THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER. ESTABLISHED IN 1828 THE The best films of 2013 in review, CHURCHOF p15 ENGLAND Newspaper The headlines that defined 2013, p4 NOW AVAILABLE ON NEWSSTAND FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2014 No: 6209 Judge’s marriage shock A HIGH COURT JUDGE has resigned after being and could have served another five years. He was effec- Sir Paul said he strongly disagreed with the inquiry’s rebuked for expressing support for traditional tively forced out of his position but he claimed to have conclusions. He is due to step down from the bench at marriage. the support of all but ‘one or two’ of his colleagues. Easter. Just before Christmas he wrote an article for the Sir Paul Coleridge was given a formal warning by the He has set up the Marriage Foundation as a think Daily Mail saying that people who wanted to have chil- Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas, and the Justice Secre- tank to promote ‘healthy, stable relationships’ and dren should get married and claiming that supporting tary, Chris Grayling, for judicial misconduct in giving undertake research to demonstrate the importance of marriage ‘was something our courts no longer seem speeches and writing newspaper articles protesting marriage. able or willing to do’. against cohabitation, pointing out the impact of family- An inquiry by the Office for Judicial Complaints, “The fact is,” he wrote “that the single most important break up on children, and calling for greater support for which investigates complaints against judges, found Sir factor by far in the successful development of children marriage. Paul’s speeches and newspaper articles ‘incompatible is a committed, healthy relationship between their par- Sir Paul was responsible as a judge for family cases with his judicial responsibilities’. ents.” Report to Parliament shows culture of Minster’s street treat for sexual violence for women in Colombia By Katie Hornell and Cait Flynn paramilitary groups as well who BBC drama viewers began to move into formerly guerrilla- Advocacy group AB Colombia occupied areas. AN ICONIC building within the East End – was transformed from modern released a report to parliament, in In order to demonstrate power, precincts of York Minster was seen by thoroughfare into a Georgian street, with association with Colombian jour- impose a rule of fear, and control the an audience of millions over the Christ- the entrance to St William’s College nalist Jineth Bedoya Lima and indigenous peoples of the areas occu- mas period when the BBC screened dressed to provide an inn for heroine Eliza- Baroness Jean Coussins, detailing pied, many native Colombian women ‘Death Comes to Pemberley’, a cos- beth Darcy’s sister, Lydia, to elope with the the harrowing condition of women were raped by paramilitaries, bar- tume drama penned by PD James cad Wickham. in Colombia who have been the barously tortured and sometimes left which revives the characters of ‘Pride The historic college, which is owned by largely ignored victims of the impregnated by the invading troops. & Prejudice’ in a nail-biting murder York Minster, also provided the backdrop country’s internal conflict. In many reports some guerrilla fac- mystery. for a number of other scenes with the inte- Thousands have been killed in the tions rape the women that they have For a week during the summer, College rior courtyard doubling as a tavern while process of this conflict which has been kidnapped as sex slaves, and then Street – which sits beneath York Minster’s the period interior rooms were also used. going on over the last 60 years, but force abortions upon those same one of the most devastating casualties women. is also one of the least known. Namely The first real study conducted on the violation and abuse of women. the abuse was carried out by Oxfam This practice has created a culture four years ago, and the study found of using women as weapons of an that there were 400,000 reported vic- already violent war. As well as a socie- tims of this sexual violence from the ty in which women must not only live years 2001 to 2009 alone. in with a constant threat, they also experience a systematic lack of justice Continued on page 6 for the perpetrators. The report revealed that women PRICE £1.35 / 1,70€ / $2.20 face a constant threat of sexual vio- lence. The violence is, however, not used as a means of sexually violating women, but rather as a weapon of war to control the population. The raping and torturing of women in order to humiliate their families has occurred throughout the 60-year conflict, but especially grew in promi- nence in the 1990s. At first done by guerrillas in the area, and later by the [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper THE 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday January 3, 2014 News BRADFORD all agreed to go to someone’s house to CHURCH St Wilfrid’s church in watch the final, but as IN Calverley (between more people became Bradford and Leeds) was interested we needed a the unexpected venue for bigger venue, and I a Strictly Come Dancing couldn’t think of a better ENGLAND finals event. place than St Wilfrid’s. Organiser, Debbie There’s a big screen and Turk, said she got the we all decided to dress up idea when discussing the in our best ball gowns and hit show with friends. “We tux.” SOUTHWELL AND NOTTINGHAM RIPON AND LEEDS Six church primary schools joined with a Hundreds of walkers joined with the Rt Rev John Packer on choir from the Samworth Church Boxing Day as he undertook his final pilgrimage before retiring. Academy in Mansfield to take part in ‘The The Pilgrimage took them from Ripon Cathedral to Fountains Big Sing’ event just before Christmas. Abbey and follows in the footsteps of a group of Cistercian Monks One school wrote their own carol who first walked from Ripon to Fountains on December 26th, especially for the occasion and all the 1132, and founded the Abbey. The annual event has for many choirs came together for a finale of ‘Ding years been described by Bishop John as one of the highlights of Dong Merrily on High.’ Throughout the his year. He has led the walk each year for the past 14 years as evening the audience were reminded of Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, and as the popularity of the four-mile the work of Christian Aid through video pilgrimage has continued to grow. clips and conversations with Christian Aid Before the pilgrims set off, a service of Holy Communion took workers, and it is estimated that around place at the Cathedral, which this year was led jointly by Bishop £1200 will have been raised. John and the Sub-Dean of Ripon, Canon Keith Punshon. SOUTHWELL AND NOTTINGHAM Students from Southwell Minster School broke with tradition this year when they were asked to make Christmas Crib figures for the Cathedral’s Nativity scene. The pupils designed shadow images produced by light falling upon sculptures, creating in shadow and light a Nativity scene; Angels appearing to the Shepherds; and the Three Wise Men. The sculptures themselves are made of coloured card, paper and wrapped presents. School Chaplain, Father Mathew Askey explained how the idea came about: “We wanted to do something a little bit different this year, something to help us think afresh about the story we are telling. We looked at an artist duo called Tim Noble and Sue Webster, and at their art installations, which use both sculptures and shadows projected on walls... we took this as our starting point for the Crib art in the Minster. The students have been really willing to take on this idea and think outside the box; I think they have made something that is very memorable. And we say a big ‘thank you!’ to the Minster Vergers for the work involved in making the grottos where the art is installed.” The Dean, the Very Rev John Guille commented: “This is a really imaginative creation and one that has engaged the students in an exciting way. I am deeply grateful to the Minster School for creating the crib scene for us this year.” The students involved in making the Crib are: Oliver Asbury, Year 11; Emma Baskerville, Year 10; Amber Burbidge, Year 10; Alice Defriend, Year 11; Hannah Defriend, Year 11; and Megan Fryer, Year 13. Pictured is the whole group with Father Matthew Askey; and Amber Burbidge with Alice Defriend in front of one of the scenes. WAKEFIELD MANCHESTER Christmas markets, knitted mice and just like new sales were amongst the The Bishop of Manchester, the fundraising initiatives by Barnsley Rt Rev David Walker, launched a churches in their bid to set up an church-backed national emergency fund of money to help advertising campaign just before those most in need. Christmas. The Bishop unveiled The Barnsley Deanery Project was the UK’s biggest outdoor set up in response to the Bishop of religious Christmas ad depicting Wakefield’s initiative to give every a simple payday loan cheque and church in the diocese £100 for a the words ‘Does Christmas have community project to mark his tenth to start with a payday loan? No! anniversary as diocesan bishop and Christmas Starts with Christ’. to celebrate the Christian churches The ad, which is 40 feet high year of mission, Hope 2014. and the length of three buses Most of the 20 churches that make (106 feet long), was part of the up the Barnsley Deanery area ‘Christmas Starts with Christ’ decided they wanted to set up a poster campaign.