CTiFAH Chairman's Report 2009-2010

Wow! What a year!

Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who made it Churches TOGETHER. People from all the churches have worked very hard to make each of our events a "success"
I feel that the Sunday night prayer meetings once a month have given us strength and purpose.

It has been a privilege to have been "chair" for such a wonderful organisation.
Thanks to all the churches who have hosted various events and have invited everyone to come and join them.

The Midsummer Evensong at St. Michaels last June provided us with a wonderful strawberry tea , followed by an excellent service and was very well attended.
Wheels were already in motion for the FUN DAY in August- and in between the heavy bursts of rain a good time was had by all. It was a great theme - Noah's Ark-and provided a lot of outreach leading up to the big day. Thanks to all who braved the weather and put on some really good "stalls".

Personally , I was greatly moved by some of the prayers ay the prayer tent, and it was wonderful to be part of the service in the centre of Duke Street park with Keith Jones ( and friend) and the children with their pets.

The next event was the hospitality at The Gild Hall while the people of Formby had their Flu jabs. So many times we heard comments about how great it was to have a drink and some fruit so efficiently and so quickly, so people had time to sit and chat and not have to queue for ages. Their gratitude raised about £900 for CTiFAH funds.

So a big thank you to all those people who gave of their time and energy that week.
I would like to give a wonderful thank you to Joan Rimmer, for creating and doggedly selling her marvellous calendars to raise funds for the CTiFAH , more than £3000 went to help finance the village nativity, which, by that time was well under way, after a couple of false starts.It was planned to be at the back of the swimming pool, instead of down the street.

The story was simple, to the point and conveyed the Christmas Message to those people of Formby who came to watch.

Thank you so much to the organisers, and to all those who had apart to play ,or a costume to sew, or an animal to look after. Big thanks for the music and singing and recording and to anybody and everybody who helped to make the day one to remember.
Thanks too, for the night at the Gild Hall, to watch the video and enjoy each others fellowship!

Then came the Lent groups. There were numerous events run by different churches that were open to every one. It was great to have such a choice as to where and when we went.

Our church 's Lent meetings were well attended and we had quite a few people from other churches joining us. Reports from other churches suggest that they were also well-received and there was definitely a "crossover" of people from various other churches attending.

Good Friday, again planned for the back of the swimming pool, was well-attended, in fact, better than expected, we ran out of hymn sheets.

Thanks to Rev. Howard Sharp for an excellent talk, to Rev. Sue Smith, for leading our prayers, new to the area and thrown in at the deep end (not literally) and to Jim Mc Cahy for His reading, who I erringly promoted to Father(-he assured me he is a father and a grandfather, but not in the religious sense!)

We braved the cold and the wind, so again thanks to all the people who did a sterling job and to those herding everyone to the swimming pool, and also to the staff at the pool.
There are constantly things going on, and John Ensor Has offered to produce a newsletter of events, so please let him know if you have anything at your church that you want to share with other churches.

So watch this space, as representatives you will be able to keep your churches informed of events etc.

So before I hand over the reins to John I would like to thank all the Steering committee, the Council, last year's chairman, John Ryan for all your support and help. Thank you Sheila for keeping me on the right track with agendas and minutes of meetings and thank you for all the hard work you've put in.

Thank you to Bruni and June for your fantastic organising skills and boundless energy-and hospitality! And thank you to Jean for your support and brilliant brewing -up skills!
And last but by no means least to Phil for being there beside me in prayer and in faith.
I have to confess to being a little sad at relinquishing my post, but hopefully I shall have more time to spend with my new Granddaughter, Hope, and for seeing my mum.

So now I hand over to John Ensor from the Methodist church. I am sure that he is more than capable of being an excellent chairman, but he will need your support and your prayers.

May God bless you ,John as you take up the banner, and may The Lord be with you every step of the way!

Diane.

A new chair for Churches Together in Formby and District

May I introduce and welcome John Ensor from Formby Methodist Church as the new Chair of our local Churches Together in Formby, Altcar and Hightown. He succeeds Diane Vernon from Formby's United Reformed Church.

John was born into a Methodist family in a mining community
in the Midlands (Measham in Leicestershire). He became an active member of the Methodist Church in the early 70s.

