St. Faith and St. Laurence Harborne

2020 USEFUL NUMBERS (See also back page)

Task Group Chairs Finance and General Purposes REVD. CANON PRISCILLA WHITE 427 2410 Worship and SALLY GRIFFITHS 429 9436 Education: RACHEL LUCKMAN 445 1965 Mission: PAULINE SITFORD Email: [email protected] 427 7005 Socials: DAVID GLANVILL 682 8360

Children and Young People : RUTH JEAVONS Giving REVD. CANON PRISCILLA WHITE 427 2410

The Parish Safeguarding Team Vicar: Rev’d Canon Priscilla White Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator and Children’s Co-ordinator: Sally Griffiths Vulnerable Adults Coordinator: Sue Glanvill Domestic Violence Coordinator: Alison Keepax Mobile: 07726524256 Members: George Reeves, Ruth Jeavons The safeguarding group have a watching brief over safeguarding in the church. The policy pack is available in the hall, as are posters with contact details of emergency numbers. If you have concerns about the safety of a child, young person or vulnerable adult, please speak to the relevant member of the safeguarding team or one of the other team members, or to the Vicar. Concerns may have then to be passed to the Bishop’s Safeguarding adviser in confidence. In an emergency contact Police or Social Services.

Activities Choir Practice: Thursdays 6pm. (see back cover for Organist and Choirmaster) Women’s Fellowship: HELEN HAYWARD 422 5724 Stay and Play: Thursdays 9.30am- 11am HILARY SHAYLOR 454 0451 Lesson Readers Secretaries: (10am) PETER STOKES 422 6843 (6.30pm) DIANA LEADBEATER 427 1930 Servers Secretary: Planned Giving: JACKIE TAYLOR 422 2930

Flower Rota: ANITA TIPPIN 454 7586 Transport DAVID GLANVILL 682 8360 Co-ordinator: (Please contact David if you need, or can offer lifts to church )

Uniformed Organisations Scout Association Ring 0345 300 1818 and ask for 293rd Scout Group GSL Leader: TOM McARDLE Beavers: Monday, 6pm MALCOLM ADEY Cub Scouts: Wednesday, 6pm MATT CAWSEY or RICHARD PAINTER Scouts: Tuesday, 7.15pm Leader: KEVIN PAYNE

Guides: Wednesday, 7.30pm Guider: AMANDA JONES 01384 636928

Brownies: Wednesday, 6pm-7.30pm Brown Owl: JANET JONES 429 8167

Rainbow Unit: Wednesday, 4.45pm-5.45pm Leader: JANET JONES 429 8167 Dear Friends, It continues to be a very odd time. At the time of writing churches are allowed to be open for private prayer and for funerals. Further announcements are expected imminently. At our zoom Bible Study on Philippians on the 11th June we reflected on the fact that Paul was imprisoned when he wrote the letter. The likelihood is that this period of imprisonment was not in the harsh confines of a Roman jail but more like house arrest where he would have a bit more freedom and could receive visitors who might bring him food and necessities and write letters without to much restraint. It struck us that this might be a little like lockdown and I set people the challenge of thinking about writing their own letter from lockdown. Perhaps you might like to do the same, reflecting on some of these questions. What has become most important to you during this time? How have you connected with God? How have you connected with other people? What has “church fellowship” meant for you? For Paul, reflection on life, and death and the meaning of fellowship permeates Philippians from top to toe. He is at his most intimate; he clearly cares deeply for the church in Philippi and they do not seem to have caused the issues and problems that some other churches have. (There is just the briefest of hints of any trouble in 4.2). Paul’s longing that they might live their lives in a way worthy of the gospel shines right through this letter. That they should follow the example of Jesus and live out their lives in such a way that others will see the love of God shining through them. The challenge for us, to be formed by these words and ideas, so that we too can follow the Philippians in love and generosity, in grace and in peace. If you haven’t yet, read the letter, use the leaflet to help you. Join if you can in the zoom study (ID 829 3184 5603 password study) or do it on your own. My prayer is that we may all grow in our different ways in the love and grace of God and that when we are back together our faith and practice will be strengthened.

Priscilla

1 Aspects of life at St Faith and St Laurence

Morning Prayer – is normally said Monday to Thursday and Saturday at 8.15 am in the Lady Chapel. We use Common Worship Daily Prayer, all are welcome to come and join in. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Task Groups – The church has a number of task groups enabling areas of church life. These are listed in the magazine with the contact details of the chairs. If you would like to be a part of a groups please contact the relevant chair or Priscilla. All are welcome to join.

