BRIGG COUNCIL TAKES UNPRECEDENTED STEP BY GOING RIGHT TO THE TOP

Brigg Town Council is taking unprecedented action by calling on the head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, to bring about the appointment of a vicar to serve our area - filling a vacancy which has existed for more than two years.
During its meeting on Tuesday night (April 26) in the Angel building, the council decided to write to the Most Rev Justin Welby.
The Lincoln Diocese, in which Brigg is located, has yet to appoint a successor to Father Owain Mitchell who held his final service at St John's Church on December 29, 2019 before moving to take charge of a parish in Derbyshire the following month.
Coun Rob Waltham told the Town Council's monthly meeting that Brigg's parish church needed not only a new vicar but also repairs.
He praised volunteers at St John's for their worthy efforts over the months since Brigg found itself without an incumbent.
Coun Waltham stressed the town required a functioning church with a vicar, and he suggested the Archbishop's attention should be drawn to matters in Brigg.
The head of the church needed to ensure Brigg got a new vicar, plus necessary repairs to the St John's roof.
Town Mayor Coun Brian Parker pointed out that the council had previously written to the local diocese. This was 11 months ago.
Coun Nigel Sherwood suggested Brigg Town Council should forward copies of its letter to the Archbishop to all the neighbouring parishes also administered by the town's vicar, including those in the Low Villages.
Coun Sherwood also made reference to the sale of the Vicarage (the vicar's house on Glanford Road, Brigg).
Coun Penny Smith stressed that rural clergy should be made available and based in the town.

PICTURED: St John's Church and its adjoining Church Hall, viewed from Bigby Street on Tuesday evening shortly before Brigg Town Council met "to resolve to write to Archbishop of Canterbury regarding lack of permanent Vicar for Brigg."