Letter: Vicar at bay

Sir: You refer (In brief, 2 May) to Jonathan Blake as "the country's first freelance vicar". According to my dictionary the word "vicar" is derived from the Latin vicarius, meaning a substitute (originally for a religious house, and later for the bishop). Since Mr Blake is quite clearly a substitute for nothing except religious orthodoxy and common sense, perhaps you should use the term "renegade ex-vicar" when referring to him in future.

The Rev David Brookes

Vicar of Hollingbourne & Hucking with Leeds

& Broomfield

Maidstone,

Kent