Following his marriage, he and his new wife settled down in Ashby de la Zouch where he led an active church life in their local Methodist Church over a 12 year period serving as Youth Leader, Church Steward and Treasurer; and as Circuit Steward for his local Circuit of Methodist Churches.

In 1988 he and his wife took a joint decision to pursue his career and they moved around the UK following a number of promotions. Although his career dominated their life at that time, wherever they went, they always worshipped regularly within the local community and played an active part in church activities as work commitments permitted.

He and his family moved to Formby initially in 1995 and joined Formby Methodist Church in Elbow Lane, and although they moved out in 2000, they returned again in 2003.

His career, within the Food Industry, began in engineering then
moved into general management eventually becoming a Company Director with responsibility for 5 manufacturing operations.

He took early retirement in 2008 and, after spending some time travelling he was delighted to take up the Vice-Chair of Churches Together in Formby, Altcar and Hightown (CTiFAH) and now the Chair succeeding Diane Vernon from the URC.

John has very clear vision - and how to realise it - in his year as Chair of CTiFAH. Whilst maintaining its well established agenda, he would like to see CTiFAH become an even more active and vibrant organisation with increasing numbers of Christians from its member churches enjoying meeting, sharing and worshipping together.

He intends to focus on:

1. Developing a mission-based church in the local community by

(a) supporting and promoting the MESSY CHURCH which has just started in Park Road and Redgate by Holy Trinity and St Luke's Anglican churches and now becoming an ecumenical venture by being supported by other member churches of CTiFAH.

(b) Holding a study course in Lent 2011 to further develop a mission-shaped church

2. Reviewing the ways CTiFAH promotes and publicises itself and its events to encourage more church members to participate. In particular, he has overseen the launch of a quarterly newsletter and is working on the creation of a CtiFAH website.

Ecumenism is at its best at the local community level and Formby and District churches praying, working and worshipping together have become the envy of many such local groupings elsewhere. CTiFAH's success has been due, in large part, to the outstanding quality of its leadership. Just as Diane Vernon (and her predecessors) showed outstanding leadership, so, I am sure, will John Ensor prove to be a most worthy successor and perpetuate, but in his own way and style, this same quality of inspiring leadership.

John Nelson

Dr Peter Brierley is a church research consultant. He offers these trends in the 10 year period 2010 to 2020 for church and society

1. The British Church is declining. The fact of decline is obvious in
most denominations and is likely to continue at an increasing rate in the next 10
years. Within that broad statement there are groups which are bucking the trend
such as the Pentecostal churches and many of the bigger Anglican churches.

2. There are fewer and more older people in church. The changing
fertility rate is increasing the proportion of older people in the population. There is
already a greater proportion of older people in the church and this is likely to increase
quite rapidly, due to both the smaller numbers of young people in church and the rate
at which they leave. Focussing on age is likely to be a key strategic factor in the
decade ahead.

3. Immigration will increasingly be a major factor in church life. Many
immigrants (including asylum seekers and refugees) wish to follow their own
religions in their country of adoption. Christian immigration has caused important
important church growth in Britain, some of which is quite deliberate ("reverse"
mission). The challenge is to integrate immigrant church leaders, to learn from
them, and to join with them in mission.

4, Churchmanship is important. The two largest groups are the
Evangelicals (declining slowly) and the Catholics (declining rapidly). Non-
Evangelicals are also also declining rapidly. Within the Evangelical group, the
mainstream/conservative/traditional group, and the charismatic group, are both the
largest and declining least slowly.

5. Some environmental changes are worth noting. Churches in City
Centre and Inner City areas are not expected to decline as fast as those in suburban
even areas, even if the latter has the largest congregations. Some remoter rural
areas are bucking the declining trend with churches growing because of young
families moving there from urban areas.

6. The growth of Islam is almost certain is continue. Growth can be
seen in the UK from Muslims being 3.5% of the population in 2010 to an expected 4.3
% by 2020. Evangelicals are the only other growing religious group worldwide,
although in the UK they are growing only as a result an increasing proportion of
churchgoers, not numerically.

