Southampton/Solent - Cutting back on prayers

Southampton's two universities could lose their chaplains in a £1.6 million cost-cutting drive by church leaders. The chaplains at the University of Southampton and Southampton Solent University are among those facing the axe as part of the diocese's attempts to balance its books. The chaplaincy at Bournemouth and Poole College is also reported to be at risk. In May the diocese issued a draft 2010 budget for consultation, predicting it would need £13.3 million for running costs, but the figure had to be reduced because parishes said they could not meet the 3.8 per cent increase required in their contributions because of the recession.