THE Archbishop of York will warn tonight that the Church of England's parish system is close to collapse.
Dr David Hope will tell a national radio audience that vicars cannot be expected to take on more and more parishes.
"Will a vicar, who's already got three parishes, take on another and then another and another?
"I think that we really cannot go on like that," he will say on BBC Radio 4's Analysis programme, to be broadcast at 8.30pm.
"The parish system itself, I think, is in very great danger of breaking down almost altogether."
His comments come as a public consultation process continues over plans for radical changes to parishes and churches across the York area, including the proposed closure of several churches.
Dr Hope will also speak tonight of his concerns about problems concerning pensions for retired clergymen, saying that there are now more clergy and their spouses being paid pensions than there are ordained stipendiary clergy.
He will say that clergy are tending to retire at 65 rather than 70 because they are fed up with all the bureaucracy.
Updated: 15:45 Thursday, November 21, 2002
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