Diocesan News January 2019 www.leeds.anglican.org Bishop Jonathan calls for national ‘Guinea Pigs’ rural strategy to save schools trial clergy Bishop Jonathan, Chairman management of the Diocesan Board of Education, said there must be training a co-ordinated Yorkshire vision A pioneering training project to protect rural communities, developed in the Ripon with pressure on Westminster Episcopal Area to develop to draw up a blueprint for management and leadership the future. “We need our skills has seen its first cohort politicians, both locally and of clergy complete a 14 nationally, to be pressing month course. The group of National decision makers must central Government for a twelve clergy ‘guinea pigs’, adopt a co-ordinated approach more co-ordinated approach,” as they were called, formed to protecting rural communities said Bishop Jonathan. “These a new Clergy Leadership and listen to the needs of schools are central pillars of Network (CLN) with the aim of rural schools, says Bishop rural communities...our rural fostering mutual support and Jonathan Gibbs, the Bishop of communities need joined-up development. Huddersfield, in an article for thinking in order to be able to the Yorkshire Post. thrive, not just survive.” “We need to be shouting loud Last month, the diocese and proud about our rural hosted the Rural and Small communities, and making School’s Conference 2018. sure that people in London Held at Allerton Castle, near are hearing that in the midst Knaresborough, it brought The CLN programme was of all the noise,” he says. heads and governors together developed and led by The newspaper says urgent from rural schools across the Bishop Bev Mason while meetings are to be held due region. It was followed by a she was Archdeacon of to warnings over the clash of symposium at Lambeth Palace Richmond and Craven. Topics financial pressures versus the on protecting the future of included finance, working preservation of countryside education in rural communities. with volunteers, change communities. Since last year, management and leadership nine small schools have been skills. threatened with closure in North Yorkshire and the Church After positive feedback, it is of England has called for a rural now hoped that lessons from education strategy to address the CLN can be rolled out in challenges nationwide. future training. I A year to Wakefield remember? celebrates Bishop Nick Baines with pork pie WAKEFIELD A special pork Happy New Year! pie has been created as part of celebrations to mark If 2019 is half as lively as 2018, Wakefield’s 130th anniversary we are in for an ‘interesting’ of city status. time. in which we find ourselves. Commissioned by Wakefield Of course, the big event this And this must mean that we Business Improvement District year will be the exit of the pay particular attention before (BID) and created by champion United Kingdom from the and after Brexit Day to those pork pie-makers, Hofmann’s of European Union on 29 March. who suffer the consequences Wakefield, the new pork pie is At the time of writing we still of any fall-out to the political based on the family’s award- don’t know if or how this and economic circumstances winning secret recipe with will happen, but we do know that pertain at that point. the added twist of a rhubarb that whatever and however it Our vocation to care for poor, topping. happens it is not going to be a homeless, dispossessed and comfortable ride. So, what are marginalised people in our we to offer as Christians and parishes will not go away. Anglicans at such a time as this? So, my wish for a happy new Well, some people will be year is accompanied by a plea celebrating and others will for this year to see us fulfilling be miserable. The fact is that our Christian vocation to be our country - and probably, disciples of Jesus, servants of Wakefield was given city status therefore, our diocese - is split one another, lovers of God’s – thanks to Wakefield Cathedral fairly down the middle on the world, and livers of God’s grace. – in 1888 and eight years later, matter of EU membership. This the family’s first butchers means that whatever happens At Christmas, we were started on Westgate. Pictured on 29 March the divisions will surprised again at God coming are the Dean of Wakefield, Very not simply go away. among us as one of us - the Revd Simon Cowling, Wakefield ultimate in commitment. At Bid manager Elizabeth Murphy, Christians are called to be Epiphany we meet the Magi and champion pie makers, Nigel realists - not to pretend all is who look for a king, find a baby, Hofmann and his daughter well when it is isn’t. Christians then, politically threatened, Emily. are also called