*** DEBUG START ***
*** DEBUG END ***

UK news in brief

by
23 May 2014

BISHOP’S PALACE, WELLS

Tamed: Dracmere, a ten-metre willow dragon-sculpture by Angela Morley, is to leave the Bishop's Palace at Wells early next month, after three years at the end of a "dragon trail" in the palaces's arboretum

Tamed: Dracmere, a ten-metre willow dragon-sculpture by Angela Morley, is to leave the Bishop's Palace at Wells early next month, after three years ...

Glencore praised by EIAG secretary

EDWARD MASON, secretary to the Ethical Investment Advisory Group, which advises the Church Commissioners, praised Glencore for the improvement in its environmental standards at the company's annual general meeting on Tuesday, The Independent has reported. Its article, "Is it wrong to buy Glencore shares?", reports that the company has been criticised by NGOs, including Christian Aid, which last month raised concerns about tax-evasion and -avoidance allegations against Mopani Copper Mines plc, a Zambian company largely owned by GlencoreXstrata (News, 4 April).

Vicar 'feels no animosity' towards stranger who throttled him

A VICAR in Lancashire was throttled by a stranger who asked him when Jesus would return, the Blackpool Gazettereported on Monday. The Vicar of Kirkham, the Revd Richard Bunday, was attacked by John Dally in a shop queue after telling him that the answer was "complicated". Mr Dally admitted a charge of assault at Preston Magistrates' Court. Mr Bunday said: "I have no feelings of animosity towards him at all. I'm sure he had his reasons - or maybe doesn't understand himself why he did it."

New chief executive for LGCM

THE new chief executive of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement will be Tracey Byrne, it was announced on Thursday of last week. Ms Byrne, who will take up the post on 2 June, has worked for the probation service and with charities supporting young people in need of educational support. She became involved in LGBT issues when studying for an M.Th. at the University of Oxford. She lives in Nottinghamshire with her partner, Sandy.

Lay ministry 'not about helping the vicar'

LAY ministry is not about helping the vicar - at least not in the view of many of the laity in St Albans diocese, a new survey suggests. More than 1500 responses from lay people were gathered in a survey carried out for the diocese this month. When asked what they understood by "lay ministry", respondents agreed that it covered leading intercessions, supporting a troubled work colleague, and taking a housebound neighbour to the hairdresser. More than three-quarters disagreed with the statement that it was "mainly about helping the vicar". A total of 82 per cent agreed that the thought of serving God "excites and motivates me".

 

Browse Church and Charity jobs on the Church Times jobsite

Forthcoming Events

Women Mystics: Female Theologians through Christian History

13 January - 19 May 2025

An online evening lecture series, run jointly by Sarum College and The Church Times

tickets available

 

Festival of Faith and Literature

28 February - 2 March 2025

tickets available

 

Visit our Events page for upcoming and past events 

Welcome to the Church Times

 

To explore the Church Times website fully, please sign in or subscribe.

Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month. (You will need to register.)