I’VE heard St John’s is on the market and the diocese is looking for a community-type buyer. 

Yet the plot of land was donated by an old Coleford family, I learn. 

The bricks, mortar, beams and pews, which were mostly crafted and funded by public love and generosity, have housed for generations, prayers, christenings, celebrations, and family sadness. 

All reduced to pounds and pence.   

It’s a bit of a cheek really to ask for cash, certainly after trashing the historic icon whether it be by unintentional neglect or distraction. 

Usually when you are given a gift of value you’d think twice about even flirting with giving it back in such a sorry state. 

This is let alone having the audacity, in off-loading what is obviously thought of as a liability, to ask for half a million quid. 

There are seriously good and capable people willing to take over the responsibilities of caring for the old thing. 

Why not just give it back? 

The Church of England is weighed down by land and so might be reasonably asked, where is the Christianity, “Consider the lilies of the field” oh ye of little faith?  (Mathew 6:30).

– D Faux, Coleford.