It was good to read the Revd Paul Nicolson’s affirmation (Letters, 4 January) that supporting the poor is an act of worship. However, much needs to be done if we are truly to become a source of hope for the poor. Anglican communities are paying decent salaries and providing buildings for community-support work. Volunteers such as the St Vincent de Paul Society do a fantastic job but there is an urgent need for dioceses to make a financial commitment to Christ in the poor by the employment of debt advisers etc. and offer church buildings for community projects. Such projects require ongoing diocesan financial commitment rather than parishes in financially disadvantaged areas bearing all the burdens.It breaks my heart to see church buildings paid for by the poor of yesterday standing