Ministers are to examine how extra funding can be given to churches, with one in five of them under threat of being closed.

Andy Burnham, the culture secretary, said there would be a new drive to make them central to community regeneration, backed up with financial support.

His comments follow The Sunday Telegraph's Save our Churches campaign, which has called on the Government to increase grants to churches and allow them greater freedom to make the buildings suitable for community use. The campaign has been backed by politicians, celebrities and leading church figures, including Joanna Lumley, Jools Holland, David Cameron and Archbishop Rowan Williams.

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Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Anglican Provinces • Church of England (CoE) • * Christian Life / Church Life • Parish Ministry • * Culture-Watch • Religion & Culture • * Economics, Politics • Economy • * International News & Commentary • England / UK

1. robroy wrote: The interview, printed in the the Daily Mail, of the “swinging vicar” is the most serious indictment of the Church of England that I can imagine. Liberalism gone mad is the only way I can explain it. That churches are closing is hardly surprising. I am sorry for the shame that it brings to the many good and godly stalwart Christian leaders in the CoE. It is way past time for Rowan Williams to resign and +Nazir-Ali to start cleaning up the mess. November 25, 7:07 am | [comment link]

2. Knapsack wrote: Helloooooo, people who talk about “the separation of church and state” in America—this is what the Founders were talking about, when a top-level governmental summit is called to bail-out churches with tax money. It isn’t clear that this is just about the CofE; i wonder if the closure stats and the planned funding affects Methodist and Baptist chapels? November 25, 8:54 am | [comment link]

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