DOCSLIB.ORG

September 2021

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

September 2021 The Church of St Simon & St Jude Milton on Stour The Church of St Mary the Virgin Gillingham The Church of St Nicholas, Silton The Magazine of the Parishes of St Mary’s, Gillingham, St Simon & St Jude, Milton on Stour, and St Nicholas, Silton The Parish Churches of Gillingham, Milton on Stour & Silton www.gillinghamanglican.co.uk Committed to the safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and vulnerable adults. This is in line with our adoption, in full, of the Safeguarding Policy of the Anglican Church. The Clergy Rector: The Revd Canon Peter Greenwood 01747 822435 Pioneer Minister: The Revd Eve Pegler 01747 825289 Hon. Assistant Priests: The Revd David Botterill The Revd Canon Dr Jean Coates The Revd Jeffrey Hall The Revd Anne Heywood The Revd Bernard Joy Hon. Deacon The Revd Canon Allen Walker Parish Office (situated off Queen Street, next to Vicarage School Room) Open: Tuesday to Friday 9am to 1pm Tel: 01747 821598 Email: [email protected] Administrator: Mrs Carole Blackmore Postal Address: The Rectory, High Street, Gillingham, SP8 4AJ The Magazine EDITOR David Grundy ADVERTISING ADMINISTRATOR Jeff Nash DISTRIBUTION (Gillingham) Carol Foster (Milton on Stour) Sam Woodcock (Silton) Anne Bridge All members of the Committee may be contacted through the Parish Office. The Editor has the final decision on the content, style, structure and presentation of ‘Impact’. Contributions for publication should be e-mailed to the Parish Office at [email protected], with a copy to the Editor at [email protected], by the copy date. Hand-written articles can be handed in to the Parish Office. COPY DATE for October 2021 issue: Monday 13 September PUBLICATION DATE: Wednesday 22 September Published by the parishes of Gillingham, Milton on Stour & Silton 2 September September is the beginning of the new school year (almost the beginning of the new football year!) and a place to start again or anew for lots of other areas of life. Especially with COVID as we learn week by week what and how we can begin again. I think you will probably have memories of school in September. Perhaps you can remember your very first day at school. I can. Standing small in a crowd of grown-ups and children outside Waterton Road Infant School. The beginning of the new school year brings memories of shiny black new school shoes, and new school uniforms that were slightly too big for you. Bought for you to grow into. I always had butterflies in my stomach at the start of a new school year, before settling again into the swing of things. Remembering all these things we pray for, all those students at school, college and university, starting or starting again this September. We pray too for families, staff and governors and all associated with the lives of our town's schools, and all who live here who work further afield in the field of education. In the life of the church this new month brings returning and new activities. Climate Sunday is on September the 5th, this year ahead of COP26 to be held in Glasgow in November; Ride and Stride, the fund-raising initiative for historic churches across the country takes place on Saturday September 11; and on September the 12th Salisbury Diocese's Generous Giving campaign begins. You will find a leaflet about this enclosed with this edition. In case it has dropped out here are some of the headlines. Bishop Karen writes to us all to remind us of God's good gifts to us, to encourage thankfulness amongst us, and to ask us to continue or begin to be generous givers. If we are unable to be generous with our money, there are other ways for us to be generous - with our time, prayers and attitude. There will be a Sunday focus for four weeks and things to think about at home during the weeks. Across our benefice our parishes have different financial situations so that can be reflected more locally Sunday by Sunday. The larger call to be generous givers is a foundational part of our Christian discipleship whatever the financial situation of our parish church. The call to be generous for our own benefit, happiness and well-being is part of the shared wisdom of humanity. The call for each parish to give a share to the diocese means that ministry can truly be shared from the village to the city, the smallest congregation to the largest, and the least well off to the most wealthy. Let’s pray for one another and think of one another as we begin or begin again this September, God bless, love Peter 3 Resources from the Church of England There are a range of new and existing Christian resources available for people to engage