News

Giving children a SureStart in Milton KeynesPAGE 5

Spotlight onGeneral SynodPAGE 6

Feature

Essex man heads homePAGES 10 and 11

Letters & CommentDavid Winter on WilliamWilberforcePAGE 19

God in the Life ofA Korean commissary

PAGE 20

Inside:Reporting from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire www.oxford.anglican.org July/August 20010 No. 215

World Cup chance topray for the poor

Win The Miracle of St Ralph on DVD- see page seven

CIAO! to a low carbon lifestyle

AS World Cup fever grips theglobe, Christians in the OxfordDiocese are being urged to prayfor forgotten parts of SouthAfrica.

As the tournament gainsmomentum, churches areresponding with World Cupevents and screenings for theircommunities.

The Ven. Karen Gorham,Archdeacon of Buckingham ishighlighting the needs ofKimberley and Kuruman, our linkdiocese in the Northern Capewhich is known as ‘forgotten’South Africa. She is updating herblog with information and issuesfrom Kimberley and Kurumanevery day during the World Cup,along with prayer points for thearea.

She said: “While a few thingsare happening in the NorthernCape to enthuse people aboutfootball, the reality is that theWorld Cup will pass many peopleby. There will not be any reasonfor people to go to the NorthernCape – there is no wine or gardenroute passing through, nomatches will be played there andyet in an area the size of theBritish Isles, there is vibrancy,there are people with stories totell and much to give us, whoneed our love, support andprayer.”

Meanwhile Bishop of Oxford,the Rt Revd John Pritchard wasexcited about the tournament.

He said: “This is the year whentwo of my teams, Blackpool andNewcastle, gained heroicpromotion! I just need Englandto do well (win?) in the WorldCup and my cup will be runningover. It may be too much to ask –and indeed I don’t think we canbe asking the Great Managerabout this – but nevertheless itshould be a tournament to enjoyin a country to which we arecommitted through ourKimberley and Kuruman link.God bless the World Cup!”

The Revd Jeremy Tear was set toshow the three opening EnglandWorld Cup Games on a big screenat St John’s Church, Caversham.Jeremy also held an All Age WorldCup service at St John’s onSunday, 13 June.

St Clement’s Church, Oxfordwill be holding a special morningservice to mark the World CupFinal on Sunday 11th July at10.30am on the theme, God inFootball.

The Rector, the Revd BruceGillingham said he will beshowing clips of two DVDs duringhis services.

He said: “St Clement’s FootballTeam will be bringing guests tochurch as we are celebratingfootball victory this year.

“We won the Division One titlein the Chiltern Churches Leagueand this made for greatcelebrations in church.”

Follow Archdeacon Karen’sblog at www.archdeaconkaren.blogspot.com.

IF you were sailing away on an Ark to a low carbon future,what would you take with you and what would you leavebehind?

That was the question explored by children from StMichael’s C of E Primary School, Marston, Oxford as part ofthe Children’s International Arts Organisation! (CIAO!)Ark Project last month. St Michael’s was one of 10Oxfordshire primary schools that took part in the project.Pupils became energy detectives in science workshops aspart of the scheme.

The St Michael’s children worked with energy expertMoira Dorey from Oxford Brookes University. They scouredthe school using various gadgets that measured roomtemperatures and light readings.

They discovered energy crimes, for example heatingthermostats set far too high and lights being left onunnecessarily. The school secretary was also interrogated toensure the photocopier was switched off overnight.

They then worked with creative organisations to turn theirfindings into stories, poetry and promenade pieces thatwere performed on a special Ark during the last weekend inJune. The ark was built on front lawn of the OxfordUniversity Museum of Natural History. It was powered bysustainable green energy from solar panels, cycle power anda generator powered by recycled chip fat.

By Jo Duckles

theDoor JULY/AGUSUT 2010 2

Prayer & reflection

July/August prayer diary compiled by John Manley

The following is for guidance only; please feel freeto adapt to local conditions and, if you wish,produce your own deanery prayer diaries.

JULYPray to the Father through the Son in the

power of the Spirit for:

TThhuu 11:: Arborfield with Barkham: clergy PiersBickersteth, Julian Bidgood, John Parker. TheWhite House School Conventional District.

FFrrii 22:: Bearwood: clergy Haigh Etches. TheCoombes (VC) School.

SSaatt 33:: Woosehill Conventional District: clergyHaigh Etches, Libby Godden (Methodist); LLMElaine Steere. Also all those being ordainedDeacon at Christ Church Cathedral today.

MMoonn 55:: California: clergy Carol Edwards, HughWakeling. Gorse Ride School.Tue 6 Crowthorne:clergy Lisa Cornwell; LLMs Hazel Berry, GillianGyenes, Lewis Simmons. Crowthorne (VC) School.

WWeedd 77:: Finchampstead: clergy RichardWarden, John Edwards; LLM KeithAtton.Finchampstead (VA) School.

TThhuu 88:: Hurst: clergy John Coombs, CliffordSmith; LLMs Judi Hattaway, Patricia Smith. HurstSt Nicholas (VC) School.

FFrrii 99:: Owlsmoor: clergy Roy Burgess.

SSaatt 1100:: Ruscombe and Twyford: clergy SimonHoward, Sally Dakin, Tim Dakin, Geoffrey Pugh;LLM Paul Minton. Polehampton Infant and Junior(VC) Schools.

MMoonn 1122:: Sandhurst: clergy John Castle, JohnWhite; youth worker Ben Askew. St Michael’s (VA)School.

TTuuee 1133:: Sonning: clergy Jamie Taylor, MichaelForrer; LLM Bob Peters. Sonning (VA) School.

WWeedd 1144:: Wargrave with Knowl Hill: clergyJohn Cook, Pam Gordon. Knowl Hill (VC), CraziesHill (VC), Robert Pigott Infants (VC), Robert PigottJunior (VC) & The Pigott (VA) Schools.

TThhuu 1155: Wokingham: clergy David Hodgson,Michael Johnson, Colin James, Helen Charlton. AllSaints (VA) School.

FFrrii 1166:: Wokingham St Paul (includingEmbrook St Nicholas): clergy John Connell, JoHarrison, Roy Holmes, Tony Kemp. St Paul’s (VC)School.

SSaatt 1177:: Wokingham St Sebastian: clergyAndrew Marsden, Erik Fudge; LLMs RussellShipton, Jill Bright, Ann Potts; youth worker DebbieHarris; children’s worker Sally Alexander. StSebastian’s (VA) School.

MMoonn 1199:: Bampton with Clanfield (includingAston, Shifford, Lew): clergy David Lloyd, TessaKuin Lawton; LLM Arthur Pont. Aston & Cote (VC),Bampton (VC), Clanfield (VC) Schools.

TTuuee 2200:: Brize Norton and Carterton: clergyBill Blakey, James Maddern. Carterton St John’s(VA) School.

WWeedd 2211: Burford with Fulbrook & Taynton,Asthall with Swinbrook and Widford: clergyRichard Coombs, Cedric Reavley; LLM JohnLeach.

TThhuu 2222:: Cogges and South Leigh: clergyAndrew Sweeney, Tim Edge, Miri Keen, AndrewPritchard; LLMs Nick Pike, Richard Young, DavidSmith. Witney The Blake (VA) School.

FFrrii 2233:: Ducklington with Hardwick: clergy BobEdy; LLMs David Adams, Ruth Edy, Ian Paul.Ducklington (VC) School.

SSaatt 2244:: Lower Windrush: clergy Sarah Sharp;LLM Lynda Blair; pastoral assistant Alison Shaw.Standlake (VC) School.

MMoonn 2266:: Minster Lovell: clergy Adrian Gabb-Jones. St Kenelm (VC) School.

TTuuee 2277:: North Leigh: clergy Andrew Sweeney,Miri Keen, Andrew Pritchard. North Leigh (VC)School.

WWeedd 2288: Shill Valley and Broadshire: clergyHarry MacInnes, Neville Usher-Wilson, PatrickWheaton. Alvescot St Peter’s & Langford StChristopher (VA) Schools.

TThhuu 2299:: Witney team: clergy Toby Wright,Elizabeth Thomson, Joanna Collicutt McGrath,Sally Wright, [vacancy]; CA Jeff Hill; LLMs DavidExham, Rosemary Peirce. Witney St Mary’s (VC),Witney The Batt (VA) & Hailey (VC) Schools.

FFrrii 3300:: Religious Communities within thediocese.

SSaatt 3311:: Third Order of the Society of StFrancis: minister provincial (European province)Joanna Coney; area ministers Sheila Hazell, HazelBerry, Neil Slocock; area formation guardians PamHalliwell, Colin Bass, Margaret Ellis.

AUGUSTPray to the Father through the Son in thepower of the Spirit for:

MMoonn 22:: Gate: clergy Christa Pumfrey, JanetLawrence; LLM Geoff Morris. Stoke Goldington(VC) School.

TTuuee 33:: Hanslope with Castlethorpe: clergyGary Ecclestone; LLM Eric Dodworth.

WWeedd 44:: Lamp : clergy Richard Caddell; LLMsAndrew Geary, Wendy Reidel, Priscilla Parry.

TThhuu 55:: Lavendon with Cold Brayfield, CliftonReynes and Newton Blossomville: clergy ChristaPumfrey. Newton Blossomville (VC) School.Olney: clergy Claire Wood, Val Reveley; LLMRena Partridge.

FFrrii 66:: Newport Pagnell with Lathbury andMoulsoe: clergy Michael Godfrey, BeverleyHollins, Glynis Bell, Karen Browne; LLMs MervynEvans, Colin Taylor.

SSaatt 77:: Sherington with Chicheley, NorthCrawley, Astwood & Hardmead: clergy Mandy

Marriott, Pam Fielding; LLM John Fielding. NorthCrawley (VC) & Sherington (VC) Schools.

MMoonn 99:: Cherbury with Gainfield : Clergy JoyHance; LLM Meg Terry. Buckland (VC) School.

TTuuee 1100:: Great Faringdon with Little Coxwell:clergy Charles Draper, Simon Wearn; LLM GrahamScott-Brown.

WWeedd 1111:: Great Coxwell with Buscot, Coleshill& Eaton Hastings: clergy John Noddings.

TThhuu 1122:: Shrivenham & Ashbury: clergy RichardHancock, Edwin Clements, Anne Bell; LLM RodneyElton. Shrivenham (VC), Ashbury (VA), Longcot &Fernham (VC) Schools.

FFrrii 1133:: Stanford in the Vale with Goosey &Hatford: clergy Tim Rose, Charles Patterson;LLMs Angela Gosden, Jill Smith, Peter Stallabrass.Stanford in the Vale (VC) School.

