So what IS driving parish mergers?

Ed: This from Dorset, but it has echoes of Chelmsford. Answers on a postcard, please.

[...] As part of an emerging strategy for the future deployment of clergy in the deanery it is proposed to sever the 50-year-old ties with Highcliffe and transfer Hinton church into a new combined parish with the adjoining benefice of St Luke's at Burton and St Michael and All Angels at Sopley.

In the meantime Hinton will continue to be ministered by Vicar of Highcliffe the Rev Garry Taylor who has been at St Mark's parish church since Easter 2004.

Writing in the current parish magazine, Mr Taylor said: "The process will take some time to complete and all are concerned that the result should be as positive for everyone as possible, although every parish in the deanery os going to have to make sacrifices in some way or another.

"It is important to realise that this has not been driven primarily by financial considerations nor by a big shortage in new vocations to the ministry."

"This is a question of using the ministries we have to their full potential." Read more