The Bishop of Berwick, the Right Revd Mark Tanner to become 41st Bishop of Chester

June 2020INSIDE:Page 3 Archdeacon of Lindisfarne to become next Dean of DerbyPage 4 Introducing the new Rector of HexhamPages 6&7 Our schools during Covid-19Page 9 Fundraising ideasPage 9 Wellbeing: Dealing with change

The Right Reverend Mark Tan-ner has been named by Downing Street as the next Bishop of Chester, succeeding

the Right Reverend Dr Peter Foster who retired last September.

Bishop Mark has been Bishop of Berwick since 2016 and is expected to take up his post in the autumn, practi-calities permitting.

“It will be hard to say goodbye to the North east,” he says. ”But Lindsay and I are excit-ed to return to Chester where I was ordained and both of our chil-dren were born.”

Mark says: “I am so grateful to be part of the life of the Diocese of Newcastle. This is such a special part of the world and it will always be part of us. God is not finished with us yet and I look forward to cele-brating what he leads you all into in the months and years to come. It is an honour to be appointed to the Dio-cese of Chester at such a key time in the life of our communities, nation and Church. In Christ, God offers a gift of hope beyond our imagining and we get to share it in practical service and profound worship. God is here for all.”

Bishop Mark and his wife, Lindsay, will be introduced to the Diocese of Chester via a series of live-streamed

events, where members of the public will be invited to watch and partici-pate via Facebook and Zoom.

The Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Christine hardman said: “‘It has been a real joy to work with Mark as a key member of the team here. I give thanks for his time amongst us, for his friendship and counsel, his kindness and great sense of fun, and most particularly, for his focus on

those whom we are called to serve as Christ’s church today. he has been instrumental in helping us establish our Resource Church and imagine new possibili-ties in terms of ministry and mission, and has served us well as Bish-op of Berwick. I know the Diocese of Chester will be blessed through his ministry there. In these challenging times, where it is not possible for endings and beginnings to be what we would want

them to be, Bishop Mark, Lindsay, and their family are in my prayers as they prepare for this next season in their lives.’

The Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend and Right honourable John Sentamu said: “I am glad that her Majesty the Queen has approved Bishop Mark Tanner to be the next Bishop of Chester. his formation,

leadership and experience as a theo-logical educator have prepared him well to be the Chief Shepherd of the Diocese of Chester. Bishop Mark and his family will continue to be in my prayers.”

The Bishop of Birkenhead, the Right Reverend Keith Sinclair said: “It is a great joy to be able to welcome Mark and Lindsay back to the Diocese of Chester. To be ordained deacon and priest here and then be called back as bishop is a special gift of God. Mark brings fresh eyes and energy to a dio-cese in which he is no stranger. he sees God working in our life here and is ready for the challenges we face in living and speaking the gospel of Jesus

for today. I know his deep prayerful-ness in the Spirit and thank God for his joyful faith. The whole diocese has been praying, and we thank God for answered prayer!”

Mark was ordained deacon in 1998, having served as the Youth Worker at holy Trinity in Coventry and then trained for ordained ministry at Cran-mer hall in Durham. he served a cura-cy at St Mary’s Upton on the Wirral before moving to Doncaster as Vicar of St Mary’s. In 2007, he was appointed Vicar of holy Trinity, Ripon, and there he also served as Area Dean and an Army Chaplain. In 2011 he was appointed as Warden of Cranmer hall, and later, Vice Principal of St John’s

College in Durham and a non-resi-dentiary Canon of Durham Cathedral, a post he occupied until his move to the Diocese of Newcastle to become Suffragan Bishop of Berwick in 2016.

Mark has been a member of the General Synod since 2015, with a break when he became a bishop. he is a member of the Church of england’s Ministry Council and has led the renewal of the Church’s processes for discerning call to ministry. he is a contributing author to a number of publications, writes occasionally for the Church Times and is the author of ‘The Introvert Charismatic’ and ‘A PCC Member’s essential Guide’, among other titles.

You can watch a video of Bishop Mark

talking to Bishop Christine about his

new appointment on YouTube at https://bit.ly/BishopMark Right Revd Mark Tanner

Comings & GoingsAppointmentsThe Revd Audrey McCartan currently Priest in Charge (HfD), St Andrew, Heddon-on-the-Wall, is going to be Priest in Charge (HfD), St Helen, Longhorsley, commencement date tbc.

The Revd Catherine Ruth Pickford, currently Priest in Charge, Stannington, and Officer for Continuing Ministerial Development, Diocese of Newcastle, is going to be Archdeacon of Northolt, Diocese of London, commencing on 7 September.

The Ven Dr Peter John Alan Robinson, currently

Archdeacon of Lindisfarne, is going to be Dean of Derby Cathedral, commencement date tbc.

RetiRementsThe Revd Canon Stephen Edward Herbert, currently Vicar, Byker St Martin and Byker St Anthony, and coordinator, Mission Initiative Newcastle East (MINE), will retire on 24 July 2020.

The Revd Ian David McKarill, currently Vicar, Lesbury with Alnmouth and Longhoughton (including Boulmer) with Howick, will retire on 31 August 2020.