SSaatt 1144:: Uffington, Shellingford, Woolstone &Baulking: clergy Rosanna Martin, Jim Payne; LLMSue Saunders. Uffington (VC) & Shellingford (VA)Schools.

MMoonn 1166:: Cholsey and Moulsford: clergyAndrew Petit, Val Gibbons.

TTuuee 1177:: The Churn: clergy Jason St JohnNicolle, Louise Butler, Anthony Lury. BlewburyEndowed (VC), Hagbourne (VC) Schools.

WWeedd 1188:: Didcot All Saints: clergy Karen Beck,Allen Edwards; LLMs Richard Ghail, Nick Hards,Stuart Roberts. Didcot All Saints (VA) School.Ladygrove Conventional District: clergy HughBoorman.

TThhuu 1199:: Didcot St Peter: clergy Edward Carter,Joy Carter; LLMs Fran Childs, Jenny Loder. DidcotNorthbourne (VA) School.

FFrrii 2200:: Harwell with Chilton: clergy Chris Stott,Bruce Keeble; LLM Steve Ward.

SSaatt 2211:: Wallingford Team: clergy David Rice,Jeremy Goulston, Jim Spence, Janice Chilton.Wallingford St Nicholas (VC), Brightwell CumSotwell (VC) & Crowmarsh Gifford (VC) Schools.

MMoonn 2233:: Aston Clinton with Buckland andDrayton Beauchamp: clergy Elizabeth Moxley.

TTuuee 2244:: Ellesborough, The Kimbles & StokeMandeville: clergy Jan Henderson. Great Kimble(VC) School.

WWeedd 2255:: Great Missenden with Balinger &Little Hampden: clergy Rosie Harper, JoannaGallant; LLM Patricia Neale; pastoral assistantNadine Rose. Great Missenden (VC) School.

TThhuu 2266:: Hawridge with Cholesbury & StLeonards, The Lee: clergy David Burgess.Hawridge & Cholesbury (VA) & Lee Common (VC)Schools.

FFrrii 22:: Little Missenden: clergy John Simpson;LLM Gary Beynon. Little Missenden (VA) School.

SSaatt 2288:: Prestwood & Great Hampden: clergyDeiniol Kearley-Heywood.

MMoonn 3300:: Wendover & Halton: clergy MarkDearnley; LLMs Ruth Dearnley, Joe Groat, GlenysNewman; youth worker Rupert Johnson. Wendover(VC) School.

TTuuee 3311:: Weston Turville: clergy David Wales,Susan Fellows. Weston Turville (VA) School.

SSUUNNDDAAYY 44 -- Sonning deanery: area dean David Hodgson,secretary Bridget Crossley, treasurer Reg Morton. The people,wardens, PCCs and support staff of the deanery. The UnitedChurch of Pakistan.

SSUUNNDDAAYY 1111 - Sea Sunday: for seafarers everywhere. Localgovernment staff and councillors serving the people of Sonningdeanery. The Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea, primateJames Simon Ayong. The Diocesan Parsonages Board/BuildingsCommittee: chairman Robin Birch, director Roger Harwood andstaff.

SSUUNNDDAAYY 1188 -- Witney deanery: area dean Bill Blakey, laychair David Loades, area administrator Linda Wooloff, treasurerSue Campbell, vocations Roy Turner, CA Jeff Hill. The people,

wardens, PCCs and support staff of the deanery. The EpiscopalChurch in the Philippines.

SSUUNNDDAAYY 2255 -- Local government staff and councillors servingthe people of Witney deanery. The Episcopal Church of Rwanda,primate Emmanuel Musaba Kolini. Diocesan Communications:Director Sarah Meyrick and staff.

SSUUNNDDAAYY 11 -- Newport deanery: area dean Christa Pumfrey, laychair Rod Cannon, secretary Janet Gamlen, treasurer KA Gale,ecumenical representative & development facilitator BeverleyHollins. The people, wardens, PCCs and support staff of thedeanery. For those planning and attending Alpha courses this

autumn. The Scottish Episcopal Church.

SSUUNNDDAAYY 88 - Vale of White Horse deanery: area dean RichardHancock, lay chair Jeremy Twynam, secretary Edward Lehmann,treasurer Daphne Willmett. The people, wardens, PCCs and supportstaff of the deanery. For all those on holiday or changing house orjob. The Church of the Province of South east Asia.

SSUUNNDDAAYY 1155 -- Wallingford deanery: area dean Edward Carter,lay chair Graham Goy, secretary Naomi Gibson, treasurer MarkBayliss. The people, PCCs, wardens and support staff of thedeanery. Those planning the work of our Sunday Schools: all whoteach & learn. The United Church of South India.

SSUUNNDDAAYY 2222 -- Wendover deanery: area dean Mark Dearnley,lay chair Gavin Oldham, secretary Gary Beynon, treasurer AllanWhittow, ecumenical representative Norman Dick. The people,PCCs, wardens and support staff of the deanery. The AnglicanChurch of Southern Africa, primate Thabo Makgoba.

SSUUNNDDAAYY 2299 -- Parish and district councillors serving the peopleof the deaneries of Newport, Vale of White Horse, Wallingford &Wendover. Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of America.

Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Haveyou believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who havenot seen me and yet have come to believe.’ (John 20:28:29 NRSV).

Sundays in July

Sundays in AugustAnd while (Jesus) was praying, the appearance of his face changed, andhis clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Mosesand Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking ofhis departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke9:29-31 NRSV).

Praying for EnglandPrayers for all those involved in the World Cup:

Lord of all the nations, who played the cosmosinto being, guide, guard and protect all who

work or play in the World Cup.May all find in this competition a source ofcelebration, an experience of common humanityand a growing attitude of generous sportsmanshipto others.Amen.

God of the nations, who has always called hispeople to be a blessing for the world, bless all

who take part in the World Cup.Smile on South Africa in her hosting,

on the nations represented in competition andon those who travel to join in the party.Amen.

A prayer for those simply not interested

Lord, as all around are gripped with World Cupfever, bless us with understanding, strengthen us

with patience and grant us the gift of sympathy ifneeded.Amen.Written by the Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Croydon, inassociation with the Revd Peter Moger, National WorshipDevelopment Officer Fans were invited to watch matches at St John’s, Caversham.

3

Getting creativeIT’S time to start getting creativein preparation for a competitionencouraging people to share theplaces where they encounterGod’s creation.

During the first part ofCreationtide (September 1 to30), people across the diocesewill be able to uploadphotographs of special places toa website, along withpoems/prayers inspired by thoseplaces.

The winning images and wordswill be printed as set ofpostcards to promote the idea ofencountering God throughcreation for churches andindividuals. Prizes will includephoto books and vouchers forprinting photos. For moreinformation seewww.earthingfaith.org/inspired.

Putting their bestfeet forwardWOMEN from St Mary’s Church,Princes Risborough arepreparing to walk 72 miles fromOxford’s Christ Church Cathedralto St George’s Chapel inWindsor, for the final leg of a 10-year fundraising drive.

The money will be used to helpraise the final £25,000 neededto fund restoration work to the12th century church. The walktakes place over 12 to 17 July.

It is hoped the church, which isaffected by rising damp, hasinadequate heating and isconstrained by old fashioned,dilapidated pews, will berestored next year, in time forChristmas 2011. The ladies’ walkwill take place between July 12and 17. To donate seewww.justgiving.com/stmarys-ladies.

Back - by populardemandORIGINS and Lemons, by theRiding Lights Theatre Companywas such a success last year it istouring the UK again duringAutumn 2010.

The show features biblicallybased songs, sketches andstories, and could come to avenue near you. The company islooking for venues that couldhost the show. They must beable to seat 150 to 400 peopleand face a performance area.

For more information contactIzzy Harris onizzy@rltc.orwww.ridinglights.orgor call 01904 655317.

Editors’ workshopCalling all parish magazineeditors — get inspired with aworkshop at Diocesan ChurchHouse on Saturday 4September.

The day is sponsored byParish Pump and costs just £5.To book a place contact IrisLloyd on 01488 686372 or email

iris.lloyd@virgin.net.

NewstheDoor JULY/AUGUST 2010

IN BRIEF

FAITH communities invest morethan £8.5m in employees andgive 12,500 hours each month asvolunteers, a study has revealed.

The £70,000 Building BetterNeighbourhoods Survey carriedout by the Oxfordshire StrongerCommunities Alliance ispublished this month. Itsfindings also reveal that faithgroups provide 220 rooms forcommunity activities other thanworship and contributesignificantly to the touristeconomy.

The Rt Revd Colin Fletcher,the Bishop of Dorchester, ischair both of OSCA and ofthe Building BetterNeighbourhoods steering group.He said: “The resulting picture toemerge is one of rich diversitywith much activity focusing onchildren and young people andon some of the mostdisadvantaged and ‘hardest toreach’ groups in Oxfordshire.”

The survey was completed by192 of Oxfordshire’s 450worshipping communities, whichinclude Christian, Hindu, Jewish,Muslim and Sikh groups. Of therespondents 72 per cent werefrom the Church of England with21 per cent from other Christiandenominations and seven percent from other faiths.

The report states: “Ofparticular note is the number ofworshipping communities whichhave established independentprojects to support the needs ofchildren, young people andfamilies or have established drop-

in centres to support the needsof all in their local communities.”

It suggests faith communitiesare addressing the needs of theirlocal areas, whether incombating the effects of therecession through a credit unionin Blackbird Leys, Oxford, oranti—social behaviour through aStreet Pastors scheme inWantage and Grove.

A formal launch event was totake place on Wednesday 23 Juneat Oxford’s Kassam Stadium.Speakers included Bishop Colin,Chief Constable of ThamesValley Police, Sara Thornton andLeader of Oxfordshire CountyCouncil Keith Mitchell.

The findings were due to bepresented at Diocesan Synod on26 June. Synod was to beasked to thank theOxfordshire StrongerCommunities Alliance and allthose involved in producing thereport; to celebrate theinvolvement of churches andother faith communities inbuilding better neighbourhoodsand to commend the report toparishes, under the ‘Making aDifference in the World’ strandof Living Faith.

Synod was asked to encouragethe Archbishops’ Council toseize the opportunity presentedby the Government’s initiative toengage more fully with thevoluntary, community and faithsectors to explore how freshmodels for partnership workingand appropriate serviceprovision at a diocesan andnational level might bedeveloped.

Faith groups help buildbetter neighbourhoodsby Jo Duckles

St Michael’s new café getsactive in Spencers Wood

A £120,000 project has seen an area of St Michael’s Church,Spencers Wood, Berkshire, transformed into a community café.

The church has a space where people can chat over coffeeand cakes or drop in for a snack at lunchtime. WiFi connectionis available for those who want to catch up with their emails ordo a bit of work away from school or office. It was partlyfunded by the South East England Development Agency,(SEEDA).