with at this difficult and challenging time in the life of the nation and the world: Weekly service broadcasts - these are made available each Sunday through the Church's Facebook page. Time to Pray app - everything you need for Prayer During the Day, with variations according to the day of the week and the season of the Church’s year. Download for free https://www.chpublishing.co.uk/apps/time-to-pray Daily hope – offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone, 24 hours a day – 0800 8048044 Daytime prayer and Night prayer service audio - building on the existing daily prayer feed, this includes daytime prayer and night prayer for each day, in audio and text. Texts available in both contemporary and traditional forms for Prayer during the Day, Evening Prayer, Night Prayer and Morning Prayer, taken from Common Worship: Daily Prayer. Available on the Church of England website and as a downloadable app. Sunday Worship – Radio 4 at 8.10am. Songs of Praise – every Sunday on BBC1 at 1.15pm. Choral Evensong – every Sunday on Radio 3 at 3.00pm, and every Wednesday at 3.30pm. The BBC's Daily Service – on BBC Radio 4 LW, at 9.45am and at bbc.co.uk. Mental health reflections – 13 daily reflections (https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/mental-health- resources/supporting-good-mental-health) that seek to provide hope, reassurance and comfort. We have also published five tips (https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/mental-health- resources/dealing-loneliness-and-isolation-five-top-tips) to help tackle loneliness and isolation. Smart speaker apps – the Church of England’s smart speaker apps enables millions of users to ask the Church of England for prayers, explanations of the Christian faith, location-based information about local church events and services, and more. It can be used with Amazon Alexa and Google Home. 4 Memories of Bishop Nicholas ‘A man of the people and a champion of "the lost, the last and the least”, a Bishop that our Diocese has come to know and love.’ That is how Bishop Nicholas, the 78th Bishop of Salisbury, will be remembered. Original photo by Ash Mills And from Bishop Nicholas himself, during the Evensong on 3rd July, to mark his retirement, this prayer: "Lord God, Thou hast appointed me in the church as bishop and pastor. Thou seest how unfit I am to attend to such a great and difficult office, and if it had not been for Thy help, I would long since have ruined everything. Therefore, I call upon Thee. "Amen to that. I might have ruined everything. If I haven’t, thanks be to God." 5 Bishop Nicholas said his final goodbyes to the Diocese at the livestreamed service from the Cathedral, and in return representatives from across the Diocese said a resounding "Thank You". From in-person presentations to an avalanche of social media posts, the Bishop could be left in no doubt that he will be missed by clergy and laity alike. Describing our Diocese as "God’s small miracle", the now former Bishop of Salisbury thanked the churches of the Diocese for being "so supportive me as Bishop, particularly in responding so strongly to my role as the C of E’s lead Bishop on the environment." He reminded everyone of his legacy vision saying "The Diocese of Salisbury renews hope as we pray, serve, grow." At the end of the service, which included some of Bishop Nicholas’ favourite music and hymns and a final homily (here), Bishop Karen told her colleague: "Salisbury has come to know you and love you. You have continued to champion the rights of the deaf and disabled, same sex couples, and being married to a Quaker has given you and Helen a shared awareness of the needs of our partners in the Sudans, and a care for the environment and a determination to support and speak out." She said how the description of the Bishop as man of the people "has characterised your ministry. Not a fleeting interest, but a deep concern for the lost, the last and the least." 6 Presentations were made in person by the Diocesan Mothers Union, the Diocesan Guild of Bell Ringers, the Diocesan Board of Education and two choristers from the Cathedral, all of whom thanked the Bishop for his service. And, on behalf of the Diocese, Diocesan Secretary David Pain presented Bishop Nicholas with a photobook, a card hand-painted by Nigel Done, our Diocesan Director of Ordinands, containing all the messages collated by the Sherborne Office, and a cheque. Bishop Nicholas had also generously asked people to give to our Aldhelm Mission Fund in thanksgiving for his ministry and so far over £3000 has been donated to the fund in the Bishop's name.
Recommended publications
  • Operational Report Diocese of Exeter

