THEORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER. ESTABLISHED IN 1828 Church Armysaved me THE fromalifeofcrime p8 CHURCHOF ENGLAND Newspaper Whyweare afraid to invite peopletochurch NOW AVAILABLE ON NEWSSTAND p7 FRIDAY, JULY31, 2015 No:6290 Diocese of London gets LONDON COULD have 100 new worshipping commu- London’s Adviser for Church Planting and is also Tutor With the new money,itisplanned to accelerate the nities£within1five years,mthanks totagrantoof £1 million.stin Churach Plantingrtat St MellitusnCollege.ewHe will over-cratehof growth.urches The money is coming from the Church Commission- see the new project. The Bishop of London,RichardChartres, comment- ers and the Archbishops’ Council and willprovide The diocese already has achurchgrowth plan in ed: “Thereare so manyopen doors, thereare so many grants to new and developing church communities. place, called Capital Vision 2020, and since its inception willing Christian partners.This grant will enable us to Growth has been afeatureofthe Diocese of London, 20 new worshipping communities have been estab- translate the desireofthe Church in London to serve in contrast to its neighbour south of the River,the Dio- lished. our growing population with positive action to achieve cese of Southwark, with Usual Sundayattendance for Some of these have been in planting new congrega- our Capital Vision pledge to establish 100 new worship- Adults up 4.8 per cent in the 10 years to 2013. tionsinchurchbuildingsthathave beenclosed, while ping communities by 2020.” Last week the Rev Rick Thorpe was appointed the others have been on housing estates that arenot cur- The moneyiscoming from the Spending Task Group new Bishop of Islington; he is currentlythe Bishop of rently served by achurch. of the Commissionersand the Archbishops’ Council. Parish’s paintingAMprYSTERYpovainting thatedhas hungatin aLan- reasure cashirechurch for hundreds ofyears has been revealed as aRenaissance treasureworth at least £100,000. The identity of the painter was revealedafter an exhaustive investigation by the team from thehit BBC programme ‘Fake or Fortune’, which investi- gates the provenance of paintings in an attempt to prove whether they arereal or just fake. The identity of the artist was confirmed by experts as Francesco Montemezzano –a‘second- level’ Italian artist and contemporary of some of the greats such as Tinteretto and Titian. The current vicar of St John’s Church in Tunstall the Rev Mark Cannon, and the churchwarden Jane Greenhalgh wereinvolved in the programme and werefilmed showing presenters Fiona Bruce and renowned artexpertPhilip Mould, the uncleaned and unknown painting at the startofthe show and werethen seen with the fully cleaned and revived painting at theend of the programme, complete with attribu- tion. Philip Mould said: “The really wonderful thing is this painting was designed to hang in achurch, to tell astoryand communicate itself to a congregation and now,400 years later,cleaned and hanging in St John’s in Tunstall, with any luck it will do it again.” [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday July 31, 2015 News THE Diocese of Durham THEDIARY DurhamCathedral is hosting aseries of 20 family fun days in order to introduce children Send your events to to the Cathedral. [email protected] During Fabulous Fridays, one of the many or Tweet@churchnewspaper CHURCHIN themedactivities, children can use the Cathedral’s CuthbertExplorer Backpacks, replete with ‘discoverygadgets’ to learnabout 2August the life of St Cuthbert. Head of Education at Durham Cathedral, 2.30pm Teawith aTwist, with Ceilidh band, Govan- ENGLAND Charlotte Rowbotham said: “Thereis nen, Launde Abbey,£12 something to keep everyone entertained, while making sureatrip to the Cathedral is an engaging and informative experience.” 5August 1pm Jill Crossland, piano, in free coNcertatPeter- Diocese of Manchester borough Cathedral Diocese of Canterbury St John the Evangelist, Hurst, hosted ‘Magna Carta -AWork in 10 -15August Progress,’ toshowcase work done by pupils at St Peter’s School, St George’s CEP School in Wrotham woN Ashton-under-Lyne, West Hill School, Stalybridge, and sample the ‘Kent is Delicious’ food competition 10am ANnual jigsaw puzzle festival, East Cowes, St medieval food, ale, stocks and Churchbell music. with their ‘St GHealthy Lunchbox’. James Church, Church Path. Free, 01983 The event, designed for people to experience the context and The cross-partnership event between 294075 meaning of the Magna Carta, was afun-packed day wherepeople the Diocese of Canterbury’s had achance to design their own seals and charters and medieval Communities and Partnerships craft, which will go into St John’s first exhibition in its newly Framework and the