Letter: Why churches may not meet expectations

SIR – I was sorry to read last week the letter about "a poor show at town church" (Letters, 23rd September).

The announcement of the Queen’s death was only given at 6.30pm the evening before. By 10am the next morning the clergy were probably still preparing a suitable book of condolence.

The church had to be cleaned for the Sunday services and other weekend events, and there certainly would not have been an organist at hand.

Once the books of condolence were set up, our local churches remained open for the signing in them.

With reference to no pews: many churches have now removed the pews so that our churches are more flexible and can hold other events during the week, whether for local school children’s events or for a social evening.

We are holding a harvest quiz this weekend in our church, but by the end of the evening all tables will be cleared away and chairs out back in place for Sunday worship.

Sadly now it is not usually possible to put out hassocks with individual chairs. They remain in churches with fixed pews.

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