Parish magazine that still plays a valuable role

GP Taylor’s remarks indicate his welcome of the decline of the parish magazine (Yorkshire Post, January 27). Here in Middleham, our parish has produced a more modern newsletter called Bridge for the last 20 years.

It is delivered free to 970 houses in the village and surrounding area. It costs us nothing to produce as we have two pages of small ads where, for a very small price, locals can advertise their businesses in return for beneficial publicity. Copies go to the holiday cottages and other local picking-up points – the chapel, the church, the local shop etc.

Visitors who pick up a copy can find out where to eat, what social events they can join and the other services on offer locally. Once a month, a group of people meet to collate the magazine and as they work, enjoy friendship and a cup of tea and a biscuit together. We hardly think of it as the “biggest pain in the butt that God ever inflicted on his people”.

From: Rosemary Rollinson, St. Alkelda’s Road, Middleham, East Yorkshire.

WHAT a pity GP Taylor was asked to add his opinion after the article relating to the decline in church magazines (Yorkshire Post, January 27). Why tell us of his experiences at Cloughton with his rude and sarcastic comments?

Better to encourage the many people who still voluntarily carry on the valuable work of circulating these magazines with news of local church and community events. There are many folk, often elderly, who are without internet facilities and who really need and appreciate this way of communication.

Here in Middleham the monthly Bridge is edited, printed and distributed voluntarily and the costs met by the advertising of local businesses.