Churchmen included in Honours list

A FOUNDER of the Oasis Trust, Graham Mungeam, has been appointed OBE for services to children and families in the New Year's Honours List.

Three churchmen from Guernsey received honours: Stephen Le Poidevin, a Jurat, was appointed OBE for public service to the law and community; William Luff, a churchwarden at Ste Marie du Castel, was appointed MBE for services to the cattle industry; and Roy Sarre, the musical director of the Guernsey Festival Chorus, was awarded the BEM. Stephen Parsons, who chairs the governors of both Bristol Cathedral Choir School and Cathedral Primary School, was appointed MBE.

Survivor demands apology from Lady Butler-Sloss

AN ABUSE survivor in the diocese of Chichester has demanded an apology from Lady Butler-Sloss, who led an inquiry in the diocese in 2011. Phil Johnson has said that he felt pressured by her into withholding allegations against a former Bishop of Lewes, the Rt Revd Peter Ball (News, 11 July). She said that Mr Johnson's claim was "absolutely untrue" on Radio 4 last month. He is demanding an apology, and has published a recording of his 2011 meeting with her.

RSPB pulls backing for Garden Bridge

THE Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has withdrawn its support for the Garden Bridge over the Thames, in London (News, 19 December). A statement last month said that there were "much easier and cheaper ways to make life more pleasant for Londoners and urban wildlife". The £175- million cost could be used to improve water management, for example, the RSPB said.

Former Church Times columnist dies

A FORMER Church Times columnist, who had previously been editor of the Catholic Herald, has died, aged 94. Desmond Fisher edited the Herald from 1962 to 1966, and wrote a column for the Church Times from 1966-1974. His last article for the Irish Times's column "Rite and Reason" appeared on 30 September last year.

RC politicians issue warning to RC bishops

ROMAN CATHOLIC politicians from both the Labour and Conservative Parties have signed a letter to the Daily Telegraph arguing that Roman Catholic bishops have no place in the Lords. They argue that "mixing clerical and legislative offices can lead to problems", and that there are many examples where "the seduction of temporal power diminished and obscured the pastoral mission of ordained ministers".

Bishop speaks out against 'inhumane' detention

THE Bishop of Croydon, the Rt Revd Jonathan Clark, has given his backing to a campaign by Citizens UK to end the indefinite detention of migrants (News, 25 July). "Detaining people indefinitely in prison-like conditions without judicial oversight is unjust, ineffective, and inhumane," he said this week. "We will ask politicians to pledge their support for a time limit on the detention of adults - and to work with us . . . to make it happen."

Battle of Britain memorial threatened with closure

MORE than 25,000 people have signed a petition against the threatened closure of St George's RAF Chapel of Remembrance at Biggin Hill, Kent. The future of the chapel, built as a memorial to air crew who died during the Second World War, is at risk after the Ministry of Defence announced that it was withdrawing funding of £50,000 a year.