So .... What to do with the Archbishop's billions?

Save The Parish Cornwall's Andrew Lane (tongue firmly in cheek) puts forward a few ideas on what could constructively be done following the Archbishop of Canterbury's announcement that £3.6 billion was to be pumped into rural parishes to help them survive.  Inspired by Truro's Diocesan Secretary Simon Cade's recent letter to the people of Cornwall which dashed any such hopes, Andrew picked up his pen and dared to dream.......

Regarding the new funding from the Archbishops et al, I note that it is going to be directed towards projects. These projects must reach ‘the young and poor .....better representing the communities we serve’ , must aid in ‘transition to lower carbon...........making a step change in social justice’ and will bolster general safeguarding.
I here propose a novel project suitable for many rural communities.
First form a group of people dedicated to the spiritual health of their parish. Let’s call it a Parish Committee.

Seek to acquire an unoccupied historic building with sufficient space and of deep significance to the local population (apparently quite a number are coming available). Ideally it would be next to a graveyard thus further emphasising its timeless connection with our ancestors.

Singing is a great means of bonding communities together so maybe organise this for once or twice a week taking care to choose familiar and uncomplicated songs of an uplifting nature.
Having acquired this wonderful resource, there will be a natural desire to express gratitude for mutual good fortune. 

This might best come in spoken words addressed to God, the Ground of Being, The Absolute or whatever term sits best with the individual. 

Periods of silent contemplation also work well and can express the desire for happiness and the relief of suffering to all.
The historic building will need a recognised name. The Greeks used the word ‘kurkon’ for a house of worship which indeed this is. 

I therefore propose an anglicised version along the lines of ‘church’. Yes, that’ll work. Indeed let’s call the Parish Committee 'the Parochial Church Committee'. Sounds good! Yes, we’re really getting somewhere now.
As this project gathers pace the next step will be to hire a spiritual leader. 

This needs to be a person of rare quality able on the one hand to express spiritual truths in simple terms but at the same time to embody great depth and spiritual attainment. For the sake of a name I shall call this person a ‘priest’ , a term derived from the ancient Greek word for ‘elder’ , denoting wisdom and sound judgement .
It will be imperative that the ‘priest’ lives at the heart of the community in a house big enough to allow for discreet conversations and within a relatively large garden suitable for village gatherings as well as being a place of beauty ideal for quiet meditation and general heartsease. 

By living in the heart of the parish the ‘priest’ will be able to know all parishioners by name and will establish themselves as a person to be trusted and consulted. 

This will be of especial significance to the young who so often need a trusted mentor and to the poor whose assistance can be tailored discreetly to their particular needs rather than simply through the one-size-fits-all of official authority. This also fits well with the requirements for ‘making a step change in social justice’ and in the practice of effective safeguarding.
I note the need for ‘transition to low carbon’. The ‘priest’ firmly embedded in the rural village is the perfect exemplar of low carbon living. Just a few steps away from his ‘church’ and a mere short bicycle ride from the most far flung of his residents (Some might be of the opinion that this obviously successful concept would be even more ‘efficient’ if said priest was peripatetic and given guardianship over numerous villages. Resist this. It is a very silly idea.)
So that’s it. I’m sure you will agree that this project is an absolute winner, capable of replication throughout the nation – and it couldn’t come at a more propitious time. Our country is virtually at war, there is great anxiety and economic uncertainty . This is just the time when we all need a touchstone for Grace and Hope, a fount of sound values, of wisdom, empathy and compassion. The ‘Church’ is the absolute apotheosis of this idea.
How is it that we’ve never thought of this before?