www.oxford.anglican.org March 2018 No. 300 thedoor Tim discovers community organising page 11 Win a book see centrespread the Door – have your say page 3 Meet Margot Hodson page 16 Churches to reflect on ‘life in all its fullness’ By Jo Duckles THE Bishop of Oxford is calling on Christians across the diocese to join him in reflecting on the story of the raising of Lazarus this Lent. The Rt Revd Steven Croft is encouraging everyone to read the story, told in John 10 and 11. He has written Abundant Life – a series of 21 reflections, also available as podcasts, to accompany the Bible readings. The Abundant Life resources are accompanied by a verse and response style prayer and the piece of artwork pictured, which was created by Oxford based artist, Tom Bower. The booklet is selling like hot cakes. A fun companion booklet, GodVenture through the Life Of Lazarus, complete with stickers, is being used by 2,000 families. It comes hot on the heels of Exploring the Beatitudes – a three session course launched late last year. 4,000 copies have already been ordered with more than 300 small groups using the resource. In a recent blog, Bishop Steven wrote: “Lent began in the early Church as 40 days of preparation time for new Christians to prepare for baptism at Easter. The whole Church started to keep this 40 days to go back to the heart of the gospel and walk with the candidates as they prepared for this life-changing moment. “Christians give up things for Lent as a spiritual discipline, remembering the 40 days Jesus fasted in the wilderness. © 2018 Tom Bower: www.tombower.co.uk We also take on spiritual exercises to go deeper in our faith.” He said: “The story of Lazarus stands or rich or famous. Life in all its fullness Read Bishop Steven’s full blog here: at the very centre of the Gospel of John. is to live a life which is contemplative, blogs.oxford.anglican.org/getting-ready-for-lent/ In the story, Jesus lives out what it means compassionate and courageous.” Order your copies of Exploring the Beatitudes and Abundant to live the abundant life he talks about In a review, the Revd Graham Sykes Life: store.oxford.anglican.org in John 10.10: life in all its fullness. This praises both the simplicity and depth of abundant life is not about being busy Abundant Life. (See page five.) 2 News Volunteers helping keep thousands safe in our churches By Jo Duckles computer in our practice, so I understand aware of what can happen. It’s important volunteers on the books of St Aldate’s, child protection and safeguarding. everyone uses their eyes and ears. Jenny keeps a database, an Excel “That helps me in overseeing the 40 to Observation is so important.” spreadsheet, to keep up to date with DEDICATED volunteers are working 45 people involved in youth and children’s Jenny Lee is the PSO for St Aldate’s, a safeguarding checks. hard to ensure the safety of children and work in our parish.” That includes the huge church in the centre of Oxford that “It’s very important to keep our vulnerable people in our churches. volunteers for Messy Church and those attracts people of all ages, but has a major children and vulnerable adults safe. A big Parish Safeguarding Officers work involved with RE Inspired. They are ministry to students. church is a complex organisation and it’s with their parish teams to ensure that working on ensuring that something Her role includes working out who, a complex task to make sure we make it everyone in our churches is kept as safe is written and recorded regarding each out of a volunteer body of 100s of people, as safe as possible for everyone. It’s about as possible. They provide a link between volunteer’s individual role. needs to be DBS checked. In cases where making sure all of our churches have good the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and the answer is not clear, Jenny will contact processes.” each parish, implementing safeguarding It’s about making sure all the diocesan safeguarding advisor, John procedures, promoting safe working Nixson, who can offer advice. “Luckily, we of our churches have good practices and training and responding to “ have had no serious concerns at all, at least Read more about safeguarding: safeguarding concerns. processes.” in the seven years I’ve been in this role. oxford.anglican.org/ The need for robust safeguarding “There are always at least 100 safeguarding-protecting-others/ processes was highlighted at the recent volunteers for our children’s church and CofE General Synod, where leading clergy Jane is also on hand to listen to any with a mobile population, especially with Meet the safeguarding team: gave updates on how the national Church