THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER. ESTABLISHED IN 1828 THE Speak, Brother spread the CHURCHOF message: ENGLAND p16 Kids Alive Newspaper bring the families back p11 NOW AVAILABLE ON NEWSSTAND FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014 No: 6241 ‘Vicar of Baghdad’ refuses to leave his post DESPITE CONCERN for his Asked by the BBC if he caretaker before he retired falls to IS forces, Canon safety, the ‘Vicar of Bagh- would advise his congrega- back to northern Iraq. White worries, there will be dad’, Canon Andrew White, tion to leave Baghdad he Writing in the Mail on ‘no hope for Christians. is refusing to leave his post. replied: “I have always said Sunday, Canon White said They are running out of Although suffering from to our people ‘I’m not gong he had just returned from places to go’. Multiple Sclerosis, Canon to leave you, you don’t leave making a secret visit to Canon White took White is remaining at St me’. Now I can’t say that any Qaraqosh. He said the town £300,000 with him to distrib- George’s Church in Bagh- longer. If I tell them not to stands 90 per cent empty ute relief to those in need. dad’s Red Zone. The church leave I’m saying ‘You’ve got and that the majority of the He has appealed for prayers has been damaged five times to be prepared to die for town’s 50,000 Christians and more financial support by bombs in the past three your faith’.” have fled. After confessing but he also now calls for mil- years. Anglican Communion that he had seen ‘countless itary action against the IS He told one news agency News Service reports Canon terrible things’ since he first and for Britain to be ready to that even in Baghdad people White saying that the child went to Iraq, he added: “But accept Christian refugees are terrified and that the he had baptised had been I have never witnessed any- from Iraq. Islamic State (IS) has estab- ‘cut in half’ by IS in the thing on the scale, or which “It is a terrible thing to lished hidden cells in the Christian town of Qaraqosh. has affected me quite so wish but I now believe that city that are making people On Friday, in an emotional dreadfully as on this visit to military action of some sort feel under threat. “The num- interview, he said the boy the north of Iraq.” is necessary, if only to ber of kidnappings has who he baptised only five He reported finding 30,000 reduce the movement of IS soared and people do not years ago had been named refugees in the Kurdish capi- tanks, their soldiers and know what is happening Andrew after him. The tal of Irbil, ‘forming a new their power and authority on next,” he said. father had been the church’s Christian suburb’. If Irbil the ground,” he wrote. Archbishop: We should welcome Iraqi asylum-seekers By Amaris Cole tians and other religious minorities are being killed and familiar in countries around the world, including Syria, face terrible suffering.” South Sudan and the Central African Republic,” he said THE ARCHBISHOP of Canterbury has joined calls for He added: “The international community must docu- last week. the UK borders to be opened for asylum seekers from ment human rights abuses being committed in north- The Archbishop is among many Twitter users to Iraq, fleeing the violence of the Islamic State. ern Iraq so that future prosecutions can take place. It is change his display picture to the Arabic symbol for ‘n’, The Most Rev Justin Welby said it is ‘extremely important and necessary for the international commu- in solidarity with the Nazarenes [Christians] being per- important’ that aid efforts are supported and that those nity to challenge the culture of impunity which has secuted. who have been displaced are able to find safety. allowed these atrocities to take place.” “We must continue to cry to God for peace and justice “I believe that, like France, the United Kingdom’s But he warned against forgetting that the events in and security throughout the world. Those suffering doors should be open to refugees, as they have been Iraq were actually ‘part of an evil pattern around the such appalling treatment in Iraq are especially in my throughout history.” world where Christians and other minorities are being prayers at this time.” The Archbishop said in a statement last week that killed and persecuted for their faith’. The statement drew praise from many commentators, what is being seen ‘violates brutally people’s right to “Only this week I received an email from a friend in including Damian Thompson in The Spectator, who freedom of religion and belief, as set out under Article Northern Nigeria about an appalling attack on a village, called it ‘brave and perfectly judged’. 