Stay and Play meets on Thursday between 9.30 and 11am in the Hall to give a chance for people with young children to meet and the children to play. All are welcome. Cost £2 per family. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Sunday Club meets on the first, third and fourth Sundays of each month except during the holidays. We hold an extra Sunday Club on days when there is a baptism. All are welcome to join in hearing and experiencing a Bible Story and learning together about what it means for our daily lives. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Messy Church takes place on the first Saturday of each month, most months. A chance for children and parents/ carers to have an informal time of worship, and discovering about a Bible story through song, craft, listening, cooking and so much more. Dates are published in advance and all are welcome to come along. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Planned Giving helps people make giving regular. You decide how much you can afford to give. You can join the envelope scheme weekly or monthly or pay by Standing Order or annually by cheque. Income tax payers are asked to Gift Aid their giving, so the Church can reclaim the tax on their donations at no extra cost to the donors. For details, contact Jackie Taylor.

The Parish Giving Scheme is another way that you can give at no extra cost to yourself. It reduces paperwork and increases cash flow for us. Details are available from Geoff Bennett or Priscilla.

We support Recycling. We have a special collection on the first Sunday of every month when we collect ALUMINIUM cans and foil which can be sold and the money raised is donated to our Mission Partners in Chile (through USPG) Local supermarkets have battery recycling facilities in this area. WILL RESUME WHEN THE CHURCH IS OPEN.

2 Home Communion We have a team of lay people trained and able to bring Home Communion usually on a monthly basis. This is for those who are unable to come to church long term. If the situation is more temporary for example after an operation you can also receive communion, usually from Priscilla. In either case please contact Priscilla. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE Traidcraft Traidcraft sells a range of fairly traded food, cards, clothes and accessories. We use Traidcraft tea and coffee and everything we buy helps fight poverty and supports our church. You can order seasonal gifts through the church at Christmas time when catalogues will be available. Any questions, please ask Ruth Jeavons or Bronwen Jones.

'easyfundraising’ Next time you shop online, think of St Faith and St Laurence and raise free donations with 3,000+ retailers: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stfaithandstlaurence

Women’s Fellowship meets on the first Monday of the month from March to December. Meetings are held in the Committee Room at 7.30pm. We have talks on a variety of subjects. See Programme of the Month for details. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Prayer Ministry Team Prayer ministry is offered during the 10am Communion on Sundays. People can receive prayer for themselves or for any situation that is important to them. It takes place in the Lady Chapel during the distribution of communion. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Foodbank We collect food for the Quinton and Oldbury Foodbank. There is a box in church and food can be placed there at any time. The list of things that are needed is in church and in the hall. Food is distributed from St Boniface Church on Wednesdays and Paul and Barney's place on Fridays. Vouchers are required to receive food.

Choir and Music. Choir Practice takes place weekly, normally on Thursdays 6-7pm. Anyone interested in singing in the choir should contact Simon Palmer, Organist & Choirmaster. (Contact details on page cover) We also like to encourage instrumentalists to perform in church, either in services or in concerts. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Call in for Coffee time together over a cuppa on a Wednesday morning from 10.30 -12.00. if needed we can arrange for someone to collect you and then take you home. If you are passing, do call in, or bring a friend, all are welcome. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

3 We would like to invite you to join in with us Sundays Zoom Worship “doors open” at 9.45am for worship at 10am Zoom ID 845 9529 8412 Password Faith Wednesdays (Coffee) and Chat meets at 11am A chance to meet up and chat about anything and everything, bring your own coffee . Zoom ID 953 7644 6364 Password coffee Thursdays Study Group meets at 8pm Looking at the letter to the Philippians Zoom ID 829 3184 5603 Password study Saturdays Family gathering meets at 10am 1st Saturday of each month Bible story and craft and fun together. Zoom ID 827 8902 7469 Password family Sermonline (normal rate call) for the sermon for the Sunday 0121 270 6364 Please also see our website for video worship and much more Email [email protected] with prayer requests and questions.

Opening the Church As of June 22nd the church is open for private prayer on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10am to 12 noon. Please do let people know about this. Stewards are there to give guidance and enable social distancing and appropriate protection. Funeral Services Funeral services can now, in negotiation with Funeral Directors, take place in Church. There will be a limit of 20 people attending and no singing will be allowed although music can be played, whether live or recorded. PCC Meeting The PCC will meet via zoom again on July 7th. A link will be sent out to enable this with the papers nearer the time.

4

As the magazine goes to print, news that churches will be permitted to open for worship from 4th July. Planning is beginning and news of what we will do, along with any timescales, will be given as soon as the plans are sufficiently focussed. Social distancing and other restrictions will clearly be in place.

