Church faces clergy crisis

Churches across the region face a chronic shortage of vicars – with 40 per cent of clergy in the Lichfield Diocese set to have retired by 2020.

The diocese also faces a funding crisis and may have to make more severe cuts if more money is not raised.

A report setting out the future of the diocese warns that retiring clergy may not be replaced because of funding problems and a lack of new blood. There are also concerns about an impending pensions crisis.

A total of 23 posts across the board are expected to go by the end of 2013 alone.

The Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill, revealed the challenges for 2012 and said with falling congregations nationally, parishioners needed to pull together.

Expenses

The Diocese of Lichfield serves just under two million people via 583 churches and 427 parishes. It covers Staffordshire, Wolverhampton, Walsall, parts of Sandwell and Shropshire.

There are 294 full-time paid, stipendary, clergy. The Bishop said pensions were eating into more of the diocese's expenses and the old pension surplus of £650,000 was due to run out next year.

"There is no indication as yet that parishes are willing and able to raise that extra money," he said.

"In Lichfield, up to 40 per cent of our stipendiary clergy will have retired and possibly as many as 60 per cent if we include our non-stipendiary colleagues.

"At present, national projections suggest that the numbers of new clergy coming through will not bridge the gap," he warned.

The diocese is currently supported by the Church Commissoners which manage the Church's assets.