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Inspired to Write Story of a Pioneering Bishop

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Inspired to Write Story of a Pioneering Bishop PEOPLE: MY FAITH PEOPLE: MY FAITH engaged to a student at Bath as effective Christian engagement University, and was considering in the public square, she was enrolling himself at nearby Bristol. interested in taking it further. The wedding didn’t happen, and the subsequent trauma led to a “Jenny and her father’s literary crisis of faith. But he decided to executor, Canon Godfrey Butland, study for a theology and politics grilled me one evening in a degree there anyway. That was a restaurant in Liverpool, did some turning point. due diligence and asked me whether I’d like the job,” he said. He discovered academic theology, liturgy and the Church of England The book takes in David Sheppard’s at this time, as well as an emphasis early life and his time at Cambridge with Elizabeth Paulhus and Francis on how the Christian faith could University, where he set a series Davis, who was the founder of help to transform society. of batting records which have our Cathedral Innovation Centre. never been beaten. He went on to Among other things, this study “Once the pieces of my faith had captain his university and Sussex suggested that the Church had a snapped apart, I was never going cricket teams, and remains the mistaken assumption that its role in Inspired to write story to put that jigsaw puzzle back only ordained minister to play Test society was understood. together in the same way,” he said. cricket for England. In 1954 he “But I found a fresh way to follow captained his country for two tests Christ. I came to appreciate C of E Andrew was 49 when he married against Pakistan. He refused to liturgy, I valued public confession, Helen, and moved to Ryde on the play against South Africa in 1960 of a pioneering bishop and I enjoyed the fact that we Isle of Wight to be with her. Helen because of its apartheid policy. celebrated Communion weekly. already had two children from a Academic theology also opened up previous marriage, and Andrew has Having been dramatically new questions for me.” now become a step-grandparent. converted to Christ at university, As Andrew Bradstock researched the life of a high-profile bishop After another stint in New Zealand, David Sheppard was ordained in for a biography, he discovered echoes of his own journey of faith He studied for a Masters at Bristol, this time setting up a centre 1955, became Bishop of Woolwich in and then a PhD at the University for public theology, the couple 1969 and Bishop of Liverpool in 1975. IT was a chance conversation that the Christian faith and politics too. chance to preach and pray out of Kent, spent some time in post- settled in St Helens, and started led Andrew Bradstock to write a loud. But he also felt restricted doctoral research in New Zealand, worshipping in the village’s parish The book details his pioneering biography of one of the highest “Bishop David Sheppard was by rules dictating what Christians and then took up academic roles church. ecumenical work alongside the profile bishops of the 20th century. someone who was committed should or shouldn’t do. teaching at La Sainte Union College Roman Catholic Archbishop of to exploring how faith should in Southampton and then at King ‘I began to realise Liverpool, Derek Worlock, and Andrew, who worships in the Haven impact on how we live as a “I was aware that my lifestyle Alfred’s College, Winchester. that faith should his partnerships with community benefice on the Isle of Wight, society, who had something to was different to other people at groups, businesses and many others was chatting to the daughter of say about the issues of his day school,” he said. “For instance, I His work involved exploring the have an impact to promote social justice. Bishop Bishop David Sheppard, the former such as homelessness, racism and played football with my friends in Church’s renewed emphasis on David wrote several books, including Bishop of Liverpool. He mentioned unemployment,” said Andrew. “He the week, but then had to make social justice, something he was on society.’ three jointly with Archbishop Derek, his surprise that no one had ever was a pioneer in his own day in up reasons why I couldn’t play with able to put into practice when and was a driving force within the written her father’s biography. suggesting that an evangelical them on Sundays. In my early 20s, appointed Secretary for Church and “We’ve really got involved in the commission that published Faith in Before too long, he was given the expression of faith should include I developed a condition that would Society with the URC in 2000. benefice,” he said. “We can see that the City. job! involvement in these issues. now be called obsessive compulsive the vicar, Alison Morley, is inspiring disorder (OCD). I don’t think it was Andrew wrote several books the congregations to think deeply Andrew said: “I have the blessing Five years later, Andrew’s book “And as my faith developed, I could because of my faith, but the idea examining how Christian faith about their faith, especially on of the family, so in that sense – Batting for the Poor – has just understand where he was coming of a judgemental authority figure has inspired political and social issues such as the environment, the biography is ‘authorised’, but been published. It was based on from. I’d started with a faith that being ready to strike me down change, both historically and today. which I think David Sheppard would that doesn’t mean I have written interviews with around 100 people, was mostly concerned with personal didn’t help.” His books look at Reformation have approved of.” what they wanted. I have allowed and contacts with another 250, as salvation, but began to realise that in Europe in the 16th century, myself to be critical at times. But it well as sifting through 66 box files faith wasn’t just an internal thing, Andrew got through the worst the English civil war in the 17th And it was back in 2014 that is also true that he is an inspiring, of his private papers and archives at but should have an impact on effects of his OCD, although he century, the Sandinista revolution Andrew happened to be talking to driven figure, who pioneered places he was connected with. society.” still struggles with aspects of the in Nicaragua in the 1980s, and David Sheppard’s daughter Jenny today’s philosophy that the Church condition. However, he left school at contemporary church responses in about a project she was developing. should work in partnership with And it seemed appropriate that Andrew, who is now 64, grew up 16, before getting the results of his the UK to poverty, peace-making He mentioned that the bishop’s others to achieve transformation Andrew should be the person to in a Christian family, worshipping O-levels, and chanced upon a civil and climate change. biography had never been written, of our society. And he remains an write about a bishop who was at a Strict Baptist chapel in south service administrative job that kept and Jenny said she and her mother inspiration to me.” known for his passion for social London. He benefitted from him going for the next 10 years. In 2008, he co-authored Moral, had never found the right person justice. His own life has involved intensive study of the Bible from But No Compass: Government, to do it. When Andrew said he was l Batting for the Poor is published exploring the intersection between an early age, and being given a In 1981, at the age of 26, he was Church and the Future of Welfare passionate about cricket, as well by SPCK, and is priced at £19.99. 18 live | pray | serve www.portsmouth.anglican.org 19.
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