To take them seriously implies believing in invisible friends and medieval superstition. Most people are too worldly wise, intelligent and rational for that, so churches should perhaps accept the income and accept their role is no different to Morris dancing in terms of what it actually means?

We have 24/7 TV and Internet so we don't need the distraction of church. We have fertilisers and cow shit so we don't need fertility dancing.

Yet both are part of the tapestry of our country and its heritage. Neither are relevant to society in real terms but some people live for their hobbies. Good luck to them but please don't assume I will be attaching bells to my legs any time soon.