Have a go at our next caption competition (above). Send entries by email only to captioncompetition@churchtimes.co.uk by 9 a.m., Thursday 12 December (please note earlier deadline)
We invite readers’ ideas for photos: please provide a credit and confirm that those pictured are happy for the photo to be used.
Here is the winning entry for the previous competition:
AlamyAlamy
Lo! He comes to crowds descending (John Saxbee)
SHOULD the Crown Nominations Commission be looking in unlikely places for the next Archbishop of Canterbury? “The selection process for the new Archbishop of Canterbury was off to a flying start” (Sarah Clay); “The selection procedure for the new Archbishop seemed rather bizarre — heads he gets the job, tails he doesn’t” (Tim Robinson); “The General Synod was not sure the new Archbishop should be inducted in such an unusual way. But many were keen to explore new avenues to get the younger generation involved” (Steve Davies); “The Crown Nominations Commission had rarely looked so excited as God finally nominated someone to be Archbishop of Canterbury and they gathered to catch Their Grace descending from heaven” (David Hill); “We were wondering where the next Archbishop would come from” (Bruce Saunders); “It was toss-up for the new Archbishop” (Alistair Bolt); “Gone are the days when theology and spirituality played a part in episcopal appointments” (Don Manley).
Taking flying bishops a bit too literally: “The flying bishop was elected to decide heads or tails . . . oops!” (Michael Foster); “The youth group pushed their leader to new heights, hoping that he might become a ‘flying bishop’” (Jacky Tivers); “Just when we thought the age of flying bishops was over!” (Sue Chick); “The next flying bishop gets in training for the role” (Geoffrey Robinson)
It’s a bit early to be thinking about Shrove Tuesday, but no harm in getting some practice in: “Shrove Tuesday celebration gets out of hand” (Michael Doe); “When it’s Shrove Tuesday and someone has forgotten to bring the pancake . . .” (Nick Baker); “Nobody knew when the uncanonical tradition at Barchester Cathedral of tossing a new Dean on Shrove Tuesday began. However, recent archaeological excavations in the precincts indicated that the practice went back to pre-Druid times” (Robin Morgan);
The wisdom — or madness? — of crowds: “Underneath are the everlasting arms — I hope” (Valerie Budd); “As he plummeted to the ground, the Bishop realised that his attempt to illustrate ‘having faith in others’ was ill-advised” (Mark Parry); “Fortunately, a flash mob was there to save the bishop after yet another failed attempt at base jumping” (Fiona Drinkell); “The congregation always knew when the Dean had come back from Glastonbury when the procession was replaced by a crowd surf” (Philip Lickley).
Some other entries that we enjoyed: “Birthday bumps for the verger was more than he bargained for” (Lynda Sebbage); “The new ordinand was beginning to regret his choice of enacting Ephesians 4 — especially verse 14” (Paulette Yallop); “The Weather Girls’ forecast was about right: It’s raining men, alleluia!” (Julian Ashton); “The Dean regretted his plan to raise money for the new extension by abseiling down the tower” (Richard Hough); “The gargoyles were described as ‘Europe’s finest’, but inspecting them was extremely hazardous” (John Appleby); “Lo, he comes with shoes ascendant” (Brian Stevenson); “The Selection Committee were unable to decide who would be their new Vicar, so they decided to toss for it” (Michael Watts); “That’s the last time we’ll use a helium balloon pump” (Bill de Quick); “How come he’s getting raptured and not us? Not fair” (Thomas Nussbaum-Richman); “At least the sponsored jump from a church tower went well” (Adrian Crook); “How to remove a freehold cleric from their tenure?” (Chris Coupe); “The art of levitation is sometimes in need of helping hands” (Richard Strudwick); “Gerald didn’t think his sermon was that bad” (Vicky Deasley); “They weren’t wrong when they said a mystery guest would be dropping in” (Pearl Davison); “Turning water into wine is no longer the miracle it used to be. These days, high wire, trapeze, and other circus skills are all part of a modern priest’s repertoire” (Paul MacDermott); “A modern take on the raising of Lazarus was a bit too dramatic for some” (Robert Shooter); “A leg and a wing to see the King? But it went a bit far; with that final swing” (Chaz Griffiths); “For the ecclesiastical fund-raiser, it’s a small step from crowdfunding to crowdsurfing” (Martin Kettle).
As ever, the winner receives a prize of Fairtrade chocolate, courtesy of Divine Chocolate.
divinechocolate.com