safeguarding concerns and keep an eye on the students, 50 might change every oxford.anglican.org/mission- is making major improvements to prevent relationships between groups of people, year. We also have a turnover of 12 to 15 ministry/safeguarding/ cases of abuse. particularly younger people. interns every year.” Trained nurse, Jane Fulford, is the “It’s about encouraging parents and “Some of our ex-offenders may need Read the presentations made to PSO for Southlake St James, Woodley, helping them if they have concerns. additional conditions around what they General Synod here: tinyurl.com/ in Berkshire. Working in a team, Jane Children can also come to me if they have can and can’t attend. For these we have yaqt3cv8 oversees the DBS checks for her parish, concerns but I must say that if appropriate, contracts which are reviewed every ensuring that the necessary paperwork is if I think they could be in danger, I may three months. We liaise with police and Call the diocesan safeguarding up to date. “I worked in General Practice for have to share what they tell me. probation services about these members team on 01865 208290 or 587041. many years. I was the person who entered “Safeguarding is vital. Most of the of our congregation.” details of any family concerns into the time everything is fine, but we must be With the high number of staff and Lottery grant stops St Mary’s roof caving in AN initial £30,300 Heritage Lottery At the same time, the church plans to Fund grant has been awarded for the next replace its 1980s glass doors, making the phase of work to save St Mary’s, Banbury, building more accessible, and to produce Oxfordshire, the largest parish church to a new, updated guidebook. A team of 10 be built in England in the 18th century. volunteers will be trained up to give tours The grant will fund investigations of the historic building. paving the way for major repairs to be The Revd Philip Cochrane, the Vicar, carried out next year. St Mary’s is at the said: “The grant for the first stages of the heart of its community, used by many next round of repairs is great news, but different town groups and hosting it is just the next stage in a long, ongoing concerts and other events as well as programme which will span a good number services. It is Banbury’s only Grade I of years. St Mary’s is Banbury’s cathedral. historic building, and is one of the town’s We need to get these urgent repairs done most important tourist attractions, so that the building is weatherproof and welcoming 20,000 visitors a year. where we can work on making it accessible Banburians rallied round in 2015 and a comfortable place to better serve the to raise £60,000 to deal with a serious community in the years to come.” outbreak of dry rot, helped by a £110,000 A funding application will take place grant from the coalition Government’s once St Mary’s has started to progress the Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair plans. From there the Heritage Lottery Fund. Further work is now needed to Fund may decide to award £250,000 for stop the rot threatening the chancel with the whole of the necessary works to be Artwork at St Mary’s Church, Banbury. Photo: Terence Heng/St Mary’s PCC its irreplaceable wall paintings showing completed. Christ and his disciples. banburystmary.org.uk Governor steps down after 30 years TELEVISION presenter turned artist Timmy Mallett has Headteacher to become HIGH Wycombe Church of Photo: High Wycombe CE School received a special blessing England School said farewell from the Bishop of Oxford, the Berkshire’s new parish to its longest serving governor, Rt Revd Steven Croft, for his David Copcutt, recently. David forthcoming pilgrimage. development advisor has served the school for more Timmy, who lives in the than 30 years. During that Cookhams, in Berkshire, is set A HEADTEACHER is leaving his recently as the headteacher at time, he has taken on a wide to get on his bike next month career in education to join the Aldermaston CE Primary School. variety of roles. David, who to pedal the 2,000km (1,500 mission team at the Diocese of Rhodri is a member of St attends St James’, Downley, and mile) Camino Way to Santiago Oxford. Nicolas Church, Newbury, was involved with designing de Compostela. He donned his Rhodri Bowen, currently the where he particularly enjoys and building the church, has cycling gear and along with his headteacher at Aldermaston CE contributing to the music brought particular expertise to wife Linda, and some friends, School, will become the PDA for (playing guitar, drums, mandolin maintaining and developing the travelled to Oxford’s Christ Berkshire on April 16.