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Gospel ReadingsMonday 1st June Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth (transferred from 31st May) Luke 1: 39-49Tuesday Mark 12: 13-17Wednesday Mark 12: 18-27Thursday Mark 12: 28-34Friday Mark 12: 35-37Saturday Mark 12: 38-end

Trinity Sunday Matt 28: 16-20Monday Matt 5: 1-12Tuesday Matt 5: 13-16Wednesday Matt 5: 17-19Thursday Corpus Christi John 6: 51-58Friday Barnabas the Apostle John 15: 12-17Saturday Matt 5: 33-37

1st Sunday after Trinity Matt 9:35-10:8Monday Matt 5: 38-42

Tuesday Matt 5: 43- endWednesday Matt 6: 1-6, 16-18Thursday Matt 6: 7-15Friday Matt 6: 19-23Saturday Matt 6: 24- end

2nd Sunday after Trinity Matt 10: 24-39Monday Matt 7: 1-5Tuesday Matt 7: 6, 12-14Wednesday Birth of John the Baptist Luke 1: 57-66, 80 Thursday Matt 7: 21- endFriday Matt 8: 1-4Saturday Matt 8: 5-17

3rd Sunday after Trinity Matt 10: 40- endMonday Peter and Paul, Apostles Matt 16: 13-19Tuesday Matt 8: 23-27

The Vacancy in See Committee elections

generous engaged open

Bishops’ DiariesDiary commitments are as yet not confirmed for June. Bishop Christine will be on House of Lords duty (probably remotely), between 22-26 June

June

CONTACT UsThe Link, Church House, St John’s Terrace, North Shields. NE29 6HS.Tel: (0191) 270 4100. Email: link@newcastle.anglican.orgFacebook: m.me/ncldioceseTwitter: @ncldiocese Instagram: @NclDiocese

Link is produced ten times a year by the Diocese of Newcastle, with joint issues for August/September and December/January. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the Diocese or the editor.The editor is pleased to consider articles or letters of not more than 350 words for publication. Where possible, articles should be accompanied by a good-quality digital photograph of 250dpi or higher. Please contact the editor before submitting obituaries.

For advertising rates and deadlines see www.newcastle.anglican.org/link.Copy date for July 2020 issue: Monday 13 July 2020

Elections are taking place for the Vacancy in See Committee, which is a committee that only meets if the See of the Bishop of Newcastle is vacant. The Vacancy in See committee is an important, permanent fixture of the Diocese, as it needs to be available if a vacancy for the position of Bishop of Newcastle is announced. Nominations are open until noon on Thursday 4th June. Licensed clergy and laity who are on a parish electoral roll and take communion are welcome to stand as candidates for election. Those elected will serve until 31st December 2021.

It may seem an oddity of the Church of England to have a committee that might never meet, but at least the time commitment is minimal – even when the committee does sit, it tends to only hold two to three meetings! When it meets the committee plays a pivotal role in the first stage of selecting the next bishop, discussing the needs of the Diocese and producing a statement of what the Diocese of Newcastle requires from our next bishop. This statement of needs is then given, alongside any other information about the Diocese required, to the Crowns Nomination Committee (CNC). Members of the Vacancy in See committee elect, by ballot, from their members people to sit on the CNC to give a perspective from members of the diocese. It is the role of the CNC to shortlist candidates and interview them, before referring their choice to Downing Street and the Crown. The CNC is also made up of the Archbishops and other elected members from General Synod.

Nominations for candidates are open until noon on Thursday 4th June. The current vacancies and eligibility are:

As the Committee discusses the needs to the diocese in the process of appointing the next bishop, we want to encourage people to stand who represent different aspects of our ministry and mission. If you are interested in representing the diocese in this way and fulfil the criteria above then get in touch with us. For nomination forms and more information please contact elections@newcastle.anglican.org

June

A personal VE Day reflectionI was sad to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day on May 8th isolated at home, in front of a map of the world instead of involved in a public gathering supporting the High Sheriff.

Hostilities did not fully cease until some months later on August 15th, VJ Day, when the war ended in The Far East and my wife’s father and his comrades could return home to family.

The months following were full of optimism, after a harrowing period in which so many “knew their duty and did it’ soldiers, sailors, airmen, all the support services at home and abroad including doctors, nurses, first aiders and stretcher bearers.

Though physically, emotionally and financially exhausted, optimism led to confidence and opportunities to reset society. Folk now knowing what was really important in life, life itself, not only for them but also for others.

On May the 8th, those with memories of grandparents or parents involvement in World War 2, whether as servicemen and women or in essential occupations at home had their own thoughts, as

we shared in the two minutes silence at 11am, listened to The Queen’s broadcast on BBC at 9pm, and sang ‘We’ll Meet Again’ on our doorsteps. Susan and I once sang this with Vera Lynn and The Queen Mother at an event in London to honour Victoria Cross holders.

On 8th May we gave thanks for the lives and sacrifices of those who ensured that we could live in a free world and raise a family with freedom of thought. I first served as a regular soldier almost 60 years ago, then later as a Territorial Army chaplain, at one point to a field

hospital unit made up of civilian NHS staff, so naturally I also gave thanks for the NHS in all of its facets then and today. I prayerfully thanked them and all who have been positive through these times, for being a generation which also knows its duty to others and does it, regardless of the cost.

May we too pray for a reset of society after this present crisis is over.

by Canon Alan Hughes MBE TD, Chaplain to the High Sheriff of Northumberland

A message from the High Sheriff: Page 12

I write to you from lockdown.

I write to you, quite possibly for the last time.

I write to you with my attention focussed very much on you, but also with the call of another world echoing in my soul, and I confess I find myself torn between the love and fellowship we share here in Christ, and the hopefulness and invitation of what lies ahead.

So the Apostle Paul wrote as he addressed the Churches around the Mediterranean in the 1st Century... although, you will recognise that they are also words that I am writing to you now.

It has been a big month for us as we take shelter in our homes for protection against the coronavirus, and various clergy moves have been announced, not least Catherine Pickford moving to be Archdeacon of Northolt in London, Archdeacon Peter moving to be Dean of Derby, and my own appointment as the 41st Bishop of Chester. For each of us there comes the excitement of a renewed call, along with a deep sadness at the prospect of moving further away from this part of our Christian family…

...and yet we are not alone, and it does seem that God is in the habit of working through times of challenge and change.