7. Future leadership is critical. Leadership is crucial for survival and
revival in the church. The key elements in evaluating leaders (so knowing how best to
approach and help them) are: the length of time in their present responsibility, the
size of their church, the number of the churches they care for, whether their
church(es) is/are growing, and their age, gender and churchmanship.

8. Changing female and family positions. As in many countries in the
developed world, the UK is seeing fewer marriages (and fewer divorces as a
consequence). The marital composition of the population is changing rapidly with
far fewer married households, and increasing numbers of lone parents. cohabiting
and single person households. These patterns are unlikely to be followed by
churchgoers. Likewise, the role of women in society is changing, fuelled by the
media with its hugh interest in sex, the widespread use of pornography, leading to
the degradation of what it means to be female.

9. We are moving out of the Judaeo-Christian tradition. The world as
most of us know it is fast disappearing, partly due to major political changes, partly
because of moral degradation, and partly because of the economic growth in India
and China (and the authority that goes with that) where cultures are vey different
from cultures in the developed world. The loss of confidence in the Good News of
Jesus Christ is partly responsible for the plummeting numbers of new Christians.

10. The challenge of Technology. The pace of technological change
is frightening, and the foundations within it are shifting rapidly. Christian leaders must
learn to use, adapt and put resources into these areas if they are to relevant and
effective in the years ahead.

However, behind all these changes stands an unchanging Jesus Christ, the same
yesterday, today and for ever.

approach them
church.

What is it all about?

Churches throughout the Mersey Region are co-operating together in a year of continuous prayer in 2010. Starting in January, and going on almost to Christmas, individual churches have been or will be praying for a week, before passing on the baton to the next church. It is a tremendous demonstration of how the church can unite in prayer.

The goals for prayer are to pray for a fundamental change in our society and nation, to pray for the Mersey Region, and to pray for our local community, the churches and the people of Formby.

The Prayer week for The Methodist Church in Elbow Lane, is from Sunday 23rd to Sunday 30th May.

On Sunday 23rd May we will receive the baton from the Bellinge Family Church during our morning worship at 10.30am.

From Monday to Friday the Church will be open every day from 12noon - 2.00pm. This is an invitation for members of the community to drop in for a short time of quiet, and to remember and give thanks for all the different facets of our community. Hot drinks will be available and you are welcome to bring your lunch with you.

From Monday to Friday every evening, from 7.30 - 8.30pm, there will be a short act of worship and prayer. Our minister, Rev John Ritson will lead on Tuesday, and Diane Vernon, Chair of Churches Together in Formby, Altcar and Hightown, will lead us on Wednesday evening.

During the week we will be happy to receive any prayer requests or concerns.

On Saturday 29th we will be sharing in a 'Soup Lunch' as a final act of focusing together on our community. This is an open invitation for anyone who would like to join us.

On Sunday 30th May, members from our church will be taking the baton on to 'Pioneer People' in Pensby, Wirral.

For further information regarding any of our events please get in contact.

Mary Williamson, fellow Sideperson at St Luke's Parish Church, Formby, also sent me this which, again, I want to share with you.

Direct Line - one for the Lancastrians!!

Apologies to those with Yorkshire roots!!

An American photographer on vacation was inside a church in Leeds taking photographs when he noticed a golden telephone mounted on the wall with a sign that read '£10,000 per call'.

The American, being intrigued, asked a priest who was strolling by what the telephone was used for.

The priest replied that it was a direct line to heaven and that for £10,000 you could talk to God.

The American thanked the priest and went along his way.

Next stop was in Bradford. There at a very large cathedral, he saw the same golden telephone with the same sign under it.

He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone he saw in Leeds and he asked a nearby nun what its purpose was.

She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that for £10,000 he could talk to God.

'O.K., thank you,' said the American.

He then travelled to York , Rotheram,Sheffield, Dewsbury, and Pickering

In every church he saw the same golden telephone with the same '£10,000 per call' sign under it.

The American, upon leaving Yorkshire decided to travel up to Lancashire to see if Lancastrians had the same phone.

He arrived in Bolton, and again, in the first church he entered, there was the same golden telephone, but this time the sign under it read '50 pence per call.'

