IN his weekly column, the Rev Michael Williams, Vicar of Bolton Parish Church, shares his thoughts with readers on life in the town and around the world

CONGRATULATIONS to the Roman Catholic bishop who recently announced that he was going to move out of his mansion and live in a flat.

He is making the move to set an example of living a simpler lifestyle.

Since he made this move, several Church of England bishops have suggested renting out part of their palaces to raise money for the Church. Again, this seems like a good example.

I am a firm believer in the view that all Christians should live more simply. Jesus himself set this example and I believe that we should follow it as best we can. Indeed, he went further with his shocking saying that a rich person cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.

Some years ago I was in the United States and I met a number of Christians who thought just the opposite. They said that the sign of a successful religious leader was that he would have a large car, a large house and a high salary. Their view was that God blesses those who do his work with rich rewards. When I told them what my salary was, they were horrified. They drew the obvious conclusion that I was a failed minister!

God does indeed bless those who follow him, but it is clear to me that he also asks his followers to live a sacrificial life.

The great John Wesley, the founder of Methodist, put it this way, "Gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can."

A good many people believe in the first two but forget the third.

The Christian, it seems to me, is meant to live simply both in terms of money and status. So it is good to hear that senior figures in our churches are more and more prepared to do this.

In the past, bishops were wealthy people living in some considerable luxury. Nowadays perhaps they will set an example to us all of a simple lifestyle.

Michael Williams

Vicar of Bolton Parish Church