THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER. ESTABLISHED IN 1828 THE The Hobbit returns to CHURCHOF the cinema, ENGLAND p15 The teenage Newspaper soldiers policing Palestine, p11 NOW AVAILABLE ON NEWSSTAND FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20/27, 2013 No: 6208 Women fast tracked to Lords PLANS ARE being discussed to fast- peers who could in theory attend the effect soon. “the necessary limited reforms of this track the first woman appointed a House. “The coalition agreement appears to House are being frustrated in order to bishop to take a seat in the House of And in a Lords debate on the size of enshrine the doctrine that membership create the conditions for more radical Lords. the House, Bishop Stevens said: “Any of this House should reflect the propor- reform, surely we need to proceed to The dramatic move was revealed by reduction in numbers will need to have tions of votes cast at the 2010 election. action soon. the Bishop of Leicester in a debate about regard to the proportion of independent Unless there is change, and if this doc- “This House is not, and never has the number of peers sitting in the cham- Members as the pressure for political trine continues to obtain, we all know been, a Chamber embodying the doc- ber. appointees continues to mount. that the consequence will rapidly trine of proportional representation— The Rt Rev Tim Stevens said: “More “We will see nothing but serious dys- become unmanageable. our character, purpose and raison d’être immediately, we have begun to explore function if these principles are not given “If the suspicion is to be allayed that lie elsewhere.” the possibility of modification to the At present there are 26 places for Bish- Bishoprics Act, which governs the suc- ops in the House of Lords and Bishop cession of Lords spiritual after a vacancy, Stevens said the Church had indicated a in order to make it possible for women Guides ordered to drop ‘God’ willingness to work with the Govern- who may be ordained as bishops in the ment to cut that number in a “proportion- next few years to be fast-tracked to this GIRL GUIDES in a form of words but we ally reduced House”. Bench.” church-based troop have want the children to have Bishop Stevens, who was a member of But he warned that measures need to been threatened with the choice to say the old the cross-party group scrutinising be taken soon to cut the number of peers expulsion from the move- promise if they want to. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s ulti- in the House of Lords or there is a dan- ment for refusing to drop “This is the first sub- mately doomed Bill on Lords reform, ger of “serious dysfunction”. ‘God’ from their tradi- stantial change in the said: “I cannot remember a single wit- But Bishop Tim Stevens, who is con- tional promise. 103-year history of the ness to that committee, or a single mem- venor of the bishops in the Upper House, The 37th Newcastle Girl Guides. The change ber of it, arguing that the present size of warned that any reduction in size needed Guide Unit at Jesmond they propose wasn’t hon- this House is optimal. to maintain “true and impartial accounta- Parish Church received a estly investigated and we “What we do here is of vital impor- bility and to represent the breadth and letter last Friday warning couldn’t appeal the deci- tance to the nation.” diversity of civil society and intellectual them that they must sion.” life”. adopt the new promise in Rainbows, Brownies, Girl Guiding’s Chief At present there are more than 800 ‘to be true to myself and Guides and Rangers in Commissioner of the PRICE £1.35 / 1,70€ / $2.20 to develop my beliefs’ or the Unit. North East has told the be expelled. “The only thing we group their membership A happy and holy Glynnis Mackie, who want for the girls is for will end on 31 December Christmas to all has led the troop for them to have a choice,” unless they adopt the our readers, advertisers more than 25 years, said Mrs Mackie. “This new promise. described the new surprisingly aggressive “They are trying to and contributors! pledge as a ‘fridge mag- letter says that ‘we will force us out of Girl Guid- net promise that doesn’t not use’ the new promise ing with no process and Our next edition will be published mean anything’. There- and that simply isn’t true. with only three weeks’ on 3 January, 2014 are more than 100 girls We would use this new notice.” [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper THE 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday December 20/27, 2013 News CHURCHIN SOUTHWARK New church dedicated On Saturday 7 December