to be engaged “go back a different way”. I pray in the mucky reality of the that 2019 will see us walking a Dean Simon said, “Wakefield world and strive for truth and renewed path in the light of our Cathedral is proud to be playing justice. However, these are encounter with Jesus. its part in Wakefield BID’s drive not always crystal clear. So, the to put Wakefield on the map. Christian calling to a ministry +Nick After all, it’s because we were of reconciliation remains vital Bishop of Leeds given cathedral status 130 years whatever the circumstances ago that Wakefield became a city. We look forward to joining the celebrations.” II Christian and Muslim women Village churches hold sleep-out for charity tackle loneliness BRADFORD A group of seven “It was close to Remembrance RIPON A new project has been Christian and Muslim women in Day, when we remember launched to tackle loneliness Riddlesden near Keighley have and pray for all victims of for people of all ages in Dales held an overnight sleep-out in conflict, many of whom are villages. The Markington the car park Wellbeing Service has been of St. Mary’s set up by the Benefice of Riddlesden, Bishop Thornton, Burnt Yates, raising money Markington, Ripley and South for the charity Stainley, working with the War Child Ripon and Rural Wellbeing which tries to Service. Volunteers have been support and recruited to visit those who are rescue children lonely, while more drivers are in conflict areas still needed. Penny Manock, around the one of the organisers, said: world. “We’d like to identify those who children, and also the first day would benefit from this service. Despite the bitter cold, and of Interfaith Week, a week to We can offer lifts to the doctors getting very little sleep, show that people of different or the shops, or even to visit organiser, the Revd Jenny faiths can come together in a relative or friend. This could Ramsden, Assistant Curate of friendship and concern for make the world of difference Morton and Riddlesden, said it others.” to someone who might not see was an important statement. anyone else for days.” Mirfield Monk to celebrate 75 Appeal for years by running 10k mother HUDDERSFIELD There are the life that God has given to LEEDS Two years after an many ways to celebrate an me, for the Gospel, for family abandoned baby was left upcoming 75th birthday but Fr and friends, for the Community at the door of the St Peter’s John, a monk from and College of the Bramley vicarage, the Revd Paul the Community of Resurrection … Crabb, the rector, has made a the Resurrection Especially I want to further appeal for the mother in Mirfield, say thanks that I am to come forward. The child, has chosen a still running and so I which was wrapped in a towel more unusual am going to run 10k and a plastic carrier bag, was celebration. On on the 26th January pronounced dead on arrival at January 26 he will 2019.” hospital. celebrate his 75th birthday by running 10k for Proceeds from the Sponsored Paul says that despite the charity. Run will go to Tariro, a charity passage of time, the church helping orphaned teenagers in would still like to hear from the Fr John writes, “I thought Zimbabwe Sponsor Fr John at baby’s mother. “Be assured that that this would be a good mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/ we’re always ready and waiting opportunity to give thanks for frjohngribben10krun to help you in any way we can.” III News......News.....News.....News.....News.....NewsDiocese of Leeds news Diocese spearheads interfaith Honour for training for clergy Leeds priest The way Christians relate to Emily Tidball, Presence and A young Leeds priest has those of different faiths and Engagement Coordinator received national recognition cultures is the subject of a says, “We are the only diocese as one of 21 young champions newly developed training which asks all clergy new to of interfaith engagement course being pioneered by the the diocese to complete this chosen by a national panel Diocese of Leeds which all new training, recognising that made up of Christian, Jewish clergy in the diocese will be Presence and Engagement is and Muslim leaders. required to complete. relevant and important in all contexts.” The Revd Heston Groenewald The ‘Presence and Engagement’ (37), Pioneer Minister at All course gives clergy experience Director of Clergy Hallows, was singled out as of church ministry in parishes Development, the Revd Andrew one of seven Christians, seven where at least 10% of the Tawn, agrees the training Jews, and seven Muslims to community are of other faiths, is important for all clergy be commended for the ‘21 now estimated at close to 100 wherever they minister.