Church Urban Fund offers coronavirus support

THE Just Finance Foundation, a branch of the Church Urban Fund, has set up a Covid Crash Course to help marginalised people in the UK, particularly those without internet access, to understand the new regulations that have been introduced since the pandemic. There are more than one million people who do not use the internet; so information will be delivered over the phone, as well as online, by more than 50 community groups across the country. justfinancefoundation.org.uk/covid-cash-course

Former choirmaster charged with further offences

A FORMER choirmaster, Mark Burgess, 66, of Hillsea, Portsmouth, who was charged with 58 sex offences against 11 children under 16 between 1976 and 2009 by detectives of Hampshire Constabulary (News, 7 February), has been charged on a further 15 counts involving two children, and will appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on 23 July. The offences are alleged to have taken place during his time as a choirmaster of All Saints’, Portsmouth, and Westbourne Choir in West Sussex.

History of the Bible shortlisted for Wolfson prize

THE six books shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize include Professor John Barton’s A History of the Bible: The book and its faiths (Allen Lane, £25 (CT Bookshop £20) (Books, 5 April 2019; Features, 26 April 2019). The winner, who will receive £40,000, will be announced on 15 June. Each shortlisted author will receive £4000.