I read the report 'Cumbria churches in cash crisis' (Gazette, October 22). As has been said, the church is not about buildings, but people.

There could be an opportunity here to turn a problem into a solution. The churches could de-consecrate the least used buildings and sell them, but not to the highest bidders, for second homes.

Instead, they could sell at half the buildings' market value to housing associations. In that way help could be directly given to young local people to rent or buy their first homes, staying and enriching their local communities.

Paul Rogers

Burton-in-Kendal