Rugby Club go naked for Whiteshill church

The Rylstone WI Calendar Girls have alot to answer for since they produced their naked calendar - across the country it has sparked various versions - in Stroud we have seen the Full Monty Girls produce calendars in aid of Rosie, a girl who has severe autism, steam enthusiasts produce their charity calender called 'Raising Pressure' in aid of Cancer Research - there may well be others locally but now we have Cainscross Rugby Club...

Photo: Helen Mirren from the movie and Citizen headline from a week or so ago with news of the threat to our church.

The SNJ reports that members Club posed naked on the pitch for a calendar to raise money in memory of teammate Chris Mills. The 30 members past and present , who are aged 16 to 65, bared all to help support St Paul's Church in Whiteshill where Chris is buried.

The club has so far sold 30 copies at £5 each. They can be bought at Cainscross Rugby Club on Saturdays, Cainscross Parish Council offices and Total Garage in Dudbridge. For more information, call the garage on 01453 758156.

Church in trouble

As noted before on this blog our 170-year-old parish church could shut unless a solution can be found. St Paul's at Whiteshill has been in the red for several years and we could soon be facing a use it or lose it situation.

The Rev Brian Woollaston, who often only preaches to about 15 worshippers altogether at two services on a Sunday, is quoted saying: "We have to try to get across to people that the church doesn't operate on fresh air. The problem is everybody thinks somebody else pays."

The Church of England has over the years increased the number of churches each vicar is responsible for and relies upon unpaid clergy and lay preachers to solve similar problems. Mr Woollaston, is supported by a non-stipendiary assistant, the Rev Denise Cole, who is also in charge of parish churches at nearby Paganhill and Randwick. Randwick is separately financed, but Whiteshill and Paganhill together cost around £730 a week to run. St Paul's treasurer Geoff Lavis said there is currently a shortfall of around £130 a week, just to break even.

The Diocese of Gloucester has nearly 400 churches: some 90% of them are listed buildings and 38% of those were listed grade one. Clearly the upkeep of these churches can be very expensive - and Church buildings are basically the responsibility of the parishes. It involves not only maintaining the building, but paying for the daily running costs, for example the heating and lighting of the church.

At the recent public meeting many ideas were put forward about how money could be raised - one suggestion I liked was a conference centre - with still using the chapel on the side.