www.lancashire-telegraph.co.uk LANCASHIRE EVENING TELEGRAPH Wednesday, March 16, 2005 9 newsbriefs

Park railway is right on track

BURNLEY: The Thompson Park railway will restart this Easter. in Crossfire? Currently the miniature railway is being built but when completed, trains will run noon to 4pm every Sunday and bank holiday Monday until the end of September. For more information visit Modern www.bpmrs.org.uk. take on School success BURNLEY: Musical students at Towneley High School are journey celebrating after four bands based at the school won their sections at the Burnley of Christ Festival. By NICOLA MOTT Health date BURNLEY: A meeting of the A COLLECTION of paint- council’s housing and health ings of Jesus are due to be scrutiny committee will be held put up inside Blackburn at the Town Hall at 6.30pm Cathedral — and the artist tomorrow. today admitted they could “cause a stir.” The 15 unusual oil paintings — which give an alternative Farm van theft view of the traditional Stations of the Cross — will be posi- DUNNOCKSHAW: A white tioned around the cathedral on Ford Transit van was stolen Sunday. from Dunnockshaw Farm, And although 48-year-old Burnley Road. Penny Warden said she did not CAUSING A STIR? Penny Warden with her interpretation of the Stations of the Cross, at Blackburn Cathedral intend her modern art to shock, as a graduate in theology she accepted they could upset some people. Penny, from Berkshire, declined to reveal how much the paintings had cost, saying it would not be appropriate. She is hoping her work will bring new people to the cathe- dral and will give Blackburn national attention as the first to have a permanent exhibition on such a scale. She spent nine months produc- ing the paintings, which have been sponsored by local busi- nesses, schools and the Friends of Blackburn Cathedral, after being commissioned following a successful exhibition in the cathedral two years ago. Together the six-foot canvas paintings are called The Jour- ney and each one portrays a dif- ferent stage of Jesus’ last journey to the crucifixion, We’ve got the Angel of the tell the story of Christ’s last few including him being whipped North and I’d like to think of hours to a puzzled and agnostic and falling the first time, as well these modern Stations of the generation.” as his resurrection. Cross as ‘The Stations of the Deborah Moore, 45, of Each features a single faceless North’. Larkhill Flats, Blackburn, who figure and the usual cross from “So often you are told what to was visiting the cathedral yes- scenes of the crucifixion has look at in paintings of the Sta- terday, said: “They’re not offen- been omitted so that Jesus is tions of the Cross and nothing sive to me but I suppose I just the focal point. is left to the imagination. I hope feel more comfortable with the She said: “When I set out com- people will be able to relate to traditional portrayal of Christ. ing up with the ideas for the my paintings and come up with I feel closer to him to see him in paintings, I did not intend them their own feelings. the traditional way.” to shock people but I can see “They also place religious art But church-goer Frank Mer- that they could be seen as quite where it should be, and where it cer, 49, of Blackpool, said: “It’s controversial. always was — in religious not right. I don’t like them at “A lot of people might not like places.” all, in fact, I find them quite them but I am hoping this will Canon Andrew Clitherow, of offensive.” lead to me being commissioned Blackburn Cathedral, said: The Bishop of Burnley, John to do others both here and “This major exhibition of mod- Goddard said: “I welcome the across the world. ern art is probably the most idea of the cathedral being a “They are very challenging adventurous of its kind in any place for quality art and hope it and people won’t be able to English cathedral.” will help people to follow the ignore them. Christians who The Dean of Blackburn, the Christian devotion.” know the story will see it por- Very Reverend Christopher The Rev Peter Hapgood- trayed in a very modern way, it Armstrong, said: “The Stations Strickland of St Andrew’s CE, is very contemporary. And it will be of national significance Colne Road, Burnley said: “The will also challenge those who and complement the already stations of the cross are meant are not religious people. impressive stock of modern art to be though provoking. “I hope it will do great things at the cathedral. “Sometimes our thoughts are for Blackburn itself and bring “They will assist the cathedral set in one particular way and new people to the cathedral. in its missionary mandate to we need to be provoked.”