The petition against VAT on C of E buildings passes 10K mark; A C of E congregation joins Rome – as 3,500 adults became members in England and Wales last week; Tributes to Archbishop Williams continue, but a former staff member at Lambeth goes public on the need to ‘dissolve the court of Lambeth Palace’… and bringing some reality in church news – a super flower festival is planned for London, and knitters work in Coventry Cathedral to raise funds for nurses!
Church petition against VAT on alterations surpasses 10000 signatures
Civil Society Media – A petition which aims to save the Church of England £20m per year by reinstating zero-rated VAT on alterations to listed buildings used as places of worship has raised more than 10000 signatures. The government e-petition, used to lobby government to …
http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/news/content/12089/church_petition_against_vat_on_alterations_surpasses_10000_signatures
Parishioners join vicar in protest conversion
The Telegraph – Almost half a congregation has followed a vicar converting to Catholicism, after claiming that the Church of England does not know what it “believes” in any more.
The Rev Donald Minchew left his Anglican church of nearly two decades to join a Catholic church just up the road in Croydon, south London.
The 63-year-old quit six weeks ago because he disagreed with decisions being made by the Church of England, including the ordination of female priests and bishops.
But after he resigned from St Michael’s and All Angels parish following 16 and-a-half-years, 70 of his flock decided to join him in an extraordinary leap of faith.
The vicar together with almost half of his previous congregation as well as three new members, were received into the full communion at St Mary’s Church earlier this month.
Former Anglican bishop Monsignor John Broadhurst received and confirmed the group, who will now form the Croydon Ordinariate.
”These people are very brave because they have answered the call of God and the indignation of Pope Benedict and done it at a great cost,” said the Rev Minchew
“I think the reason they came across during the Ordinariate is because they don’t quibble over things like the clergy, but I think there is a great comfort in the Catholic church, you know what you believe and what the church teaches.
“In the Church of England you don’t know what the church believes from one synod to the next. What we would have taken for granted for 30 years you can’t now, but in the Catholic church it’s not changing you know what you are getting into.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9198469/Parishioners-join-vicar-in-protest-conversion.html
Over 3,500 adults received into the Catholic Church in England and Wales
Catholic Herald – More than 3,500 adults were received into the Catholic Church in England and Wales last week. They included 1,397 catechumens, who had prepared to be baptised, and 1,843 candidates, who had already baptised in another Christian tradition.
The largest numbers were in the dioceses of Westminster (734), Southwark (481), Brentwood (333), Birmingham (255) and Portsmouth (206). The total of 3,695 also included those who had joined the ordinariate. Easter is the traditional time for reception of new members of the Church through the Rite of the Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), the liturgical and catechetical process for adults joining the Church.
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2012/04/11/over-3500-adults-received-into-church-in-holy-week/
Knitters at the ready to raise funds for charity
Coventry Cathedral is playing host to a band of knitters with their sights set on breaking the world record for knitting and to raise funds for Warwickshire’s Myton Nurse Appeal. Funds raised by the appeal will go towards recruiting more nurses.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/knitters.at.the.ready.to.raise.funds.for.charity/29653.htm
Festival of Flowers promises a sensory spectacular
Christian Today – The Leprosy Mission England and Wales is planning a stunning floral display to run in central London between the main Olympics and Paralympics
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/festival.of.flowers.promises.a.sensory.spectacular/29609.htm
Archbishop’s visit focus
This is Gloucestershire – Dr Rowan Williams is planning to drop in for a tour of the community in July before he steps down as archbishop later this year. Residents have hailed it as a “golden opportunity” to showcase some of the good work going …
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Archbishop-s-visit-focus/story-15780335-detail/story.html
Tributes to Archbishop continue
Global development agency Christian Aid has paid tribute to Dr Rowan Williams, who has announced that he is to step down as Archbishop of Canterbury later this year.
Christian Aid Director Loretta Minghella commented: “Archbishop Rowan has played an important role in debates around international development, ensuring that the voices of those in poverty are brought to the attention of policy makers both here and abroad.”
The World Council of Churches (WCC) expressed admiration for the archbishop’s ongoing leadership and his significant contribution to the ecumenical movement spanned over several years. The WCC General Secretary, Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, said of Archbishop Williams: “We are thankful for the leadership he has provided and will continue to provide to the church and the ecumenical movement in his role as Archbishop of Canterbury. His strong commitment to the unity of the church and the common work for justice and peace remains steadfast.”
Rowan Williams: a tough act to follow
The Tablet – I have noticed that while Catholics tend to call themselves Catholic, Protestants label themselves Christian. I’m not too concerned by ecumenical labels but Dr Williams made me genuinely proud to be an Anglican, and today’s news of his departure from office made me sad, as if we laity could hold onto him for as long as we wanted.
He has been a clear figurehead for the Church of England and the Anglican Communion who has successfully trodden a middle ground through the evangelical/liberal minefield. He has tried to keep alive a faith in the Church whose membership has been declining for years and kickstart brave initatiaves that help to buck that trend. And he has deepened relations with the Catholic Church – the look on Pope Benedict’s face when Dr Williams greeted him on his arrival at Lambeth Palace in 2010 was one of genuine delight.
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/blogs/265/17
Dissolving the Court of Lambeth Palace
New Statesman – George Pitcher writes – How Rowan took on the establishment – and lost. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, longed to take risks but was thwarted by Church courtiers and cronies more concerned with their own survival. When I started working at Lambeth Palace as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s principal spin doctor in October 2010, I got 15 minutes of his undivided attention and asked him what he thought and what he wanted. “I think, on balance, it’s rather good news,” he said in that precise, hissy voice. “I think we’re rather risk-averse at Lambeth Palace. I’d look to you to do something about that.” After ten unhappy months of trying to deliver on that brief, I grabbed 15 seconds with him before I walked out, just to be sure that he wanted me to go. He sighed: “I just think it’s going to get too dangerous, George.”
http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2012/03/archbishop-church-rowan