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of treasurers as wide a spread as possible between the major charac-
teristics of urban/rural and amateur/professional, and also from among
the diverse opinions known to be held. It follows that the results
cannot be treated as a definitive statement of parochial feeling but
only as a preliminary analysis which may occasion food for thought.
When the completed questionnaires were returned some points
emerged which, had they been realised in advance, might have led to
different phraseology or format. To avoid confusion with the results
the next few paragraphs will first enumerate some of these forethoughts
and afterthoughts in respect of certain questions.
2.5.1.1 - A1 -
How long a treasurer?
It would have been better here to split the group '1-5 years'
more finely, perhaps '1-3' and '3-5' since this turned out to be the
modal group.
2.5.1.2 - A3 -
How long per week on treasurer's duties?
The definition and extent of 'treasurer's duties' may well vary
from parish to parish, but it was decided to risk ambiguity in order
to achieve simplicity.
2.5.1.3 - A6 -
Accounts easily understood?
The question as posed begged the deeper question of how many
parishioners - or even how many members of the Parochial Church Council
- took an interest in the accounts. This latter would be very useful
to know as a guide to the quality of financial control being exercised
at parochial level, and hence for the quality which could be looked for
at diocesan level, but to have elicited it adequately would have needed
a question more complex than a simple Yes/No answer and it was reluct-
antly decided to forego the opportunity. (Apropos the need for such
control, even in such a trustworthy organisation as the Church, Slade
(B26)