The American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign. 'Father, I've travelled all over Yorkshire and I've seen this same golden telephone in many churches. I'm told that it is a direct line to heaven, but in Yorkshire the price was £10,000 per call. Why is it so cheap here?'

The priest smiled and answered, 'You're in Lancashire now, son ... it's a local call.'

Mary Williamson, fellow Sidesperson at St Luke's Parish Church, Formby, sent the following to me. I want to share it with you.

The SON

This is great, take a moment to read it, it will make your day!

The ending will surprise you.

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas,

There was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'

There was silence.

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'

But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'

Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!'

But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting...' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

'We have $10, who will bid $20?'

'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.

They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'

A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'

'What about the paintings?'

'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.

The man who took the son gets everything!'

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the son?'

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

The Redgate congregation in 2010, clapping Ruth Woodward in appreciation of her ministry.

Darrrell Gardiner explains how the Holy Trinity Plant Church at Redgate became a Lay Reader Ministry

An idea is born

For the 10 years prior to 1991 members of Holy Trinity Church (HTC, Formby, visited the residents on the local Alt Road estate inviting them to come to worship at HTC for the festive services at Easter, Harvest and Christmas, assuring them of a warm welcome. Disappointingly, very few ever responded and by 1991 after so much endeavour it was only too clear that of the 1150 homes, only 40 had any kind of link with the HTC.

Why? Well, major roads surround this estate and, remotely situated as it is from HTC, their parish church, the geography of the neighbourhood tends to mitigate against outreach from HTC.

With the Decade of Evangelism (1990-2000) gathering momentum, it was time for new thinking, a new approach, and no idea seemed better than that of planting a new linked church conveniently for residents within a few minutes stroll from their homes.

Planning

Redgate County Primary School is centrally located in this Alt Road estate, directly opposite to the shopping parade. It was not just the obvious place to plant a church, it was the only place likely to be suitable. The Vicar of HTC, the Revd Chris Quine, appointed one of his Licensed Lay Readers, Darrell Gardiner, to explore possibilities and enquiries began. The school governors were pleased to offer the school hall with coffee bar facilities, a music room and a library, at £40 for a 2 ½ hour period.

A team of 25 was formed as an 'instant' congregation. It included musical talent, the ability to lead prayers and read the lessons, the option to convert the hall into a worship centre based on the understanding that the premises would be left as they were found. For good measure, HTC's Ministry team was prepared and ready to include this 'plant' church in its weekly rota for preaching and leading services.

HTC's PCC has always held Mission as its absolute priority with first call on its resources; and spontaneously and unanimously, it approved an outline plan for this 'plant' church and pledged £3000 for an experimental first year.

Now every door was open. All the skills required were offered. All the equipment essential for the services were pledged. HTC was drawn inescapably towards commitment to this venture which was placed before the (Liverpool) Diocese.

Too late for second thoughts

Suddenly, the School Governors disclosed that there was competition for the use of its premises and requested HTC to begin Sunday worship without delay. All thoughts of training the team beforehand disappeared as did the intent to visit an existing church plant elsewhere.

The Diocese gave its blessing. posters were displayed publicising the venture, a welcome card was delivered to each home on the estate, press notices were released; and on the 10th Ma 1992 the redoubtable 25 were commissioned at an early Holy Communion Service and on their way across the parish to introduce REDGATE's opening service.

Taking the plunge

Untrained yet not unready, the team began. As one member put it, rather on the premise that if, when we pop this baby into the bath, he turns puce, it will be too hot to put your elbow in! But there was hope and faith and most certainly love.

Soon there was astonishment and joy when 87 came. Canon Francis Briscoe represented the Diocese and the Revd Bill Stalker, Curate at HTC, preached light heartedly catching the mood of the day and well served by his artistic visual aids.

Five years on

Since that special day an adventure story has unfolded. 1992 proved to be a happy time of consolidation, with many new friendships formed so that, when the first anniversary arrived, the average weekly attendance was 40. By early 1994 there had been a big advance in attendances with congregations of 70 or 80 becoming usual; and, as 1997 began, there were 108 worshipping regularly in the school with an average attendance throughout 1996 standing at 70.

