A CHURCHWARDEN has criticised plans to recruit a new chief of staff for the Archbishop of York at an annual salary of £90,000.

Robert Beaumont, senior warden at St John's Church at Minskip, near Boroughbridge, said he felt the plans were 'terribly ill advised, as churches in our parish are really struggling to survive.'

He said: "The pandemic has meant no services and no money in, so we have had to organise quizzes, book sales etc to keep going. The C of E is weighted down by bureaucracy and has, I feel, got its priorities all wrong.

"Surely it is more important for our churches to survive than pay massive amounts of money for friends and advisers to bishops?"

The Press reported earlier this week that an advertisement said the position would offer a 'competitive salary in the region of £90,000 per year' and the successful applicant would help the Archbishop, Stephen Cottrell, conduct his ministry within the life of the nation'. They would be his 'chief companion, support and critical friend for developing and refining this vision.'

A spokesperson said that the remuneration had been 'benchmarked against similar senior roles within the charitable sector' and agreed centrally.