A GROWING gap between the cost of running the church and the amount given by worshippers could lead to the loss of a parish priest, the rector of Alcester's St Nicholas Church has warned.

The Rev David Capron said the amount of cash given by churchgoers was no longer sufficient to support the costs of the ministry.

In 1996-7 the amount given per week by worshippers was around £450 and the Parish Share, the amount the diocese asks each parish to contribute to the cost of the ministry, was around £490. But last year, 2004-5, the weekly giving was around £550 and the Parish Share was more than £700.

Mr Capron said half of the weekly total was currently covered by 20 per cent of the donors, with the rest giving less than the average of £7 per week.

"Some people do give, but not necessarily to the church - and obviously if you think of Kashmir, Darfur or other areas then there is no contest. But it is now well beyond the reach of extra fundraising activities such as the garden fete or the bazaar and other sources of income, which made up the difference in the past," he said.

He said donations contributed to regular running costs such as heating, lighting, insurance and the cost of services, and if the situation continued to develop it could lead to a lack of funds to pay a full-time priest.

"I don't think everybody appreciates the seriousness of it - we are talking about flesh and blood now, the building is another issue," he added.

"If they cut the number of full-time priests then services will have to be cut, and eventually buildings would have to be shut."