What we have realised, over the last five years, as Save the Parish has got off the ground and started to ask the questions that should have been asked decades ago, is that what we are in danger of losing is not just some old buildings, or the clerical stipend, or one mode of training over another, but the essence of the Church of England itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who are we<\/em>? What is the unique ecology of the Church of England, which we<\/em> love so dearly that we have got up and come here on a Saturday morning?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf the Church of England were to fail,\u201d said John Keble, \u201cit should be found in my parish.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or, listen to Justin Welby, who, I concede isn\u2019t often quoted by Save the Parish: \u201cyou could lose the House of Bishops tonight\u2026[and] it\u2019d be a couple of years before there was any noticeable impact on the Church of England. Whereas if you got rid of all the parishes and the churchwardens and the laypeople it would be noticeable in about one second.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, we are here<\/strong> for the parishes and the churchwardens and the laypeople today. And for the priests. (I do declare an interest\u2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read it all<\/a>.<\/p> Last night people from across the country – lay and clergy; Evangelical, High Church, Solidly Middle, Anglo Catholic; Tory, LibDem, Labour – gathered to pledge to Save the Parish.
Alison Milbank, @revstrott<\/a>, and I all shared our thoughts – have a watch!https:\/\/t.co\/nV43HmzWee<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/DuCnbEYNkt<\/a><\/p>— Marcus Walker (@WalkerMarcus) August 4, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>