St Paul wrote most of his letters from prison (the comfort of my desk chair, even after hours of ‘Zoom’ meetings would have been luxury to him). He wrote not knowing when he might face conviction or even execution. Mostly, though, he wrote with His eyes fixed on that which lies ahead for all of us who are called to life and hope in Christ Jesus.

There is so much for which I want to thank you. So much I celebrate and treasure about the life of the Diocese of Newcastle. The most precious thing, though, is the life that we share in Christ, and the sharing of that life with others in hope and joy. Some of you reading this will be thriving in these strange times. For others life will be really tough. In every season though – be that in Northolt, Derby, Chester, or here in the wonderful North East – God is faithful and calls us onward and upward in faith hope and love.

So remain in that love. Rely on that love. Grow in that love. Give it away in generous abandon and see how Christ fills you up and calls you forward. So will the Lord bless you and bless others through you... and we will inhabit the joy to which he calls us in every season of life.

With much love and ongoing prayers

+Mark

The Archdeacon of Lindisfarne to become next Dean of Derby

3growing church bringing hope

The Archdeacon of Lindisfarne, the Venerable Peter Robinson is to leave his role after nearly 25 years in the Diocese of Newcastle to become the

next Dean of Derby.

Peter has been Archdeacon since 2008 and worked in the oil industry before being ordained in 1995. The Lindisfarne archdea-conry was extended when Peter became arch-deacon to include the seven deaneries of Morpeth, Alnwick, Bamburgh and Glendale, Norham, Corbridge, hexham and Belling-ham.

Currently, Peter is chair of the Newcastle Board of education, which oversees all Church of england schools in the diocese, is the lead for community engagement in North-umberland, and is responsible for the rural delivery of the diocesan vision, growing church bringing hope. he has been an honor-ary Canon at Newcastle Cathedral since 2007.

On the announcement of his appointment in Derby, Peter said: “It will be hard to say farewell to the North east which has been our family home for 30 years now, but I have a strong sense of call to Derby Cathedral and Derby Diocese.

“I am grateful to the Bishops under whom I have served for the opportunities to work in some wonderfully rich and fruitful places - suburban North Shields, inner-city Byker and rural Northumberland. I have had the privi-lege of helping to pioneer new forms of church and theological education and also to lead on the rural strand of the diocesan strategy. We will miss our many friends and colleagues as we depart for this exciting role in Derby. I hope we can keep in touch!”

Following news of his appointment, the Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Christine hardman said: “The Church’s dis-cernment that God is calling Peter Robinson to be Dean of Derby will evoke mixed feelings for all of us. Delight for Peter, and this exciting new chapter in his ministry, and also a sense of loss as we say goodbye to someone who has served in this diocese for nearly twenty-five years.

“Peter has served as Archdeacon of Lindis-farne with outstanding dedication, and his contribution to the senior leadership team and to the life of the Diocese of Newcastle has been very significant, and deeply appreciated. Peter will be greatly missed, and he and Sarah leave us with our love and prayers as they move to Derby.”

The Right Reverend Libby Lane, the Bishop of Derby, said: “I am delighted to welcome Peter as Dean of Derby. he is a man of inspir-ing faith, with a remarkable breadth of minis-terial and professional experience. Peter is someone with a combination of deep love for people and place, and the capacity to think and act with strategic clarity.

“I look forward to working with him in the city and across the diocese. We are very bless-ed that God has called him to serve among us. I ask you to join me in praying for Peter and Sarah as they prepare to move, and for our-selves as we seek God’s Kingdom together.”

Peter trained for ministry at Cranmer hall in Durham and served his curacy in North Shields. Following his curacy, he became priest in charge at St. Martin’s, Byker - where he was highly successful in bringing together a challenging inner-city community, design-ing a new church building and attracting a visit from the home Secretary to showcase the community’s achievement. he has also been director of the Urban Ministry and Theology project in Newcastle before his current role.

Peter will take up his new position in the summer once the coronavirus restrictions allow him to do so.

The Venerable Peter Robinson

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Chalkboard Prayers and Teatime ChurchWith churches being closed we wanted a simple way to offer prayers that didn't involve people feeling they needed to join the Zoom church service or indeed know what to pray for themselves at any given moment. The idea was simply that as people were out for their walks they could spot the board and be thankful for whatever was mentioned on the board or be prompted to think about what they could be thankful for at that moment. It is proving very popular and some families are even making sure their daily walks go past the board to see what is being prayed for today.

I’ve also got together over Zoom for a Teatime Church conversation with Beth Rookwood, Bishop's Adviser for Pioneer Ministry and Kathryn Brown, a parent and team member from Tea Time Church, Morpeth. You can watch this informal discussion on @newcastledioceseyoungpeople Facebook page or on YouTube https://bit.ly/teatimechuch

by Revd Rachel Scheffer

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Introducingthe new Rector of HexhamThe Reverend David Glover has

been formally instituted into his role as the new Rector of hex-ham by the Bishop of Newcastle.

The institution service led by the Right Reverend Christine hardman would normally have taken place inside hex-ham Abbey, but instead was carried out over the video conferencing platform Zoom.

David has been Rector at holy Trinity in Washington and from Thursday suc-ceeds Canon Dagmar Winter who left the Abbey last year to become Bishop of huntingdon.

Reflecting on this week’s institution, David said: “When I was appointed Rec-tor a few short months ago, I couldn’t have imagined that my Institution would be via Zoom with the congregation spread over so many living rooms in hex-ham and Washington and elsewhere, and all linked by the magic of the inter-net. So much has changed in these last few weeks and our communities have faced enormous challenges and a great deal of pain.

