Vicar says admin 'killing' Church

Mr Underhill said bishops had become 'executive officers'

One of the country's longest serving vicars - based in Gateshead - has hit out at the state of the Church.

The Reverend Edward Underhill, who is 85, has been in charge at St George's Church in Low Fell since March 1957.

He told BBC Newcastle he felt the Church had become too bureaucratic.

In response, the Bishop of Jarrow, the Right Reverend Mark Bryant, said all organisations had to look at their bureaucracy but support staff enabled clergy to get out into the community.

Mr Underhill's comments about the church come a month before his retirement from office.

He is the UK's third-longest serving vicar and has worked through the terms of 10 prime ministers.

He described bishops as having become like "executive officers" and was also critical of the amount and cost of secretarial support in the Church.

He said: "It's ridiculous. It's killing the Church."

Graffiti

Mr Underhill also spoke of his disappointment at the rising incidence of vandalism around the church where he has officiated for so long.

He said: "We had some more vandalism last night. And the night before our latest poster was pulled off advertising services.

"We have stuff smeared on the back of the church there - paint, graffiti.

"Lead you can't keep on so we've put felt on. [The church] looks alright on the road but it's when you get behind it."

Mr Underhill said he believed in preaching the simple gospel

Mr Underhill has seen his congregation shrink significantly during his 52 years in charge, as the number of people going to church has declined nationwide.

But, he remains positive.

"It's a very big church - it seats 850 and if we get 25 in the morning we're lucky," he explained.

"[But] we're all good givers. We gather the largest income of any church in Gateshead and our missionary giving is bigger than, I think, any other church in the diocese.

"I'm not depressed at all. We've got quality now. Those hundred in the congregation when I came - hardly any were giving properly."

Full picture

Responding to Mr Underhill's comments, Bishop Bryant said he did not think they gave the "full picture" of the Church as it is today.

He said: "It is true that there are less people in church than probably 25 years ago but I could take him to churches where congregations are growing rapidly and to new congregations which didn't exist a couple of years ago.

"I could take him to Christian churches where congregations are making a real difference to people's lives."

Bishop Bryant also said he thought it was important not to tar all young people as vandals and that many were doing lots for the community with organisations like the scouts and sea cadets.

Keeping it simple

Mr Underhill said he did not agree with the idea that the Church should keep adapting and changing to society and that his approach was to focus on the Bible.

"You've got to just preach the simple gospel," he said.

"People want to know how to get heaven, how to get rid of their sins, how to get right with God and how to get right with other people - and that never changes."

Mr Underhill is due to retire in November 2009 and said it is age and arthritis that have prompted his decision to step down.