Network of churches and charities wins award
THE Prime Minister has given a Big Society Award to the Cinnamon
Network, a group of churches, social enterprises, and charities
which supports those in need. The Network provides grants of £2000
to any church that wants to start a recognised social-action
project. Mr Cameron said that it had made a "huge difference"
across the country. News
'Salacious' press criticised in transgender inquest
A CORONER considering the suicide of a transgender teacher told
the press "Shame on you," on Tuesday of last week. The Coroner,
Michael Singleton criticised the "sensationalist and salacious"
media response to Lucy Meadows, who killed herself after her gender
reassignment was picked up by the press. Ms Meadows had spoken to
the Press Complaints Commission about harassment, and about an
article in the Daily Mail questioning her right to
teach.
Church accused of delaying abuse inquiry
THE Church of England has been accused of delaying an
independent inquiry into allegations of abuse by the late Robert
Waddington, a former Dean of Manchester (
News, 17 May). Anne Lawrence, of Minister and Clergy Sexual
Abuse Survivors, said that the delay reflected a "defensive
institutional response". Another man told The Times this
week that Dean Waddington had abused him in the 1950s. A church
spokesman told the newspaper that the inquiry was a "high
priority".
Evangelicals back women leaders
IN A new survey of Evangelicals, most of the respondents agreed
that churches should have women in positions of leadership. The
report Life in the church?, by the Evangelical Alliance,
contains the findings of a survey of 1864 people, a third of whom
were Anglicans. All were members of a panel of 3000 Evangelicals
recruited by the Alliance to respond to regular polls.
Seventy-three per cent of those questioned agreed that women should
hold senior positions in the church; and 80 per cent agreed that
women should preach or teach. Of those who attended a church with a
single leader, 84 per cent said that this leader was a man.
Man sentenced for Winchester deanery arson
A MAN was sentenced to six months' imprisonment on Monday, after
pleading guilty to setting fire to the deanery of Winchester
Cathedral, and other sites, in January. Sean Clements admitted
three counts of arson when he appeared at Winchester Crown Court in
March.
Window smashed at Manchester Cathedral
A STAINED-glass window in the Regiment Chapel of Manchester
Cathedral has been smashed during a break-in, causing damage
estimated at £20,000. The break-in was discovered after the
cathedral's alarm went off on Saturday night.
Corrections: The official women observers were
not present at the last House of Bishops' meeting, as we stated in
last week's leader comment. Also, "option one" allows for the
provision for those who object to women bishops to be decided
before final approval of the main Measure. Also, Barbara Pym (
Features, 24 May) published eight novels in her lifetime, as we
stated, but four more were published posthumously. Our
apologies.