Parish Giving Scheme We have a number of people already signed up to this. As a method of giving it is simple for the giver, no different to setting up a standing order. It offers the option to increase giving each year, but this is an option and when offered you can decline with no problem. It is easy for the parish as it reduces paperwork as Gift Aid, where the donations qualify, does not need to be applied for but comes in automatically a few days after the donations. This helps our cash flow and reduces our administration. If you would like to know more Geoff Bennett can send you the relevant forms please contact him on [email protected] or 0121 427 8154

Readings for July 5th July Fourth Sunday after Trinity Zechariah 9.9-12 Romans 7.15-25a Matthew 11.16-19,25-30 12th July Fifth Sunday after Trinity Isaiah 55.10-13 Romans 8.1-11 Matthew 13.1-9,18-23 19th July Sixth Sunday after Trinity Isaiah 44.6-8 Romans 8.12-25 Matthew 13.24-30,36-43 26th July Seventh Sunday after Trinity 1 Kings 3.5-12 Romans 8.26-39 Matthew 13.31-33,44-52

5 A Prayer for Times of Isolation

‘For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come… will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Romans 8:38-39)

During the ongoing lockdown, many of us will be gripped by loneliness, isolation, and fears for our own health and the health and well-being of loved ones. At times like this, it is important to remember that God loves us all, and that while we may be isolated from one another, God is always near us, calling us to draw closer to him through prayer.

God of heaven and earth, in these times of isolation, apart from loved ones distant from friends away from neighbours thank you that there is nothing in all of creation, not even Coronavirus, that is able to separate us from your love.

And may your love that never fails continue to be shared through the kindness of strangers looking out for each other, for neighbours near and far all recognising our shared vulnerability, each of us grateful for every breath, and willing everyone to know the gift of a full and healthy life. Keep us all in your care. Amen.

(Prayer from the Christian Aid website)

George Reeves

6 How to Plant a Garden

Many of us are spending more time in our gardens during lockdown.

For the garden of your daily living...

Plant three rows of peas 1 Peace of mind 2 Peace of heart 3 Peace of soul

Plant four rows of squash 1 Squash gossip 2 Squash indifference 3 Squash grumbling 4 Squash selfishness

Plant four rows of lettuce 1 Lettuce be faithful 2 Lettuce be kind 3 Lettuce be patient 4 Lettuce really love one another

No garden without turnips 1 Turnip for meetings 2 Turnip for services 3 Turnip to help one another

To conclude our garden we must have thyme 1 Thyme for each other 2 Thyme for family 3 Thyme for friends

Water freely with patience and cultivate with love, there is much fruit in your garden, because you reap what you sow. And remember summer will soon be here, so start planning your garden of daily living - and be happy. (Anon)

7 Joseph Sturge (1793-1859)

Outside the entrance to the Marriott Hotel at Five Ways, Edgbaston stands this impressive statue of Joseph Sturge. How many of the thousands of people who pass by it each day, ever stop to read these words on the plague on the front of the statue. He laboured to bring freedom to the Negro slave, the vote to British workmen, and the promise of peace to a war-torn world.

Over recent weeks, statues of men with links to the slave trade have been in the news. This one is different, in that it is of someone who was active in the anti-slavery campaign. The memorial to this Quaker, abolitionist and activist Joseph Sturge was unveiled before a crowd of 12,000 people on 4 June 1862. Sturge is posed as if he were teaching, with his right hand resting on a Bible to indicate his strong Christian faith. He wears a lapel-less coat of a style favoured by contemporary Quakers. Lower on the plinth, he is flanked by two female allegorical figures: one representing Peace holds a dove and an olive branch, with a lamb at her feet, symbolic of innocence; and the other, Charity, offers comfort and succour to two Afro-Caribbean infants, recalling the fight and victory over slavery. In 2006-2007 the Birmingham Civic Society, Birmingham City Council, and the Sturge family restored the statue for the 200th anniversary of the Slave Trade Act of 1807. On 24 March 2007, the city held a civic ceremony to formally rededicate the statue. On the same day, a blue plaque was unveiled at the site of Joseph’s home in nearby Wheeleys Road, Edgbaston. Joseph Sturge was born in Elberton, Gloucestershire, the son of a farmer. Sturge began farming when he was 14. The family were Quakers and pacifists. In 1822, Joseph moved to Birmingham, where he was to remain for the rest of his life. He was active in the anti-slavery campaign, and together with his sister Sophia, co-founded the Birmingham Ladies Society for the Relief of Negro Slaves. Sturge's uncompromising efforts were not confined to the anti-slavery movement. In 1854, he was part of a deputation from the Society of Friends which visited the Tsar of Russia in an attempt to avert the Crimean War. He died in 1859, but two of his children, Joseph and Sophia, continued his reforming work.

(Thanks to Pat Jones for reminding us of this important part of our local history)

8 Funeral at the crematorium

May 26th Betty Fletcher

Answers to Puzzles in last month’s magazine

Numerical Progression 1 3375 This is 153 The numbers in the list are the cubes of odd numbers in numerical order starting from number 1. Numerical Progression 2 34 This sequence is numbers in the Fibonacci Sequence in descending order. The numbers of the Fibonacci Sequence are created by adding the value of a number in the sequence to the number before it in the sequence, as follows 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 0+1=1 1+1=2 1+2=3 2+3=5 Riddle The answer is a splinter.