    Operational Report Diocese of Exeter

    Operational Report Diocese of Exeter April – June 2018 Contents Overall Summary ……………………………………………………………… Page 3 Governance …………………………………………………………………... Page 4 Mission and Pastoral Office …………………………………………………… Page 6 Finance ………………………………………………………………………… Page 8 Stewardship ……………………………………………………………………. Page 11 Communications ………………………………………………………………. Page 12 Safeguarding …………………………………………………………………… Page 14 Clergy Housing ………………………………………………………………... Page 16 School Building Projects. …………………………………………………….... Page 17 Church Buildings ………………………………………………………………. Page 17 New Housing Areas …………………………………………………………… Page 19 Growing the Rural Church ……………………………………………………. Page 20 Education ………………………………………………………………………. Page 21 Mission and Ministry …………………………………………...……………… Page 24 Mission and Ministry Development Team ……………………………..……… Page 27 Diocesan Mission Enabler ……………………………………………………... Page 29 Children’s Ministry Adviser ………………………………………………….... Page 31 Youth Work Adviser ………………………………………………………….. Page 33 Church and Society ……………………………………………………………. Page 34 Plymouth Archdeaconry ………………………………………………………. Page 35 Plymouth Strategic Development Fund Project ………………………………. Page 35 Appendix ~ Diocesan Vision and Strategy Key Aims ……..…………………... Page 36 Diocese of Exeter: Quarterly Operational Report ~ Q2 2018 Page | 2 Overall Summary I am delighted to introduce you to our second Quarterly Operational Report. The response to our new reporting format from all levels of the Diocese was exceptionally positive when we first published back in April. However, we will
  • 5888 the London Gazette, October 30

    5888 the London Gazette, October 30

    5888 THE LONDON GAZETTE, OCTOBER 30, easterly fence of the main-road to Clanville Gate, 2. This Order shall take effect from and imme- thence by the north-easterly fence of the road to diately after the first day of November, one Clanville, thence by the easterly fence of five thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight. fields through which a footpath runs from Clan- Herbert M. Sufi. ville to Suttou in the parish of Ditcheat, thence by the south-easterly fence of the road to Brook House, thence by the southerly fence of East SCHEDULE. Hill-lane to the Somerset and Dorset Railway, An Area in the counties of Dorset and Somer- and thence by the Somerset and Dorset Railway set, comprising in the county of Dorset, the poor to' the said Bridge near Cole Station aforesaid, law parishes of Purse Caundlc, in the petty (4.) in the counties of Dorset and Somerset, sessional division of Sherborne, Stourton Cauridle, comprising, in. the, county of Dorset the civil Stalbridge, Marnhull, and Fifehead Magdalen, in parishes «-f Buckhorn "Weston and Kington Magna, the petty sessional division of Sturmiuster. and and the portions of the parishes of Gillingham and West Stour, East Stour, Todber, Stour Provost, Silton lying within the following boundaries, that Motcombe, Gillingham, Bourton Silton, Buck- is to say, commencing at a point in the parish of horn Weston. and Kington Magna, in the petty "IGfiUmglinm where the north-eastern boundary of sessional division of Shaftesbury ; and comprising the parish of Kinglon Magna adjoining Gillingham in the county of
  • Anglican Church of Australia

