Flat Z, 12-18 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3QA
Patrons:
Dr. Peter Burman MBE
The Rt. Revd. and Rt. Hon. Richard Chartres DD FSA, Bishop of London
The Rt. Hon. Frank Field MP
The Very Revd. Dr. Michael Higgins OBE
Anthony Howard CBE
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Welcome to the Save Our Parsonages website.
SOP was set up in 1995 to oppose the sale by the Church of its traditional rectories and vicarages. It opposes such sales on pastoral, practical, and financial grounds, as well as for community and heritage reasons.
Traditional rectories and vicarages are part of our ecclesiastical heritage, just as much as churches, and they are also major resources for the Church. They are focal points for parish and community life. SOP's objectives are therefore based on the tripartite argument of mission, community and heritage.
The economic arguments for retaining these fine houses are equally strong. Sales bring short-term gains for the Church but long-term losses.
Clergy and parishioners alike regularly find themselves linked in opposition to ill-advised sales forced on them by remote diocesan representatives. SOP responds to requests for help and advice from parishes up and down the country when threatened with the disposal of their parsonage by their diocese. Our objectives are:
§ To encourage the Church to retain, use, value and maintain its historic rectories, vicarages and associated buildings and to recognize them as important assets and as fundamental to its mission;
§ To provide support and advice to parishes and communities that seek to retain their historic parsonages;
§ To research, study and promote understanding of the role of the traditional parsonage in the life of the clergy and the community at large;
§ In these ways, to facilitate the mission of the Church
SOP has a committee which holds regular meetings throughout the year, and our AGM is held at a traditional parsonage each year.
Please click here for our: SUBSCRIPTION & STANDING ORDER FORM, STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES, CODE OF PRACTICE; SURVEY FORM; and a typical CASE STUDY.
Click here for LINKS to the websites of affiliated, interested or related associations.
Click here for our latest case study research on how parishes have fared after the sale of their vicarage, entitled EIGHT YEARS ON.
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If you would like to support us in our efforts please become a member. Our annual subscription is currently £15. Payment by standing order greatly helps our administration and postage costs. See: SUBSCRIPTION AND STANDING ORDER FORM above. Members automatically receive our newsletter. Group memberships from parochial church councils or dioceses are welcome at a suggested additional £15. Donations are always much appreciated.
To CONTACT US:
Anthony Jennings is the Director of Save Our Parsonages. Please write to him at:
Flat Z
12-18 Bloomsbury Street
London WC1B 3QA
Or e-mail him at: ajsjennings@hotmail.com
Telephone: 020 7636 4884
OR click here to LEAVE A MESSAGE
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