COULD I clarify the misleading impression about the care of Church of England parishes in the Blackburn area given by your front page article 'Vicars Under the Axe' (LET, September 4)?
The article mistakenly states: "The long-serving Vicar of one of Blackburn's biggest churches will not have his post filled for at least five years when he retires at the end of the month."
The parish will have a new vicar soon. But the post will be that of a priest-in-charge, rather than an incumbent. This simply means that instead of having the right to remain in post until removal to another parish, retirement or death (the so-called freehold for life), there will be a limited term of office.
As your article indicates, the Church of England nationally is having to review its resources in order to maximise opportunities for Christian mission: encouraging faith by work and action across our country.
The appointment of priests-in-charge is a way of handling this kind of change creatively and ensuring that that new forms of ministry -- involving both ordained and lay people -- are developed alongside the traditional to meet the needs and opportunities in our rapidly-changing society.
REV MICHAEL WEDGEWORTH, Diocesan Secretary, Church House, Blackburn.
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