Archbishop and medical ethics
From Canon Robin Gill
Madam, — In his new biography Archbishop Sarah Mullally, the Revd Professor Andrew Atherstone quotes without dissent her nuanced 2012 position on legalised abortion: “I would describe my approach . . . as pro choice rather than pro life although if it were a continuum I would be somewhere along it moving towards pro life when it relates to my choice and then enabling choice when it related to others — if that makes sense.”
That is exactly my own position — distinguishing carefully between my personal position and what is proper for society at large to make illegal. Not only does this make sense: it is also the position long taken by the Church of England on issues such as prostitution or gambling, i.e. not recommending either, but also not seeking to enforce their total prohibition by law.
I wonder whether she might come to adopt a similar position on the legalisation of some form of voluntary euthanasia. Like her, I have long been opposed, believing that it may fail to protect vulnerable people. But, having served for 21 years on the BMA’s Medical Ethics Committee, I witnessed doctors’ opinion changing (as it has for nurses) and listened carefully to those in favour of change -— a change that is supported by a majority of churchgoers and non-churchgoers alike in Britain.
Suffering from the often deadly condition endocarditis for most of 2025, I have sympathy for those anxious to have a conclusive, medical end to their suffering. I have now concluded, reluctantly, that some form of legislation for England and Wales is inevitable.
Yet, like Archbishop Mullally, my personal choice remains opposed to voluntary euthanasia. Having now recovered — after months in hospital, open-heart surgery, months of rehab, and the prayers of many people — I am glad that euthanasia was not an option for me. I also want bishops to continue to champion the vulnerable and oppose any legalisation that might make them more vulnerable.
Once voluntary euthanasia (with adequate safeguards, I hope) does become legal, however, I would urge the House of Bishops to adopt a position more akin to Archbishop Mullally’s 2012 position on abortion, distinguishing carefully between what they would wish for themselves and what should be prohibited by law.
ROBIN GILL
Canterbury
Lay office-holders and small congregations
From Patricia Johnson
Madam, — The Revd Professor Andrew Village and Canon Leslie J. Francis (Analysis, 13 March) that lay people may be lacking confidence to step up to accepting the office of churchwarden. There is great difficulty in replacing key lay people in churches.
Surely, the later retirement age is a factor. In the past, people who retired at 60 still had the energy to raise money for repairs to the church roof or organ, sit on the PCC, take the minutes, act as hon. treasurer, organise concerts, and help at the local Church of England primary school.
Sadly, the energy of people of 60 to 70 or so is no longer available, while they wait for their pensions.
PATRICIA JOHNSON
Glenridding, Cumbria
From the Revd Roger Knight
Madam, — Among the reasons for a shortage of lay people willing to take on key positions in the Church could be some of the legislative changes of recent years. We have tightened the criteria that prospective churchwardens and PCC members must fulfil before they may stand for office. We have added to their responsibilities and taken away many of their traditional rights.
In the case of churchwardens (unless the parish has opted out of this particular provision), they must stand down after six years, however competent and enthusiastic they may be and even if nobody else is prepared to take their place. Some of these changes may have been necessary — especially those with regard to safeguarding — but others serve no significant purpose and represent an unnecessary burden on parishes.
ROGER KNIGHT
Cuxton, Kent
From Dr Matthew Vernon
Madam, — Professor Village and Canon Francis write: “Median all-age weekly attendance at a Church of England church in 2024 was 26. . . This means that half or more of our churchgoers are in congregations this size or smaller most Sundays.” This is incorrect.
What it in fact means is that half or more of our congregations are of 26 people or fewer. The other half of the congregations are larger, from which it follows that, in fact, most people are in a larger congregation (consider if you had three congregations of size one, three, and 100. The median size is three, but almost everyone is in the 100-strong parish.)
It is probably not even true that most clergy serve in congregations of 26 or smaller: my experience is that large churches tend to have many clergy, whereas smaller churches often have one (or only part of one, if they have to share) cleric.
None of this is to detract from the points that many of our churches have small congregations and that those congregations need support. But we should be careful to interpret data correctly.
MATTHEW VERNON
Girton, Cambridge
Exeter Cathedral’s choral tradition will continue
From Anne Foreman
Madam, — Readers of Sam Engle’s letter (13 March) can rest assured that Exeter Cathedral’s outstanding choral tradition will remain after the existing school closes in July. Choristers will continue to offer their wonderful aid to worship daily. Furthermore, under the new arrangements, so carefully prepared by the cathedral, they will continue to be educated together with one another, hence maintaining all the associated benefits identified by Tricia Dragonetti (Letter, 23 January).
The closure of this and other cathedral schools does, sadly, reflect the changing social context. But the government policies on VAT, business rates, et al., are only a partial contributory factor. There are other aspects that mitigated against the survival of this small school; reality has to be faced and adaptation to changing circumstances undertaken.