The Bishop of Reading the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell officiallyopened the café, christened Caf’Active on Sunday 13 June. Thevicar, the Revd Béatrice Pearson, said: “St Michael’s is verymuch a part of the local community, and that’s what this café isall about. I meet a lot of people in this job and young mothersin particular were telling me that they wanted somewhere to gettogether and take a few minutes out from their daily routine.That was really the starting point, and it has snowballed fromthere, gaining a lot of support along the way.

Caf’Active includes a new upstairs gallery area which will beused for a range of clubs, meetings and activities, includingcomputer courses, social and craft groups. It also acts as amuch-needed base for community services such as the ShinfieldVolunteer Drivers Scheme and local police surgeries.

Béatrice added: “I am absolutely thrilled to see Caf’Activetaking its place within the local landscape. I see this café as anideal way of nurturing our partnership with the community, andam looking forward confidently to a future in which we at StMichael’s remain at the centre of village life.”

Caf’Active public opening times are: Monday to Saturday9.30am to 2pm except Tuesday 11am to 2pm serving qualitycoffee, tea, soft drinks, cakes and light lunches. Seewww.cafactive.org for more information. Raising funds for robes

THE new boys’ choir at ReadingMinster of St Mary the Virgin is setto walk 10 miles from the Minsterto Henley to raise money forchoir robes and music.

The choir was formed inFebruary this year by assistantorganist, Peter West.

The boys have a choiruniform, but want to raise

around £1,500 to cover cassocksand surplices to become atraditional robed choir.

They also want to raise moneyfor sets of music, which costaround £50 each.

The walk takes place on Friday16 July. To sponsor choir contactthe Minster office on 0118 9571057.

Centenary celebrationsA NEW chancel ceiling wasdedicated by Bishop John to markthe centenary of All Saints’Church, Headington, Oxford.

The service took place on 29May exactly 100 years after thechurch’s consecration.Decorative panels and improvedlighting have also been installedat the church to enhance itsbeauty and ensure it leaves alasting legacy for futurecongregation. An exhibitionabout the church’s first centurywas held, with items including acloth on which membersembroidered their names in the1940s and 1950s.

Vicar, the Revd Jim Cocke, puttogether a festival programmeleaflet, which was delivered tohomes in the parish.

In the leaflet Bishop John said:“All Saints’ has borne witness tothe life and love of God for ahundred years and countlesspeople have found faith

sustained, renewed andenriched in that time.”

He also mentioned that thechurch is celebrating anotherremarkable fact in that “for overhalf of this period the Revd JimCocke has been the vicar.

“Through the years he hasmaintained dignity of worshipand depth of pastoral care for allwithin reach of the church.”

Celebrations will continueuntil the patronal festival on AllSaints’ Day (1 November), with aprogramme of services withpreachers who have links to thechurch.

The annual Summer Musicfestival will take place withconcerts every Wednesday in Julyand August (except 14). Inaddition the Oxford HarmonicSociety will perform Rossini’sPetit Messe Solemnelle on 19 Juneand the Headington Singers willgive a concert entitledShakespeare’s Globe on 16 July.

Albin Ismaili

Music and events in Fishguard,Goodwick, St.Davids Cathedral and

Rhos-y-gilwen Mansion

Highlights: Philharmonia Orchestra, PeterDonohoe (Chopin), Luca Luciano –

(clarinet), John S Davies Singers, CardiffInternational Academy of Voice,

CBSO – Innovation Chamber Ensemble with Richard Jenkinson and Ben Frith, Young

Musicians' Platforms, Tim Kliphuis (jazz violin). Purbayan Chatterjee (Sitar), BBCNational Orchestra of Wales with Llyr Williams(piano), Leicestershire Chorale, The National

Youth Orchestra of Wales – and more

Begins July 22nd – August 2nd 2010Brochure – May 2010

Box Office 01348 875538 (Mid-June)Enquiries 01348 891345 (Artistic Director)

01348 891226 (Chairman)

WWee aallll hhaavvee oouurr vveerryy oowwnn iiddeeaa ooff tthhee bbeesstt wwaayy ttoorreellaaxx oonn oouurr ddaayyss ooffff.. FFoorr mmaannyy ttrraavveelllliinngg bbeecckkoonnss,,ooffffeerriinngg aa wwhhoollee hhoosstt ooff ppllaacceess ttoo vviissiitt,, ssiigghhttss ttoo bbeesseeeenn aanndd tthhiinnggss ttoo bbee ddooiinngg.. IItt’’ss aammaazziinngg hhooww wweemmaakkee oouurrsseellvveess bbuussyy iinn oorrddeerr ttoo rreellaaxx!!

We are lucky to be living in a country with such

Inspiration all the wayvaried landscapes all so close together. From cosyvillages to cosmopolitan cities, steeped in history,Great Britain has it all particularly with the summerweather that we enjoyed for much of June.

Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire hassome beautiful countryside and picture postcardvillages. They make a pleasant setting for anafternoon drive, with plenty of tea shops to drop intoand an incredible range of pleasant walks. Ourchurches always provide a pleasant place to spend amoment in peace.

A visit to the zoo is a must for family days out. Nowcelebrating it’s 40th anniversary, the Cotswold WildlifePark at Burford will be open from 10am daily.Everyone has their favourite animal that they like tovisit in these modern day arks, whether it is the bigcats or something a little more crawly such as ants orspiders. The meerkats must be increasing inpopularity, and there can be few of us who have notbeen moved by their bravery and reluctance to sellcheap car insurance in some of the current televisionadvertising! Also being promoted this season is the

theDoor JULY/AUGUST 20104 Advertisement Feature

gift shops and cafés.Rochester Cathedralbrings historydramatically to life with arange of audio toursunder the banner,Ancient Stones, UntoldStories...’ Well worth avisit and entry is free.There’s a special‘Spiritual tour’ for parishgroups who are willing toreflect on their tour.

If you are visitingWales this year, do try

and visit the wellestablished FishguardMusic Festival.

Now in its 41st yearthe event runs from22nd July to 2nd August.

Music and events areheld in Fishguard itself,Goodwick, Rhos-y-gilwen Mansion and StDavid’s Cathedral.Google the website tofind up to date listings.and times.

opportunity to walk withthe lemurs and visit thepenguins. As alwaysthere are gardens, picnicareas and cafeteria.

Cotswold Wildlife Parkis happy to receiveSunday School outings,although the Women’sGuild would be just aswelcome. Coach outingsare an ideal way to beingchurch groups togetherin a way that filling up alot of cars cannot. Itemphasises the largerfamily that is the churchand offers a greatchance to get everyoneinvolved.

Wherever you travelyou are never far from abeautiful church orcathedral. Each in itsown way offers asanctuary from the hustleof the day. Many have

Heaven in OrdinaryA NEW ‘Living Faith’ DVD comes out this

month. The short film, called Heaven inOrdinary: Sustaining the Sacred Centrethrough creativity, explores the centralstrand of the Living Faith vision.

The title comes from the George Herbertpoem ‘Prayer’.

“Sustaining the sacred centre is aboutencouraging everyone to deepen theirenjoyment of God, and to recognise God’spresence in everyday life,” says BishopJohn.

“I hope this new film will inspire us andhelp us to think afresh about some of theways we encounter God. I’d like toencourage people to watch it in churchesor small groups, and see where the ideasexplored might take them next on theirspiritual journey.”

The DVD is being distributed to parishclergy. For more information, contact theCommunications Office on 01865 208225.

Grants for churchesTHE new £450,000 Oxfordshire StrongerCommunities Fund is available for projectsto reduce inequalities and deprivation.

Grants of £3,000 to £20,000 areavailable for community and voluntaryorganisations including churches. Schemesthat aim to improve people’s health andwell-being, create jobs and improve skillsand improve the environment can apply. Formore information seewww.grantscape.org.uk or all 01908247634.

Giving children a SureStart

theDoor JULY/AUGUST 2010

NewsIN BRIEF

5

THE congregation of St Mary’s Church,Barton, Oxford has raised £40,000 for anew roof.

The church was built 50 years ago, whenBarton estate was created, in part toprovide housing for workers at the thenMorris Car plant in Cowley. Nosubstantial repair work has been donesince them.

Dr David Bullock looked for sources of

funding and organisations including theOxford Historic Churches Trust and theNational Churches Trust contributedgrants. A craft fair and carol singingevent were among the events used toraise the cash.

TODDLERS from west Milton Keyneswere given the special job of officiallyopening a brand new Sure StartChildren’s Centre at Christ the SowerSchool in Grange Farm.

The centre is part of a £650k projectfunded by the Oxford Diocese andMilton Keynes Council. It has providedan extension of the school hall andcommunity facilities. Zane, Nicholas,Euan and their childminder AngelaHamilton unveiled a plaque outside thechildren’s centre shortly after a wholeschool assembly celebrated the school’ssixth anniversary last month when 425red and gold balloons, one for everypupil, were released as part of a balloonrace. The first balloon was reported asfound on the south coast the followingmorning.

Angela said: “As a childminder it’sreally useful to have somewhere to go toshare learning and advice with fellowchildminders. I’m also a mum so it’s great

to have somewhere to go to spend timewith my son and take part in the manyactivities available so that we developtogether. I hope as many families aspossible from the Grange Farm area willpay the centre a visit.”

Headteacher Anne Hamilton said: “Weare delighted at Christ the Sower to beable to have these new facilities which willbenefit the children in our school andthe wider community for years to come.We have a super new hall for PE, dance,collective worship, lunchtimes andCherry Hall, the Sure Start extension, isalso used daily by Allsorts, our afterschool and breakfast club.

“We hope that the community will beable to make good use of this for events,beavers, scouts, children’s parties etc inthe future. The close links with thechildren’s centre will be of great benefitto the community and we are enjoyingworking in partnership with the SureStart team to help provide services thatour community needs.”

Children at the Milton Keynes Sure Start centre. Pic: Milton Keynes Council

Raising (funds for) the roof

by Chaka Artwell

Above, the interior of the Church, Right, thecross on the roof. Pics: Dr David Bullock.

by Clair Jackson

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theDoor JULY/AUGUST 20106

Our own General ElectionGeneral Synod

Spotlight on...

It’s your Church of England (and God’s,of course – that goes without saying).And your General Synod. If you don’t

like what it decides about women bishops,the clergy’s terms of service, or the rulesabout marriages taking place in ourchurches, now is your chance to say so.

The General Synod can change ourrules. It is the only body outsideParliament that can make law binding onthe citizens of this country Once everyfive years, a new General Synod iselected, and 2010 is one of those years.

There are three houses in the Synod:bishops, clergy and laity. You don’t get achoice about the bishops (not this way,anyway) but the clergy members (called‘Proctors in Convocation’) are elected byclergy beneficed or licensed in thediocese, and the lay members are electedby the lay members of deanery synods.Anyone on an electoral roll in thediocese can stand for election as a laymember.

