LIKE many people, I was unimpressed with the North+South exhibition in Southampton.

Was the idea to explore the very complex theme of English identity in the 21st century? It was bound to fail, and the shallow and derivative pieces exhibited simply demonstrate the sad state of current British art.

Art can educate, shock or offend, but I don't think that should be its objective.

Sadly, presentday art students continue to operate under the malign influence of Marcel Duchamp with pseudo-intellectual wit being the order of the day.

I agreed with the Rev Ian Johnson that the work was "pretentious". However, I would call it bad art rather than "not art" which gives curators and critics a field day.

Mr Johnson goes on to say, "My passion is immigration and multi-faith work and if that is what it was about it did not penetrate with me at all.'' and then he says, "As usual wherever anything to do with the Middle East comes up, the normal hate comments about Islam can be found.'' He added "The ignorance about Islam and about the contribution of migrants to this country, and our economy, makes me sad and angry.'' I suspect he is referring to the economic benefits that accrue to his middleclass friends.

Like Mr Johnson, I got my degree for free on the backs of the working classes. However, I do not wish to lecture them or claim the moral high ground.

I thought that the main role of an Anglican priest would be spiritual advice and counselling to their flock, not indoctrination or conversion to other faiths.

It is of no surprise that the Church of England is tearing itself apart and that church attendance is falling.

Islam (like Sikhism etc) is an alien religion/culture, and I suspect that most Britons, like myself, hate Islam and all it stands for.

Does Mr Johnson wish to destroy British culture as we know it?

COLIN DREW (by e-mail).