Worker found guilty of sexual abuse
OWEN BAXTER, aged 23, a former volunteer church-worker at St Matthew’s, Kingsdown, was sentenced to 12 years on Monday for sexually abusing children at the church. Bristol Crown Court heard how Mr Baxter “revelled” in assaulting victims and boasted about it online. Judge James Tabor QC described him as “predatory and opportunistic”. Mr Baxter, who has Asperger syndrome, was sentenced to six years in custody and six years on licence. The Revd Mathew Ineson, Priest-in-Charge of St Matthew’s, said that the church had “missed warning signs” in the case and would “have to live with that”.
Cameron calls for ‘full equality’ for gay people
THE leader of the Conservative Party has urged the Church of England to introduce full equality for gay people. Speaking in an interview in The Independent, Mr Cameron said: “I don’t want to get into a huge row with the Archbishop here . . . but the Church has to do some of the things that the Conservative Party has been through — sorting this issue out and recognising that full equality is a bottom-line, full essential.”
New name for Pilgrims’ Association
THE Pilgrims’ Association has changed its name to Cathedrals Plus. The organisation, whose members include most Church of England cathedrals and a number of RC cathedrals, including Westminster Cathedral, also has a new logo and strapline: “Engaging visitors in places of Christian worship”. It will hold its annual conference this year from 21 to 23 September at Gloucester Cathedral.
www.cathedralsplus.org.uk
Norwich Books and Music gains new distribution deal
NORWICH Books and Music, part of the Hymns Ancient & Modern group, which owns the Church Times, is to become the exclusive distributor of Church Publishing Incorporated (CPI) in Europe. CPI, publishes official worship materials, books, and music for the Episcopal Church in the United States. Its imprints include Morehouse and Seabury Books.