    Anglican Church of Australia

    ANGLICAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA Diocese of Willochra Prayer Diary November 2020 Page 1 of 32 DAY 1 Diocese of Willochra: • The Bishop John Stead (Jan); • Assistant Bishop and Vicar General Chris McLeod (Susan); • Chancellor of the Diocese of Willochra, Nicholas Iles (Jenny); • Chaplain to the Bishop, The Rev’d Anne Ford (Michael); • The Dean of the Cathedral Church of Sts Peter and Paul, The Very Rev’d Dr Mary Lewis (Owen); • The Cathedral Chapter, The Bishop John Stead (Jan), The Very Rev’d Dr Mary Lewis (Owen); Archdeacons – the Ven Gael Johannsen (George), the Ven Heather Kirwan, the Ven Andrew Lang (Louise); Canons – the Rev’d Canon Ali Wurm, the Rev’d Canon John Fowler, Canon Michael Ford (Anne), Canon Mary Woollacott; Cathedral Wardens - Pauline Matthews and Jean Housley • The Archdeacons, The Ven Heather Kirwan – Eyre and The Ven Andrew Lang (Louise) - Wakefield Diocese of Adelaide: Fullarton: Julie Worrall (Peter) Diocese of The Murray: Bishop Keith Dalby (Alice) In the Anglican Church of Australia: The Anglican Church of Australia; Primate, Archbishop Geoff Smith (Lynn); General Secretary, Anne Hywood (Peter); General Synod and Standing Committee In the Partner Diocese of Mandalay: Bishop David Nyi Nyi Naing (Mary), Rev’d John Suan and the Diocesan and Cathedral Staff Worldwide Anglican Cycle of Prayer: • Pray for the Church of the Province of West Africa • Primate and Metropolitan, Church of the Province of West Africa; Archbishop of the Internal province of West Africa and Bishop of Liberia: Archbishop Dr Jonathan Bau-Bau Bonaparte
  • Giving Adviser Application Pack, Salisbury Diocese

    Giving Adviser Application Pack, Salisbury Diocese

    Information pack for the post of Giving Adviser 1 Contents Welcome from the Director of Finance and Asset Management…………………………....3 Job Description………………………………………………………………………………………………………4 Person Specification………………………………………………………………………………………………6 About the Diocese of Salisbury……………………………………..………….……………………………7 General Terms of Employment………………………………………………………………….......……13 Application Process………………………………………………………………………………………………13 2 Welcome Thank you very much for your interest in this important post in the Diocese of Salisbury. The foci of our Diocesan strategy – Renewing Hope – are “pray, serve, grow”, and giving and generosity has been identified as a key driver, particularly in relation to “grow”. As a priority work area for the diocese we want to challenge ourselves about generosity and manage our assets well so that we grow new income and release funds for pioneering work in mission and ministry. Average planed giving per person per week according to the latest statistics in Salisbury Diocese is £10 ranking Salisbury 27th out of 41 dioceses. Giving as a percentage of income is 2.9% ranking Salisbury 36th out of 41 dioceses. This means of course, that there is huge potential for development and growth. Over the last year, we have invested time and resource to really understand the lay of the land around giving and generosity in the Diocese. From this we are developing a Diocesan Giving Vision and a plan that operationalises Renewing Hope in this area – the new Giving Advisor will be key to shaping this further and bringing it to life. As part of the ongoing review and development of the Diocesan Giving Vision we have convened an Inspiring Giving working group which functions as a sub-committee of the Diocesan Board of Finance.
  • Salisbury Diocese Clergy Handbook 2021

