THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER. ESTABLISHED IN 1828 THE CHURCHOF ENGLAND Newspaper The devastating Tackling the life of a slave, obesity crisis, p8 NOW AVAILABLE ON NEWSSTAND p15 FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014 No: 6212 Charities concerned over soap storyline By Amaris Cole ing with illnesses or disabilities. people have to fear their loved ones Nola Leach, Chief Executive of being prosecuted simply for helping MONDAY NIGHT saw the death of CARE, said: “Each person and their them have control over the end of one of Soap’s best-loved characters, family going through a terminal ill- their own life. It is about a dying per- Hayley Cropper, who decided to end ness will experience different levels son making their own decision and her battle with cancer. of pain, support, emotions and com- we should respect their wishes,” While many felt Coronation Street plications. It is important to remem- she said. dealt with the contentious issue sen- ber that one television drama “This storyline has come at a time sitively, others question whether portrayal will not be able to reflect when Lord Falconer will be intro- such a programme should tackle a all these experiences, but it is criti- ducing an assisted dying Bill in the topic of this scale. cal that the issue of suicide is dealt House of Lords that would allow ter- Some campaign groups also with sensitively to protect vulnera- minally ill, mentally competenT peo- raised concerns about the message ble people and minimise the risk of ple to have an assisted death. We this plotline sent out to the terminal- imitating suicidal behaviour.” need to reframe this debate. The ly ill. However, the Rev Canon Rosie question is not around the choice to CARE, a Christian charity that Harper, who is a member of the live or die. works in public policy areas, group Interfaith Leaders for Dignity “With or without assistance the believes life should be valued by in Dying, said that Coronation Street terminally ill person will of course society regardless of any illness or has highlighted what some people die. disability that a person may have. in Britain have to go through in the “The choice is about the manner The group worries that a change in absence of an assisted dying law, of our death. This is what Hayley Hayley and the law to permit assisted suicide and credits ITV for the ‘immense made clear and why I am glad that Roy in would threaten that and could lead care’ in handling the issue. people from all different walks of life Coronation to discrimination against people liv- “It is not right that terminally ill can discuss this important issue.” Street New report reveals key priorities for church growth By Amaris Cole attendance from 13.8 per cent of those cerned Fresh Expressions. For every one person sent to starT a aged 80 and above. These relatively new worshipping and Fresh Expression, 2.6 more people join, KEEPING YOUNG people in England’s Dr David Voas, Professor of Population witnessing communities, thaT are reach- the reporT says. churches could be the answer to the Studies at the University of Essex, who ing those who may have been previously Researchers measured growth over ‘very lengthy period of slow decline’, carried out parT of the study, undertook unreached by the church, were where the lifetime of the group, ranging from new research published last week sug- the data analysis strand of the research. growth is found today. 20 years to three, and found that in 66 gests. Dr Voas explained last week that if peo- Leaders of Fresh Expressions were per cent of cases, the Fresh Expression Findings from the Church Growth ple belong to the church in their 20s, interviewed by telephone using a pre-set carried on growing or maintained research programme were released last they will probably stay in Church for the questionnaire. growth. week at a conference held in London, rest of their lives. “The religious practice Dr George Lings of Church Army led Only 10 per cent of Fresh Expressions attended by Diocesan representatives and identities people have in their mid- this strand of the research, reporting died. and the report’s authors. 20s tend to stay with them through the back that in seven of the 11 Dioceses The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke Only 1.4 per cent of 20 – 24-year-olds rest of their lives. If you lose them in they looked at, the increase of Fresh to delegates via a video message, saying attend church once a month. their early 20s, it can be very difficult to Expressions congregations was greater the Church had to ‘face the fact that in The percentage increases as the age get them back.” than the overall decline of churches as a the last century numbers have fallen by bands increase, with churches enjoying The good news story of the reporT con- whole. one per cent a year’. [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper THE 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday January 24, 2014 News YORK WAKEFIELD SALISBURY