May I endorse everything Susan Penswick says in her Parish Practice article “Bricks, mortar and spirit” (14 February). Too often individual parishes do not know where to turn to for help and consequently just put up with the disrepair – which invariably gets worse as their appreciation of the urgency is lessened as the passage of time and the blind eye take their toll. Yet, there are many sources of help and expertise. In my experience of managing listed churches, Diocesan Historic Churches committees are a very useful and accessible source of information. I’ve also witnessed at first hand the enthusiasm with which the Heritage Lottery Fund accepted the responsibility for church grants and the endorsement that a successful bid to them brings to a project. The bisho