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights’. where Christians were killed because of their faith in He wrote: “What an outstanding representative of Archbishop Welby said: “The horrific events in Iraq Jesus Christ. English Christianity he is turning out to be – in sorry rightly call our attention and sorroW yet again. Chris- “Such horrific stories have become depressingly contrast to his predecessor.” [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper THE 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday August 15, 2014 News Diocese of Chichester Chichester Diocese is running a special #HarvestFever twitter campaign to highlight harvest CHURCHIN festivals across Sussex. Mark Betson, Chichester Diocesan Rural Officer, said: “This is a perfect opportunity for our churches to involve the wider community and also to be part of a very special national project through WWW.aharvestnearyou.com.” Churches across the country are being encouraged to support Bring Home the Harvest campaign as part of next month’s British Food Fortnight, BFF, which encourages community organisations ENGLAND and schools to learn more about UK food and support British producers. Canon Dr Jill Hopkinson, the Church of England’s national rural officer, said: “Harvest Festival is not just a quaint tradition carried on by the rural church but an opportunity in the modern world to reconnect with food, farming and the countryside. Harvest Festival is also a time to have fun in praising God and to share food together.” Diocese of Lichfield Diocese of Southwell Lichfield Cathedral has announced the appointment of Jason Dyer as its and Nottingham new Commercial Development Director. Jason is currently the Development Director, and most recently the acting CEO, of Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott in Roxburghshire in the Scottish Borders. Mr Geoffrey Bond The duties for the new Director will include capital fundraising to finance OBE DL lights the the Cathedral’s ambitious £20m development plan. The Dean of Lichfield, eighth of 13 the Very Rev Adrian Dorber, commented: “Everyone who met Jason candles being lit during the selection process was impressed with his record of hourly in the nave achievement, his proven skill and professionalism, his warmth, of Southwell friendliness and approachability. He combines great financial and Minster, in commercial acumen with clear-sightedness about the Cathedral’s mission remembrance of and potential.” those lost in the First World War. He Diocese of Gloucester Diocese of Southwark recited the war The process has been The Rev Dr Sharon Prentis has been poem, ‘The Send- completed to enable the appointed as the Mission Support Officer Off’, by Wilfred Bishop of Tewkesbury, the for the Diocese. This is a new half-time Owen while Acting Rt Rev Martyn Snow, to take role and Dr Prentis will work with the Dean, Nigel Coates, up the duties of the Bishop Diocesan Missioner in helping to set up read out a list of of Gloucester in his and resource a group of advisers and local communities absence. It follows standard champions who will support parishes in affected by loss, procedure set out in church matters of parish development, church some of whom were legislation and is a process growth and work with children and young represented in the used on other occasions. As people. The Rev Canon Dr Stephen cathedral, which was stated this month, the Hance, who is the Canon Missioner for was followed by a Rt Rev Michael Perham has Southwark Diocese, said: “Sharon brings minute’s silence. stepped back from his role with her a wealth of experience of The first candle as Bishop of Gloucester. It education and training for those involved was lit during emerged last week that this in mission, and her strong research skills Evensong on is due to abuse allegations will be an asset to the team working with Sunday 3 August, that are now being the parishes as they shape their mission and the last ignited investigated by the police. for the future.” Dr Prentis will begin work at 8pm on the on Monday 15 September 2014. following day before all candles were Diocese of Manchester extinguished, Religious organisations around the country and indeed the world have reflecting the words been praying for an end to the violence in Gaza and Israel over the past of Sir Edward Grey: few weeks. A special prayer corner with an opportunity to light a candle ‘The lamps are has been opened to members of the public at Manchester Cathedral and going out all over St Ann’s Church in the city centre, encouraging the public to pray for Europe, we shall community relations in the city for a spirit of unity in the midst of the not see them lit horrific events in the Middle East over these past few weeks.