Derbyshire pupils win church schools competition
A CHURCH school in Derbyshire has won a competition with a film
by pupils explaining what their school means to them. The students
from Stretton Handley C of E Primary School were named the winners
of the #MyCofESchool yesterday, and have won the prize of tea with
the Bishop of Oxford and chair of the Board of Education, the Rt
Revd John Pritchard, in the House of Lords.
Irish RC Church has only 13 new seminarians
JUST 13 men began to study for the priesthood in the Roman
Catholic Church in Ireland this year, leading some to call for
radical measures to stem the decline. Nineteen of the 26 dioceses
in the Irish RC Church failed to attract a single candidate for the
priesthood. The Revd Brendan Hoban, from the Association of
Catholic Priests, told The Tablet that ancient faith
communities would collapse unless radical moves, such as opening
the priesthood to married men, were considered.
Rotherham Minster offers space for reflection
ROTHERHAM MINSTER has announced that it will open all day on
Tuesday to provide space for people to pray, reflect, or light a
candle after the exposure of a child-abuse scandal in the town. An
official report released last week found that at least 1400 girls
had been exploited, raped, trafficked, and abused, for decades. The
Minster will be open between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., with corporate
prayer at 12.15 p.m.
Minister abandons fund-raising challenge
THE Revd Mike Haslam, a non-stipendiary minister in the Alfred
Jewel Benefice in Somerset, has been forced to abandon his 630-mile
run along the South West Coastal Path (News, 22 August). Despite making it from
Minehead to Land's End in eight days, Mr Haslam said that his body
was "collapsing, and the run has become a limp". He hopes to finish
the route, which he was running for Christian Aid, within the next
12 months. He has raised £2500 so far.
Correction. Contrary to last week's story (News, 29 August), the Archbishop of Canterbury
issues special marriage licences for both provinces of Canterbury
and York. It was his faculty office that granted the special
licence for the wedding to take place in Christ Church, East
Layton.