The Bishop of Hertford should not be replaced 

From Mr Geoffrey Hollis

Sir, — You report that the Suffragan Bishop of Hertford, Dr Michael Beasley, has been nominated as the next Bishop of Bath & Wells. May I suggest that the resultant vacancy should not be filled.

This post is one of two suffragan bishoprics in the St Albans diocese; the other is Bedford. The diocese also has three archdeacons, the Bishop of St Albans, and the Dean of St Albans Abbey, which means that it is amply supplied with senior clergy.

The churches in this diocese have been put under heavy pressure to meet their Parish Share in full, despite greatly reduced attendances during the pandemic. Dr Beasley threw himself into this task with gusto, personally lecturing the PCC of which I was then a member on the ills that could befall churches that failed to pay their share in full. He told us that the diocese was in dire need, and we duly paid up, despite a recurrent deficit.

Another strategy to keep dioceses afloat is to cut their central costs. A bishop does not come cheap, requiring a large house, and staff, as well as expenses. Abolishing one of the suffragan bishoprics would send a powerful signal that the diocese understands the plight of its parishes and is sharing their burden.