Page 1, 20th January 1989
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MP warns churches at risk
FUNDS intended to help hardpressed listed churches after the advent of the poll tax favour the Church of England at the expense of Catholic and Nonconformist churches, SLD MP Alan Beith warned the Commons last week.
Speaking of all nonestablished churches, Mr Beith told the House: "Nonconformity has a wonderful heritage of buildings, which are architecturally distinct, telling their own history . . . We risk losing some of the best examples and in some cases all examples of a type" should the Government not take steps to target such churches with its compensation measures.
The Government has given £3 million, to be administered by English Heritage, aimed at helping ministers of listed churches who are unable to cope with building maintenance costs as well as the new Poll Tax. "Many Catholic and Nonconformist chapels are not listed in the highest grade and will therefore miss out on this money," Mr Beith told the Catholic Herald.
Because the Church of England is the established church, and its ministers subsist on stipends regulated by the Church Commissioners, it has the higher graded buildings, and a financial system better able to cope with hardship brought about by the Poll Tax, says Mr Beith.
"At present no rates are levied on presbyteries. This will change when Catholic priests have to pay the charge, and Nonconformist ministers, who have wives and families, have to do the same. In the end, non-established churches of historical interest will lose out," he said.
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