"Can we continue publication in 1952? That is a burning question. A number of parishes have already reluctantly decided that they must do without a magazine for the time being, and we may have to follow their example. Production costs have risen so enormously, that without a very large circulation it is almost impossible to make ends meet without considerably increasing the price to the people. St. Martin’s Review, for example, has had to be raised from 6d. to 1/- per month. In the middle of the year the price of this magazine had to be increased from 3d. to 4d., but we shall still face a large deficit at the end of the year, and our printers have been making no profit for themselves, but actually charging us less than cost.

The magazine committee have been seriously considering this problem in all its aspects, and we have made certain plans, which, if they can be carried out, will save the magazine for another year at least. These plans cannot be successful without the continued support of our loyal advertisers, and an increase in the number of magazines sold each month. We intend to reduce production costs to the minimum, altering the size and form of the magazine: it will be perhaps somewhat smaller, but attractive in appearance, and easy to handle and read. We are going to ask our advertisers if they will kindly agree to an adjustment whereby all advertisements run for a yearly period beginning in January, instead of from a number of different months. This will greatly reduce printing charges. We also hope that instead of increasing the price further, we may be able to bring it down to 3 1/2d. or even to 3d.

We are very grateful to Mr. and Mrs. H. Beckett, who took over the business side of the magazine when it was at a very low ebb indeed, and worked so successfully that it began to pay its way once again. They wish now to hand the work - and worry! - on to someone else. We are still waiting for a successor, as Mrs. Allsopp, who we were hoping might be able to undertake this task, now finds that she has too little spare time in December, the crucial month, to do the job properly. We should be glad to hear of any volunteer, as the work must be done in the next few weeks if the magazine is to continue."

Source: The Hampton Hill Parish Magazine - 1951 December

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