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UK news in brief

by
31 October 2014

AP

War hero: Sir Nicholas Winton, aged 105, who rescued 669 children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, receives the Czech Republic's highest decoration, the Order of the White Lion, from the Czech president, Milos Zeman, in Prague, on Tuesday. Of German-Jewish parents who moved to London in 1907, he was baptised in the Church of England

War hero: Sir Nicholas Winton, aged 105, who rescued 669 children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, receives the Czech Republic's highest decoratio...

Volunteers celebrated at Lambeth Palace

A YEAR of celebrations for Christian work in the night-time economy was launched at Lambeth Palace on Monday. More than 40 people attended an afternoon tea reception organised by the CNI (Christian Nightlife Initiatives) Network, paying tribute to volunteers including Street Angels.


Bells ring out in memory of Alan Henning

THE bells of St Mary the Virgin, Eccles, rang out for almost an hour on Sunday afternoon, in tribute to Alan Henning, the British volunteer aid-worker murdered by the IS (News, 10 October). The Vicar, the Revd Cyprian Yobera, told the Manchester Evening News: "It was very poignant and very moving. You could hear them for miles." Money raised through a collection to support his wife, Barbara, and their two children, was handed to his nephew.


RCs get green light to eat turkey leftovers

ROMAN CATHOLICS have been reassured by the RC Church's Liturgy and Worship Department that they can eat meat on Boxing Day, despite its falling on a Friday - traditionally a day when they abstain, as an act of penance. A statement from the department said that Boxing Day was "a special day when, uppermost in our hearts, and contextual of our celebrations, is that instinctive sense of wonder at the incarnation of our saviour Jesus Christ; the meaning of the love, joy, and peace we all crave at Christmas".


Killer of Shereka Marsh sentenced

THE teenager who killed Shereka Marsh, a pupil at the C of E Urswick School, was sentenced to nine years' detention for her manslaughter, on Monday. Shereka, also 15, was shot by a counterfeit pistol in Hackney in March (News, 4 April). The judge, Charles Wide QC, said that it was clear that the boy had been pointing the gun at Shereka in order to frighten her.

Churches in Wales 'not locked' to visitors

VISITORS to churches are more likely to find them open than closed outside of services, new data collected by the Church in Wales suggests. The figures, published last Friday, suggest that two-thirds of its churches are now regularly open during the week. The head of property services, Alex Glanville, said: "Although the front door may look imposing and heavy, it will often be unlocked, or a key advertised and available near by. Doors are often closed to keep out birds, but they are not locked to the human visitor."


Church musicians mourn David Trendell

TRIBUTES have begun to be paid to the late David Trendell, College Organist and Director of the Chapel Choir at King's College, London, who has died at the age of 50. It is understood that Mr Trendell, who was also Director of Music at St Mary's, Bourne Street, died in his sleep on Monday night, after directing a rehearsal of the Chapel Choir. A statement on the college website said that it was "typical of David that his last act should have been part of his lifelong desire to pass on his extraordinary musical ability to younger generations. We cannot even begin to imagine how much he will be missed."


Corrections. Our story about the Sir John Cass and Redcoat Church of England Secondary School (News, 24 October) carried a misleading headline and opening paragraph. The school has asked us to point out that there has not been any suspicion of "Trojan-horse issues" at the school, nor, as our story stated, were any turned up in the recent inspection. We are happy to report that the staff and governors at the school foster an environment which promotes the understanding of different faiths and cultural viewpoints among students and this is reflected in the school's ethos. The school has a varied programme of spiritual, moral and cultural development for all students. We unreservedly apologise for the error. In addition to this, last week's story about the appointment of RE Council patrons stated that Kenny Frederick is a government adviser on Holocaust education. This role should have been attributed to Dame Helen Hyde.

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