Synod processes are very likeParliament, with a tight timetable and adetailed body of rules for running theelection. The voting system is not ‘firstpast the post’. It is ‘Single TransferableVote’ - a bit like the ‘Alternative Vote’ thesecular politicians have been talkingabout. In this respect at least the Churchof England was at the cutting edge ofelectoral reform before some people nowin Government were out of their cradles!

The General Synod will be dissolved byThe Queen on 13 July, at the end of the

July sessions. Between now and then,Howard Cattermole, the DiocesanElectoral Registration Officer, will checkand re-check the names of qualifiedelectors with all the deaneries. Please doyour best to help him if you are an areadean, lay chair or deanery secretary. It’sa major task, and he needs to get it right.

Then as Presiding Officer for thediocese, I will run the election according

to the timetable you will see in the box onthis page.

There will be some major issues to faceduring the next five years, and thedecisions General Synod makes will affectthe life of our Church for many yearsbeyond that. So if you have a vote, don’twaste it, and if you have views you want toget across, make sure the candidates getto hear them.

My arrival on General Synod cameafter the tragic death of DavidGoldie, then Archdeacon of

Buckingham, after a long battle withleukaemia. At that time each dioceseelected one archdeacon, and when Daviddied, I was elected to represent the Dioceseof Oxford.

Arriving in Synod mid-term wasdifficult as the induction programme fornew members is not available after a bye-election. At first I found the parliament-like procedures bewildering and I onlyfelt I had a reasonable understanding ofhow to make a difference after two years.This is difficult to do alone and mostSynod members who are effective findways of networking with others who sharetheir interests and concerns.

Most of those elected to Synod will findthat they not only make new friends, butrediscover old ones. I was astonished tofind that there were no fewer than fourmembers of the Synod who had beenmembers of a student group which I ledafter Evensong as a curate in Bristol inthe early 1970s.

Once elected there are opportunitiesto serve on committees and workingparties of the Archbishops’ Council, orindeed on the Council itself. There arealso elections to bodies such as theChurch Commissioners and the Churchof England Pensions Board.

My own election as Prolocutor (Chair)of the Lower House of the Convocationof Canterbury (ie the clergy) together

with its membership of the Archbishops’Council after only three years on Synodcame as a great surprise. I had movedtwo significant amendments towards theend of the previous Synod and both werecarried. The first related to adequateprovision for those who cannot acceptwomen bishops, when legislation wasbeing proposed to allow the ordinationof women as bishops. The second led tothe exclusion of the draft provisions forthe transfer of ownership of beneficeproperty (parsonage houses, churchesand churchyards) from the ownership ofthe rector or vicar to diocesan boards offinance.

These amendments led a small numberof Anglo-Catholics to ask me to stand.This had not been on my agenda, but asI do not have an Anglo-Catholicbackground it seemed to me that perhapsI could play some small role in trying tokeep the Church of England together.

To my astonishment I was elected. Nownear the end of my ministry, I can say thatit has been most interesting to participatein the inner workings of the Church ofEngland at national level. Sometimeshowever it has been very hard work ontop of my day job as an archdeacon. Ihave got to know most of the senior staffof the various divisions of Church House,Westminster, and am pleased to be ableto testify, not only to their commitment,but also to the very high quality of thosewho serve as the church’s ‘civil servants’.The Ven. Norman Russell is Archdeacon ofBerkshire and Prolocutor of the LowerHouse of the Convocation of Canterbury.

A personal perspective

By John Rees

By Norman Russell

Election dates:20 July - Nomination papers issued3 September - Close of nomimationpapers17 September - Voting papers issued20 September to 1 October - Electionhustings in archdeaconries8 October - Close of voting12 October - Election count23 November - HM Queen opens newSynod

The Synod chamber and below, The Ven Norman Russell. General Synod

ONLINE

@For more information seewww.oxford.anglican.org/generalsynod andwww.generalsynodelections2010.org

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LAST summer an estimated 10,000 children across Oxfordshire, Berkshire andBuckinghamshire heard Gospel messages thanks to summer events organised bychurches.

And Yvonne Morris, Diocesan Youth Adviser, committed to praying for any holidayclub, activity day or outreach event. She also recruited other people from DiocesanChurch House and beyond, to pray for the events.

Yvonne says: “I'd love to make the same comitment this year and again get otherspraying too, so if you have an event over the summer holidays and would like us topray in the lead up to, and daily, throughout it, please send me details of the nameand place of the church, the theme of the event and an estimate of the number ofchildren attending.” Please email information to yvonne.morris@oxford.anglican.org.

Pictured are children enjoying the wacky fun at a recent Doug Horley Praise Partyat St Matthew’s Church, Oxford. The event attracted more than 100 children, fromchurches in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

Pics: KT Bruce. ktbrucephotography.com

FamilytheDoor JULY/AUGUST 2010

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7

Review: The Miracle of St RalphA TALE of a teenager training to run theBoston Marathon in the hope that thereward will be his mother waking from hercoma did not fill me with highexpectations.

I thought I’d be watching a low levelversion of Chariots of Fire (a brilliant film)with a huge dollop of saccharin but mycynicism was blown out of the water. Thisis Chariots standard with a sprinkling ofNapoleon Dynamite humour and clevercinematography that makes it a pleasureto watch. Be warned, the first few scenesare hilarious but a bit rude and musthave earned the movie its 12 certificate.

The risqué element doesn’t last andwhat ensues is an entertaining andmoving story. Ralph is a likeable, naughtyschoolboy who is constantly called intothe headmaster’s office of his Catholicschool. Running is one of the manypunishments doled out to him, and it’sthere that this unlikely athlete decideson his marathon goal in a desperate bidnot to become an orphan. Throw in aheadteacher determined to stop Ralph’smarathon attempt, a romance and inThe Miracle of St Ralph we have a highlywatchable, funny and enjoyable film.

Jo Duckles

WIN A DVDTHE Door has three copies of TheMiracle of St Ralph to give away in thismonth’s prize draw.

For the chance to win send yourname and address on a postcard toThe Miracle of St Ralphcompetition, The Door,Diocesan ChurchHouse, NorthHinksey Lane,Oxford OX2 0NB,to reach us no laterthan Monday 9August.

Happy campersCHEARSLEY villagers had hoped for goodweather for their camping weekend, buthad not expected a heatwave.

A total of 32 families and 117 peoplejoined in the weekend, which took placein a field in the village. The star of theshow was ‘water’ - a popular water slide,water bombs, water pistols, a pond tosplash in and, of course, plenty to drink,through the event.

The camping took place in a fieldbelonging to Paul and Ann Perrson.There were other activities such as aVillage Trail quiz; It’s a Knockout; abarbecue supper and a campfire, withvicar, the Revd John Wynburne leadingthe singing.

On Sunday a shanty town was built outof large cardboard boxes and an open airservice was held with the focus on theChristian charity Habitat for Humanity.Habitat is an international organisation,with its UK base in Banbury,Oxfordshire, which works to providehouses for people who live in shantytowns. Through the course of the year,Chearsley villagers are aiming to raise£1,235 which is the cost of one Habitathouse which will make a real differenceto the life of a family.

Ann summed up the weekend, saying:“All in all, it was a very happy, relaxedand hugely enjoyable weekend forfamilies of Chearsley.”

8 Advertisement Feature

Deciding on full time education is atremendously important choice.

In many cases the subject chosen can haverepercussions throughout life, forming for manystudents the foundations of a lifetime’s career.For a Christian of any age the choice of atheological, secular or social subject is likely tobe emphasised as it will effect the student’schosen path in the future.

A lot of prayer and advice will be undertakenin deciding what path to follow, even wheninherent talents seem to make the choice a little

more obvious. For younger Christians the pathmay have already been discussed whenchoosing subjects for ‘A’ levels but for manyolder Christians starting a course could well bea part of a change in life’s direction. It is worthspending time with family, friends and even thevicar when making these choices.

There’s also the choice of college. For manysome time away from home at university can bea time of self-discovery and growing, althoughothers may well prefer somewhere closer tohome. This can be due to the commitments suchas family responsibilities or commitments to the

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local church or other organisations. Travellingtimes are also quicker, a boon for most students.Financial considerations can also be a reason tostudy a little closer to home.

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There will also be those who might beinterested in one of the many distance-learningcourses available today. There are many on offercatering for all ages and abilities. Such coursescan help you in your private devotions andunderstanding of the Scriptures.

FeaturetheDoor JULY/AUGUST 2010 9

Spirituality in metropolis

Do you have a favourite walkwhere you pray that you’d like toshare? Contact us on 01865208225 or jo.duckles@oxford.anglican.org

Visitors unfamiliar with MiltonKeynes are often thrown bythe grid system of the roadlayout, long-term residentDon Head tells me. Once

you’ve grasped it, it’s dead simple. Butwhat you might all too easily miss,driving through, is the huge amount ofgreen space and the extensive networkof cycle ways and footpaths that links itall together.

Milton Keynes, as it turns out, ismade up of 40 per cent green space andboasts an impressive 22 million trees.Perhaps best known for its massiveshopping centre and the famousconcrete cows, it’s a young town (mainlydating from the 1970s) with ambitionsto become a city when it grows up.The prayer walk begins at Willen Lake innorth east Milton Keynes. First stop(1) isthe church of St Mary Magdalene (partof the Stantonbury and Willen TeamMinistry and an ecumenicalcongregation www.willenchurch.org.uk).The church was designed by RobertHooke, a contemporary of ChristopherWren, in around 1680. It is a beautifuland peaceful place, and generally openduring daylight hours. You may like tostart the walk with a spell of quiet prayerinside. Nearby is Willen Hospice(www.willen-hospice.org.uk), whichprovides palliative care. Pray for the sickand dying (those you know and thoseyou don’t) and for those dedicated totheir care.

From the church it is a short walk tothe Well (www.thewellatwillen.org.uk)which offers conference training andmeeting facilities. There is a well stockedlibrary which visitors can enjoy. Hereyou may like to think about “sanctuary”in its purest sense. Pray for all those whooffer others hospitality and time forspiritual reflection.

Walking south east towards thecentre of Milton Keynes, you can enjoythe fruits of the landscaping that took

place when the town was built. As well asthe lake, which houses a bird sanctuary,there is a labyrinth mown into the grass,with a “tree of life” to be discovered inthe centre. You might like to think ofthe twists and turns your own spirituallife has taken. When have you felt lost,and when has the way ahead seemedclear?

Up on the rise ahead you will see thePeace Pagoda, (2) built in 1980 by themonks and nuns of NipponzanMyohojii, and the first such pagoda inthe western hemisphere. The frieze tellsthe story of Buddha from his birth 2500years ago to his death 50 years later.Pause here and pray for world peaceand for healing between nations. Prayfor understanding between differentfaiths.