“But amidst the change, I still feel the deep calling of God to be here in hexham

and to serve the Abbey and the people of this wonderful community and I pray that together we can bring hope and comfort in these difficult times and fash-ion a future which is joyful and life-giving and full of God’s love.”

The Bishop of Newcastle, the Reverend Christine hardman said: “David’s appointment is good news for hexham Abbey and its role within the community of hexham, and it is good news for the Diocese of Newcastle. endings and beginnings are so difficult in the circum-stances in which we are currently living, and I am very mindful of how strange it will feel for so many people to gather online rather than being together at hex-ham Abbey to celebrate David’s institu-tion as Rector of hexham.

“I am very much looking forward to working with him, and he and his wife emma are in my prayers as they settle into their new home and David begins this exciting chapter of his ministry.”

hexham Abbey is one of Northumber-land’s most culturally and religiously sig-nificant sites attracting 120,000 visitors and pilgrims each year. established near-ly 1,400 years ago, it is one of the earliest sites of Christianity in england.

generous engaged open

I must confess that for the past few weeks, addressing climate change and heading for net zero haven’t been at the top of my agenda.

But fortunately other people have been more diligent – not least Catherine Ross and Jo Chamberlain, the Church of England’s Open and Sustainable Churches Officer and National Environment Officer – so there are lots of new resources for us to explore and use.

First, Catherine has produced a really helpful document, ‘The practical path to net zero carbon for churches’. Just two pages long, it’s essential reading and a great place to start https://tinyurl.com/y77bqvzs. It’s worth reading this alongside the Energy Efficiency Guidelines https://tinyurl.com/yasyy8pn and the new Heating Guidance https://tinyurl.com/yck4rnse.

The Church of England has also now launched its church Energy Footprinting Tool. This simple tool is a good way to get a basic idea of your church’s energy footprint, based on your energy bills, type of fuel and church attendance.

It’s built into the online Parish Returns system, but you can have a look at the pdf version here https://tinyurl.com/y9e44ada.

If you’re feeling more ambitious, Climate Stewards have just launched a more comprehensive 360°Carbon Footprint Calculator for churches – have a play with it here https://360carbon.org.

Practical action is great – but it’s good to underpin it with some deeper reflection, to build a clearer vision of the kind of world we want to live in. If you are hungry for something like this, Green Christian’s new Radical Presence (https://radicalpresence.org.uk) may be just what you’re looking for. Described as “a platform for Christians to develop mission and advocacy for a world at the ‘tipping point’” it is a new course of seven online group conversations on the pandemic and its aftermath, which aims to equip church groups to harness the national mood for social change. The writers say:

“Radical Presence is a short programme of conversations, in which we’ll listen for God’s word in this time

between worlds. We invite you to meet fellow Christians, online or by telephone. We will hear from contemporary writers reflecting on the Coronavirus pandemic. We will hear from ancient monastics who also made the prophetic choice to be ‘alone together’: like them, we will let this time of social distancing change us, for the sake of the world. And we will find our own voice, so that others may hear about the worlds that are possible, if we allow God’s reign to break in.”

Finally – as summer approaches and we begin to look towards the possibility of gathering for worship again, outdoor worship is an attractive option – a good way to connect our environmental concern with our spiritual lives, and to raise awareness of God’s good creation (without the need to disinfect church buildings!) – while maintaining appropriate social distancing and observing all the guidelines, of course. Catherine and Jo are compiling a list of useful resources for outdoor worship to put on the Church of England’s national website, so if you know of any good resources, do let me know by emailing environment@newcastle.anglican.org – I’ll pass them on, and share them here next month. Cross of roots in the outdoor woodland chapel at Snods Edge

5growing church bringing hope

Obituary: Cyril Winskell MBE, FRIBA, FRSA, August 1932 - 28th April 2020, died aged 87

Cyril Winskell was born in North Shields in August 1932, over a pub where his father was the publican. Cyril was baptised in Christ Church,

North Shields and was later married there to Patricia, and they had five children; Cy, Scott, Patricia and twins Dave and Mark.

He was educated and practised as an archi-tect on Tyneside throughout his working life, with an interlude of National Service at Christ-mas island. later in his career he became the Quinquennial inspection Architect for Christ Church, and his career developed into an interest and concern for the conservation of buildings.

Cyril told a story about being encouraged by his father to take a job in a bank on Grey Street. The bank manager at the interview worked out that he wasn’t interested in bank-ing and asked what he really wanted to do; when he said ‘be an architect’ the manager told him to follow his dream. He did so, study-ing architecture at Newcastle University.

i met Cyril when i joined the Napper Part-nership for my first job after university and he became a mentor – someone to ask advice on an issue or awkward matter, and he was a good friend and professional colleague for over 50 years. Always self-effacing but shrewd, he was generous with his time and involved himself with many organisations, charitable bodies and professional activities. Awarded the MBE in 1983, he was a Fellow of the riBA and royal Society of Arts.

in a long career he was involved in major restoration projects in Newcastle and liver-pool. Working for several local practices including Nappers, Couves, Barnett Winskell, Greenall Winskell Kish, he launched his own practice, Cyril Winskell, in 1971 before finally transferring his business interests and current project portfolio in 2014 to Xsite Architecture. His ideas were behind the restoration of the St Thomas’ area in Newcastle and he also wrote

the report about the townscape of the Can-ning Street Conservation Area in liverpool for English Heritage following the Toxteth riots in 1982. This cemented his reputation as a Con-servation Architect.