    Salisbury Diocese Clergy Handbook 2021

    DIOCESE OF SALISBURY Clergy Housing Handbook DIOCESE OF SALISBURY The Archdeaconry of WILTSHIRE The Deanery of GUERNSEY including: Alderney, Herm and Sark Calne Marlborough The Deanery of JERSEY Bradford Pewsey Devizes The Archdeaconry of SARUM Stonehenge Heytesbury Salisbury Chalke Alderbury The Archdeaconry Blackmore Vale of SHERBORNE Sherborne Milton and Wimborne Blandford Lyme Bay Dorchester The Archdeaconry Poole of DORSET Purbeck Weymouth and Portland Welcome to the Diocese of Salisbury The Diocese of Salisbury is situated in the south of England encompassing large areas of Dorset, and Wiltshire, a small area of Hampshire and Devon and all of the Channel Islands. It has over 240 Diocesan properties located across this diverse area of rural countryside, beautiful coastlines, and urban towns. The purpose of this handbook is to provide guidance, advice and information to all clergy living in Diocesan property and to set out the roles and responsibilities of clergy and the Property Department. Housing plays a vital part in the happiness and wellbeing of clergy and their families, and the Diocese will endeavour to provide an efficient, friendly and professional service to enable clergy to undertake their ministry and enjoy living in their homes. DIOCESE OF SALISBURY Contents 5 Responsibility and Obligations 5 Diocesan Property Department 6 Contacts 7 A-Z Clergy Property Matters Full index opposite 29 The Role of the PCC 29 During Transitions 31 Letting 31 Utilities 32 Keys 32 Insurance CAle-rgZ y Property Matters 7 Access and Consultation
  • The Record 2010 (Pdf)

    The Record 2010 (Pdf)

    Keble College Keble The Record 2010 The Record 2010 The Record 2010 Dame Professor Averil Cameron, Warden (1994–2010) Portrait by Bob Tulloch The Record 2010 Contents The Life of the College Letter from the Warden 5 College’s Farewell to the Warden 10 Sir David Williams 13 Mr Stephen De Rocfort Wall 15 Fellows’ Work in Progress 15 Fellows’ Publications 21 Sports and Games 25 Clubs and Societies 32 The Chapel 34 Financial Review 38 The College at Large Old Members at Work 42 Keble Parishes Update 48 Year Groups 49 Gifts and Bequests 51 Obituaries 63 The Keble Association 87 The London Dinner 88 Keble College 2009–10 The Fellowship 90 Fellowship Elections and Appointments 96 Recognition of Distinction 97 JCR & MCR Elections 97 Undergraduate Scholarships 97 Matriculation 2009–10 99 College Awards and Prizes 104 Academic Distinctions 109 Supplement News of Old Members 2 Forthcoming events: 2010–11 12 Keble College: The Record 2010 4 The Life of the College Letter from the Warden This is my sixteenth and last Letter as Warden, and obviously I write with many kinds of mixed feelings. Having had to move out of the Lodgings at the beginning instead of the end of the summer vacation, in order to allow time for necessary work to be done, I feel as if I am having an unusually prolonged retirement process, but the moment will come when the clock strikes midnight on 30 September and I cease to be Warden and Sir Jonathan Phillips takes over. The past sixteen years have been an extraordinarily rich experience, and I suspect that no one except another head of house really knows the full range of what is entailed.
  • Summary Version

    Summary Version

    Learning from Creative Thinking and Planning for Rural Mission and Growth SUMMARY VERSION Learning from Creative Thinking and Planning for Rural Mission and Growth 2 Learning from Creative Thinking and Planning for Rural Mission and Growth INTRODUCTION Several rural areas in England have developed strategic approaches to mission and growth that are starting to show benefits. This document briefly outlines nine examples of good practice, offering useful ideas and approaches that could be deployed in other rural places. These nine case studies have been drawn together from some of the contributions to a Renewal & Reform seminar on Rural Mission and Growth that took place in February 2018. These studies have been summarised from a much longer document, containing many more useful details, which can be found at www.churchofengland.org/rural Our rural church is showing that with prayer, listening, careful focus on what God is prompting, reflection and action, positive changes can come that will enable more people to come to know God in their lives. Change takes time and patience, there are barriers that need to be overcome, and some things will not work first time or even at all. These nine examples illustrate the diversity of approaches to enabling and developing mission and growth in rural communities. One size does not fit all. It is important to play to the strengths of clergy and congregations. Being strategic is not a bar to the Holy Spirit. All nine case studies reflect a mixed economy approach to parish ministry, with new approaches sitting alongside existing Sunday worship. Strategic Development Fund investment has been important for only two of the initiatives.
  • Porvoo Prayer Diary 2021