CHURCHIN A communion service set Salisbury Cathedral, home to the to the music of Les Wakefield Cathedral is named finest of the four surviving Miserables was held at “as a relaxed place to worship, original Magna Carta 1215 has York Minster at 7.30pm with positive contemplative been awarded initial support on Sunday 19 January. atmosphere, and friendly and from the Heritage Lottery Fund ENGLAND Led by Transcendence, a supportive staff” in the latest (HLF) to help prepare for the team that holds a regular report on church growth in the UNESCO listed document’s Multimedia Eucharist at Church of England. The report 800th anniversary celebrations in York Minster, this finds Wakefield as a shining 2015. Plans are being advanced service featured prayers example with a 20 per cent to re-display and re-present the and hymns set to the increase in the last five years Cathedral’s Magna Carta in the tunes from the famous and highlights its Chapter House alongside other BRISTOL musical. The Rev Sue refurbishment, fresh documents from the Cathedral’s St Mary Redcliffe Church has become the Wallace, who preached at expressions of church, warmth extensive archive. Martin Field, latest to open its doors for foodbank the service, helped found of ministry and welcome and Deputy Chapter Clerk and donations. The vicar, the Rev Dan Transcendence with the wide-reaching education Development Director said: “The Tyndall, pictured, said his church was Rev Jeremy Fletcher and programme as contributory ‘Great Charter’ has inspired and collecting food for them once a month a group from the Visions factors. The Dean of Wakefield, influenced people to stand up for but, in view of the growing need, multimedia arts the Very Rev Jonathan Greener, justice and freedom around the collections are now every Sunday. “We are collective. Sue was a said: “The cathedral has been globe and across the ages. looking beyond ourselves as a church vicar in York from 2006 working hard in recent years to People will be able to come to community and seeking to address the to 2010, and will soon be reach out to new people, and it Salisbury and experience for very real issues on our doorstep,” he said. leaving her post at Leeds is great that this has been themselves the extraordinary “St Mary Redcliffe sits on the edge. On Minster to become recognized by the wider sway the ideas expressed in this the one hand we gather people from Canon Precentor at Church.” document continue to hold.” across the city for worship – but generally Winchester Cathedral. from the more well-off end!” St Mary Redcliffe Church is open to receive donations of non-perishable, in-date food between 8am and 8pm on Sundays. ELY A special service to pray for farmers in the area and for farming communities around CAMBRIDGE of Trinity Hall, as he the world was held in St Nicolas Church, Hail Weston in the Diocese. The Bishop of held the position of Ely, the Rt Rev Stephen Conway, joined by farmers and their families, blessed an The Rev Dr Jeremy Dean at the College early 20th century plough that had been brought into the church. Bishop Stephen Morris MA DPhil from 2001-2010. said: “Plough Sunday is a welcome opportunity to give thanks to God for our farmers FRHistS has been Amongst his Church of and their vocation to provide our food. It is also exciting to celebrate the development elected to succeed England commitments, of farming technology from the horse-drawn plough to GPS-guided machinery.” Professor Martin he is deputy chair of Daunton as the 44th the Church of Master of Trinity Hall. England’s Faith and Dr Morris will take up Order Commission, his role in October and Director of the 2014. Dr Morris is Archbishop’s currently Dean, Examination in Fellow, and Director of Theology. Studies in Theology at Commenting on his King’s College, election Dr Morris Cambridge. He has said he is ‘delighted already been a Fellow and deeply honoured’. DURHAM The Rt Rev Mark Bryant, Bishop of Jarrow, has been honoured with an ‘Award for Meritorious Service’ for his service to Chaplaincy in the North East of England. The award was presented by Wing Commander Dave Harrison in a short ceremony at the Blaydon headquarters of 1509 squadron on Thursday 9 January. The Rev Captain Simon Cake, ATC chaplain and a clergyman in the Diocese of Durham, said: “Bishop Mark was given this award for the fantastic work he has done in the Durham and Northumberland wing in support of helping us find chaplains for the units within the wing and also for his support of youth work in the ATC.” [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday January 24, 2014 News 3 INBRIEF A woman bishop Boost for Church’s credit union plans before Christmas? CHURCH OF ENG- The Archbishop sat on more competitive and LAND support for the Parliamentary community-based By Amaris Cole “The draft Declaration has allocated most of the credit unions has Banking Commission financial service sec- now contains transitional Tuesday for the various received an important that called Sants as a tor.