THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER. ESTABLISHED IN 1828 The Gospel Shining a light according to THE on the ‘dark Joseph, net’, p10,11 CHU RCHOF p7 ENGLAND Newspaper NOW AVAILABLE ON NEWSSTAND FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19/26, 2014 No: 6259 A happy and holy Christmas to all our readers, contributors and advertisers Our next edition will be published on 2 January, 2015 Libby Lane makes A PARISH PRIEST from from the dioceses of the North Thomas said: “Members of the Cchester hDioceseu was nramed cWest.h hisRefotrm neotwork wilrl be pyraying this week as the new Bishop of The Catholic Group in Synod, for the Rev Libby Lane and for Stockport. The Rev Libby Lane and Forward in Faith, both said the Diocese of Chester in the made history as she is the first they would be praying for her, light of the announcement. woman to be appointed to the but were cautious, noting the Whilst not surprised by this episcopate in the Church of implications for ecumenical appointment we are very con - England. relations. cerned about the strain it will Her appointment was greeted Canon Simon Killwick, Chair - put on local diocesan relation - with enthusiasm across the man of the Catholic Group in ships.” Church, and in the political General Synod, said: “In the He called on the Bishop of world. The Archbishop of Can - spirit of mutual respect and Chester to uphold the promises terbury said he was “absolutely flourishing for all in the Church made in July and “enable the delighted”, while the Prime of England, we offer our prayers many thriving conservative Minister said it was an “impor - and good wishes to Libby on evangelical churches in his Dio - tant day for equality.” her appointment as Bishop of cese to continue to serve their Her appointment came just Stockport. communities with theological weeks after General Synod final - “Naturally, we regret the integrity under the oversight of ly passed into law the right for implications for the wider unity a male bishop.” women to be considered for the of the worldwide Church.” The Archbishop of York episcopate. Speculation had The chairman of Forward in praised the appointment and been high that the first such Faith said: “Today’s announce - said he was looking forward appointment would be a dioce - ment is an inevitable conse - “with great joy” to consecrating san post, but the Bishop of quence of the legislation that her at York Minster on 26 Janu - Chester, the Rt Rev Peter was passed by the General ary next year. Forster, moved quickly to fill Synod. We are conscious that The Bishop of Chester said: the suffragan post in his diocese there will be enormous pres - “As the first woman bishop in that had been vacant since May. sure on the Rev Libby Lane as the Church of England she will land has appointed its first cant gifts to the College of Bish - The Rev Libby Lane has spent the first female bishop in the face many challenges as well as female bishop so soon after ops, particularly from her 21 most of her ministry in the Church of England. enjoying many opportunities to approving the legislation to years in parish ministry and her northern Province and trained “We send her our good wish - be an ambassador for Jesus allow this to happen. expertise in families, education for the ministry at Cranmer es and assure her of our prayers Christ. I have no doubt that she “I’m particularly delighted and hospital chaplaincy. Hall, Durham. Her husband, as she embarks upon this new has the gifts and determination that it is Libby Lane who has “I look forward to the continu - George, is a Chaplain at Man - ministry, while offering contin - to be an outstanding bishop.” been appointed, whom I have ing growth in women’s ministry, chester Airport and she was one ued support to those parishes, The Bishop of Lincoln, the Rt got to know a little as she has and the enormous benefits that of the women elected as Partici - clergy and people that are Rev Christopher Lowson said: “I recently been a participant will bring to the Church of Eng - pant Observers in the House of unable to receive it.” was delighted to receive the observer of the House of Bish - land.” Bishops, as the representative For Reform, the Rev Rod news that the Church of Eng - ops, and who will bring signifi - More on page 2 [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday December 19/26, 2014 News THE Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham Chainsaw artist Peter Leadbeater was commissioned to create a THEDIARY tree sculpture at Holy Trinity St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Hucknall recently. Send your events to CHURCH A community member paid for the commission when 24 trees cen@churchnewspaper IN .com had to be cut down around the church due to safety concerns. or Tweet @churchnewspaper Leadbeater carried out a pre-planned design on an eight-foot section of tree that will see God represented by an orb, an abstract ENGLAND Jesus, and a flying dove to represent the Holy Spirit. 