    Porvoo Prayer Diary 2021

    PORVOO PRAYER DIARY 2021 The Porvoo Declaration commits the churches which have signed it ‘to share a common life’ and ‘to pray for and with one another’. An important way of doing this is to pray through the year for the Porvoo churches and their Dioceses. The Prayer Diary is a list of Porvoo Communion Dioceses or churches covering each Sunday of the year, mindful of the many calls upon compilers of intercessions, and the environmental and production costs of printing a more elaborate list. Those using the calendar are invited to choose one day each week on which they will pray for the Porvoo churches. It is hoped that individuals and parishes, cathedrals and religious orders will make use of the Calendar in their own cycle of prayer week by week. In addition to the churches which have approved the Porvoo Declaration, we continue to pray for churches with observer status. Observers attend all the meetings held under the Agreement. The Calendar may be freely copied or emailed for wider circulation. The Prayer Diary is updated once a year. For corrections and updates, please contact Ecumenical Officer, Maria Bergstrand, Ms., Stockholm Diocese, Church of Sweden, E-mail: [email protected] JANUARY 3/1 Church of England: Diocese of London, Bishop Sarah Mullally, Bishop Graham Tomlin, Bishop Pete Broadbent, Bishop Rob Wickham, Bishop Jonathan Baker, Bishop Ric Thorpe, Bishop Joanne Grenfell. Church of Norway: Diocese of Nidaros/ New see and Trondheim, Presiding Bishop Olav Fykse Tveit, Bishop Herborg Oline Finnset 10/1 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland: Diocese of Oulu, Bishop Jukka Keskitalo Church of Norway: Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland (Bodø), Bishop Ann-Helen Fjeldstad Jusnes Church of England: Diocese of Coventry, Bishop Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop John Stroyan.
  • DIOCESE of SALISBURY Ben 363A Pastoral Secretary To

    DIOCESE of SALISBURY Ben 363A Pastoral Secretary To

    DIOCESE OF SALISBURY Ben 363A Pastoral Secretary To: Please see circulation list overleaf 1st August 2006 PASTORAL MEASURE 1983: BENEFICE OF DEVIZES ST JOHN AND ST MARY The interested parties were consulted on 20 April about proposals to make the church of St Mary, Devizes, redundant. Whilst two individual representations were received the enclosed proposals were supported by the great majority of those responding and have been approved by the Bishop and forwarded to the Church Commissioners. A copy of Mr Evans representation to the effect that there is a separate parish of St Mary has been forwarded to the Commissioners, as the Diocesan records of parish boundaries accord with the Commissioners' view that the benefice is a single parish. If the Commissioners prepare a draft scheme or order to give effect to the proposals, an opportunity will be given for the interested parties and others to make representations for or against the draft. If the Commissioners (with the agreement of the Bishop and the Diocesan Pastoral Committee) should amend a draft scheme or order that they have published, the amended draft scheme or order will be circulated as before and the interested parties and others given an opportunity to make representations for or against the revised draft. The Commissioners must consider any representations made to them before they decide whether the scheme or order should proceed, but they can only consider representations after they have published a draft scheme or order based on the proposals. If you wish to have any further information regarding the effect of these proposals or about points of procedure, I shall be pleased to do what I can to help.
  • Diocese of Salisbury Statement of Needs [Jun 2021]

    Diocese of Salisbury Statement of Needs [Jun 2021]