Kent County 12 August designed church ‘heritage area’. Agricultural Society,Kent Farmers’ Market Association and Produced iN 1pm Nicola Hands, oboe, and Jonathan Pease, *Former maîtrechef des cuisines at the Savoy Hotel, Anton Kent,was designed to raise children’s piano in free concertatPeterborough Cathe- Edelmann, and former World Champion Sommelier,GerardBasset awareness of local produce. dral OBE, teamed up with Durham Cathedral, to offerguests aGeorgian Canon CaroliNePinchbeck, Director of gourmet feast, inspired by John Thacker’s ArtofCookery(1758). theDiocese of Canterbury’s Communities and Partnerships 14 August *Manchester Cathedrals People’sChoice exhibition has Framework said: “They showed real announced Kathryn Skeldon as the winner,with her photo on the knowledge of their ingredients and had 7.30pm AconcertbyThe King’s Men, Bethersden Cathedral nave, titled ‘Architecture’. clearly enjoyed thewhole experience. St Margaret. Tickets £12 ‘Capturethe Cathedral’,aphotographic exhibition drew in 1,200 “Congratulations too to the other votes. Kathrynsaid: “I felt happy that my photo had captured a finalists who all worked so hardand gave moment that Ihad enjoyed whilst insidethe Cathedral, and that us some fantastically tasty,local lunches 19 August others wereable to sharethat moment with me through my to try.” photo.” 1pm Chloe Sayywell, soprano, and Stephenie Leung, piano, in free concertatPeterbor- ough Cathedral Diocese of Salisbury Diocese of York Summer organ recitals will take place 26August The Rev Chris Colledge hasbeen awarded aBritish Citizen Awardfor at York Minster.Last weekend was his contribution to theBournemouth local community. first in aseries of Saturday evening 1pm In Nomine Domini, vocalensemble in free Chris worked withdog-assist charity,Caring Canines, visited a recitals running in the Cathedral concertatPeterborough Cathedral nursing homeand supported residents. Chris also formed the West Cliff Quire,until 29 August. NeighbourhoodWatch Scheme, the West Cliff Green Residents As of nextweek, the organists are Association and has organised communitylitter picks, as well as as follows: 1August -Francesca 31 August assisting the Dorset Police and CrimeCommissioner with Community Massey,Sub-Organist of Durham Forums and engagements. Cathedral, 8August -John Scott 11amFun Day at Launde Abbey.Includes Classic Chris is associatepriest at St Ambrose Church, Westbourne and St Whiteley,Organist Emeritus of York Cars and Model Railways to arts andcrafts, Francis Church, Charminster. Minster,15August -Daniel Cook, acar boot saleand an array of colourful Speaking about his nomination, he said: “I was extremely shocked to Sub-Organist of Westminster Abbey, stalls and games. £2 entry find out. With that said Idohave ahuge sense of pride for this honour – 22 August -Peter Wright, Organist Inever thought anythinglike this could happen to someone like me. I and Director of Music at Southwark simply do whatIdo, to give back to thecommunity to buildabetter and Cathedral, 29 August -RobertSharpe, 1September closer environment foreveryone to live in.” Director of Music at York Minster. 1.30pm ‘Feed My Sheep’, the annualJunior Anglican Diocese of Liverpool Evangelical Conference, Kings Park Confer- ence Centre, Northants (until 3September), £130, £30 for day visitors St Bride’s, on Percy Street, Toxteth, offered acommunity 2September HIV testing drop-in on Monday,the first 1pm Chris Lloyd, piano, and Katy Ovens, flute, in in aseries. free concertatPeterborough Cathedral Cate Jacobs, who is achurchwarden at St Bride’s said: “The 12 September acceptance and inclusivity of St Bride’s arereally 1pm PietroRoffi, accordion in free concertat important when Peterborough Cathedral people living with HIV canstill experience judgment 13 October -23February or feel silenced within faith 1pm Science, Faith and God:The Big Questions. communities.” Prof Alister McGrath lectures on ‘From Wonder to Understanding’ at Barnard’sINN Hall, EC1N 2HH. Free [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday July 31, 2015 News 3 Synod ‘put environment Newforms of unity proposed,but issue on the ofwomen’s ordination is keychallenge THEagenda’YORK SYNOD succeed- APLEA FOR UNITY between “ThisInternational Congress ed in putting environmental Catholic and evangelical Angli- prays also that in God’s good concerns at the top of the cans has come from aconfer- Bishop Keith providence there willbeatruly Church’s agenda. ence sponsoredbyForwardin Ackerman Ecumenical Council of the That was the conclusion of Faith North America. whole Church to address con- the Environmental Adviser to But the statement said that for tentious issues facing Christians the Archbishops’ Council. unity with evangelicals, the