I AM writing as I was shocked and disgusted with an article about a church in Brindle asking people for £5 for the collection plate.

I was always under the impression that you put in what you could afford. Surely it's up to the church council to meet repair bills, not the parishioners. No wonder people don't go to church as much as they used to, with these demands I'm not surprised.

Going to church surely is a spiritual thing where you go to pray, sing hymns, listen to Bible readings and meet people, It may be the only time some old people get out. The elderly can't afford £5 out of their meek and humble pension. It takes them all. their time to pay their bills and buy the essentials they need.

They will feel pressured because of these requests. Next will they be asking children to cough up their bit of spending money. When will it stop?

It's now how much money they can get out of people - greed, I call it. If everyone put £1 on the collection plate that should be ample. It's as though they are saying put £5 in or you can't come to the church.

PATRICIA TATCHELL, Lockwood, Huddersfield (formerly of Darwen)