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Archiver > LONDON > 2005-05 > 1117393115
From:
Subject: Writing to Churches
Date: Sun, 29 May 2005 14:58:35 EDT
Sorry to let off steam but I did 2 years as a church treasurer and I came
across this problem several times.
First, and foremost, the clergy have been cut to an absolute minimum and for
the main part are also self-taught when it comes to "modern" technology and
believe me most of the kit in my old parish was far from modern it was mainly
post ark but only just!
Very few churches actually have letterboxes you need to write to the
vicarage OR the church warden and please remember that the vicar may cover more than
one church nowadays Most churches do have contact phone numbers and it could
save a lot of time and trouble if you ring and confirm who and where to
write to.
I volunteered to answer correspondence whilst I was on the committee and had
access to the registers. My main problem came from some-one who would not
accept that the church was under 35 years even old, even when I sent him a
picture of the foundation stone!
Our finances were never good and when we were literally having to quarter
communion wafers to eke them out no-one ever sent a stamp with their enquiry
let alone an envelope. This to answer an enquiry that was often so vague and
date less that often it was impossible to tell if it was our church or not. I
have to be honest and say that at times even we didn't have the paperwork for
a trust!
Please write but be clear about what you are asking, send a copy of any
paperwork, especially if it can be used to reply, and send a little something to
cover the cost.
The most disheartening thing of all was that despite the work put into
sorting out some of the enquiries no-one ever said "Thank you". If I have struck
any consciences the Church of the Good Shepherd was closed because of a lack
of funds any letters of thanks or donations to St Wilfrids Parish Office, St
Wilfrids Church, Haywards Heath, West Sussex and I might still be able to
apply for my AGRA membership!
Tigger
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