Treasurers of many organisations find it difficult to balance the books.
Don Rouse knows all about it - he has been looking after the finances at Holy Trinity Church in the tiny village of Lew, near Witney, for nearly 70 years.
His advice to fellow treasurers is - don’t accept the first quote you are given.
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He was told that the standing charge for electricity for the church would rise from just under £1 to £4 per day.
The church holds just one service a month – on the fourth Sunday – and the heating is switched on 45 minutes before and turned off immediately after the service in cold weather.
With a standing charge of £1,460 a year, plus the cost of electricity used, and a congregation of eight to 10, that proved a headache for Mr Rouse, who said: “We couldn’t afford such a high bill.”
So he went into battle. Now, after “serious negotiations”, the standing charge has been reduced to the original figure of 91p.
He said: “The charges we were quoted were ridiculous and outrageous. No wonder our church warden threatened to leave.”
He believes that rising fuel prices, which he blames on the Government, could threaten the future of his and other small churches.
“I have shared in the camaraderie that exists in keeping these little church hubs going. Our monthly services and coffee chats afterwards to catch up on local news are a real joy – it’s a practice that has been in existence in Lew and throughout the country for many years.
“Now, I am sorry to say, this rustic and wonderful way of life is in danger of being brought to a tragic end. I am hoping the Government will do one of its traditional U-turns in the pricing of electricity supplies to our places of worship.
“They have been an essential part of our lives for hundreds of years, but if the Government continues with restrictive practices and ridiculously high prices on our power supplies and fuel, our little churches will have to close.”
Apart from its monthly service, Lew church, built in 1841 and designed in 13th century style by architect William Wilkinson, hosts weddings, baptisms and funerals. It also attracts a full house for its Christmas service.
With other bills such as the ‘parish share’, the amount it pays to the Oxford diocese, Mr Rouse fears that total costs could soon be out of reach and the church would, like others, have to close.
He said: “How on earth do the powers-that-be expect us to cover our running costs and other expenses? Just imagine our ‘Green and Pleasant Land’ with no village churches.
“It is time for us all to work together and do something about it now. We cannot just sit back and allow it to happen. I hope our church leaders will lead us into battle.”
The clergy at Lew, the Rev Janice Collier, vicar, and the Rev Ron Curtis, associate priest, also cover services at Bampton, Clanfield, Aston, Cote and Shifford.
Mr Rouse, a retired farmer, has lived in Lew since 1943 and became church treasurer in 1959.
His late wife, Mary, ran the award-winning Farmhouse Hotel and Restaurant in the village.