How different churches copewith adversity When the Methodist minister falls down the stairs, he picks himself up and says, That was an experience, how do I learn from it?' When the Catholic priest falls down the stairs, he picks himself up and says, 'I must have done something really bad to deserve that.' When the Presbyterian minister falls down the stairs, he picks himself up and says, 'That was inevitable, I'm glad it's over.' When a vicar falls down the stairs, he (or she) picks themselves up and says, "Will I need a faculty to get the staircase repaired?"

9 Black Lives Matter

The has said that the must continue to repent and take action to address its own failings on racism. The call comes after weeks of Black Lives Matter protests around the world following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month. Archbishop Justin Welby said the extent of racism in the world today was "horrifying" and that he wanted to acknowledge that he himself came "from a place of privilege and power as a white person in this country". Speaking in a Facebook video, he said that the Church of England was called to "acknowledge our own historic errors and failings" and set its "house in order". "I'm struck by the events of the last few days, again and again and again," the Archbishop said. "And I've been listening to those who have been talking about it from within their own experience of injustice as people of colour in this country. "It's horrifying and yet I'm aware too that the Church has its own failings. And I come back to the fact that in the New Testament Jesus says be angry about injustice, repent of injustice - that means go the other way, take action against injustice. "How that action is taken will vary from time to time and place to place. It must never involve the creation of more injustice, by seeking to damage other people." He added: "But I feel within me, again today, that great call of Jesus that we are as a Church to be those who set our own house in order and who acknowledge our own historic errors and failings. "As a person I acknowledge that I come from privilege and a place of power as a white person in this country, and then we take action." His comments follow an apology for historic racism in the Church of England, particularly towards the Windrush generation, at the February meeting of its parliamentary body, General Synod. At that meeting, Synod passed a motion that offers a "lament, on behalf of Christ's Church, and apologises for, the conscious and unconscious racism experienced by countless black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) Anglicans in 1948 and subsequent years, when seeking to find a spiritual home in their local Church of England parish churches, the memory of which is still painful to committed Anglicans who, in spite of this racism from clergy and others, have remained faithful to the Church of England and their Anglican heritage".

10 Lockdown Quiz

While we are still in lockdown, you might like to try and answer this quiz. Try if you can to answer the questions without the help of Google (or any other search engine.) The answers will be published in our next Parish Magazine.

1. What is the world's smallest country? 2. What are the first three books of The Old Testament? 3. How many sides does a dodecahedron have? 4. What were the names of Henry Vlll's six wives? 5. Banksy is most associated with which city? 6. What nationality was Charlie Chaplin? 7. What are the names of the five oceans? 8. What are Africa's Big Five animals? 9. Which chess piece can't move in a straight line? 10. Which planet is closest to the Sun? 11. In which year was the Magna Carta signed? 12. Which decade saw Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe rise to fame? 13. What is the capital of Australia? 14. Who was the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France? 15. Who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? 16. Which major cloud classification often blankets the sky close to the Earth? 17. Which American actress played Mrs Thatcher in the film The Iron Lady? 18. About which issue does Malala Yousafzai famously campaign? 19. What was the name of the nuclear disaster which occurred in Ukraine in April 1986? 20. How many times do a clock's hands overlap in a day? 21. Which are the two main ingredients in Cog Au Vin? 22. What are the names of Marge and Homer Simpson's three children? 23. Who wrote ‘The Cat In The Hat’? 24. Who scored a hat-trick in the 1966 football World Cup Final? 25. Which volcano erupted to destroy the Roman city of Pompeii?

11 Answers to last month’s Quiz 1)Five: John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Theresa May. 2) Euston 3) Kentucky Fried Chicken 4) The Duchy of Cornwall 5) The Giant's Causeway; 6) Lewis Carroll in ‘Alice's Adventures in Wonderland’ 7) 1992; 8) Slough 9) The Queen 10) Victoria Wood 11) There are two in London: Tate Britain and the new Tate Modern; one in Liverpool; and one in St Ives, Cornwall 12) Daniel Craig, the 6th James Bond 13) Six ravens; 14) Cornish pasties must be crimped on the side not the top. 15) Aberdeen 16) 1994 17) John Lennon 18) 101 19) Isle of Man 20) 8 21) Bath 22) Channel Isles 23) Spencer Perceval in 1812 24) Chartwell in Kent 25) Eden, Macmillan, Douglas-Home, Cameron and Johnson 26) Margaret Thatcher 27) Frogmore Estate, Windsor Castle 28) BAFTAs 29) Scottish Islands 30) 1981 St Paul’s 31) The Peak District 1951 32) Man on the street 33) Sir Winston Churchill 34) Rugby Union 35) The Cairngorms in Scotland 36) Kernow 37) The Duke of Rothsay 38) The English Oak 39) Nine: Cavan, Monaghan,Donegal, Antrim, Down, Armagh, Derry, Fermanagh and Tyrone. 40) Owain Glyndwr 41) Helen Glover 42) Northumberland 43) Sir Paul McCartney -Hey Jude 44) RAF Greenham Common; 45) David Lloyd George; , 46) The Peterloo Massacre; 47) It sits at Parliament Buildings at Stormont in Belfast; 48) Wells; 49) Highgrove House 50) Kent Road The picture was of Dr. E.W.Barnes, who consecrated our church on November 20th, 1937.

