An article appeared on 24th May 2020 in the Sunday Times purporting to be privy to a recent House of Bishops meeting, in which the new Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, was given a national portfolio to look at the future shape of the Church of England, which could result in fewer dioceses and a reduction in the number of Bishops. Whilst it appears that this article is inaccurate and has been refuted by some Bishops (notably Bishop Philip North, Burnley and Bishop Pete Broadbent, Willesden) on social media, it is not that meeting that I wish to address, for it has made me consider what the Church of England might do, regarding its financial prospects, decisions that will painfully have to be made, unenviably, by the House of Bishops.

There have been significant financial issues in various dioceses up and down the country prior to the pandemic, and the…