Under the new arrangements, Exeter choristers can look forward to an enriched curriculum meeting their particular musical gifts and underpinned by excellent pastoral care. More importantly, the people of Devon will still hear Exeter’s outstanding choir and choristers in the cathedral.
ANNE FOREMAN
Exeter
Gafcon and consistency
From the Revd Mike Tufnell
Madam, — The Revd Dr Charlie Bączyk-Bell (Letters, 13 March) writes that attendance at the recent Gafcon gathering makes it “not remotely feasible” for one of those present to remain in post.
One wonders how such reasoning might apply in other circumstances. Imagine a member of clergy who, having promised at ordination to order their life according to the teaching of the Church of England and to respect episcopal authority, then chose to travel abroad in order to enter very publicly into a same-sex marriage, contrary to that teaching.
Many Anglicans would regard such a step as a far more direct challenge to the Church’s doctrine and discipline than attending a conference.
MIKE TUFNELL
Address supplied (Wimborne, Dorset)
Hong Kong Christians in the Church of England
From Mr David Moss
Madam, — Thank you so much for your article on the new board supporting Hong Kong Christians in the Church of England (News, 27 February). It is encouraging and heart-warming to learn that Hong Kong Christians are being made so welcome in many churches. In our own church in Burntwood, near Lichfield, we, too, have had a good number of families, who have moved here from Hong Kong, join us over the past three years.
This continues to be a complete joy for all who belong to the church, and is a timely reminder of how we are all different parts of the one Body. We are discovering that the welcoming is just the beginning. Rather than be separate, we have chosen to worship together and include Cantonese as part of the service, in Bible readings as well as having the whole sermon translated into Cantonese in advance. We all share communion together. We help each other along.
We are aware that we all belong together, and that we are here to support and learn from one another. After a relatively short period of time, these families share in many aspects of church life, volunteering in various capacities. This helps them to learn English, and they get to get to experience some of the more difficult-to-understand aspects of British culture and church life. We have qualified members who volunteer to run a monthly English class.
Recently, the whole congregation has enjoyed helping in conversational practice ready for B1 English exams. We are all learning and enjoying life together. We have had a wonderful Cantonese Afternoon Tea, and another is planned. We share in one another’s joys and heartaches as it becomes more evident what many challenges, they have had to face leaving Hong Kong and continue to face, moving to this country. Sadly, outside the church, they do not always feel welcome or valued for the skills that they bring.
Above all, they are to be most welcomed for who they are as individuals, people with names, personalities, and stories to tell. Together with their children, they join in with so much that the church has to offer, and together we make home. And the very best thing is that we can care for one another, be in one another’s company, and enjoy a really good laugh.
DAVID MOSS
Address supplied
Leadership in Iran war
From Mr Anthony Acton
Madam, — The aversion of the mainstream media, including the BBC, to anything savouring of “religion” makes for a weakness in their analysis of the current Middle East war.
Central to the raison d’être of the Islamic Republic is the expectation of the return of the 12th Imam, ushering in a more perfect era. Thus, Article 5 of the Constitution of Iran provides for the choice of a Supreme Leader on an interim basis only “during the absence of the exalted 12th imam — may God grant that he come soon.”
Such millennialism may be quite beyond our broadcasters, but an awareness of its importance in Shia Islam is surely fundamental to any understanding of the Iranian leadership’s thinking and priorities.
ANTHONY ACTON
Corston, Bath
Madam, — Just two questions: first, why are we not hearing calls for regime change in the United States and Israel; and, second, why is there a deafening silence from our faith leaders?
Surely, no one is better placed than Pope Leo to speak truth to power, or our own Chief Rabbi, given the rising anti-Semitism in the UK. Their silence shames them and the offices that they hold.
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED
Still a women-only day
From Mr Paul Minter
Madam, — My mother, who has now died, used to tell me about the Women’s World Day of Prayer, and I was aware that a few men attended, and that “Women’s” had been dropped from the name. So, when friends at a local church invited me, I assumed that this event would be suitable. After parking my car, I saw a couple I know walking down. The husband informed me that he was only assisting his elderly wife and wasn’t going in. The next man I met on entering informed me he was only checking the sound equipment and also wasn’t going in.
I was offered a coffee and spent half an hour in the coffee area, watching only women going in. I think only two men went in, possibly for other reasons. It was clear to me that this was an event run by ladies for ladies, and when the time to begin came, I left. The other churches that had been invited to attend obviously knew this was a women-only event. Either “Women’s” should be added to the name again, or churches need to work harder to include men. Perhaps men could also take part.
PAUL MINTER
Bexhill, East Sussex