12 A sincere thank you to everyone who has sent me beautiful cards, messages, letters, telephone calls and your prayers, after the very sudden and unexpected death of David. My family have been, and are so supportive to me, and I cannot imagine how I would have coped without them at this very difficult and cruel time ! David and I were so looking forward to our Diamond Wedding Anniversary in August. I cannot thank you all personally, but I hope it will not be too long before I see you in Church once again. Keep safe and my love to you all.

Thelma Kettle

Physical distancing It's ok that you didn't clean the house today, It's ok that you didn't run six miles, It's ok that you don't know how to make soufflé, Or that you're not always full of smiles, Don't worry that you haven't learnt to crochet, Don't worry if you feel a little blue, It's ok to relax sometimes, Just do the things that make you, you. Take this time to re-evaluate, The things you really need, Enjoy the sun that's right outside, Read that book you want to read, Chat to a neighbour that you've never met, Re-read your favourite bible verse, Make sure that you're eating well, And just remember, it could be worse. Remember you are loved, Remember to be safe, Phone a friend, say a prayer, Remember to have faith.

Leah Plant

13 Dr. John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu

John Sentamu has retired as the 97th , Metropolitan of York, and Primate of England. He laid down his pastoral staff on the altar of York Minster (which I write about on the following pages) on June 7th, Trinity Sunday. During his time as Bishop of Birmingham, in February 2005 he along with John Austin, Bishop of Aston took part in a 280 mile pilgrimage to celebrate the centenary of our diocese. I can well remember a group of us meeting up with Bishop Sentamu at the parish border with Christ Church the Quinton. As we walked up Ridgacre Road, the Bishop stopped to have a conversation with a man who was working in his front garden. The Bishop’s Chaplain tried in vain to end the conversation as they were on a very tight schedule. Eventually, they came into our church where the Bishop spoke to us about the pilgrimage. Over refreshments, he was interested to hear about our church history and its unique dedication. We met up with him the following morning to walk to St. Peter’s where he led Morning Prayer. A few months later, Bishop Sentamu was appointed as the Archbishop of York. I was able to attend his enthronement in York Minster on November 30th, St Andrew’s Day. I can remember it being a very cold morning. The service was televised on BBC 2 starting at 11am. A few minutes before, the West Door of the Minster was opened to allow the procession of clergy and dignitaries to enter. Children from the Minster School formed a guard of honour on the steps leading up to West Door. Once again, the Bishop’s Chaplain had to hurry along the bishop as he stopped to talk to the children who had been waiting in the cold. Sadly, we learned a few weeks ago that unfortunately the Minister School will have to close at the end of the Summer Team. This is because of the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The school, which educates the Minster choristers has origins dating back to 627AD. Peter Stokes

14 York Minster- The cathedral with a detachable tower On July 9th, Stephen Cottrell will be confirmed as the 98th Archbishop of York. His enthronement service will be later in the year at York Minster. I am in awe of York. It is the seat of England's second archbishop and, as such, the second church in the kingdom. It revels in superlatives, the largest gothic church by volume, the biggest chapter house, the finest windows, the most medieval glass. To me, its outstanding feature is its setting, towering over a city which is still defined by its medieval walls. The view of the Minster from any point along York's city walls shows it rising in almost surreal majesty. Shimmering white in daylight, ablaze with the sun at dusk or coated in winter mist, it offers one of the most glorious urban views in England. York Minster and its city are one. Bede records Christians in Roman York in ad 180, but firmer history began in 625, when the pagan king, Edwin of Northumbria (616—33), returned from wars in the south with a new Christian bride, Ethelburga, sister of Ealdwald of Kent. A condition of the match was that Edwin become a Christian and his wife be accompanied by her chaplain, Paulinus. This chaplain duly founded a new church at York, but under the Roman rite, not that of Northumbria's local missionaries from lona. Later, at the Synod of Whitby in 664, Rome triumphed over the lonans and the seat of the Roman church in the north was henceforth Paulinus's York, a minster never a monastery. Though a cathedral, it is always referred to as 'the minster'. The present cathedral, is the fourth church on the site. The first was hurriedly built from wood in 627 to baptize Edwin, King of Northumbria in preparation for his forthcoming marriage to the Christian Princess Ethelburga of Kent. A stone building soon followed but this was destroyed by a fire in 741 and its successor suffered the attentions of both the troublesome Vikings and an angry king, as William the Conqueror ransacked the north of England in an eventually successful attempt to subdue his discontented Saxon subjects. This was ungrateful of William since Ealdred, the Saxon Archbishop of York, as he had travelled to London in 1066 to crown William at his coronation in Westminster Abbey. Construction of the cathedral we now know, began in William's reign and continued for four centuries, the consecration taking place in 1472. The nave has a roof of wood that is painted to resemble stone, which has suffered its fair share of disasters over the centuries. In 1407 the central tower collapsed, taking with it the wooden spire that surmounted it. The tower was rebuilt, but in 1967 it was found to be gradually detaching itself from the rest of the building. (Continued on next page)

