The Diocese of Lichfield Magazine May/June 2016 “I was at St Andrew’s, Church “Another thing the team has Aston recently, sharing a got involved with is a visit Dementia Friends Sunday by The Alzheimer’s Society’s service with the congregation Roadshow Bus to Newport next there.” says Sarah Thorpe, month, publicising it locally and Lichfield Diocese’s Dementia arranging for people to help Support Worker in the on the day, giving out leaflets Shrewsbury Area. around town telling shoppers that the bus will be there. “I had good conversations with a number of people who “These are all great practical have first-hand experience of Sarah Thorpe with her father Theo ways of taking steps forwards. dementia: our Dementia Friends who himself lives with dementia Inspired by the way things are services are so important in moving forwards at St Andrew’s, giving space for it to be named in our churches, I wonder whether there is an obvious next step allowing people to share their experiences.” you could take you can take in your church. ‘Forget me not Time Dementia Friends Together’ sing-along Hilary Griffin and the Revd Leonie Wheeler are “‘Forget me taking a lead in helping St Andrew’s to be a not Time more dementia-friendly church at the heart of a Together’ is a dementia-friendly community in Church Aston. new group in They came to a recent four-session ‘Dementia- Whitchurch. I Friendly Churches’ course as well as our joined them ‘Dementia-Friendly Memory Boxes’ Workshop. one afternoon, Items for St Andrew’s sharing Memory Box colouring, jigsaws, singing and tea. There’s a warm welcome the moment you come in, there’s music playing in the background and there are name badges for everyone. People are free to look at books or get involved with jigsaws or colouring, or simpy to chat. And there’s a different main activity each time the group meets – such as singing, art or craft, or some- times baking or making. continues on p5 -> TGI Monday launch - online and on BBC Songs of Praise Ros said: “Former Chief Rabbi The TGI Monday Mission Statement is: Simon Jones, Bishop’s Chaplain & Lord Sachs recently won the Communication Officer, who previ- £1.1m Templeton Prize and TGI Monday seeks to be a safe place for anybody to ask ously spent twenty years as a TV said ‘We are trying to work questions on Christian faith and spirituality wherever sound recordist, oversees all the out how we can speak to they are in their faith journey, from people who are technical aspects also occasionally this You Tube short-atten- curious about Christianity through to those with many providing a lay, non-theologian’s tion-span generation which years in the pew. We offer perspectives from across perspective to the discussions. nonetheless have hearts of the Anglican tradition from Evangelical to Catholic, “Through the internet and new tech- gold and are waiting for a Conservative to Liberal, because we believe that the nology, people can peer in and gain positive altruistic message.’ church is a family and we all have something important insight into of our Christian faith, in all Well, this is our answer.” to learn and to share. Using the latest social media its glorious Anglican variety from the technology, we want to engage your honest questions comfort of their phone or laptop” (l-r) Songs of Praise’s Connie Fisher with TGI team Zoe, Hywel , Dan and Ros In May, BBC Songs of Praise with our honest reflections in order to deepen faith TGI Monday is a weekly online chat show came to check out the project and open further discussion. We are not about church Since its launch, TGI Monday has featuring a panel of Christians, including and presenter, Connie Fisher, appeared as a politics or arguments, but life following Jesus. featured in the Church Times, BBC clergy and a theologian, answering questions guest on the show. Local Radio, the Church of England’s sent in by viewers. Revd Hywel Snook, vicar of Christ Church, Little Podcast, the Archbishop Cranmer blog and even On the Drayton, said: “We agreed to do a three month the Spectator magazine! After a successful three-month trial, reaching day he was trial, and we’ve just been blown thousands of viewers, the show has now announced as away by the response. So many “Former Chief Rabbi Lord Sachs recently said ‘We launched and already caught the attention of the next Bishop questions have come in that are trying to work out how we can speak to this You- the national church and media. of Lichfield, the we’ve started doing TGI Extras, Tube short-attention-span generation which none- Right Reverend giving short answers to ques- theless have hearts of gold and are waiting for a A venture from the Diocese of Lichfield's Online Dr Michael tions we don’t have time to cover Pastor, Dr Ros Clarke, TGI Monday is filmed at Ipgrave came on the show.” positive altruistic message.’ Well, this is our answer.” Little Drayton church in Shropshire, and uses to meet and be interviewed by the TGI Monday online media to reach out beyond the pews and team. [The interview is available at www. into everyday life. Viewers are invited to send in youtube.com/watch?v=DHse7i0X_84] their questions on any aspect of life and faith, for a panel from Lichfield Diocese which repre- Revd Zoe Heming is a curate in Shropshire. She sents a broad range of Christian views within said “We don’t always agree with each other the Church of England. and that is a strength of the show. “Being a Christian is open to everyone, whoever you are, whatever your background or life www.TGImonday.show circumstances.” Revd Dan Stork Banks is a curate in six rural parishes in Shropshire. He said “People watch because we offer something spontaneous, unpolished and authentic - something you can trust. On TGI Monday we answer real questions, Ask your questions about faith and spirituality sharing what the church has to offer in Jesus Christ.” Find the TGI Monday Show online at www.TGIMonday.show or on Facebook at www.CofE.io/TGImonday Follow us on Twitter @Lichfield_CofE 2 Regular updates on our website www.lichfield.anglican.org 3 Join our Facebook Group “The Church of England’s Diocese of Lichfield” New Ecumenical school Dementia Friends Holy Trinity Academy, the new joint <- continued from p1 “What struck me was the Sarah has been Roman Catholic/Church of England friendly informality, with working closely secondary school in Priorslee, is everyone enjoying a lovely relaxed afternoon with David Latcham, now open. Bishop Mark Davies of together. With dementia, it’s all too easy for Information Worker Shrewsbury RC Diocese and Bishop people to feel lonely and isolated, embarrassed for Alzheimer’s Mark Rylands, Anglican Bishop of to go out. An Alzheimer’s Society survey of Society in Telford. Shrewsbury officiated in a service people living with dementia confirmed that 61% affirming the three central values of feel lonely and 44% say they’ve lost friends. And “It’s been really faith, unity and aspiration. a Carers UK survey tells us that 83% of carers exciting to support have felt socially isolated as a result of their Sarah in her work David Latcham, Information Holy Trinity Academy opened its doors caring responsibilities.” to grow dementia Worker for Alzheimers Society in to pupils in September 2015 and forms friendly churches.” Telford the first co-ecumenical school within Josie Edwards, co-ordinator for St Matthew’s says David. the West Midlands. Church, Donnington Wood with a local residen- tial home for adults with complex needs, was a “Dementia Friendly Communities are an impor- Both the Catholic Diocese of reluctant participant on the ‘Dementia-Friendly tant part of my role, and I have seen both the Angus Neal (headteacher of the newly-opened Holy Trinity Shrewsbury and the Anglican Diocese Academy) with Rt Revd Mark Rylands (Anglican Bishop of Churches’ course, but was encouraged to go great opportunity that churches have to care for of Lichfield have been instrumental in the Shrewsbury and Rt Revd Mark Davies (Roman Catholic Bishop of by her vicar, the Revd Paula those with dementia, and formation of the school. The joint enterprise Shrewsbury Smith. But she immediately the great desire that church not only welcomes students from a Christian Headteacher Angus Neal in his welcome connected with something members have for making faith background but also reflects the cultural address said “The common prayer symbolises she heard. that opportunity a reality. diversity of the local population with students that whilst we, as a community, come from a Sarah’s vision for churches from a variety of different religious and cultural wide ranging, culturally rich background we also “Sarah talked about going is impressively comprehen- backgrounds. share the commonality of faith and are united in to meet people where they sive, from sensitive pastoral ensuring that this can are – crossing the bridge care and accessible build- “We aim to deliver the highest possible educational be freely expressed to their world – rather ings through to connecting experience for students aged 11-18 through a caring and nurtured than trying to drag them through services and with throughout the back into ours” says Josie. the wider community and supportive Christian ethos.” Holy Trinity Academy community here at “It made so much sense. I networks. Holy Trinity Academy.” met one man with a set of (rather rusty) lapel badges “On a personal level, I have “As a school we firmly believe in allowing in a tin.