He was a member of the Urban Design Panel of the Grainger Town City Centre Part-nership until it ended in 2003 and he contin-ued to retain the role of inspecting Architect for a number of churches in that area. As an Accredited Conservation architect, he lec-tured on what part the past and present use of historic buildings plays in their conservation, as illustrated by his work at the Tyneside Cin-ema and Jesmond Towers in Newcastle. For the Tyneside Cinema, he was commissioned to prepare the conservation plan which included matching modern paint colours to old – which led to a decade of regeneration work.

From an early age he produced a stream of sketches, capturing the place he was visiting, including painting abstracts in the style of Ben Nicholson. Fascinated by the culture and tra-ditions of the North East, he would refer to lee Hall’s popular play ‘The Pitman Painters’ in which Ben Nicholson features as the young man who baffles most of the hobby painters with his ‘circles and squares’.

He also acknowledged the influence of his art teacher, Harry Stephenson, at South Shields Boys’ Grammar School. ‘He had a big influence on me because he taught art, history and also touched on architecture.’ See here https://bit.ly/CWinskell for a special record of his art and architecture, which was assembled for an exhibition of his work in aid of St Oswald’s Hospice, at St George’s church hall in 2016, which celebrated his 50-year career.

Professionally, his extra curriculum activi-ties covered a range of appointments and activities: Chairman of riBA North (1980-82), President of Northern Architecture Associa-tion (1990-93), leading a working group devel-

oping cityscape ideas in conjunction with Newcastle City Council – many of which have been fulfilled with big improvements to the city as a consequence. He was influential in the success of Grainger Town 1997-2003 and wrote the Grainger Town Shopfront Design Guide. Also, a Committee Member of Europa Nostra he and his wife Patricia would regular-ly attend their conferences in European cities of culture and heritage to debate conservation and environmental issues and enjoy the fel-lowship of like-minded professionals.

in addition, he found time to devote much energy, and a massive contribution as Vice-Chairman, to the Newcastle Diocesan Advi-sory Committee (DAC). His wide experience serviced the Committee well and he would always have a sketch book in his pocket on the Annual DAC Tours. Bishop Martin recalls “his devotion to St James, Benwell, and the people there. Despite the terrible condition of the church and the fact there was no money to do very much in that deprived part of the City, … and that Cyril was able to make a little go a very long way – almost single-handedly he managed to restore the grave of one of my pre-decessors, Bishop lloyd, in the churchyard at St James, Benwell”.

Cyril was also persuaded by Bishop Martin, when he was Chairman of the Governing Body of St Chad’s College, Durham, to work on some ambitious building projects which made a lasting contribution to the life of the College. Bishop Martin goes on to say: “… and in the Church Hall at St George’s, Jesmond (where he was such a faithful member) after refreshments following a confirmation service Cyril was to be found in the kitchen, tea towel in hand, doing the washing up. The last per-son to leave. No task too great or small for him …” A fitting epitaph for Cyril.

Acknowledgements: -Tim Bailey, xsite architecture LLPDavid Whetstone, Newcastle JournalRt Revd. Martin Wharton

With The Very Revd Geoff Miller, Dean of Newcastle

View from the Lantern

The thing about Covid-19 world is that it all too easily gets very depressing. I don’t know about you but I never really knew what ‘cabin fever’ felt like but I think I am learning fast – and it’s not that much fun! But enough about my very small, and minor hardships. More important after a deep concern for all those who are suffering and heroically caring – is the way all this affects the Cathedral and its project. We were, after all, right on the cusp of a different, sparkling future and the work was brought to a rude halt and we all went into lockdown.

Fortunately, not everything had to shut or stop: Asbestos continued to be removed and as of this week it’s all gone; drains and demolitions in the hall basement and east end could still be sorted (you wouldn’t recognise the old ladies’ loos, actually you couldn’t even find them now as they are gone!) and after the announcement by the Prime Minister, work can now gain a bit of pace, hopefully!

The problem with ‘cabin fever’ is that it sucks everything into a black cloud. As an antidote I amused myself for a wee while pondering what good things (if any?) may have emerged from what is a fairly dire situation. Of course, in the wider context of society we have all delighted in stories of self-sacrifice, courage, healing and dogged determination. There have been so many remarkable acts of kindness, communities have come out to clap in gratitude and pride, people have talked across fences, and smiles abound from previously ‘private’ neighbours.

And even in the closed Cathedral there are new things for which to be grateful: Our streamed services are reaching ever widening audiences. Over 30 people join us for Morning Prayer each day and our Reflections and Sunday offerings are reaching hundreds and in some cases over a thousand. My colleagues (like me) have upskilled ourselves in ways we would have thought impossible a few weeks ago. Now I am Zoom expert, I can film and record podcasts and short videos and publish them on social media. Never again will I be trekking to London for an hour’s meeting when it can be done from my study with a cup of coffee on hand.

But perhaps the greatest gift of lockdown is that never again will I take my little bubble for granted: the shop assistants and the cleaners, the refuse collectors and the metro staff, the Cathedral team. I’m learning gratitude and yes, I would have preferred a different teaching method but what the heck!

Written by Geoffrey Purves

Cyril Winskell, pictured with some of his work on display at an arts expo in aid of St Oswald’s Hospice at St George’s church hall

Very Rev Geoff Miller, Dean of Newcastle, at Newcastle Cathedral

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A snapshot of two schools during the coronavirus pandemic

On 20th March 2020 we met together as a staff on the eve of lockdown. The date is still etched deep in my

mind. At the end of the staff meeting we prayed. I remember using the old Celtic blessing which ends…’until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.’ The words seemed poignant, the words seemed apt as we were about to step into the unknown. School, as we know it, suddenly changing for many children, from classroom desks to tables at home.