15 Medieval buildings were often constructed with very poor foundations - or often no foundations at all. This did not matter too much if they were of a uniform shape, since if the building settled, with luck the whole structure would move together. However since a tower is necessarily much heavier than the surrounding structure, it is likely to settle at a faster rate, and in the process becoming detached from the rest of the building. Two million pounds was raised to stabilize the tower and strengthen the foundations, the work being completed in 1972. Twelve years later in 1984 the cathedral suffered a lightning strike, an event which caused a fire that destroyed part of the roof- this was what insurance companies once called an Act of God. Those of a superstitious disposition observed that three days earlier a new , David Jenkins, who was noted for his controversial theological opinions, had been consecrated in the cathedral. The roof was replaced, and partly decorated with designs by the winners of a Blue Peter competition. The winning designs depicted Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the Moon, and the 1982 raising of the Mary Rose, Henry VIII’s warship. Lightning was not the only cause of fire that was to damage York Minster. In 1829 Jonathan Martin, a native of Hexham in Northumberland, launched an arson attack on the cathedral. After a troubled upbringing - he saw his sister murdered by a neighbour and was press-ganged into the Royal Navy, serving under Admiral Nelson at the battle of Copenhagen. Martin became a Wesleyan preacher with a marked hostility towards the Church of England. After threatening to shoot the , he was sent to a lunatic asylum, subsequently escaping and offering his services to the Wesleyans who wisely declined his offer. During evensong in the Minster in February i829, he was disturbed by the sound of the organ, and later set fire to the building. After being tried at York at a time when arson was punishable by a death sentence the judge declared him insane. Martin was sent to the Bethlem asylum where he died nine years later. York Minster is one of the few English churches whose painted glass, consisting of some two million separate pieces in 128 windows, survived the attention of both the Tudors and the Cromwellian Puritans almost intact. The Five Sisters Window in the north transept would be regarded as extraordinary in almost any other building. Yet the Great East Window surpasses it, as the largest expanse of medieval painted glass in the world. Meanwhile the West Window is known as the Heart of Yorkshire. This astonishing glass may owe its survival to a Rose Window in the south transept. Dating from around 1500, this window commemorates the marriage of Henry VII, a descendant of the House of Lancaster, to Elizabeth of York thus ending the Wars of the Roses.

16 The window comprises panels of the Tudor Rose, unknown to botany but common in heraldry of the period, which consists of a red rose for Lancaster with a white rose for York superimposed at its centre. Henry VIII, the son of Henry VII and Elizabeth, possibly spared the cathedral the destruction given out to others because it contained this beautiful memorial to his own parents. The glass had another narrow escape in 1644 when York fell into the hands of Parliamentary forces after the Battle of Marston Moor outside the city, the decisive blow being made by a cavalry charge led by Oliver Cromwell. The city was surrendered to the Parliamentary commander, Thomas Fairfax, on condition that the cathedral remained undamaged. Fairfax proved more trustworthy than Henry VIII - the glass was spared. When the south transept roof was destroyed by fire in 1984, it caused the stained glass in the 700-year-old rose window to crack into more than forty thousand pieces. Amazingly, the glass itself stayed intacked. Under the direction of master craftsman Peter Gibson of York Glaziers Trust - a modest man, who refused to sign his own work - it was removed, panel by panel, by people precariously perched at the top of scaffolding. The multiple thousands of glass fragments were glued back together, sandwiched between clear glass sheets, re- leaded and remounted. Looked at from floor level nowadays, you can't see a sign of anything amiss. The Minster is particularly well served by its bells. The north-west tower holds Great Peter, which weighs almost 11 tons, as well as six bells for its clock that chime every 15 minutes, Great Peter striking the hours. The south-west tower accommodates 14 bells for change ringing and the cathedral also has a carillion, a set of 35 bells that can be played from a keyboard and used for anything from hymn tunes to popular music. It is the only UK cathedral to put mistletoe on the high altar. This ancient use of mistletoe is connected to Britain’s druid past, which was particularly strong in the north of England. The mistletoe, which grows on lime, poplar, apple and hawthorn trees, was held in high regard by the Druids, who believed it warded off evil spirits and represented friendship. York Minster is one of only seven cathedrals in the world to maintain its own police force. They are the British equivalent of the Vatican City's Swiss guard, and consist of eight Constables. They were established in the 13th century at the time of King Edward I, and have played a crucial role in protecting the cathedral, not least in 1984 when lightning struck the roof of the south transept, starting a fire which would have totally destroyed the building, had they not been able to raise the alarm immediately. Peter Stokes

