On Thursday evening, a number of churches are applying to Woking Borough Council for grants from the community fund. I am pretty uneasy about taxpayers subsidising a religious organisation of any kind, simply because by the very nature of the organisation, a large proportion of the population will never see the benefit of that investment.

Two of the applications, though serve as a perfect contrast to my mind of what should and should not get our money. St Mary’s Church in Byfleet has put in an application for £5,000 towards provide new disabled toilets. The work involves clearing out a cleaning cupboard and installing drainage and a disabled toilet facility.

£5,000 seems like quite a bit for this work but the council will only provide half anyway. The application by the church will bring it into line with the Disability Discrimination Act and also includes future plans to provide a sports/community facility for the area. I hope the organisation gets the money it wants.

On the other hand, the United Reformed Church in White Rose Lane is after £100,000 towards a £2million scheme it wants to put in place to

“open up the premises, making them more welcoming and accessible; providing
top-quality facilities for all users, seeking to ensure the church becomes a
focal point for community life and activity; rejuvenating and updating the
entire site; providing space for quiet reflection; providing more space for the
growing youth and children’s work…”

I cannot see where the benefit to the wider community is here – only to the current and future congregation and it is not the council’s job to help the church increase that.

There is reference here only to improving what’s already there for the benefit of churchgoers and those who want “quiet reflection” ie prayer. And the reference to children’s work doesn’t cut it either – why on earth or heaven should the taxpayer foot the bill for to help the URC secure its next generation of followers and funders?

In March, the executive turned down a request for £50,000. The officers have brought it back again at £20,000 using the “Lisbon Treaty” version of decision-making. No doubt if £20,000 is refused it will come back next year for £10,000. This isn’t a good use of Woking residents’ money – I hope the executive kicks out the URC application once and for all.