At this point you can take adiversion up to the CamphillCommunity Café for refreshments(www.camphill-miltonkeynes.co.uk).Otherwise continue onwards for a shortway alongside the main road (A509) andthen take the underpass and head forCampbell Park.

The next stop is the extraordinaryCathedral of the Trees (3). This isexactly what it sounds like: an outdoorcathedral, based on the footprint ofNorwich Cathedral and designed in1986 by the landscape architect NeilHigson. He used different species oftrees to represent the character of thedifferent sections of the cathedral:hornbeam and lime for the nave,evergreens for the central tower andspires, flowering cherry and apple forthe chapels. In the spring, bulbsrepresent the sun shining throughstained glass windows onto the ground.Here, give thanks for the joy of greenspaces in our towns and cities, and forthe pleasure of discovering flowers orhearing birdsong in unexpected places.

You now cross the Grand Union canal,(4) which today is largely used forpleasure purposes but was once a majorthoroughfare. Give thanks for those whomove essential supplies around thecountry today, often working anti-socialhours to make deliveries thatit is easy to take for granted.

Carry on through CampbellPark (5) and you will see thetown centre ahead of you.Central Milton Keynes housesa vast shopping centre, atheatre, art gallery, ice rink,and snow dome. As you walkthrough, pause and pray forall those who provide us withour daily needs. Pray that wemay use careful judgementabout the human cost of thegoods we buy.

The walk ends at Christ theCornerstone (6) (picturedleft) which standsprominently in the centre of

Milton Keynes(www.cornerstonemk.org.uk). Thechurch was opened in 1992 as the firstecumenical city centre church in theUK. It has a beautiful chapel which isalways available for private prayer andmeditation. There is also a café. Pray forthe work of Christ the Cornerstone andits mission in the heart of MiltonKeynes. Pray for those who find the paceof life a struggle, and come to thechurch in need of help, solace or alistening ear.

Remember those who offer help toyoung people in our city centres. Praythat we may all seek opportunities in ourlives for deeds of kindness andhospitality to others.

For the sixth of our series ofprayer walks Sarah Meyrickvisits Milton Keynes with DonHead.

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2

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Milton Keynes Partnership

FeaturetheDoor JU10

The people of Essex (andenvirons) may not be lucky ineverything, writes Bishop John,but in one thing at least theyare truly blessed – they have the

right man coming to be their bishop.Bishop Stephen has been a huge gift to

the Diocese of Oxford. He is a naturalleader and has brought a real passion forthe gospel into every corner of his ministry.As Bishop Alan said in his blog: ‘He runsGospel (or Evangelical) software onCatholic hardware.’ We have all felt thestimulus of his warm insistence that our taskis to share the love of God that we’ve seen inJesus.

He came to be Bishop of Reading whennerves were somewhat frayed and hequickly allayed fears and warmed hearts ashe directed people’s gaze back to theessentials of God and the gospel. TheReading Area in particular has benefitedfrom his inspiring preaching, stimulatingideas and rich pastoral care. Anglicans inBerkshire (including ‘occupied

Berkshire’!) are in good heart. He hasworked very hard, but the energy for thatwork has been the unseen root-system ofprayer and waiting on God.

Stephen has a great knack of cuttingthrough the verbiage of church politics andthe accompanying squabbling, andbringing people back to the heart of thematter. He is steeped in the Bible andbrings it alive in his teaching and writing.His books on The Things He Carried and TheThings He Said demonstrate the way heholds the human and divine narrativestogether in a single vision and offers thatvision to renew our faith. The result is thathe is always in demand as a speaker and henever fails to deliver the goods.

One of the most attractive things aboutBishop Stephen is the way he affirms andenjoys life in so many different dimensions.He’s very knowledgeable about film anduses it in stimulating ways. He regularlyreads poetry.

He times his journeys around the dioceseby the length of pieces of classical music. Helights up when he talks about StanleySpencer. He feeds on jazz, and often feedsthe family on his cooking. He juggles, playsthe ukulele (not many people know that),and loves above all spending time with hiswife Rebecca and their three boys Joseph,20, Benjamin, 16 and Samuel, 14.

The family have faithfully followedStephen around as he has moved frombeing a parish priest in London andChichester, a missioner in Wakefield andcanon pastor in Peterborough cathedraland then to Reading six years ago. Theodyssey continues but hopefully there willnow be many years of stability inChelmsford so that Rebecca can continueher work as a potter and lecturer inceramics, and the boys can complete theireducation in peace.

Stephen will move on to an even largerstage, but with all the gifts we have enjoyedcoming to full flower in him as one of God’sgreat evangelists in episcopal orders. Thankyou, Stephen; we are hugely in your debt.

AS outgoing Bishop of Reading the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell packs his bags to move to Chelmsford,the Door looks back on his six years of service to the Diocese.

Essex man heads home

Shoe shine bishop: shining shoes in Reading town centre in the run up to Easter 2007.

Get me to the church on time: Promoting the CofE’s WeddingsProject in Reading in 2008. (Above and left.) Pics: KT Bruce.

Pic: Rebecca Cottrell

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The current edition of TheSon includes stories on RingoStarr, Simon MacCorkindale,Denzel Washington, RubyTurner, Dmitar Berbatov, PaulAzinger and many more.

It’s an ideal tool foroutreach. Why not use TheSon to reach your community?

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11ULY/AUGUST 2010

Six years ago being the Bishop ofReading meant media attention on agrand scale. For all the wrong

reasons this was a post everyone knewabout. So when Bishop Richard phonedme about taking it on, my main emotionwas dread and foreboding. It felt like theChurch of England was passing me itspoisoned chalice.

I had never met Bishop Richard before.We rendezvoused at the House of Lords(where else?) and after two hours of somepretty heavy chewing of the cud, I agreedto my name going forward. Severalmonths later I was consecrated bishop at awonderful service in St Paul’s Cathedral.

There wasn’t a lot of joy to begin with. Iwasn’t sure that I would be able to shakeoff the hurts, confusions anddisappointments of what had gone before.But one thing emerged fairly quickly: afterall that had happened, and whatever sideyou happened to be on, people wanted itto work. The prevailing view seemed to bethis: whoever becomes the next Bishop ofReading is going to need some support.

And that’s what I got. And it is what Ihave enjoyed to this day. Tremendoussupport for a tremendous job. As I startedto get to know the clergy, the people andthe parishes of the BerkshireArchdeaconry, so I discovered a great willto make things work, to put differences toone side, and to focus on an agenda thatwas less concerned with the church andmore focused on the world. Even thoughthe press followed me about, and for acouple of months I felt like the world’sleading expert on fielding questions aboutgay bishops, I stick by what I said verynervously on the Today programme the dayI was appointed: in families we don’t always

agree, and we don’t always get on, but thatdoesn’t mean we stop loving each other.

As bishop I felt it was my role to holdtogether the unity of the Church, toproperly embody that generous love to allthat is Christ’s gift to the world, and to tryand lead the agenda of the Church awayfrom itself and back towards the needs ofGod’s people, especially the need to makeChrist known.

That is what I have happily spent the lastsix years doing. Ably supported byArchdeacon Norman, without whom I’mnot sure I could have survived at all, I havetried to bring the Christian faith into themarket places of the world, supporting thelocal church, but also creating anenvironment where the gospel is onceagain encountered in all its rich anddisturbing clarity, and where theconfidence of the church to live andproclaim this faith, despite our difficulties,is enhanced.

I have tried to be an evangelist and ateacher. I have marched in London forclimate change justice, chaired electionmeetings in Tilehurst, taken the clergy ofthe Archdeaconry to France, joinedblockades at Aldermaston, addressedrallies in Trafalgar Square, said Mass at thegates of Faslane, handed out egg timers atReading Station, joined Christians of alldenominations for mission events inReading and Wokingham and Abingdon,spoken at men’s breakfasts, homelesscentre lunches and business leadersdinners; I have shined shoes in BroadStreet, baptized and confirmed hundredof new Christians, presided at the funeralsof young soldiers who have died inAfghanistan, given out mince pies inBracknell and Easter eggs in Newbury; and

all of it so that Christ may be proclaimedand his love and service shown to theworld.

My highlight? Well, it is always hard topick out one thing, but I do rememberthat when I became a bishop I thought Iwould have to leave behind the work I hadalways enjoyed doing with children andyoung people. However, I have taken shedloads of assemblies at I don’t know howmany schools across Berkshire, chaired theDiocesan Board of Education in anexciting period of expansion anddevelopment, road tested and thenpublished a book of short stories about theinimitable Naughty Nora; so best of all Iremember the church schools and thechildren and the great joy of sharing theChristian faith with them. Despite all thepressures and occasional heartaches ofepiscopal ministry, it is their witness to methat has kept my own faith going.Therefore I leave the Oxford diocese as Iarrived: a child of God, excited by thepossibilities of the gospel and the newbeginnings that God offers us in Christ.

End notes - from the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell

That’s Asda nice: Bishop Stephen preaching at a Harvest Festival service in Lower Earley in 2009.

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TThhuurrssddaayy 11 JJuullyy

OXFORD: St Frideswide Church,Botley Road at 7.30pm. Organ recital(£5 inc wine and nibbles).

FFrriiddaayy 22 JJuullyy

PRESTWOOD: Holy Trinity Church at7.30pm. Talk by Canon David Winter‘The Bible is Boring, Unbelievableand Irrelevant!’ Details 01494863627 or 868537.

OXFORD: ‘Christian History on alunatic scale: book and television’ -talk by Prof Diarmaid MacCulloch at3pm at Wolfson College. Details01491 872248.

SSaattuurrddaayy 33 JJuullyy

THAME: Musical ‘Exodus’ presentedby combined churches of Chinnor at7.30pm at Christchurch, Thame.Details 01844 351096.

WINGRAVE: SS Peter and Paul willbe holding their annual Patronalfestival today and tomorrow.

HAWKRIDGE: St Mary’s will beholding their patronal festival todayfrom 2pm - 5pm and tomorrow allday. Details 01494 758332.

CHESHAM: Come and listen to MarkGriffiths present a talk on theimportance of child evangelism,followed by a training session. At StMary’s Church from 9.30am - 1pm.Details 01494 792722.

SSuunnddaayy 44 JJuullyy

WOUGHTON ON THE GREEN: StMary’s gardens are open from 2pm -6pm. Details 01908 665113.

STONE: Gardens open from 2pm -5pm. Evensong in the church at5.30pm.

FREELAND: ‘Songs of praise’ at StMary’s at 6pm. Details 01993883600.

