New lead bishops for church buildings
THE Archbishops of Canterbury and York have appointed the Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, and the Bishop of Ramsbury, in Salisbury diocese, the Rt Revd Andrew Rumsey, as joint lead bishops for church and cathedral buildings. The brief was previously assigned to the Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge. The Archbishop of York, the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, said: “Their combined experience will be a blessing to those who care for and uphold our places of worship as beacons of faith in our communities, and in their important civic, heritage, and educational roles.” The Church of England has about 16,000 church buildings, of which more than 12,500 are listed.
Dr Walker: Tree strategy needed to recover UK forestry
CLEAR national targets — including a “tree strategy” — are needed to recover levels of forestation in the UK, the Bishop of Manchester, Dr David Walker, has said. He was speaking in support of an amendment to the Environment Bill in the House of Lords this week. He said: “We will not achieve the recovery in levels of forestation that our country needs unless we have clear national targets, broken down into detail, as set out here. Moreover, a tree strategy will set those targets in the context of a wider narrative and allow major landowners, such as the Church Commissioners for England, to best play our part in its delivery. . . A tree strategy will help us to plant the right species of trees in the right places.”
Mediator at Christ Church, Oxford, quits
A MEDIATOR appointed by the Charity Commission last year to help to resolve the dispute between the college of Christ Church, Oxford, and its Dean, the Very Revd Professor Martyn Percy, has quit, it was announced this week. Bill Marsh, who has mediated between parties in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world, has not given his reasons for halting his negotiations. A statement by the college on Tuesday said: “It remains our intention to resume mediation once the internal disciplinary tribunal has reached its conclusion.” Friends of the Dean have asked the Charity Commission to scrutinise the cost of the college’s action against him, and to discover “who on earth is in charge of this ludicrous waste of charitable sums”.
FSJ match-funds Bishop North’s sponsored walk
THE Fellowship of St John (FSJ) has agreed to match-fund and donate £1 extra to each donation given in sponsorship of the Bishop of Burnley, the Rt Revd Philip North, on his walk for the renovation of Freedom Church, Langdale Road, Mereside, in Blackpool — formally St Wilfrid’s Parish Hall. Last month, Bishop North walked 58km from St Bartholomew’s, Chipping, to Freedom Church. To date, £14,775.71 has been raised. Bishop North said that he was overwhelmed by the fellowship’s offer. www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chipintomereside2021
Green Church Showcase: last chance to tell your stories
THE deadline for the Green Church Showcase is almost here: next Wednesday 21 July, so this is the last chance to apply. For details, click here