Petition launched over rectory-garden plans

RESIDENTS of Stoke Newington, London, have launched a petition to “save” the Rectory Garden at St Paul’s, West Hackney, referring to proposals reportedly brought by the diocese of London to sell the building and Victorian garden “for private development and [to] build on the gardens”. The petition describes the garden as “an essential space for local nature and part of a broader ecology that includes the neighbouring park and gardens”. A spokesperson for the diocese of London this week, emphasising its commitment to caring for the environment, said that the church was “one of our leading churches demonstrating its commitment to energy efficiency and carbon reduction”. The diocese was “currently in conversation” — at an early stage — with the PCC “about plans for the rectory garden which will involve respect for biodiversity and protection of green space, as well as exploring potential for development and a more energy-efficient rectory. We . . . are mindful of the local community’s strength of feeling around the garden.” The spokesperson concluded: “Any potential application would go through the full statutory planning process, where local residents would be able to submit their feedback to the Council.”

SPCK: Bible sales rocketing, thanks to Gen Z

SALES of the Bible are increasing rapidly in Britain, SPCK Publishing reports. It credits the spirituality of Gen Z with the rise. Using transaction information from Nielsen Book Data, SPCK reports that, between 2019 and 2024, Bible sales increased by 87 per cent — from £2.69 million to £5.02 million. Sales of the wider category “Bibles and liturgy” had increased from £7 million in 2019 to £8.1 million in 2024, up from £5 million in 2008. Generally, while fiction sales are increasing, sales of non-fiction books have been declining: a six-per-cent fall from 2023 to 2024. Non-fiction books about religion are now the exception. A spokeswoman for Nielsen Book Data said: “Spending on religious books in total last year measured £25.2 million, up three per cent, year on year.” The chief executive of SPCK, Sam Richardson, said that the figures showed that “we are at the centre of a significant cultural shift regarding matters of faith and religion. . . Young people — Gen Z, in particular — are statistically far less likely to identify as atheists than their parents.”

Peterborough’s Cathedral in Crisis appeal nears end

THE Dean of Peterborough, the Very Revd Chris Dalliston, is hoping for a final surge in donations as the cathedral nears the close of its three-month £300,000 “Cathedral in Crisis” appeal. It was launched in January. Dean Dalliston said at the time that the sum would see the cathedral through 2025, would help to meet the annual £2-million running costs, and build relationships that would be the platform for a sustainable future. In a video message to the Peterborough Telegraph on Tuesday, he said that he had been “overwhelmed” by the “extraordinary response” of thousands of donations received so far. About £200,000 had been raised. “There was obviously an initial surge, but we are still really hopeful and expectant that we will get to that target.”