Freedom of belief on film p16 THE New CHURCHOF ENGLAND Archbishop Newspaper arrives in 17 July, 2020 York, £1.50 No: 6544 Established in 1828 p8 Download our App on Open Doors, formed by ‘God’s Smuggler’, going strong after 65 years: p9 Lambeth Conference is delayed for a further year by pandemic THE NEXT meeting of the Archbishop also announced we’ve managed to keep in con- vides such an important oppor- Lambeth Conference, origi- that alongside the postponed tact and somehow I sense that tunity for bishops and spouses nally scheduled to take place physical conference meeting in the Spirit of God has drawn us of the world wide Anglican this month, has been pushed 2022 in Canterbury, a wider pro- closer together. Communion to meet, pray, lis- back by another 12 months gramme will be developed “As we look around the world, ten, reflect and shape the Angli- to 2022. before and after the event, deliv- we see how important it is that can Communion for the decade The Archbishop of Canter- ered virtually and through the Anglican Communion walks ahead. bury, Justin Welby, sent a mes- other meetings. together as we seek to be good “Rescheduling the event is of sage of encouragement to “walk Speaking of the impact of the news.” course disappointing but abso- together and be good news” to COVID-19 pandemic, he Referencing the book of 1 lutely necessary and the right the bishops and spouses of the encouraged the bishops and Peter – the biblical foundation thing to do. The conference Anglican Communion as he their spouses in their pastoral supporting the theme of the planning team will continue to made the announcement. role of supporting churches and conference – the Archbishop work harder than ever to deliver The decision was taken after communities around the world. has also said: “The first letter of an engaging and resourceful ongoing monitoring of the pan- He said: “I am overwhelmed Peter reminds us to love each conference programme both in demic and consultation with by the way that Anglicans other deeply, to offer hospitality, the lead up to and beyond 2022. bishops and primates around around the world have been fac- to use the gifts we have – I am “Covid-19 has changed our the world. ing up to the huge social needs aware that God has given us world forever. It’s vital that we In his video message, the created by this crisis. So many new means of being the Com- gain a fresh vision of what it is people have suffered from the munion. In the next two years to be ‘God’s Church for God’s PRICE £1.50 / €2.00 / $2.50 pandemic, economically, physi- we will explore those and pro- World’; and discern God’s call- cally through illness and in with the poor and the vulnera- vide mutual support for each ing for the Communion in the 29 many other ways and even have ble and the marginalised faring other.” decade ahead. I look forward to lost those close to them. the worst. We’ve been isolated Phil George, CEO of the Lam- the role that the Lambeth Con- “It’s exposed the divisions from one another by the lock- beth Conference Company said: ference will play on that jour- 9 770964 816108 and inequalities of the world down and restriction. And yet “The Lambeth Conference pro- ney.” 2 Friday 17 July, 2020 THE CHURCH IN ENGLAND THE Diocese of Leeds CHURCH IN ENGLAND Diocese of Manchester something in place of a holiday club and also for families look- ing for a way to connect togeth- er. Diocese of Lichfield A Church school in Stoke-On- Trent has achieved a pioneering School Mental Health Award. St Paul’s CofE Primary School was awarded a Gold standard A “magical” wedding took place last Saturday after three months’ delay due to the Covid-19 lock- for its outstanding mental down. By the end of May five Manch- health and wellbeing provision St George’s, Leeds, was the setting for one of England’s first “new normal” weddings, with social ester churches had received the by the Carnegie Centre Of distancing, no singing and ‘lashings of sanitiser’. Rector Lizzy Woolf officiated at the marriage of Eco Church accreditation, three Excellence For Mental Health Leeds couple Tom Hall and Heather McLaren and told how the happy ceremony took place safely achieving bronze and two silver In Schools. thanks to necessary precautions: “It was such a pleasure to be able to marry Tom and Heather, awards, just one award short of The school in Longton pro- after their wedding was delayed for three months due to the pandemic. their Eco Diocese target. vides a wide range of activities “It wasn’t the wedding they had planned originally, but it was still a very beautiful and special day. This month, St