History will note that the decline began in the year 2017, when a single parish announced it was withholding funds from the church after an activist layman in Canterbury called on large evangelical Anglican parishes to withhold funds following the Church of England's recent synod's hapless vote to approve transgenderism, and to push "radical inclusion", echoes of an American playbook presiding bishop on homosexual marriage.

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St John, Newland, (Diocese of York) is the largest Anglican Church in the City and one of the largest in the Diocese. St. John's wrote an open letter to the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, and told him in no uncertain terms that they had lost total trust in his theological leadership and, to indicate the seriousness of their concerns, they would forthwith withhold their free will offering until further notice.

The PCC called on the Archbishop to express repentance for what took place at Synod and said the PCC looked forward to receiving an indication of repentance from the Archbishop and will offer prayers to that end.

"The PCC has also been grieved by the general direction of the Synod and the appalling manner in which those who hold to the teachings of Jesus have been ridiculed, mocked and scorned. We fear that the Synod has imbibed the 'spirit of the age' and we request satisfactory assurances from the leadership that this kind of behavior is not acceptable and that it will work towards creating a more courteous and biblically responsive environment in the future."

The letter went on to say that The Parochial Church Council (PCC) considered the response by the Archbishop of York to Mrs. Andrea Williams' amendment of Item 48 at the July General Synod of the Church of England, 2017, in terms of what was said, to indicate theological ineptitude at best and error at worst; and how it was said, as intemperate and ungodly.
"As such there was a failure to meet the standard required of a bishop according to Titus 1:7-9. Neither did the Archbishop display his canonical duty to 'with all faithful diligence.... banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrine contrary to God's Word; and both privately and openly to call upon and encourage others to the same' in relation to Item 58."

For international readers, a parochial church council (PCC) is the executive committee of a Church of England parish and consists of clergy and churchwardens of the parish, together with representatives of the laity.

The resolution was passed unanimously and sent by a Mr. Timothy Benstead, Lay Chair of St John, Newland, PCC

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Here is the full text of the letter..

Open letter Call to the Archbishop of York for Repentance

July 24, 2017

An Open Letter containing a Resolution from St John, Newland PCC, 17th July 2017

To his Grace, the Archbishop of York,

The PCC considers the response by the Archbishop of York to Mrs Andrea Williams' amendment of Item 48 at the July General Synod of the Church of England, 2017, in terms of what was said, to indicate theological ineptitude at best and error at worst; and how it was said, as intemperate and ungodly. As such there was a failure to meet the standard required of a bishop according to Titus 1:7-9. Neither did the Archbishop display his canonical duty to 'with all faithful diligence.... banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrine contrary to God's Word; and both privately and openly to call upon and encourage others to the same' in relation to Item 58.

Accordingly, this PCC no longer has any confidence in the Archbishop of York in 'all things spiritual' and requests that he expresses repentance for what took place.

The PCC looks forward to receiving an indication of repentance from the Archbishop and will offer prayers to that end.

The PCC has also been grieved by the general direction of the Synod and the appalling manner in which those who hold to the teachings of Jesus have been ridiculed, mocked and scorned. We fear that the Synod has imbibed the 'spirit of the age' and we request satisfactory assurances from the leadership that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable and that it will work towards creating a more courteous and biblically responsive environment in the future.

In the meantime, to indicate our serious concern with the present state of affairs the PCC will withhold its free will offering until further notice.

The resolution was passed unanimously.

Mr Timothy Benstead,
Lay Chair of St John, Newland, PCC
17th July 2017