Bristol Cathedral receives £1 million to restore organ
AN AMBITIOUS project to restore the historic organ of Bristol Cathedral has taken off after the Chapter received a gift of £1 million from the Harry Crook Foundation. The donation — the largest given to the cathedral since the rebuilding of the Nave in the 1860s — brings the fundraising total to £1.5 million of a £2 million target. The Organist and Master of the Choristers, Mark Lee, said: “This is one of the most significant projects that Bristol Cathedral will have embarked upon. The Harry Crook Foundation has given us a gift that will transform our work and worship.” The organ consists of a Renatus Harris case from 1685 containing a 1907 Walker instrument. It has a depth of several feet and contains nearly 4000 pipes.
Barnabas Fund founder cleared of indecent assault
THE founder of the Barnabas Fund, Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, was not guilty of an indecent assault alleged to have taken place in 1977, a jury decided at Snaresbrook Crown Court, on Tuesday of last week. Dr Sookhdeo resigned as a trustee of the foundation in 2015, two days after he was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault. He had earlier that year been convicted of sexual assault and intimidating witnesses (News, 27 February 2015). Barnabas Fund said that he was “seeking leave to appeal and has always maintained his innocence”.
Priest found guilty of 14 counts of sexual assault
CANON Terence Grigg, a former Rector of Cottingham and Prebendary of York Minster, who is 84, has been found guilty of 14 counts of indecent and serious sexual assault. He was found not guilty of one count. He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment on Thursday. The offences, against five victims, are said to have taken place between 1973 and 1996 in Hull, Devon, and London.
Man in his fifties arrested on suspicion of rape at HTB Focus festival
A 54-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested on suspicion of rape, after a 21-year-old woman reported being sexually assaulted at the annual Focus festival, hosted by Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) on the Somerley Estate in Hampshire, last week. Hampshire Police Constabulary said in a statement: “We were called at 5:06 am on Wednesday 1 August to a report of a 21-year-old woman being sexually assaulted at the Focus Festival, which was being held at the Somerley Estate, north of Ringwood at some point between 1:30 am and 2 am. The victim is receiving support from specialist officers. A 54-year-old man, who is not from Hampshire, has been arrested on suspicion of rape. He has been bailed with conditions until 29 August pending further enquiries.”
Insurer donates to mark 130 years
ECCLESIASTICAL Insurance is marking its 130th anniversary by donating £130,000 to more than 850 parish churches as part of its Trust130 campaign, which runs until 31 December. The campaign donates £130 for every new home insurance policy sold. There is no limit to the number of individual donations that a single church can receive.
LAMAR FRANCOISLAMAR FRANCOISCathedral Nave Spin. The image, by Lamar Francois, is one of the two winners of Manchester Cathedral’s annual photography competition. The winning photos and a selection of entries were on display until 9 August