At Cragside CE Primary School in Cramlington we have almost 380 chil-dren and nearly 50 staff. Logistically this was a huge step. Emotionally even greater…as we waved the chil-dren off on 20th March, tears were shed as we all wondered when we would be together again.

Weeks have gone by since that day. School has never closed. School has been open every single one of those weeks. Children whose parents are critical workers, and some for other reasons, coming into school each day. Half terms, bank holidays, VE Day,

Good Friday, the whole of the Easter holiday, groups of children have come into school. Day after day taught and supported by the most wonderful group of staff you can imagine.

From the playground you can see Cramlington Hospital. The parents of many of the children who come into school each day work directly with patients struggling with the effects of Covid-19. We clap for them each Thursday. I had a lump in my throat when one of them said they clap for us. As a school we open to ensure that these incredible medics can do their amazing jobs. We open because we, our children, staff and parents are all part of one big family-the Cragside family. Each day, as I walk around our school, I can hear the ambulance sirens making their way to Cramling-ton hospital. On the tough days, it is a salient reminder about why we are open. I say a quiet prayer and contin-ue with the day.

For the majority of children, learn-ing takes place at home with an army of parents who are balancing their

own jobs, families and now the extra burden of being a teacher at home. “It’s tough,” one of the parents said to me on the phone. “I remember hating fractions at school-I still hate them now when I’m teaching them”. We laugh! Then there are the other phone calls about family illness, bereave-ments and struggles-tears are some-times shared. It’s what you do when you are in a family.

A rota of teachers and support staff come in every day. On the days they are not in school they are planning learning activities, checking on the wellbeing of children and families and replying to emails. Many of them balancing this with the teaching of their own children at home and sup-porting their own families and neigh-bours. I count myself blessed to work within such an amazing team.

At the front of our school we built a peace pole and created an area filled with white gravel. The peace pole contains the words, ‘peace be with you.’ It is a blessing for all who leave our school. It also reminds us of our ex-chair of Governors, Revd Steve

Wilkinson who died just before East-er. We all miss him hugely-he was a friend to all in our school. Children and staff paint pebbles and leave them in the peace garden when they are walking by. Many have rainbows painted on them; others have words such as hope or love written on them.

One of our staff painted one for me.

On it, amidst the swirl of blue paint was a single word…‘breathe’. On days when it feels that everything is com-ing at me at once, I hold it and listen to my breath. Stilled in the presence of our loving lord, I pray that the God who is holding our school family in the hollow of his hand might have a little space in his hand for me. I breathe and carry on.

generous engaged open

While the country is in lockdown, Church of England schools have remained open for those who have needed to attend. We caught up with the headteachers of two of our schools; Humshaugh CE First School, a small rural school in Northumberland and Cragside CE Primary School in Cramlington, to get a snapshot of school life during the pandemic.

Cragside Church of England Primary School, a personal account by Paul Rusby, Headteacher and National Leader of Education

Paul Rusby at the gates of Cragside CE Primary School

7growing church bringing hope

HumsHaugH CE First school, in the North Tyne Valley near Hexham, is a small rural school teach-

ing children up to Year 4, predomi-nantly from Humshaugh and the neighbouring villages and hamlets of Wall, Chollerford, Colwell and Lin-coln Hill. During lockdown it has been operating with a small team of staff to keep the school open for those children who absolutely need to attend.

at this time pupil numbers in school are very low and some days there are as few as three pupils attending, so the main hall has been adapted into a classroom to keep everyone together but has plenty of space for pupils and staff to spread out and keep to social distancing.

We recently caught up with Head-teacher Jude Long and she said: “It still feels very strange to be in such a changed school without the sound of children throughout, but the three who are in today are full of giggles and chatter, which is lovely to hear.”

Pupils in school are set the same work as those undertaking home schooling, so after an initial chat about their weekends, the children settle down to work through their tasks. The school day is time-tabled to help maintain a basic routine but in the glorious sunny weather they have been enjoying extended breaks outside in the school yard, building dens and whizzing round the yard on scooters.

While pupils are busy, staff carry out tasks preparing home learning packs for the next summer half term, working on the assumption at this stage that school will not have resumed, and also carrying out their usual planning for september.

Teachers working from home remain connected to the school and collaborate on which resources to use across the three school classes for home-schooling for the next half term. small staff meetings still take place and give the opportunity for staff to catch-up and support one another. Jude says “It is nice to see some other adults and I am thankful

for my small team.”

The Head keeps in touch with par-ents with weekly updates emphasis-ing the importance of open commu-nication saying “I feel it's really important to be proactive in keeping in touch with our parents, to offer support and guidance, remind them that we are all still a school commu-nity and to encourage them to come to me with any queries or concerns.”

Jude is a ‘teaching head’, so as well as her administrative duties, she’s been providing learning support to her Year 3 and 4 home school pupils through email and telephone calls, and she plans to give her leavers the send-off they deserve:

“Looking ahead, the school is very conscious of the important mile-stones that Year 4 pupils will be miss-ing if school doesn't resume before they are due to move to middle school and we are making plans to still celebrate these pupils and their time at the school, with plans to bring them all back together in the autumn term to put on a Leaver's

service or show, even if that means coming together on saturday morn-ings to rehearse.”

The school day ends at 3pm and the pupils and staff head home to be

with their own families. Jude reflects: “While these are difficult times for us all in many ways, I am grateful for the extra time together as a family and the reminder to appreciate the many blessings that we have”.

