Bishop prays for crossbow-attack victims
TWO women, aged 19 and 31, were seriously injured in a crossbow and firearm attack on Otley Road, in Headingley, Leeds, on Saturday. Posting on X, the Bishop of Kirkstall, the Rt Revd Arun Arora, offered his prayers to “those injured in the attack . . . those who witnessed it and those traumatised by it”. The suspected attacker, 38-year-old Owen Lawrence, who was arrested, died in hospital from a “self-inflicted injury”. The investigation has been taken over by the Counter Terrorism Policing North East from West Yorkshire Police.
Man pleads guilty to vandalising gravestones
JOSEPH WILLIAMS, 30, of Nelson Avenue, Leyland, in Lancashire, has been charged with ten criminal damage offences, including religiously aggravated criminal damage in connection with obscene graffiti found on gravestones at St James’s, Leyland, on Good Friday (News, 25 April). He pleaded guilty to all charges at Preston Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, and was bailed until 17 June when he will be sentenced.
Pilgrims’ School to merge with Winchester College
THE Pilgrims’ School and Winchester College, both located in Hampshire, are to merge by 1 September, it was announced on Wednesday of last week. A statement from the Chapter of Winchester Cathedral said: “The merger strengthens these ties, ensuring that both schools continue to provide an education of exceptional quality and breadth, while also creating new opportunities for increased collaboration and innovation.”
Footballer sanctioned for religious message
THE Football Association (FA) has written to the Liverpool footballer Cody Gakpo after he revealed a vest with the words “I belong to Jesus” on the front, during his club’s win against Tottenham Hotspur, on Sunday, which resulted in Liverpool winning the Premier League title. An FA spokesperson told the website liverpool.com that Mr Gakpo had been reminded that wearing any item of clothing with a religious message was prohibited under Rule A4 of the FA’s Kit and Advertising Regulations.
CEO of Church Action on Poverty to step down
AFTER 28 years at the charity Church Action on Poverty, the chief executive, Niall Cooper, is leaving in the summer. Mr Cooper contributed to several campaigns, and built partnerships across the churches, communities, and charity sector, a statement from Church Action on Poverty said.
Correction: In our news in brief item last week on Geoffrey Baulcomb, 79, of Eastbourne, who pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing indecent images, we incorrectly reported that he was a former Vicar of St Mary’s, Eastbourne. He was a retired non-stipendiary priest who ministered at the church for a time.