Neither ir excusable, but tax dodging costs the country massively more so than does benefits fraud.

I guess what bugs me is that our highly-paid celebrities love nothing better than parading themselves and their social consciences at Comic Relief etc. and yet if they were to do the right thing by the taxman, the country would be considerably better off. Millions of pounds tucked away in Luxembourg and Jersey etc. means less to be spent on our hospitals and schools. Call me naive but what is morally right matters!

A retired headteacher phoned me a couple of days back, enquiring if our church was involved in any projects concerned with supplying food parcels to those in extreme need. I was happy to respond that we do run such a project, in partnership with our neighbouring congregations.

He said, ‘I thought if anyone was doing that kind of thing it would be St. Andrew’s!’

We all get a reputation for something. I’m glad to know that our church is known for actually putting its faith into practice. I pray that we get better and better at it in the days to come.

I was in a conversation recently during which we commented on how amazingly well a certain person was doing following a close bereavement. The other person chipped this in: “I suppose it’s something to do with their faith.”

Y’think!