BLEWBURY: St Birinus Pilgrimagebegins at 1pm from Churn Knob toDorchester Abbey. Pilgrimage serviceat 6.30pm in Dorchester Abbey withthe Bishop of Dorchester. Details01865 340007 or 341066.

FFrriiddaayy 99 JJuullyy

READING: Minster Church of StMary the Virgin at 12.15pm. A halfhour recital of organ music.

SSaattuurrddaayy 1100 JJuullyy

OXFORD: Concert at St Andrew’s

Church, Linton Road at 7.30pm.Details 01865 314849.

SANDFORD ON THAMES: StAndrew’s are holding a flower festivaland fete today and flower festivaltomorrow.

TThhuurrssddaayy 1155 JJuullyy

OXFORD: Oxfordshire HistoricChurches Trust - ‘In the steps ofCardinal Newman’. A walking tour inOxford. Cost £20. Details 01865316431.

SSuunnddaayy 1188 JJuullyy

FINCHAMPSTEAD: St James’Church at 4pm. Civic service with theBishop of Reading.

LOWER BASILDON: StBartholomew’s Church Open Dayfrom 2 - 4pm.

TTuueessddaayy 2200 JJuullyy

RETIRED CLERGY ASSOCIATION:Outing to Mapledurham House,Caversham. Details 01865 880210.

FFrriiddaayy 2233 JJuullyy

FINCHAMPSTEAD: St James’Church are holding a flower festivaltoday and tomorrow plus a gardenparty at 5pm on 25 July. Details0118 973 0133.

FINGEST: Hambleden Valley, NearHenley. Healing service with laying onof hands and anointing at HolyCommunion at 10.15am. Details01491 571231.

SSaattuurrddaayy 2244 JJuullyy

RUSCOMBE: A ‘Patronal FestivalOrgan Concert’ at 7pm in St Jamesthe Great.

SSuunnddaayy 2255 JJuullyy

DORCHESTER ON THAMES:Praise@7 - Informal worship atDorchester Abbey at 7pm.

SSaattuurrddaayy 3311 JJuullyy

ABINGDON: St Helen’s Church areholding a coffee morning, cake andbric a brac sale in aid of LeukemiaResearch from 10am - 12 noon.

SSuunnddaayy 11 AAuugguusstt

IVER: St Peter’s Church are holdingtower tours and cream teas everySunday in August from 2pm - 5pm.

SSaattuurrddaayy 77 AAuugguusstt

OXFORD: Open Garden at theBishop’s House, 27 Linton Road from2pm - 5pm in aid of The ArchwayFoundation (£3.50 adults, £1child.)

SSuunnddaayy 88 AAuugguusstt

DORCHESTER ON THAMES: Organmusic played by Sylvia Collins inDorchester Abbey from 2pm.

SSaattuurrddaayy 1144 AAuugguusstt

FREELAND: Drop in quiet day at theOld Parsonage from 10am - 4pm.

SSuunnddaayy 2222 AAuugguusstt

DORCHESTER ON THAMES:Taize@7 - Informal worship atDorchester Abbey at 7pm.

MMoonnddaayy 3300 AAuugguusstt

CHOLESBURY: Hawkridge andCholesbury are holding a joint fete atCholesbury village hall from 1.30pm.

LOWER BASILDON: StBartholomews Church Open dayfrom 11am - 3pm.

The DoorpostThe Doorpost is a free service for churches to advertise their events and is designed to be hung on churchnoticeboards. Please send your events to doorpost@oxford.anglican.org or by post to Church House. Thedeadline for the September 2010 issue is 6 August.

Courses, training, conferences & workshops in July/August 2010

13

‘SPEAKING IN CHURCH’ - Thiscourse is designed for anyone whospeaks in church (whether it isreading the Bible, giving notices, etc).At St James Church Centre,Woodley from 10am - 12.30pm onSaturday 3 July- Cost £10. Details:sheila.townsend@oxford.anglican.org

PRAYER WORKSHOP: Anopportunity to enhance your prayerlife and your ability to help others dothe same. Part of the ContinuingMinisterial Development programme.From 10am - 4pm at DiocesanChurch House on 7 July. Detailsfrom jeni.hobbs@oxford.anglican.org

TAIZÉ PILGRIMAGE: The Diocesan

Youth Adviser will be taking a groupof young people (aged 15 - 30) toTaizé from 24 July - 2 August.Spaces still available - Details fromyouthofficer@oxford.anglican.org

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION: AnEcumenical , one year introductorycourse from September at DouaiAbbey. Details fromlynette@innpact.co.uk or 01844343442.

GOD AND PHYSICSCONFERENCE: 7 to 10 July at StAnne’s College, Oxford and theClarendon Laboratory. Details fromcynthia.hall@theology.ox.ac.uk

Courses & special events

Sundays: 8am Holy Communion;10am Matins (coffee in PrioryRoom); 11.15am Sung Eucharist;6pm Evensong.Weekdays: 7.15am Morning prayer;7.35am Holy Communion; 1pmWednesday only Holy Communion;6pm Evensong (Thursday SungEucharist 6pm).After Eight: Time to reflect, time topray. Contemporary liturgies for mindand spirit on Sundays at 8pm.

Tel: 01865 276155www.chch.ox.ac.uk

Services at ChristChurch Cathedral

Taizé Pilgrimage 2009 - Details of this year’s trip below.

How big is your vision for reaching children?At REinspired we aim to see every child in every

local school every year so that they can find out from ordinary Christians what Christians believe.

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TThhuurrssddaayy 1155tthh JJuullyy 1100aamm-- 44ppmmAAtt SStt NNiiccoollaass CChhuurrcchh,, SSuuttcclliiffffee AAvveennuuee,, EEaarrlleeyy,, RReeaaddiinngg

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To book a place or to find out what we do call us on 0118 966 3929, email events@reinspired.org.uk or

visit www.reinspired.org.ukChurches Together in Early and East Reading Schools Work Project

Registered Charity No 1109291

Cornerstone Vision publishes this Diocesannewspaper. We also serve the needs ofbusinesses all over the UK with excellent

design and print services

• Business Stationery • Brochures• Leaflets • Websites

For a competitive quote andgreat customer service

Tel: 01752 225623service@cornerstonevision.com

theDoor JULY/AUGUST 2010Advertisement Feature14

‘Impacting youth and the wider communityfor good through FM radio, contemporary Christian

music and a globally influential website!’IMPACTING YOUTH...

“As I am writing this email to you now, it’s the night before my birthday. How quickly do they seem to come around! It will be awhole year, since the night I sat on the phone, with you and cried.And you prayed. And then sent an email, to say I was being prayedfor and thought of.

“This time last year, I was only a couple of months on from the overdose I had taken and miraculously survived, and to be honest, alot of the time I was still wondering why I hadn’t managed to do thejob properly.

“And the night before my 24th birthday, the night we spoke on thephone, I was in such a dark place still, that I was seriously contemplating trying again and doing a better job. I didn’t feel I hadany rope to hold on to and it was all pretty bleak.

“I want you to know that the very fact that someone was on the endof a phone, that night, and willing to talk with me, and pray, and notmake me feel like an outcast or a freak was a lifesaving piece ofrope, even though you may not have realised it at the time. It gaveme the rope I needed to hold on to, to make it through that night.

“ Without doing something that would have been unwise.The nextday, more hope arrived, when you emailed me. Because I figured thatif someone, reasonably random and unconnected to me, could besomewhere else in the country but thinking of me, then surely I couldn’t be all that bad a person.”

“A young pregnant girl was in a car and Cross Rhythms Teesside wasplaying. She was planning on having an abortion, however just at thattime the Policeman story came on - the one about the policeman whoGod uses to save a pregnant lady who was going to have an abortion.Anyway, this girl heard the story and made a decision not to gothrough with her abortion.We saw her baby just before Christmas”.

“Hi, I have some exciting news. Me and Ben have been speaking to agirl who’s gotten pregnant and the guy doesn’t want to know heranymore (she isn’t a Christian). She went to a church on Sunday andtold them her situation and they told her ‘you’ll be a bad influence toour young people’ and asked her to leave.

“She’s been saying its put her off church all together.Well today shesaid she heard the Policeman story on Cross Rhythms last night, (theone you keep playing on the show about the policeman that shareshis story about the woman going for an abortion), and she gave herlife to God!! So excited!!”

“Hi! I downloaded your podcast on self harm after my friend sent itto me thinking it might help. I have self harmed for 9 months. I havegood times and bad times. I have been trying to tell someone. I listened to your podcast nightly for the last few nights.

“ Although I am not a Christian, it really helped me. I booked with thenurse to see the counsellor again, who I saw before but never told heranything. I saw her today and told her. It feels so much better.Thankyou so much you have helped me heaps”.

The national Cross Rhythms media ministry hasbeen tested, proven and matured over 27 yearsand today it is proving its ability to powerfullyengage the youth of our nation and reach those

outside our church walls through media.Just read the stories on this page, from only the last few months,to catch a glimpse of that effectiveness.

The wonderful stories of lives changed are awesome and worthcelebrating, but the question remains:What about the millions ofother youth in our nation? How vital is a media voice like CrossRhythms in these days?

Recent research amongst teenagers reveals the following:

- Two-thirds of teenagers believe religion is bad and ‘has a negative influence on the world’

- 55% say family, friends, money and entertainment are more important.

- Half of teenagers claim they have never prayed and 16 per centhave never been to church.

- Three in ten believe in an afterlife but one in ten believes in reincarnation.

The truth is there is a fierce battle for the souls of a youngergeneration, and indeed for the people of our cities and communities, but CrossRhythms has grown up learninghow to engage in the fight andbeen trained and preparedover 27 years for the greaterbattles ahead. Even other UKmedia players recognise ourreadiness: a recent issue ofYouthwork magazine declaredCross Rhythms ‘The mostyouth-friendly Christianbroadcaster by far…’

In addition our website (complete with prayer roomsand lifestyle Christian teaching)reaches more than 800,000different people every year ofwhich 65% are under 35.

Significant bridges into the community are being made and agrowing sphere of influence for the kingdom of God is resulting.When Jesus described the Kingdom of God he said it was like alittle ‘yeast that works itself through a large batch of dough’.Thatis how God is using Cross Rhythms in UK cities.

There are already three Cross Rhythms FM stations in Stoke,Plymouth and Teesside; plus we are supporting another station inCoventry. In our ongoing vision to see 10 such stations in thecities of our nation we are also in discussion with groups inthree other cities. Something we hope to see established overthe next few years, in a time when the Christian voice andChristian values in our nation are getting more and more undermined.

The battle for souls and for a clear Christian voice in our nationis entering a new phase and we know we have been aligned andprepared for these days ahead.

Yet one thing is still not fully in position. It is the area that iscontinually contested and could take us out if not established atsufficient strength. It is the severe restrictions on this ministryfor lack of resource.We truly need the support of matureChristians who can see this vision and get behind it even if theyare not the consumers of it.