By now most of the original ministry team had withdrawn, having handed over their tasks to local residents. But the Reader who had been accountable to the Vicar from the beginning continued to lead this Redgate plant church during its formative 5 years.

Some features assisting the steady growth of this young church

The following features seem to have helped the growth of this young church:

A straightforward liturgy as published by the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS) in "Family Worship" (the blue booklet).

The togetherness of the congregation in the worship centre and afterwards as coffee is served.

Attractive music assisting meditation as worshippers arrived.

An opportunity for silence as a prelude to worship.

Each Service planned round themes as appointed in the Alternative Service Book.

Hymns as published in Mission Praise are very much welcomed. Each Service combines traditional and modern music with the singing delightfully led by a choir recruited from local worshippers.

Preachers from the HTC Ministry Team bring a depth of experience and an interesting variety of styles as they proclaim the Good News.

Young families are few amid the many residents who have retired and a well led Sunday school makes the very most of the opportunity it has to spend time with a precious group of young ones mostly of pre-school ages.

There is systematic once a year visiting of the neighbourhood to reach everyone with any link with HTC. The Reader conducts funerals and visits those in any kind of trouble, especially the sick and bereaved.

Holy Communion is celebrated monthly and there have been baptisms, a wedding has been blessed and, each May at anniversary time, there is a guest preacher and a buffet lunch to complete the morning. Bishops David Sheppard and Michael Henshall and Archdeacon Bob Metcalf are among Diocesan dignitaries who have visited the plant church on special days bringing warmest encouragement.

A daughter church?

In no sense is this plant church independent of and separate from HTC as the parish church. The relationship remains mother and daughter although with a perceptible move towards a big sister and little sister relationship. There is one electoral roll, one PCC on which the Redgate plant church is represented. Redgate worshippers join various parish fellowships and take part in parish social events and projects; and offerings from Redgate and its expenses all figure in the one parish account. (HTC's initial outlay was reimbursed at an early stage!)

God has provided

Additionally, generous gifts continue to provide for every need and, yet more wonderfully, craftsmen who worship at the plant church have made a lectern, crosses, candlestick holders,

a handsome reredos mounted on a wrought iron frame for Advent and linen fashioned for the altar. In the very first year a valuable electronic organ was presented - all signs it would seem of God confirming his presence though skilled hands and loving hearts.

Following in the footsteps of the early Christians

In the western world most Christians attend churches inherited from early generations which are often beautiful places, lavishly furnished, with all that worship could require. It is such a contrast to become a church planter, following hesitantly in the steps of those very first Christians as they met and worshipped where they could, often in one another's homes. As with them, we start again from the very beginning, putting a church together before God and seeing it grow week by week.

What a warm experience it is to be with a new company of believers, new sisters and brothers in the Lord Jesus. It all suits the Decade of Evangelism remarkably well!

Darrell Gardiner (The first Reader to begin this Reader-led plant church)

from left to right: Darrell Gardiner; Rev. Keith Jones; Rt. Rev. Richard Blackburn, Bishop of Warrington; John Paton; Jean Todd, Warden of Readers; Sylvia Bearsell.

The second Reader, who took over from Darrell in the summer of 1998, Ruth Woodward, has just "retired" and the following is a tribute to her from Darrell on behalf of not just himself, but all the worshippers at Redgate.

Twelve memorable years

It was the summer of 1998 when Ruth Woodward, a former Warden of Readers for the Diocese of Liverpool, became Reader in charge of Holy Trinity Church, Redgate, the Minister leading the young "Church in the School", reaching out to residents in 1150 homes in the name of Holy Trinity, the parish church and most of all, in the name of Jesus Christ.

She little dreamed then that it would be 2010 before her task reached completion. In all those intervening years Ruth has devoted herself to this ministry, sharing in the joys, supportively warm hearted when the problems and sorrows came along, proving herself a true friend.

To share worship with Ruth in a school hall was captivatingly precious - once experienced not to be missed.

Thankfully, she will be continuing in her ministry at Holy Trinity, leading worship occasionally at Redgate. And so, happily, it is only "au revoir" to Ruth just now, as the church wishes her successor, Reader John Paton, every blessing.

left to right, Margaret Paton; John Paton; Ruth Woodward; Richard Woodward.

