The Church of England faces a financial crunch after seeing donations fall by 20 per cent during the pandemic with 5,000 of its 12,000 parishes now loss-making.
Senior clergy also believe up to fifth of regular worshippers may never return once the crisis is over - and the number of paid priests could be cut by 20 per cent.
This could see the CofE try to recruit more unpaid clergy to reduce costs, although it already has 2,870 unpaid clergy and 7,370 retired clergy who still officiate.
Churches were shut during the first and second lockdowns, and more than half have stayed closed during the third - although they are now legally allowed to open.
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Gay reverend Jarel Robinson-Brown was lambasted for his controversial tweet about Captain Tom (Twitter)
Gay reverend Jarel Robinson-Brown has been bombarded with racist abuse after describing the national clap for Captain Tom Moore as a “cult of white British nationalism”.
In a since-deleted tweet on Wednesday (3 February), reverend Robinson-Brown wrote: “The cult of Captain Tom Moore is a cult of white British nationalism. I will offer prayers for the repose of his kind and generous soul, but will not be joining the ‘national clap. ”
The London-based clergyman removed the post the same day and offered an “unreserved apology for the insensitive timing and content” of his tweet, adding that he has now read and will sign the Church’s digital charter.
Clergyman called clap for Captain Sir Tom Moore cult of white British nationalism
Church of England officials investigating now-deleted insensitive and ill-judged tweet from Rev Jarel Robinson-Brown
4 February 2021 • 6:00pm
Captain Tom Moore, who died at the age of 100 on Tuesday
Credit: Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images
A clergyman who described the clap for Captain Sir Tom Moore as the cult of white British nationalism is being investigated by Church of England officials.
Captain Tom, a World War Two veteran, raised £32 million for the NHS during the first national lockdown by walking 1,000 laps of his garden. Following the 100-year-old s death on Tuesday, people across the country clapped to commemorate his life and achievements.