I GREATLY enjoyed your article which regaled readers with the saga of the funding request which had been made by Penryn Methodist Church to the Town Council for the sum of £50.

I read your article with mounting dismay as I realised that not only were you defending the poor tax payers but you were further more not taking into account that the volunteers running the holiday club were tax payers too and in addition to this volunteers!

Shockingly your parochial attitude even stooped so low as to invoke a racial stereotype ‘if this had been a Muslim group asking to use taxpayers’ money for proselytising, would the council have been so accommodating?’  Were you attempting to defend a Muslim group whilst attacking a Christian one? Hardly a reasoned argument.

You further more describe the Methodist Church as ‘a special interest group’ illustrating your lack of historical knowledge too.  The Methodist Church, worldwide, has in excess of 80 million adherents and it began in the 18th Century as a revivalist movement within the Church of England. Its central objective then as now is characterised by its emphasis on helping the poor and the average person. These ideals have historically been put into practice by the establishment of hospitals, universities, orphanages, soup kitchens, food banks and schools following the example of Christ to serve others. 

It is a sorry state of affairs when in an effort to help others, who maybe couldn’t afford an extra 20p per child at the holiday club that you take it upon yourself to attack without mercy those who were giving up their own time and probably money to run a holiday club for children. If as you say it was ‘proselytising’ then what I ask you is wrong with showing that as part of the ‘big society’  you are willing to give up your own time to teach about caring for and loving others? Not ‘infant brainwashing’ but more like face painting and craft...who knew such things were taking place in Penryn.

Mr Ian Smith,
Trelawney Road,
Falmouth