the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Christopher Chessun, dedicated the new St Hugh’s church building in Bermondsey. The new church was full to overflowing ENGLAND as the Bishop led the congregation in thanksgiving and dedicated the building to the glory of God. It will serve as the place where people will gather for worship and as a base for mission and engagement with the local community. BIRMINGHAM YORK CHESTER LONDON PETERBOROUGH Carols reworked York loves St Lucy Carols in the pub Club is Ace Media opportunities Last week, staff and students of A Swedish tradition came to Anyone over 18 years old is On 12 December, Archbishop The media offers the Church the Queen’s Foundation for York Minster for the first time invited to attend a special Justin visited a CUF-supported huge opportunities and Ecumenical Theological last night (19 December), with church service... in a pub. project – Ace of Clubs, in challenges, says the Rev Education went to the crowded a service to mark the feast of Monday 23 December sees St Clapham, which provides meals Richard Coles, broadcaster and city centre and sang Christmas Saint Lucy – Sankta Lucia – Luke’s church in Huntington, to vulnerable people and beds vicar of Finedon, speaking to songs. New words were given forming part of the cathedral’s Chester, lead drinkers and for those sleeping rough – and curates recently about the to carols inviting people to give Advent programme. The diners in some traditional Carol recorded his Christmas media and social media. He told more and buy less, and poking atmospheric service saw York Singing, hosted by the Rake & address for the BBC, them the patron of fun at the big corporations and Minster being lit by candles, Pikel in Chester Road. From mentioning Church Urban broadcasters is St Gabriel and credit card companies. So, with a candlelit procession led 8.30-9.00pm, customers can join Fund along the way. This will the saint protecting television is “Angels from the realms of by a young girl wearing a in singing traditional carols. be broadcast on New Year’s St Clare of Assisi, but Richard glory” became “Bankers from crown of candles to represent This will be the third year that Day. This will be his first argues that John the Baptist the realms of money” . St Lucy, a young Sicilian girl ‘Beer and Carols’ has taken appearance. It can be watched should be the guiding figure for Passersby were given chocolate who died a martyr’s death in place. John Cheek of St Luke’s on BBC One at 12:40pm, or Christians in the media. “John coins and leaflets describing the early fourth century. said: “Drinkers can pop-in for a later on BBC Two, at 5:20pm on was a disturbing figure,” said what the singing was about. quick drink, and sing along. the same day. Richard. NORTHUMBERLAND Lindisfarne Salisbury reworked A new piece of music, inspired by The Lindisfarne Gospels and the island where they were created, has been written by renowned musician Alistair Anderson, commissioned by the Rev Paul Collins, vicar of St Mary’s Church, Holy Island, to create the work to honour the ancient manuscript going on display in Durham this year. Entitled A Lindisfarne Gospel, it weaves flowing melodies on fiddles, Northumbrian pipes, harp, concertina and cello into musical textures that reflect the complex intertwining designs of the Gospels. Tune in to The Church of England Newspaper Radio Show podcast every Thursday. Look for us on DUDLEY LONDON SALISBURY New Bishop named Fossil-free nativity Choristers wanted The Queen has approved the nomination of The steps of St Paul’s Cathedral, London Auditions for School Years 3 and 4 the Rev Canon Graham Barham Usher, saw a new twist on the Nativity on Saturday to join Salisbury Cathedral Choir BSc, MA, Rector and Lecturer of Hexham 14 December with the staging of a Fossil will be held on Saturday 18 January (Newcastle), to the Suffragan See of Free Nativity play. In celebration of the (boys) and Saturday 1 February Dudley (Worcester), in succession to the Rt Church of England’s willingness to (girls). David Halls, Director of Rev David Stuart Walker, MA, on his consider disinvesting from fossil fuel, a Music, said: “Becoming a cathedral translation to Manchester. group of Christians, activists and friends chorister is a great opportunity for a The new bishop is married to Rachel, who performed the “Fossil Free Nativity” in musically talented child and the is a GP, with two children of school age. front of St Paul’s Cathedral supported by auditions are always an exciting His interests include hill walking, drawing, angels from the SPEAK Network. This time time as we look to the future of the writing and the company of his friends.