Archbishop Justin visits Anglicans in Barbados; Church of England ‘hijacked’ for pro-EU cathedral service; Methodist youth back Nicaragua street child campaign
Archbishop Justin visits Anglicans in Barbados
The Archbishop praised Anglicans in the West Indies for their ‘faithfulness to Christ in this place’
The Archbishop of Canterbury spent two days in Barbados learning how Anglicans there live out their faith.
During a trip which will also include visits to Guatemala and Mexico, he praised the Anglican church in the West Indies for its “imaginative” contributions to the “unity and well-being” of the Anglican Communion.
Archbishop Justin and his wife, Caroline, arrived at the invitation of the Most Revd Dr John Holder, Archbishop of the Church of the Province of the West Indies and Bishop of Barbados.
The trip is part of a series of visits to Anglican Primates which the Archbishop is making during his first eighteen months in post.
During his visit the Archbishop met the Governor General and Prime Minister, as well as clergy and people from across the diocese. He visited St James Church, close to the site of the first Anglican church built in Barbados in 1627, as well as the distinguished theological institution, Codrington College.
Caroline Welby, meanwhile, met with the Provincial leadership of the Mothers’ Union.
Arriving in Bridgetown Archbishop Justin said: “I am delighted to be in Barbados with its rich history and long-standing connections with the Church of England. It is a great joy to have the opportunity for this time of fellowship with Archbishop John Holder and with clergy and people of the Church of the Province of the West Indies.
He added: “We are proud of the church’s faithfulness to Christ in this place and of its witness to justice for all God’s children. I also thank God for the contribution made by Church of Province of the West Indies to the wider Anglican Communion, with its tradition of excellence in theological education and with its considered and imaginative contributions towards the unity and well-being of the Anglican Communion as a whole.”
Welcoming the Archbishop, Dr Holder said: “We are very, very pleased to have him with us at this time, their first visit of the Caribbean, and we’re sure they will come again.”
The Archbishop said the Province of the West Indies sets an example of being a “bridge” province with people around the communion.
During his visit the Archbishop met the Governor General and Prime Minister, as well as clergy and people from across the diocese. He visited St James Church, close to the site of the first Anglican church built in Barbados in 1627, as well as the distinguished theological institution, Codrington College.
Before leaving Barbados, Archbishop Justin celebrated and preached at a Eucharist at Christ Church Parish Church, together with Archbishop Holder and people from across the diocese.
Church of England ‘hijacked’ for pro-EU cathedral service
Daily Mail – The Church of England was at the centre of an extraordinary row last night over claims it is being used to stop Britain leaving the European Union.
Prayers for Britain to stay in the EU forming part of a Brussels-backed event to mark the 40th anniversary of the UK joining the Common Market are to be said in a service at Salisbury Cathedral.
The event next month is being held in Salisbury because it was the home of the late Sir Edward Heath, the Prime Minister who took the UK into what is now the EU in 1973. Leading pro-Europeans will attend.
The programme, obtained by The Mail on Sunday, advertises as part of the event: ‘Evensong in the cathedral, during which prayers will be said for the European Union and the UK’s place therein.’
Last night, leading Eurosceptic MP Peter Bone claimed the C of E was being ‘hijacked’ in an outrageous attempt to influence the EU debate.
He said: ‘It is disgraceful the Europhile lobby should be trying to embroil the Church in this debate.
‘I can’t remember the passage in the Bible where God or Jesus comes out in support of the EU. It cannot be right to pray for a European superstate mismanaging the lives of millions.’
Former diplomat Lord Hannay, who is hosting the event, denied there was anything ‘odd’ about such prayers. He insisted the evensong was not a special service for the EU commemoration and added: ‘I don’t think it will be “smite the Eurosceptics.” ’
But he insisted that the C of E was ‘supportive of Britain’s membership’, adding: ‘Whether or not we should be EU members is not for the Church but, once we’re members, they seem to take the view it’s a good thing.’
But embarrassingly for the organisers, Salisbury Tory MP John Glen has refused to attend.
‘I do not see the bloated bureaucracy of Europe as something to celebrate,’ he said.
A C of E spokesman said he could not comment on details of the service but insisted it was up to the preacher to decide what he or she said.
A Salisbury Cathedral spokesman confirmed a group from the EU commemoration event were due to attend a service of evensong.
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Methodist youth back Nicaragua street child campaign
Three young people have been chosen to represent Methodist Children and Youth from the Church in Britain on a trip to Nicaragua in November 2013.
During the visit, Roxanne Bainbridge, Andrew Topping and Miriam Garnett will meet the girls and boys’ teams from Nicaragua who will be travelling to Rio next year to take part in the Street Child World Cup.
They will also visit local projects through Methodist World Church partners, and share the stories they hear with young people back in Britain.
Miriam Garnett, aged 19, who attends Trinity Church Abingdon in West Berkshire, England, said: “The Street Child World Cup project is fantastic as it offers these children an alternative to their lives on the streets, and I am excited by the opportunity to contribute to it.
“My experience with working with young people has shown me what a difference it can make if someone invests their time in them and shows them that they can trust in themselves,” she added.
Street Child World Cup is a global movement for street children to receive the protection and opportunities that all children are entitled to. Ahead of each FIFA World Cup, the Street Child World Cup unites street children from across five continents to play football. The Methodist Church is supporting the event in partnership with the Amos Trust.
Andrew Topping, aged 18, is a member of Hucclecote Methodist Church in Gloucester. He said: “The issues that Nicaraguan street children face are disturbing; I have learned that one in every three is suffering from malnutrition. As a Christian I feel called to respond to this suffering in practical ways and also to challenge perceptions that we may have of street children.”
Methodist children and young people are encouraging local churches across the Connexion to help raise £30,000 by organising fundraising events of their own.
Roxanne Bainbridge, aged 17, said she would encourage her college to support the Street Child World Cup, run a session about the event at the Wales Synod and engage with social media to raise awareness about the issues.