Andrew, to boost the wellbeing of pupils, “There was no singing or sermon, so the service took around half an hour. Guests were seated in Dearnley received a Bronze families and staff, including household groups; they entered one at a time, washing their hands, and going to their named seat. level award, and the diocesan whole staff training on mental “The rings were set on a small table by the groom at the start of the service, so nobody else target of five per cent of church- health and well-being, appoint- touched them, and everyone signing the registers brought their own pen.” es with an Eco Church award ing a Mental Health and Well- has now been achieved. being lead, having learning “In view of the 2030 “net car- mentors to work with the chil- cial for our children and that our Diocese of London Church in Digmoor, Skelmers- bon zero” target adopted by dren, multiple Mental Health ethos is clear to others. We will dale, the Open Table Communi- General Synod in February, we First Aiders, Mindful moments continue to strive for ‘gold’ (and Churches in London are being ty Café was set up in 2019 to need to grow our network of throughout the school day and beyond) to support our chil- urged to support the ALMA provide free food and a space churches committed to action staff social events. dren, their families and our (Angola London Mozambique for the community to come for the environment,” said the Headteacher Nicola Finney staff. I am so pleased at all that Association) appeal in their ser- together. team. said: “A focal point of the we have been able to achieve.” vices on Sunday 19 July. Paul Givens who coordinates school’s mental health and well- The appeal aims to raise The Open Table Community Diocese of Coventry being provision is to focus on Diocese of Truro money to buy four vehicles for Café project said: “We started regulation and relationships their partner dioceses in the Community Café with the ‘Adventuring with God at Home’ which then help the children St Swithin’s, Launcells, deter- Mozambique and Angola, allow- aim to use surplus food from has been launched as an online and their learning in all areas. mined the restrictions of this ing response to crises in places supermarkets to make a hot holiday club created by the Also ensuring that we are as pandemic were not going to get where there is minimal public meal twice a week and provide Growing Faith team in the Dio- proactive as possible and mak- in the way of their annual Flow- transport infrastructure, devas- an opportunity for people to cese of Coventry. ing sure provision is available er Festival, so are hosting a vir- tating poverty and extreme vul- come together, have a conversa- The Growing Faith team internally to school as soon as tual event instead. nerability to climate change. tion and become stronger as a realised that many churches we see a child that needs sup- “It focuses on the extraordi- community. will not be able to run their nor- port, before calling upon exter- nary beauty of the environment Diocese of Liverpool “The area the church serves mal holiday club this year and nal agencies for support.” and generally makes life feel a is in one of the highest depriva- that creating something virtual Philippa Turton, Mental little bit better. Just because the A community café in Skelmers- tion areas in the country. The can be a huge amount of work, Health and Well-being Lead, flowers cannot be physically dis- dale that would normally meet project aims to feed those who so they created their new said: “Having been awarded played doesn’t mean they can- twice a week has opened its need it the most and to make it resource. The material is suit- Gold has endorsed that what we not be enjoyed,” said PCC doors six days a week. known that we do not want any- able for those looking to run are doing as a school is benefi- Secretary Margaret Bond. Based at Christ the Servant one in this day and age to go hungry.” “We also want to build a sense Diocese of their skin”. He went on to “We know what to do. I must of community within the area Winchester examine humanity saying that insist on the human rights of and this is happening through racism is a human thing that all people… this is a great conversation over the table at Effie Grant and Jojo Blankson, can be solved, but meant “fac- moment in the life of humanity. mealtimes.” together with Ayóbami Okan- ing the truth that many of us It is rich in the possibilities for The Open Table Community lanwon and Martin Flood have been lied to about our his- change and maybe ‘I can’t Café regularly feeds around 20 recently led residents of Bas- tory”.