Closing Churches: A response to Mattheew Larkin

Following from my posting of a sermon by Sam Rose, the Anglican Bishop of Central Newfoundland, the very distinguished, brilliant, and thoughtful music Matthew Larkin left a good comment. My response is below:

Thanks for your thoughts, Matthew. Allow me to broaden the context somewhat.

I am not sure that church leaders celebrate the loss of buildings or the forced mobility of congregations. What I see almost everywhere, is that the days of congregations being able to afford the maintenance and associated costs of operating buildings in rural or semi-rural environments where I have spend most of my ministry and life is increasingly prohibitive.

The late Herb O’Driscoll said years ago that stability would come for Anglican churches when, amongst other things, they could produce good quality classical music. Herb had all this in Ottawa, Vancouver, and Calgary. Lucky Herb.  Well, that requires well trained and gifted musicians, sometimes, though in my experience rarely available in smaller communities. Sure, possibly a high school band teacher or talented music teacher, though a limited supply. I have taken such an approach from time to time with limited success.

The costs associated with buildings, especially those over, say, fifty years old, are significant. Deferral of maintenance gets you every time, and most often this forces some closures. Not only utilities, upkeep and repair, but the big one; insurance. And then there’s cost of musical and clergy staff. To pay anything reasonable puts one FTE in the 80-100K  range, out of reach for most congregations with ASA around 40-60.

Now you can ask, why are congregations small in number? Well “church” is unpopular these days, especially since our legacy associated with the residential schools is considered, since bad behaviour by some leaders is dealt with, and the shift from a colonial, authoritative mentality which allows the church to say “show up” and some do, but most don’t. I remember seeing a full parking lot at the Catholic parish in Sooke at 3 p.m. on New Years Day. It’s a “day of obligation.” Anglicans only begin to rise at that time given energy expended the night before.

I took part in a concert yesterday in Penticton where I guest-conducted the Tallis “If Ye Love Me.” As you know, it’s musical perfection. The building could seat around 400 but is no longer a United Church congregation. The future of the building is in limbo. We got a decent crowd thankfully. I asked the caretaker how busy the site is now. He said “not very much.” Their income comes from a childcare operation. BUT the local Vineyard Church (evangelical, charismatic, fundamentalist) tried to purchase the site; BUT they would need to expand the sanctuary due to their large congregational size — The offer was refused — Point being that the churches which thrive in terms of congregational numbers and money supporting ministry identify closely with secular music, personal experience, and typically right-wing, conservative politics and theology.

I can’t go there myself, nor do I encourage anyone to do something similar. I love the musical traditions, Matthew, which you, Sarah MacDonald, and many others have so brilliantly contributed to over so many years. I cannot produce such results myself though I have tried. From my side of the organ bench, I guess I am firmly in the camp, “a parish priest knows the value of a dollar.” Church is not a business — but theology, liturgy, ministry, music, the arts, community engagement, pastoral care, education — all require support in and through a solid, sustainable plan of funding.

Outside the urban and suburban centres, we are clearly moving to a new mode of being “church.” Despite attempts at amalgamations — some succeed though many fail — some parishioners will lose connection with the church building of their youth and ancestors. Many Anglicans and others will disappear from the registers of congregations and will simply stay home or play sports on Sunday mornings. There is obvious sadness in this. You are right: some need a building, a local focal point of engagement. There are many, however, who may well gravitate to a new kind of association; one friend identifies as an ”ecumenical” Christian. In this, I may well join him. See what happens.

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