JUST two people have applied to become the next vicar of the parish church in North Weald since the previous incumbent left in October 2011.
Following the retirement of the Reverend Trevor Thorpe – who was, until last year, the longest serving Church of England clergyman in history – only two candidates have come forward to take over St Andrew's Church, but both later pulled out.
Now a lay minister believes that the post might not be filled until the end of this year, leaving parishioners without a spiritual "centre point".
In the interim, two retired men of the cloth, the Reverend David Moore and the Reverend Rayner Harries, have stepped in to take services.
Yet the shortage of willing applicants for the vacancy may mean that the North Weald parish is an "unattractive proposition" for clergy, says villager Tony Miller.
"It's sad that it has come to the point where I have heard that applicants have walked away, what is it about this set-up that deters them?" he asked.
Mr Miller, who is not a member of the St Andrew's congregation, asked the church's hierarchy why it was difficult to recruit a new reverend for the place of worship in a newsletter.
He wrote: "It is a pleasing development to learn that after so very long, St Andrew's Church is experiencing a steady flow of baptisms, weddings and funerals (hopefully not too many of the latter).
"It is also with interest to learn that the final sole applicant for vicar of St Andrew's has withdrawn his candidacy.
"If I recall correctly, that now makes three (sic) withdrawals in all since the process began and consequently I am prompted to wonder if there is anything in particular that makes responsibility for our village church a seemingly unattractive proposition."
However, this week, Edwyn Gilmour, a lay minister at St Andrew's, said that only two candidates had withdrawn their application, and not three.
The Ongar resident added: "It's interesting, I think, that there is this, as I always like to refer to it, outside interest, but there is really nothing very sensational about it.
"I am aware there is a suggestion made that there must be something wrong with this church, but that is not the case, there is a universal shortage of clergy, that's the first thing.
"The second thing is there is a stark difference between a clergyman who is living off a parish and a parishioner in charge who is not anchored and is just appointed to a parish."
Mr Gilmour believes that a change in the terms of a Church of England minister's remuneration means experienced vicars are reluctant to leave a parish they have served long term because they may lose the financial benefits tied into their existing package.
He also said the church is an historical organisation and is not set up to make these appointments quickly.
The previous incumbent, Mr Thorpe, was the longest serving vicar in the Church of England ever, serving for 54 years until his retirement in October 2011.
Mr Thorpe died on January 15 this year. He was aged 91.