19 December 7.30pm Star-studded per- formance of Handel’s Messiah to mark the 20th anniversary of Diocese of Chichester the Minster Chorale, A special centenary event meant to Southwell Minster, commemorate the famous Christmas football tickets £12 (£10 con- truce was held in Pershore Leisure Centre cessions and £5 stu- last Saturday. dents) from the On that fateful day in 1914, British soldiers Cathedral Shop – emerged from their trenches when they 01636 812933. heard their German opponents singing Silent Night, and the enemies called for ceasefire to play a friendly Christmas football match. 20 December Churches Together in Pershore has organised a service of commemorative carol 7.30pm Abbey Singers at St singing set to start at 2:30pm, as a part of the James’ Church, Den- national series of “Silent Night Carols.” ton Holme, Carlisle. Prince William has celebrated the series, saying: “Even at the bleakest of times, Christmas offers peace and hope. Silent Night 21 December carol services are a powerful way to remember the sacrifice made by so many in 6.30pm The world premiere the Great War and to celebrate the peace we performance of a enjoy today.” brand new choral work – A Hymn for Diocese of Durham Christmas Day – The Bishop of Jarrow, the Rt Rev Mark Bryant, and Lord Lieutenant of which was the win- Durham, Sue Snowdon, have praised a Peterlee centre that serves the needs of Diocese of Portsmouth ning entry in a nation- recovering drug and alcohol addicts. A 75-year-old grandfather has been awarded a al music competition The Durham County Council Public Health Recovery Academy is funded by top honour from the Christian Youth Work will be the highlight the NHS and utilises their own adapted version of the 12-step recovery Awards for his generous sharing of his of the Festival of Nine programme that has brought about a remarkable success rate of 60 per cent. passion for chess with young people in Lessons and Carols Dot Turton, Area Manager NECA, said: “The visit means so much. To have Portsmouth. by Candelight in Bris- people show an interest in their lives boosts their self-esteem and their David Smith was named as a joint winner for tol’s 800-year-old St confidence which ultimately helps their recovery.” Volunteer of the Year award at the London Mary Redcliffe ceremony on 4 December. David has Church. volunteered at the Charter Academy Diocese of Gloucester Breakfast Club in Southsea and other youth The Bishop of organisations to teach and play chess with 23 December Tewkesbury, the Rt young people. Rev Martyn Snow, and Ben Mizen, the youth and children’s work 7.30pm Christmas Carol members of his staff adviser for Portsmouth Anglican Diocese Service, Canterbury are pictured signing up explained the value of his contribution, saying: Cathedral. to Gloucestershire “His youth work is beautiful - he teaches and Credit Union at a plays chess with young people over breakfast - Barclays office in it embodies participation, respect and fun. He 24 December Gloucester as a part of is a shining example of how good senior Christmas Starts with figures can be in a youth work setting.” 11am Crib Service, Canter- Christ campaign, in bury Cathedral, support of greater 3pm Christmas Carol financial responsibility. Service (tickets only), Canterbury Cathedral. Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales Rt Revd Nick Baines, the Bishop of Leeds, visited an event in St Aidan’s Church in Harehills by the Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (PAFRAS), which provides 25 December refugees and asylum seekers with much-needed support. The organization puts on events to give these individuals necessary clothing, food, 9am Christmas service hardship payments, and administrative support. Organizers emphasized their severe need from Portsmouth for volunteers for the cause. Cathedral broadcast Christine Majid said: “We used to have two drop-ins a week, but can only afford to run one on BBC Radio 4. now, and yet the need is huge – they’re really packed in to the church hall each week. So we 11am Main Christmas are in desperate need of donations, volunteers and interpreters (particularly Arabic Eucharist, Canter- speakers).” bury Cathedral. (Preacher: The Arch- bishop of Canter- bury). Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales Christ Church in Harrogate has officially raised enough money to provide 166 parish workers in the Diocese of Kagera, Tanzania with their own, personal bikes. The workers will use these Diocese of Southwark 26 December bikes to reach isolated and vulnerable people in their region.