Diocesan Director of Education, Paul Rickeard shows his appreciation of the work of staff in all Durham and Newcastle dioceses’ Church of England schools, saying:

“I’m proud of all of our headteachers and staff who are working hard to meet the challenges presented by this difficult situation. I thank them for their commitment to keeping schools open for the children of key workers, and for their dedication in supporting those children at home.

“I am working with my team to understand how we can manage the safe return of a greater volume of children to our schools over the coming weeks and months.”

Humshaugh Church of England First School

Diocesan Director praises hard work and commitment of staff

Paul Rickeard

8

Thy Kingdom Come revamp due to Covid-19

Thy Kingdom Come (TKC), launched on 21st May, under-went a revamp this year due to Covid-19.

TKC was tailored to enable churches, families and individuals to pray and wor-ship in their homes, through a suite of adapted resources, in line with social dis-tancing guidelines.

In our Diocese St Thomas’ Newcastle hosted daily reflections on their website with the Bishops of Newcastle and Dur-ham dioceses, as well as their Roman Catholic counterparts and regional lead-ers from the Methodist, Baptist and Free Churches. www.stthomas.church/thykingdomcome

On Pentecost Sunday (31st May) St Thomas’ will host a regional TKC Beacon service that will be available on youTube and Facebook @stthomasncl. All the denominational leaders will be involved, including Bishop Christine and Bishop Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham who will be preaching. 

Now in its fifth year, TKC began as a call to prayer for evangelisation within the Anglican Communion in the period from Ascension to Pentecost, but now draws thousands of Christians together, across different denomi-nations and traditions, to pray for their friends, family and neigh-bours to come to know the love of Jesus.

For the first time this year, Chris-tians were not only encouraged to pray for others to know the love of Christ, but to also practically demonstrate their love and care through action dur-ing the 11 days, an initia-tive called ‘Prayer and Care.’

In addition to this, the campaign also developed several new ‘Thy Kingdom Come despite Lock-down’ resources to equip people to worship at home, including an Upper Room – vir-tual prayer room for churches; a Prayer Journal with Bible read-

ings, reflections and care actions; for families, the Digital Family Prayer Adventure Map, created with Missional Generation, to aid children and young people explore prayer in a fun way.

The campaign also relaunched its award-winning app, to enable anyone with a smartphone to access the content and journey through the 11 days of prayer. The app has been translated into eight languages and last year was down-loaded in almost 100 countries world-wide.

The Archbishop of york, John Senta-mu, who started the movement with Archbishop Justin, said:

“As we pray ‘Thy Kingdom Come’– for the fifth year as a nationwide and now worldwide season of prayer for people to come to a living faith in Jesus Christ, again I am bringing my ‘five’ to God – the five for whom I am praying that they will know the abundant life that is in Jesus Christ. It has been a joy each year to see friends encountering Jesus Christ and beginning a new life.

“This year because of COVID-19 so many people

are searching for meaning and hope, as well as dis-

covering afresh the importance of real, self-sacrificial love. May the holy Spirit

equip us all to share that love, and to speak of

Jesus Christ, and of the love of God our Father.

Come, holy Spirit!”

https://www.thykingdomcome.global/

generous engaged open

Virtual Church Choir of volunteer singers

Over the last few weeks, while Newcastle Cathedral’s whole music team has been furloughed, and unable to rehearse or sing for services, Clare MacLaren, Canon for Music and Liturgy, has brought together a ‘Virtual Church Choir’ of volunteer singers from churches across the region.

Recording their voices remotely, at home, they are being mixed together to provide three or four hymns each week for use in the Cathedral’s online worship -

and by anyone else who would find them useful. The “Virtual Church Choir” recordings can be found at https://tinyurl.com/VirtualChurchChoir

New tracks will be added to this folder as they are recorded each week - usually on a Saturday morning. Some will also come as a set of PowerPoint slides that can be used if you ‘share screen’ in a Zoom service.

Anyone, of any denomination, is welcome to

download and use them as long as they have the appropriate copyright licenses.

The Cathedral’s Sunday morning worship is online at https://tinyurl.com/NclCathedral and is now also available to listen to, for those who do not have internet access, for the cost of a local phone call. The number to ring is 0191 814 4142 and each week’s service will be uploaded by 12 noon every Sunday. Please pass this number on to anyone who might value it?

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu

9growing church bringing hope

Virtual fundraising events during social lockdown

A key part of the remit for the Gener-ous Giving Team is to encourage people to be generous with their time and to enable financial gener-

osity to flow from a sense of discipleship and mission. Fundraising encapsulates both ele-ments of this; it has people working together to help support their church, or a charitable cause that is close to their heart.

During social lockdown most of the tradi-tional church-based methods of fundraising, such as social events, collections, or themed campaigns, have not been possible to organ-ise in the same ways. The Covid-19 pandemic has certainly made many aspects of church-life far more challenging, and it may have been easy to surrender to circumstances and write-off our fundraising efforts during social lockdown. However, it is encouraging when we learn that people and churches are adapt-ing to enable their mission and charitable efforts to continue to happen. One way of allowing our fundraising to continue is to switch to virtual events or to promote a cam-paign using social media. Efforts such as these are taking place in different guises across the diocese.

Near the end of the month churches in the Bamburgh and Glendale deanery will be working collaboratively to organise their first virtual church fundraising event. Though realistic in their expectations that it may raise a relatively modest amount, it is also about the process of people working together in new ways to support their churches. Area Dean Louise Taylor-Kenyon commented that: “Many of our churches have seen a drop in fundraising income so we really wanted to organise something that gave our parishion-ers the chance to address this in a new way.   One of our churchwardens (Brenda Frier), came up with the idea of a virtual cof-fee morning for the deanery which will be something new for us and hopefully it should be fun as well!”