If you feel stirred to identify with the work of this ministry; thatthis is a ministry God would lead you to push with to see theadvance of his kingdom in the days ahead; to join with us toreach the youth and the wider community in our nation; then I invite you to take that step of aligning with our work by completing the form here.

IMPACTING CITIES...Feedback has shown that Cross Rhythms is heard in taxis,hairdressers, barbers, chip shops, universities, schools, theCitizens Advice Bureau, petrol stations, car mechanic garages,furniture shops, doctors surgeries, the council offices, churchfoyers, pubs and even Muslim owned shops. Here’s some recentfeedback:

“You may recall an email about a local church who ran a free community BBQ and saw about 250 people come.The commentmade was that they met many who had heard of it on Cross Rhythms.Anyway the Sunday just gone was the follow up to the BBQ and theyhad about 30 extra people, nine of whom got saved!”

“A friend of mine was having lunch in Toffs and the City CentreManager was in there.The CC Manager was saying how CrossRhythms are city minded, and community minded, and that CR surpasses the local BBC in their involvement in the city.The staff member from Toffs agreed”.

“This week the headteacher from Berry Hill High School asked us ifwe would do an interview with him about their school including plugging their parents evening.We duly did, and following the interviewwith the headteacher, the assistant head Dave Wilcox, phoned to say itsounded “awesome”. He wanted a copy of the interview to play in thereception of school during the open evening last night. They alsoexpressed keenness to explore what they could do with the pupils withus on radio”.

“I wonder if you can remember our meeting about three years ago ata business networking event. Our meeting had a great impact onmyself and led to a difficult time of challenges to the way I led my lifewith Buddhist beliefs.When we met for lunch you explained that I hadmet Jesus that night. In December 08 I had an amazing experienceduring a Christmas carol concert. I met Jesus for the second time. I amnow a youth leader at the church and when I give my testimony youare a big part of my story and how I have found Jesus.Thank you somuch”.

By Jon Bellamy, CEO of Cross Rhythms

How you can help...I want to reach the youth of our nation

through Cross Rhythms

I would like to give a one off gift of £________________

I enclose a cheque/postal order (made payable to ‘Cross

Rhythms’)

Please debit this sum from my VISA/MASTERCARD/MAESTRO

as a one off gift

Card number _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Issue number_______ Expiry date _ _ _ _

Please send me information on becoming a regular

supporter of Cross Rhythms

Please add me to the Cross Rhythms mailing list

Name:_________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________

______________________________________________

Postcode:_________________Tel:___________________

E-mail:_________________________________________

Please cut out this form and post it to:

Cross Rhythms, PO Box 1110,

Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 1XR.

Alternatively you can call 01782 251000 to make a donation or go to

www.crossrhythms.co.uk/donations Reg Charity No 1069357 ✁

ArtstheDoor JULY/AUGUST 2010 15

Ancient exhibition

This book offers a year’s worth ofassemblies for key stages one andtwo. It differs from the many other

assembly resources by its use of six originalstories written by Edward Carter to explorebiblical themes - one for each half-termperiod.

Listeners are encouraged to imaginethemselves as part of the story and areprompted to think about their ownresponses to the issues raised. So forexample the first theme in the book is‘God’s Creation’ and this is explored bytelling the story of Felix’s Garden (with awooden pole and coloured ribbons as avisual aid).

Each week’s instalment has its own minitheme - for God’s Creation these include‘preparation’, ‘growing’, ‘stewardship’ –and the story finishes on a cliff-hanger tobe continued next time. The story-tellingapproach is effective (especially for keystage two) and you can imagine thechildren being keen to hear the nextinstalment. This method does rely,however, on regular and uninterruptedweekly assembly slots – longer gaps couldmake it hard to keep the story going andpupils may well struggle to stay engaged.But for all those who are looking for afresh and imaginative approach to weekly

assemblies this book is ideal, and inschools where there is a sharedcommitment to exploring Christianityacross the life of the school there is plentyhere to draw on and be inspired by.

The Revd Becky Bevan is curate at StMary’s, Thatcham. The Revd Edward Carteris Priest in Charge at St Peter’s, Didcot.

Fresh assembliesStory Assemblies for theSchool YearEdward J CarterBRF £8.99

by Becky Bevan

St Peter ad Vincula Church, SouthNewington, is famous world-wide forits wall paintings.

An exhibition explaining thepaintings, which date back to 1340,was opened by MP Tony Baldry duringthe South Newington Festival lastmonth.

The paintings include the damagedremains of Doom, a passion sequence,the gory portrayal of the finalmoments of Thomas Beckett and aVirgin and Child considered to be oneof the finest wall paintings in thecountry. A £50,000 Heritage LotteryFund Grant recently paid for work to

improve the churchyard includingresurfacing the paths, restoring stepsand repairing tombstones. The grantalso covered educational materials andthe cost of the exhibition.

A £23,000 English Heritage grantplus £7,500 match funding to be raisedby the parish will be used forinvestigation of the condition of roofsand ceilings. Money raised by theFestival will contribute to this matchfunding.

The church and exhibition are opento the public every day from 10am to5pm until the end of October.

Competition WinnersMrs M Turner from Chesham, Bucks;Mrs B Teague from Wokingham, Berksand Mrs B Carter from Drayton,Abingdon were the winners of the prizedraw in the June issue of The Door andhave all won a copy of ‘Walking theLabyrinth’ by Sally Welch.

The Revd Sarah Tillett is pictured at St Peter’swith Laurence and Penny Carey. Pic KT Bruce.

This Arctic adventure begins at the same latitude as Siberia andAlaska, where the influence of the Gulf Stream creates the

longest ice-free polar coast and giving you a unique opportunityto gain a tantalising glimpse into life high above the Arctic Circle.

From £795pp*Based on an inside cabin, on a Half Board basis.No single supplement!* subject to availability, additional charges may apply, subject to termsand conditions. Upgrade to an outside cabin from only £85 per person

Arctic Highlights ItineraryDay 1 –Fly direct to Tromsø from LGW where you will be transferred to the ship.

Day 2-3 -Enjoy the voyage, passing North Cape and on to Kirkenes.A range of optional excursionsare available before sailing south again (Breakfast & Dinner)

Day 4 –Arrive in Tromsø late evening, transfer to your centrally located hotel for an overnight stay(Breakfast & Dinner)

Day 5 – Optional excursions may be available before your transfer back to the airport and returnflights direct to the UK - LGW. (Breakfast)

Departures are direct from London Gatwick and are applicable for the following dates:4 nites including 1 nite post in Tromso ( 3 nights cruise 1 nights Hotel in Tromso)

• £795 31st January 2011 ( 4 nights)• £795 7th February 2011 ( 4 nights)• £795 14th February 2011 ( 4 nights) Or why not extend your stay for two nights with the following departures*

2 nights post voyage (3 nights cruise 2 nights postcruise in Tromso)• £945 28th January 2011 ( 5 nights)• £945 2nd February 2011 ( 5 nights)• £945 9th February 2011 ( 5 nights)• £945 11th February 2011 ( 5 nights)• £945 16th February 2011 ( 5 nights)• £945 18th February 2011 ( 5 nights)

4 nights itinerary £795 for inside cabin5 nights itinerary £945 for inside cabin£85 for outside supplement on both durationsFLIGHT TIMINGS (direct services to Tromso)LGW –TOS 1000 – 1430TOS – LGW 1530 - 1800

Prices are in £’s based on two people travelling together sharing a twin cabin/room. No single supplements.Your holiday price includes: Return economy flights from London Gatwick including current taxes and charges, voyage in a twin cabin including half board, 1night at a centrally located hotel in Tromso including breakfast,transfers as applicable.

No Single Room Supplements

For more information and for bookings, please contact us on:

FREEPHONE0800 048 1055

Not included: Travel insurance, luggage handling andoptional excursionsFlight Details: Flights with Norwegian from LondonGatwick. Flights are with SAS from London Heathrow.Regional departures: Please contact us for details,availability and applicable supplements.

16 theDoor JULY/AUGUST 2010Advertisement Feature

Holidays at home

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SHERBORNEShort breaks in DorsetElegant, spacious, 2 bed,

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SaundersfootCrantockAnneth Lowen, a North Cornish HolidayCottage. Sleeps 7 plus cot. 8 minuteswalk from beach. Great for families,art groups, walkers. Available all year.

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HAMPTON MANOR****Cornish Country House Hotel

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Special Walking Holidays in September

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theDoor JULY/AUGUST 2010 17

Big science has expelled smart newideas from the classroom...What theyforgot is that every generation has it'sRebel! That rebel, Ben Stein travels theworld on his quest, and learns thateducators and scientists are beingridiculed, denied tenure, and even fired-for believing that there might beevidence of 'design' in nature. Perhapslife is not just the result of accidental,random chance. In this often hilariousfilm Ben says "Enough" - And NOBODYmesses with Ben!

An expose of the first calibre, this movie gets to the heart of the issues.

This UK version includes over 45 minutes of interviews not in the US version

In a controversial new satirical documentary, author, former presidentialspeechwriter, economist, lawyer and actor Ben Stein travels the world, looking tosome of the best scientific minds of our generation for the answer to the biggestquestion facing us today:

Are we still free to disagree about the meaning of life?Or has the whole issue already been decided…

while most of us weren’t looking?

Buy your copy of “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” from at the discounted price of just £10.97

Call us on 01782 251000 or visitwww.crossrhythms.co.uk/direct/expelled

RRP £15.99 £10.97+P&P

Purchasing Expelled from Cross Rhythms helps us reach the next generation with positive values

18 theDoor JULY/AUGUST 2010Advertisement Feature

William Wilberforce (July 30th)

There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is nolonger slave or free, there is no longer maleand female; for all of you are one in ChristJesus. Galatians 3:28

Writing probably in the sixthdecade of the first century, StPaul spelled out this magnificent

charter of equality in Christ. Like most ofus he struggled when it came to workingout its consequences in daily life.

Not only Paul, but the whole ChristianChurch, took a long time to accept themeaning of his words, he was describingthe massive social walls that dividedsociety in his day, and in many ways havecontinued to do so ever since. Race,social class and gender are the threecategories that provide the buildingblocks of those walls of division.

Paul asserted ‘in Christ’ they have allbeen demolished. Yet it took overseventeen centuries for Christians toaccept that owning slaves or toleratingslavery were wrong. That Christians areat least united in rejecting slavery is dueto brave pioneers 200 years ago - nonewith more effect than WilliamWilberforce.

Wilberforce was a man born intoprivilege — a wealthy family, influentialconnections and a seat in Parliament atthe earliest possible age, 21. Yet thedefining moment in his life came twoyears later, when under the influence ofthe evangelical revival he experienced aprofound conversion and determined

that from then on he would apply theinsights of the Christian gospel to themoral and social problems of his day.