17 Bishop's Comment: Extraordinary Time

Singing together in worship is another restricted activity during the early recovery stages of Covid-19. We were inspired by the online harmony of The UK Blessing coordinated in Birmingham by Tim Hughes. I find myself, in my lock- down prayers, returning to familiar hymn tunes and spiritual songs with their faith-building words, though mercifully only God can hear the sound. We wait with increasing anticipation and some frustration for the Government to make decisions about gradually reopening public worship. Let us use the time of waiting to listen attentively to what “the Spirit says to the Churches” (Revelation 2:7). During the Crisis so far, Christians have made the annual journey with Lord Jesus though seasons of fasting, prayer, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and spirit-outpouring. Now we come to a period of what the prayer books call Ordinary Time. Can we trust God in 2020 England to make the next twenty weeks Extraordinary, as he reveals the Church he wants us to be in the months and years ahead? John V Taylor in ‘The Go-Between God’ reminds us of two of the outcomes of the promised Holy Spirit: worship of the God who does ‘mighty acts‘ and an admission that humans cannot make or be Church in their own strength. While we struggle on in the battle against the virus with all its disrupting and stressful consequences for daily life, we have already seen the work of the Holy Spirit in renewing faith in Lord Jesus and his purposes. New ways of worship, learning, prayer and practical care have emerged. The good news of God Father Son and Holy Spirit has spread with the help of the digital revolution, just as it did in centuries past with printing and translation. We will gather again in large buildings, not least remember those who have died from COVID-19. We will sing praises to the Lord together again in glorious assembly. But is the Spirit also showing us the profound gift of meeting in small groups in our homes and other rooms, for worship, learning, prayer, practical care and attracting ‘day by day those who are being saved’. (Acts 2:47). I will write again about this. Do let me know if the Spirit is saying to you ‘meet in small groups’. Meanwhile I can’t get these words and tune out of my head ‘Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed thy hand has provided, Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me’ (Christopher Rice, T Chisholm, W Runyon).

18 Prophets needed I invite you to do a bit of timetravel I am writing this on May 9th in the midst of the Lockdown. Yesterday's activities to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe made a pleasant change from the constant, rather negative news that assaults us day by day; tomorrow we have the announcement from the Prime Minister which will point us to some gradual way forward. However, as you read this, time has slipped by and it is now July. From my desk back in May, I can only guess at what life might be like in seven weeks' time! Looking into the future. I am sure that at some stage or another, most of us have thought that we would like to know what the future holds - even if it is just to know the weather on the day of the church Summer Fete. My grandmother used to love to have her fortune told when the fair came to town each year; some people take the newspaper and magazine horoscopes quite seriously and even today there is a demand for fortune telling in one form or another - some light hearted (the sea front booth) but other manifestations are much more serious. But do we really want to know what is in store for us and our families? If we pause to think about it seriously and ponder all the consequences, then I think the answer is an emphatic "No”. A verb we regularly associate with all this is 'prophesy', which my Oxford Dictionary defines as 'to say what will happen in the future.' But used in the context of our faith and the language of the Bible, prophesy and its cognates (prophet, prophecy and so on) have a slightly different meaning. It is not so much about foretelling the future but telling forth the will of Cod. The prophets of the Old Testament looked at the political and social issues of their day and told forth Cod's purpose and character in those situations. To paraphrase, the prophets said 'If you carry on doing what you are doing then this is what will happen.' They acted as the moral conscience of the community. There are prophetic voices in every generation. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, along with others, spoke out about the injustice of apartheid and told forth God's rejection of it. In a different way, David Attenborough can be quite legitimately thought of as a prophetic voice in his concern for the environment. Again, to paraphrase, he is saying 'If you carry on abusing the oceans, this is what will happen.' The current pandemic that has engulfed the world is not the first, and it will not be the last. I was horrified to be reminded that the so-called Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-1919 killed between 20 and 50 million people. Perhaps one of the positive outcomes of this lockdown could be some prophetic voices looking to the future; having the time and courage to articulate what sort of society we want when the world emerges from all this. Geoffrey Lowson