    Diocese of Salisbury: Statement of Needs 2021 CREDIT: Max Trafford ‘Love bade me welcome’ CREDIT: Sally Wilson CREDIT: Ash Mills As a Diocese we are committed to the local They capture the hospitable heart of Anglicanism, with courage, vision and holiness to renew its Formed by the union of two ancient sees, All Church traditions find a home here and honouring the Five Guiding Principles, church and its ongoing evolution, with important aspects of which were worked out promise for a beloved place and its people. Sherborne and Ramsbury, the removal of the we encourage service and growth rooted in and to the flourishing of the small new worshipping communities working in here in Salisbury – not only by Herbert, but Diocesan seat from Old Sarum to the new city prayerful attention to God’s call upon every number of parishes with alternative partnership with the parishes that remain our contemporaries John Jewel and Richard Hooker, The Church in this Diocese continues to be of Salisbury some eight hundred years ago is a person. All ministries are valued equally, we episcopal oversight. core. In the church doorway of one of these, who defined our church’s breadth and reach: nurtured by extraordinarily deep roots, with historic precedent for our current readiness to nurture a culture of collaborative working St Andrew’s Bemerton, is etched the words not by its limits, but its centre in Christ. some of the longest continually inhabited places develop and grow. Even the old, eternal rocks at all levels. In this description, we hope to give a “Love bade me welcome” – composed by in Britain.
  • General Synod of the Church of England 23 and 24 April 2021 Via Zoom

    General Synod of the Church of England 23 and 24 April 2021 Via Zoom

    1 General Synod of the Church of England 23 and 24 April 2021 via Zoom REPORT from the General Synod members from the Diocese of Salisbury We had barely got started with the Introductions before there were changes to the Order of Business, the first of which were tributes to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who spoke of the Duke's life of service and his remarkable funeral which the Duke had planned himself. Other members of Synod testified to different aspects of the Duke's life including an excellent tribute to the benefits of his Award scheme. A motion expressing heartfelt sympathy of the Archbishops, Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the General Synod of the Church of England on the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, assuring Her Majesty of the honour in which his memory will be held by them and of their prayers for Her Majesty and all the Royal Family’ was overwhelmingly endorsed by the Synod with three abstentions. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS The Presidential Address was given by the Archbishop of York and took the form of a response to the Panorama programme which had been broadcast four days earlier on the subject ‘Is the church racist? One of those interviewed on the programme was the Revd Arun Arora who had commented that the time of talking about racism had run its course and now action needs to be taken urgently. The Archbishop endorsed this comment, apologised for the Church’s lack of action, and made a commitment to change.
  • Parish' and 'City' -- a Shifting Identity: Salisbury 1440-1600

    Parish' and 'City' -- a Shifting Identity: Salisbury 1440-1600

    Early Theatre 6.1(2003) audrey douglas ‘Parish’ and ‘City’ – A Shifting Identity: Salisbury 1440–1600 The study and documentation of ceremony and ritual, a broad concern of Records of Early English Drama, has stimulated discussion about their purpose and function in an urban context. Briefly, in academic estimation their role is largely positive, both in shaping civic consciousness and in harmonizing diverse classes and interests while – as a convenient corollary – simultaneously con- firming local hierarchies. Profitable self-promotion is also part of this urban picture, since ceremony and entertainment, like seasonal fairs, potentially attracted interest from outside the immediate locality. There are, however, factors that compromise this overall picture of useful urban concord: the dominance of an urban elite, for instance, may effectually be stabilized, promoted, or even disguised by ceremony and ritual; on the other hand, margi- nalized groups (women and the poor) have normally no place in them at all.l Those excluded from participation in civic ritual and ceremonial might, nevertheless, be to some extent accommodated in the pre-Reformation infra- structure of trade guilds and religious guilds. Both organizational groups crossed social and economic boundaries to draw male and female members together in ritual and public expression of a common purpose and brotherhood – signalling again (in customary obit, procession, and feasting) harmony and exclusivity, themes with which, it seems, pre-Reformation urban life was preoccupied. But although women were welcome within guild ranks, office was normally denied them. Fifteenth-century religious guilds also saw a decline in membership drawn from the poorer members of society, with an overall tendency for a dominant guild to become identified with a governing urban elite.2 Less obvious perhaps, but of prime importance to those excluded from any of the above, was the parish church itself, whose round of worship afforded forms of ritual open to all.