He first focused on the reform ofcriminal law, but the then primeminister, William Pitt the Younger, askedhim to lead the parliamentary group forthe abolition of the slave trade. He setthe House of Commons on fire with abrilliant speech on the subject in 1789,but several bills to abolish slavery wererejected by Parliament.

Finally the bill to abolish the slavetrade became law in March 1807. Hiszeal undaunted, and despite failinghealth, Wilberforce then took up thecause of the emancipation of existingslaves, though that was not finallyachieved until after his death in 1833.

The life and career of Wilberforce hasmany lessons for present-day Christians.One is the subtle difference betweentheory and practice. Another is that nocause can ever be regarded aspermanently won. Moral and spiritualgains inherited from the past have to bemaintained and advanced.

That’s still true where slavery isconcerned, and it’s also true over issuesof sex and race. Governments may passequality legislation, but it is people whomake it work. Wilberforce, and thosewho campaigned so bravely with him twocenturies ago and did it in the name ofChrist, call us, too, to be faithful,consistent and persuasive in defendingthe concept of human equality beforeGod. And that equality must begin, as StPaul asserted, right in the heart of thebody of Christ.

Canon David Winter is a former DiocesanAdviser on Evangelism, former BBC head ofreligious affairs, a broadcaster and author of manybooks.

Letters & commenttheDoor JULY/AUGUST 2010

Farmers’ welcomeResearch shows that attendance atHarvest Festivals is second only toattendance at Christmas services. TheDiocesan Rural Officers’ Team welcomesthe decision to make Harvest Welcome atheme to encourage people to come backto Church.

For a long time we have worked hard tohelp rural churches connect with thefarming community. The demands ofmodern farming can make attendance atchurch and in village life difficult. Farmersdon’t all find it easy to promote what theyare doing to a society increasinglydistanced from the land. In Genesis Godgives humankind responsibility forcreation; the primary purpose of Adam isto till and work the soil; the word Adamcomes from the Hebrew for the soil.

On the whole farmers represent us all inthat primary purpose of tilling and workingthe land. We think it would be ironic if aHarvest Welcome campaign failed towelcome the very people who areproviding the Harvest. We want toencourage rural churches to think aboutholding Harvest Welcome services at atime convenient for farmers and in a placefarmers are comfortable in, and to reflectthe issues farmers are facing. OneIncumbent invites local farmers to a pre-Harvest Festival breakfast to find out fromthem what issues are facing them andreflects on those issues in the prayers andsermon.

If you would like a decorative sheaf foryour service, ask for the sheaf before theharvesting starts and then take a momentto talk over the issues with the farmer.That way they will feel welcomed and partof the arrangements for the service.

The Diocesan Rural Officers Team.Please note: letters should be no more than250 words and may be edited.

LETTERS

Audio version

by Alan Wilson

On the face of it, theVolcanic Ash Cloud wasbad news. At an estimatedcost of £2·1 bn, people

simply had to find other travel options.They say, however, that every cloud hasa silver lining.

With flying confined to the birds andthe bees clear blue sky without vapourtrails gave enormous pleasure to fansof clear blue sky. South Bucks clergyreported a paradisial week when youcould bury the dead, baptise a babyeven, without having to halt every 45seconds.

More interestingly, one friend whotravels abroad regularly for businesssaid it had all made him weigh up histravel needs. The sudden suspension ofthe whole bang shoot had showed himhow much of the travel he thinksnecessary is less than necessary. Notevery overseas client requires a weeklymeeting. He had enjoyed a slowerpace, more reflective silence, a spell ofworking from home and catching up.

Some say adversity brings out a finestrand of the national character. PluckyBrits bought bicycles, holiday makershitched lifts home on banana boats,stranded Southerners rented smallcraft to cross the channel. There ispride and pleasure to be gained fromoccasional outbreaks of Dunkirk Spirit.

Some entertained meaner thoughts.One friend confessed toschadenfreude at the thought ofRyanair (“Oh, paying will cost you £10.Toilet? £5. Air in the cabin? Only£25...”) having to cough upunexpected charges, just like theircustomers.

So, on balance, it was just passingcloud — but if fuel prices reach newpeaks in coming years, the naggingquestion remains whether we wouldn’tend up seeing the week as a bit of adry run for a leaner, reduced appetitefor air travel. How could we scale downour needs? Ideas on a postcard, please.The Rt Revd Alan Wilson is Bishop ofBuckingham.

Comment

Thought forthe month

by David Winter

19

Sight impairedpeople can nowget a free audio

version of The Door bycontactingGraham

Winterbourne on01884 840285

Comings and Goings -Revd Sue Newby will take up post asAssociate Minister at St Mary’s, Banbury;Revd Paul Hinckley will take up post asTeam Vicar at Great Marlow with MarlowBottom, Little Marlow and Bisham; RevdDr Mohan Uddin will take up post asTeam Vicar at Newbury; Revd David Bellwill take up post as Team Vicar at TheWatling Valley Ecumenical Partnership inMilton Keynes; Revd Dr David Stone will

be leaving his post as Team Vicar inNewbury to take up new post as CanonPrecentor at Coventry Cathedral; CaptRichard Waller will be leaving his post asParish Evangelist (CA) in Brize Norton andCarterton. The following have been givenpersmission to officiate: Rt Revd DavidJennings; Revd Canon Bernard Dagnalland Revd Clive Jones. We recall withsadness the death of Canon Peter GeorgeCobb.

Editor: Jo Duckles Tel: 01865 208227Email: jo.duckles@oxford.anglican.orgEditorial Assistant/Distribution: Debbie DallimoreTel: 01865 208225 Email: debbie.dallimore@oxford.anglican.orgAdvertising: Roy Perring Tel: 01752 225623 Email: roy@cornerstonevision.comDeadline for September 2010: Friday 6 August 2010.Published Monday 23 August 2010.

The Door is published by Oxford Diocesan Publications Ltd (Secretary Mrs Rosemary Pearce). Theregistered office is Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey Lane, Oxford, OX2 ONB. Tel: 01865 208200.While every care is taken to ensure the reliability of our advertisements, their inclusion in The Door doesnot guarantee it or mean that they are endorsed by the Diocese of Oxford.

An ill wind

Love Oxford saw more than 4,000 people from 40 churches worshipping in SouthParks on a scorching May Sunday. Pic: John Cairns. Johncairnsphotography.co.uk

God in the life of... theDoor JULY/AUGUST 2010

It’s clear within a few seconds ofmeeting the Revd Luke Lee thathe exudes joy. He says joy is thereason his wife, Lucy, enjoyssinging so much, and proudly

gives me a copy of a CD of church musicshe had recorded.

The son of an Anglican priest, Lukewas born in North Korea in 1937 andrecalls the day in 1945 he came homefrom school to find a sign on his door,stating the property had beenconfiscated by the communists. “We weretold to go 100km out of the town, so wedecided to go to South Korea.” Heremembers his mum collecting somejewellery before they made the journey.He said around a third of the populationof North Korea moved south because ofthe communist regime.

It was there that Luke later began hisministry leading youth clubs andencouraging youngsters to go intoministry. He volunteered himself forchurch work, eventually going to StMichael’s Theological Seminary, beforethe bishop asked if he’d be interested ingoing to Australia to train for theministry at St John’s College, New SouthWales.

He came back and began working withthe bishop, in the Cathedral of StBenedict, where worship was held in the

bishop’s living room. “My happiest timewas seeing the church flourish.

“The congregation grew from a fewpeople to 100, then 200. That was awonderful experience,” he says. Aged 35he became Principal of St Michael’sTheological Seminary, providing trainingfor ordinands, priests and for laity.“Within a year we were able to train10,000 people. It was a very excitingtime.”

He says the house churches were partof the key to the successful growth of theChurch. “Entire congregations wouldmeet in houses, and youth visiting teamswould see them and work very hard tobuild up congregations.”

Luke came to England to study for aMasters and then a PhD at BirminghamUniversity. But when cash ran out he gota part time parish priest’s job in theLichfield Diocese. But his priest’s roletook over and he never finished his

studies. “I had to learn the culture aswell, about aspects of English life like thesocial welfare system, we don’t have thatin Korea.” he says. He was asked threetimes to go back and run the Koreantheological seminary, but knew God hadother plans for him. “I tried to build linksbetween the Church of England and theKorean Church, becoming a Commissaryto the Bishop of the Korean AnglicanChurch,” he says.

He also became chairman of theKorean Mission and has organisedLondon Grace for Korea, working to givescholarships for Korean students to cometo England. His cultural knowledge mustbe invaluable when doing this work.

It was while working for the Bishop inKorea that Luke, now 73, met Lucy. “Wewere doing church warden’s training anda young lady came with her mother.

She thought I was in love with her andI thought she was in love with me.” It

turned out they were in love and nowthey’ve been married 40 years, have twogrown up sons, Michael and Daniel, anda grandson, Lucas.

Luke says: “I have no regrets. I’veserved the Church for 40 years and thenretired. If I was born again I’d be a vicaragain.” Now Luke, who worships at StMary’s, Aylesbury, spends his timeenjoying his retirement, and serving as alocum in churches when he’s needed.He’s also writing a book about Dr JohnCorfe, the first Anglican Bishop in Korea,and is trying to persuade Lucy to join himin one of his latest hobbies – golf.

He sees a link between theconcentration required for golf, and thework required when meeting people. Hesays: “In order to send a ball the rightdistance you have to concentrate veryhard. If you don’t concentrate the balljust goes in the wrong place. I have tothink: do I give the same concentrationwhen I see someone who comes forcounselling with me? I try and give realconcentration during the time I havewith that person.”

While coming from a high churchbackground, Luke says he has had acharismatic experience when surgeonsdiscovered a malignant bone tumour inhis arm and gave him a month to live. Apriest asked him simple, straightforwardquestions, ‘Do you believe in God’ towhich he answered ‘yes’, ‘Do you think heis almighty’, ‘yes’ ‘Do you think he cancure your bone tumour’ – ‘yes. “Once I’daccepted these things he said ‘don’t argue,just believe.”

The priest prayed and when thesurgeons opened up his arms, the tumourwas like the yoke of an egg and thesurgeons were able to remove it, replacingit with bone from his hips. He said: “Onesurgeon was doing a PhD and couldn’tbelieve how my arm just ripped open, likea yoke, he used me as part of his studies.In that situation I felt I’d been given abonus life. It was an exciting experiencethat made me happy to be a parish priest.”

Luke Lee tells Jo Duckles about his journey from beinga refugee aged eight tobecoming a leader of rapidlygrowing Anglican Church inSouth Korea, and hiseventual move to England.

‘My happiest time was

seeing the Church flourish.’

20

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