'm covertly rejoicing about the idea of the impending demise of England's 'established church'. I see this as good progress towards a secularist state. That is to say that I don't begrudge anyone their religion but I have no desire to contribute towards it as a UK tax-payer.
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