§ 24. Mr. Greenwayasked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, how many clergymen are employed in group ministry work.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeUp to 30 September 1982, 79 group ministries, comprising 297 benefices, had been established by schemes under the Pastoral Measure 1968. Although I cannot say precisely, there are likely to be some 300 clergymen holding benefices within group ministries.
§ Mr. GreenwayI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that in some group ministries people are denied access to members of the clergy and to church services, because of the distance involved? Is my hon. Friend aware that in the Hereford diocese there is a group ministry containing at least 14 former parishes and that there are similarly large group ministry areas in Lincolnshire?
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeI cannot comment on an individual case in the diocese of Hereford. However, I am sure that the bishop of the diocese would be only too glad to help my hon. Friend if he so wished. Far fewer men serve the Church in this way and that means that—group ministry or not—in some far-flung country parishes parishioners sometimes have to travel a considerable way to attend a service.
§ Mr. CormackAlthough one accepts that, does my hon. Friend agree that there is considerable disquiet in the Church of England about the apparent alacrity with which many bishops introduce such groups? Does my hon. Friend agree that there is still a role for elderly clergymen? Is it not a pity that the Church should insist on retirement at 70?
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeI should not want to go back on the arrangements for retirement. I am not sure whether my hon. Friend was in the House on 22 November when I reminded my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) that an inquiry is afoot into the effectiveness of team ministries. If he had any evidence to give, I am sure that it would be extremely welcome.