Dr Smith’s last Lords speech on jailed protester
IN HIS final contribution to the House of Lords last week, the Bishop of St Albans, Dr Alan Smith, asked the Government what steps were being taken to secure the release of the pro-democracy campaigner and British citizen Jimmy Lai, who is in prison in Hong Kong. Dr Smith, who has since retired (News, 10 January), said: “I am glad to ask my last Question on the welfare of a British citizen whose only crime is to exercise freedoms that this House has long stood for: freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest. He is 77, has diabetes, and is being held in solitary confinement, and the next stage of his trial is being delayed until August. This is shameful.” Responding, the Deputy Leader of the House of Lords and Foreign Office Minister, Lord Collins, said that Mr Lai’s case was a “priority” for the Government. Lord Collins expressed his gratitude for all the work done by Dr Smith over his 12 year in the House.
New prayer app for Thy Kingdom Come
A FREE series of five-minute reflections and guided prayers “to support those who want to pray but don’t know where to start, or who find it difficult to maintain a daily practice”, has been launched as part of Thy Kingdom Come (TKC) 2025. The series, commissioned by Lambeth Palace, is available on the Discovering Prayer app and covers the period from Ascension Day to Pentecost. There are prayers to listen to and, “with gentle guidance, users can pray while walking, commuting, resting, or sitting in silence — whenever they find a moment,” a Discovering Prayer statement says. The prayers “help users pause and pray for peace in the world and for five people they know”. Since its founding in 2015 by Michelle Eyre (News, 17 July 2015), Discovering Prayer has engaged 70,000 people. There are now 270 audio-led prayers on the website. “We know people long for peace, stillness, and connection with God — but daily life makes that hard,” Ms Eyre said. “The app helps people build a rhythm of prayer that’s flexible, meaningful, and rooted in the life of the Church.” The TKC prayer movement was launched in 2016. discoveringprayer.com/app
Energy hub for Knaresborough Methodist church
SOLAR panels have been installed on the roof of Gracious Street Methodist Church, Knaresborough,in Yorkshire: a Bronze Award eco-church that devotes one week every May to considering creation and environmental issues, writes Pat Ashworth. The 91 panels, installed at Easter, are part of a wider trial commissioned by the energy regulator, Ofgem, led by Northern Powergrid, which is testing how renewable energy generated in neighbourhoods can be shared more fairly. The move is to help to cut the church’s energy bills as well as generate a surplus that can be diverted to power 78 homes and businesses near by.
New CEO for St Luke’s for Clergy Wellbeing
THE next chief executive of St Luke’s for Clergy Wellbeing is to be Dr Tim Ling, it was announced on Wednesday. He is a former Head of Ministry Development for the Archbishops’ Council. Between 2017 and 2025, he held posts at the Church Army, in Sheffield, including overseeing research, learning, and development. He succeeds Dr Claire Walker and takes up his post on Monday.