An opinion piece from the Guardian recognises that the ancient churches and cathedrals of Britain are real national treasures, shared with unbelievers, and they must be paid for.
The Guardian writes:
The age and intricacy that makes old churches wonderful also makes them fragile. They demand endless skilled and expensive repairs. The annual cost of major repairs to listed churches is estimated at around £100m. Last year about a quarter of that figure was met from lottery funds dedicated to the preservation of places of worship – which means, overwhelmingly, Anglican churches. …
The great majority of the listed churches in this country are not in tourist cities or, if they are, they are not in the much visited part. The Church of England boasts of having a presence in every community, but what is to be done with the presences when the communities have disappeared? In many country villages the church is the only public building left, now that the shop, the post office and the pub have all closed.