19 William Wilberforce

On June 8th, our news was dominated by the reports of the removal the previous day of the statue of the slave trader, Edward Colston in Bristol. At the end of this month, we remember William Wilberforce. He was a deeply religious English member of parliament and social reformer who was very influential in the abolition of the slave trade and eventually slavery itself in the British empire. He was born on 24 August 1759 in Hull, the son of a wealthy merchant. He studied at Cambridge University where he began a lasting friendship with the future prime minister, William Pitt the Younger. In 1780, Wilberforce became member of parliament for Hull, later representing Yorkshire. His dissolute lifestyle changed completely when he became an evangelical Christian, and in 1790 joined a leading group known as the Clapham Sect. His Christian faith prompted him to become interested in social reform, particularly the improvement of factory conditions in Britain. The abolitionist Thomas Clarkson had an enormous influence on Wilberforce. He and others were campaigning for an end to the trade in which British ships were carrying black slaves from Africa, in terrible conditions, to the West Indies as goods to be bought and sold. Wilberforce was persuaded to lobby for the abolition of the slave trade, and for 18 years he regularly introduced anti- slavery motions in parliament. The campaign was supported by many members of the Clapham Sect and other abolitionists who raised public awareness of their cause with pamphlets, books, rallies and petitions. In 1807, the slave trade was finally abolished, but this did not free those who were already slaves. It was not until 1833 that an act was passed giving freedom to all slaves in the British empire. Wilberforce's other efforts to 'renew society' included the organisation of the Society for the Suppression of Vice in 1802. He worked with the reformer, Hannah More, in the Association for the Better Observance of Sunday. Its goal was to provide all children with regular education in reading, personal hygiene and religion. He was closely involved with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He was also instrumental in encouraging Christian missionaries to go to India. Wilberforce retired from politics in 1825 and died on 29 July 1833, shortly after the act to free slaves in the British empire passed through the House of Commons. He was buried near his friend William Pitt in Westminster Abbey.

20 THE DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT PARISH MAGAZINE IS SUNDAY JULY 19th

Finally, a new Up To Date Bible is being drawn up, as some favourite Bible stories do not meet contemporary Health and Safety Standards. For example, Moses leading the children of Israel through the Red Sea is highly inappropriate in view of current regulations, which require a government-regulated adult-to-child ratio for organised outings. Nor would he have had time to complete the feedback questionnaire, the risk-assessment forms nor obtained the parental permission slips. In the feeding of the 5,000, did Jesus have a permit to hold such a large gathering? It also appears that bread and fish were being passed round without being individually wrapped. In changing the water into wine, there is no mention of the requisite anti-bacterial preservative sulphur dioxide being added, nor any report of the water jars being sterilised. In walking on water, Jesus also showed no regard for the fact that children might copy his example.

21 THE PARISH CHURCH OF SAINT FAITH AND SAINT LAURENCE HARBORNE B17 8RD At the junction of Balden and Croftdown Road

SERVICES

SUNDAY 8am HOLY COMMUNION 10am FAMILY COMMUNION 2nd SUNDAY– MORNING PRAISE 6.30pm EVENSONG and SERMON (2nd SUNDAY-SUNG EUCHARIST) WEDNESDAY- 11am HOLY COMMUNION

SUNDAY CLUB and Crèche run alongside Family Communion on 1st, 3rd and 4th Sundays

MINISTRY TEAM

Vicar: The REVD. CANON PRISCILLA WHITE M.A. 427 2410 115 Balden Road, B32 2EL Mobile: 07896 935798 E-mail: [email protected]

Licensed Readers: SALLY GRIFFITHS Ed.D., M.Ed. 429 9436 E-mail: [email protected] RACHEL LUCKMAN Dip. BA Mphil PhD 445 1965 Mobile: 07500 680 838 Email:[email protected] OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH:

Churchwardens: MALCOLM ADEY 421 1099 CORINNE TREACY Mobile: 07752640151 E-mail:[email protected] P.C.C. Secretary: GILL HUBBLE 426 4152 P.C.C. Treasurer: Electoral Roll: JUDITH BENNETT 427 8154 Organist and SIMON PALMER B.Mus.,L.T.C.L.,A.B.S.M. 440 6519 Choirmaster: Assistant Organist: MARK LAWRENCE 475 3951 Bell Ringers: JACKIE TAYLOR 422 2930 Sunday Club Co-ordinators: Church Hall Bookings: Please contact 07896 935798 BOOKINGS NOT CURRENTLY BEING TAKEN Church Hall: Church Hall may be contacted in an emergency on: 428 2406

PARISH MAGAZINE Editor: Revd. Canon Priscilla White Advertising Manager: Corinne Treacy Mobile: 07752640151 Email: [email protected] Produced by Peter Stokes Tele: 0121 422 6843 E-mail: [email protected]

PARISH WEBSITE:- www.saintfaithandsaintlaurence.co.uk