The licensing of Reader John Paton

Ruth's retirement occasioned the licensing of a third Reader in charge at Redgate. John Paton was licensed for this purpose on Sunday 21st February at a special service with the Bishop of Warrington, the Rt Revd Richard Blackburn, officiating and led by the Vicar of Holy Trinity, the Revd Keith Jones.(Thanks are due to Sheila McGraw, for
alerting us to this special occasion.)

left to right: Margaret Paton; John Paton; Rt. Rev. Richard Blackburn, Bishop of Warrington.

John, a store manager by profession, takes over from Ruth who took her last service on the preceding Sunday 14th February. At the end of the service a presentation was made to her in appreciation of her ministry.


Ruth receiving flowers from Sheila Gardiner

Start of Reader ministry at Redgate

Preceding Ruth and John, Darrell Gardiner, a former marine insurance official by profession, and another Reader from HTC, was the first to start the reign of Reader Ministry at 'the church in the school'. He led the ministry from its inception in 1992 for the first five years.

Indeed, it was Darrell, with the Revd Mark Cartledge, then Curate at HTC, whose vision it was, in 1992, for HTC to launch a plant church to serve the residents of the Redgate neighbourhood.

Their vision was inspired by the then Vicar of HTC, the Revd Chris Quine; and it has proved to be a success story with the number of worshippers having grown to a regular attendance of between 60 and 70 at each Sunday Service. Furthermore, it has attracted people from wider afield than just Redgate neighbourhood residents.

It is a splendid example of local Christian lay leadership.

The Revd Roy Baker, Retired Anglican priest, living in Fomby let me have this sequence of photographs.

Impress your neighbours with Amazing Garage Door Covers!"
German firm called "Style Your Garage" - creates posters for garage doors that make it look as if it's actually showing the interior of your garage, and what's in it!

Prices range from $199 to $399 for the double-door! All but guaranteed to make passers by take a second look!

Could this idea be used by your local church?

The following picture was send on by the Revd Roy Baker, retired Anglican priest from Formby.

Yes - this actually happened when a traffic warden had this hearse clamped outside the church. It was being driven away when the mourners came out! The traffic warden knew it was waiting for the funeral but still booked it as it was on a single yellow line!

Theology vulnerable to cutbacks?

The editorial of a recent issue of the Church of England Newspaper had
the above heading. The editorial said that the recession, triggering
massive government borrowing to keep the show on the road without too
much economic damage and pain, will lead to cuts in public expenditure.

One sector of English national life that has already been named for cuts
by Lord Mandelson is higher education. He has announced cuts of 20 per
cent in spending on universities and they are almost bound to be targeted
at the Humanities rather than the natural sciences which are so linked to
technological advance, industry and the economy.

To a government desperate for quick savings now, such subjects as philosophy
and classics look like turkeys for Christmas: who would miss these 'arty'
subjects, what good do they do?

Religious studies departments, and the few in England that teach Christian
theology, will be feeling a chill wind soon. The one thing that might help
them is |Islam: the ongoing perplexity and fear engendered by the growth
of this religion and the desperation to try to understand it and what it aims
to achieve, may be a useful card to government cost cutters. But a surprising
number of (university) departments and posts to teach Islam are funded by
wealthy oil rich states and therefore not so vulnerable to UK cutbacks.

If the cultural preferences of government remain as they seem to be, theology
could be in real danger as a university subject. Theological colleges are heavily
dependent on (university) departments of theology and religious studies in
England, so a knock-on effect would happen were heavy cuts to be experienced
in theology departments.

It is a shame that the old Anglican teacher training colleges failed to amalgamate
into a Church University rather than drifting into the secular system. The
present dependence on university departments now looks worrying. Has the
Church of England got a long, or even medium term policy concerning
theological training and also for the future of theology itself as a vital
discipline needed by the Church?

This is an amazing collection of photos from my friend, the Revd Roy Baker

The complete set of images can be viewed as a Powerpoint slideshow by clicking the link below.

Tombe la neige- Adamo.pps