On its website the Diocese reports considerable shrinkage: \u201cIn the history of our diocese, 124 parishes have been established, and 47 have been merged or closed.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
[Leslie] Bentley said, \u201cThere can be no good reason for the Diocese to take over the parish to protect [theologically] liberal members as there are six liberal parishes within a ten-minute drive of St John\u2019s, which leads me to believe that the Diocese is only interested in protecting St John\u2019s building and property. They either want the money or they just want us out.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
No diocesan money was used to start the parish; the Diocese only gave permission for it to be founded. The church was independently incorporated in the Diocese in 1932. This year the church exceeded its budget by $28,000. Bentley claimed that not only has Bishop Ingham \u201cabandoned\u201d\u009d St John\u2019s for the past six years, but the Anglican Church of Canada has been \u201ccompletely mute\u201d\u009d as well. She said if Bishop Ingham locks them out \u201cWe\u2019ll meet on the grass.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n