Big Church of England palaces “neither viable nor appropriate”
The future of the Church of England’s historic bishops’ palaces is in doubt with one in five being considered for sale over the next year.
The grand residences, which have been in the church’s hands for centuries, could be sold off as they are costly to maintain and may struggle to meet tough environmental targets.
Some clergy also believe the properties’ moats and banqueting halls send out the wrong image, and that the millions spent on their upkeep should be given instead to poor inner-city parishes.
Later we hear that “many [in the church] believe it is neither viable nor appropriate for the modern Church” to maintain its grand Bishops’ palaces. Funny how the inappropriateness only seems to have become an issue as the viability has declined…
