CREDITON is a small town, but notable for (at least) two significant community resources – its schools and churches.

Unfortunately the most prominent elements of each are struggling with unprecedented financial and other pressures.

The parish church, as indicated by its notice-board outside, has set itself the formidable task of raising £1.5 million simply to repair its leaking roof - let alone address other works to maintain or modernise its large and ancient building.

Should we not recognise that the building has become too costly to maintain?

Would it not be better for its Governors (it is community-owned, after all) to consider re-directing their fund-raising energies towards a new place of worship in Crediton, more suited to its modest 21st Century congregation, and more comfortable and flexible for contemporary usage?

QE School, meanwhile, with its 1,200 pupils, is having to cope with obviously inadequate resources - not only to maintain buildings on two sites, but to deliver educational outcomes that we can all be proud of.

QE’s success, or otherwise, reflects powerfully on Crediton and we all want it to thrive. But the school has suffered some poor press in recent months, and faces increasing competition from other schools in easy reach. It clearly needs additional funding badly.

It can’t be just me that views a £1.5M fund-raising campaign for an old building at one end of the town as just slightly grotesque, when the present and future needs of our children are jeopardised through lack of money at the other end.

If Crediton could be viewed as a unified entity, like a university campus with a single governing body, it would be easy to make the case for rationalising resources and buildings for the well-being of the whole.

Buildings that are too expensive to maintain would be sold, closed, or moth-balled, and fund-raising would be targeted where the need is greatest – for the educational benefit of its young people.

In the meantime, I would like to suggest, QE Lower School (Barnfield) could provide a rewarding medium-term venue for the parish church clergy and congregation.

It has a suitable hall, available on all Sundays as far as I know, along with ample parking, toilets, refreshment facilities etc. QE would no doubt welcome such a partnership, and any income that the shared use of the school would bring.

QE started life within the chapel of Holy Cross church some 450 years ago. Perhaps it is now time for the church to join forces with the school again?

And the church’s fund-raising campaign (re-allocated to educational purposes) could help ease QE’s financial plight. Who would not want to be involved with raising the sum involved?

The status quo, on the other hand, is clearly not sustainable for either of these important Crediton institutions.

If the current financial situation prevails at school or parish church, I can’t imagine either will be operating in anything like its present form – even in 50 years’ time.

Paul Vincent

Western Road

Crediton