Likewise, another aspect of being generous as Christians is to consider supporting chari-table causes, alongside supporting our churches. It has recently been Christian Aid Week. Many churches across the diocese have traditionally supported this work, and many have adapted how they run their cam-paigns and raise donations.

Robert Lawrance, Area Dean for Newcastle East, told us “As we’re not doing a house-to-house collection for Christian Aid, I logged on to their website and followed the links to set up a Facebook Charity Fund Raiser and filled in some script and set a target - £1500, which is the amount we usually raise, and then advertised it. Within a week we had raised £1429, so we altered the target to £2000 and when it closed a week later we had raised £2029.”

Area Dean for Central Newcastle, Jane Nat-trass, also told us about the work of Revd Michael Douglass who commented that: “We

have not been able to celebrate or fundraise for Christian Aid Week in the normal ways this year, but at St Nicholas, Gosforth, we were determined to do all we could to sup-port the vital work of Christian Aid. Our solu-tion may seem quite novel, but in these strange days is becoming more common-place. Last Saturday morning we held a par-ish brunch for Christian Aid, but we all stayed at home and joined each other on Zoom or by telephone. There were conversations, cook-ery tips,  and quizzes, and it was a very wel-come opportunity for us all to chat and raise funds; we gave out details of how to donate directly. Please consider having your own

event soon – even if we can’t do it in person, we can do it together”.

Although it still feels like we are living in an altered world it is encouraging to see people showing resilience and creativity. Indeed, it is great to see churches bouncing back and ena-bling people to get involved. If you would like to learn more about virtual fundraising please get in touch with the Generous Giving Team. We also have several pieces of information on our website about virtual fundraising and sustaining donations during COVID-19.

https://www.newcastle.anglican.org/Generosity/Covid-19/volunteering/

by Revd Rachel Hudson, Counselling and Wellbeing Advisor

For many people the idea of change is very threatening and a source of fear, even when there may also be some excitement involved too. Both positive and negative changes can be sources of stress. Our diocese is seeing many changes right now, with the departure of a number of senior staff off to new and, hopefully, exciting things. Whether as a Bishop or Archdeacon being called to a new diocese, or as an individual Christian, we may become aware of God’s call to us to make changes in our lives, our motivations and our obedience. This is no easy task, and sometimes God may have to call persistently and loudly!

Our society too faces so many potential changes as we move through this time. Our desire for things to go ‘back to normal’ may well expose our fear of change and loss. What has been precious to us in the past may need to be appreciated, mourned and allowed to let go, as we seek the new thing that God, through Isaiah 43:18-19 ( and frequently Bishop Christine too in her reminder of Isaiah’s words) is calling us to. If we are honest, our desire is based usually on our false concept of control. When life changes, we are moved out of being able to control things, and we may find this threatening. This surely is where our faith in the good purposes of the character of God must impact our thinking – the one who is described as unchanging in his loving faithfulness to us, still calls us to embrace change and watch for the new things. All life forms require change for growth. The resilience shown by so many in recent days now needs to be earthed in embracing change, whether we actually like it or not. Christian maturity embraces change – valuing and appreciating what God has done, and the gifts that tradition has offered us, but seeing that each day and each year brings a newness for us to choose. May we grow in openness to change and seek God’s leading.

CH...CH...CHANGESBy Andrew Tinkler, Generous Giving Adviser

Crossword: page 15

10 generous engaged open

EvEry diocese in the Church of England is served by a legal team, comprising of Chancellor and Deputy Chancellor, and Dioce-

san registrar and Deputy registrar, and Newcastle Diocese has been very fortu-nate to have had an excellent legal team for many years. Following some recent and significant changes, it is clear that this will continue to be the case into the future.

On the 23rd April, after seven years of service, Euan Duff retired as Chancellor for the Diocese of Newcastle, and on the 24th March, Jane Lowdon stepped down from her role as Diocesan registrar after twenty-five years’ service to be Deputy registrar through the hand over to the new registrar until Jane’s retirement in the summer this year. Euan and Jane have both made an outstanding contribution to our Diocese. We are very grateful for the ways in which they have done this, not only for their professional services, but also for the wisdom and grace with which they have guided us through issues which at times have been very challenging and complex.

In consultation with the Dean of the Arches and the Lord Chancellor, Bishop Christine appointed His Honour Judge Simon Wood to succeed Euan as Chancel-lor for the Diocese of Newcastle, and Simon has appointed His Honour Judge Timothy Gittins to be his Deputy. To suc-ceed Jane, Bishop Christine has appoint-ed Laura Peace as our registrar. Simon and Laura have been part of the Diocesan

legal team for some time, Simon as Depu-ty Chancellor, and Laura as Deputy regis-trar, and we are very grateful that they are able to take this experience into their new roles. We welcome Tim as he joins the team.

Simon Wood, dioceSan chancellorSIMON started practice on the North Eastern Circuit from Chambers in New-castle in 1982. He was appointed as a part-time Crown Court Judge in 2000, and as a Circuit Judge specialising in care work in 2008. In 2011 he was appointed as Deputy High Court Judge (Queen’s Bench Division), and in 2013 appointed as Dep-uty High Court Judge (Family Division). Simon was appointed Deputy Chancellor for the Diocese of Newcastle in 2013. Serving as a trustee for a number of char-ities, Simon has also served as Governor of royal Grammar School. Committed to the church for many years, Simon has served in a variety of capacities at New-castle Cathedral, and as a Lay Canon of Durham Cathedral.

Tim GiTTinS, dioceSan depuTy chancellorBOrN and brought up in the region, where he lives with his family, Tim joined Trinity Chambers on the Quayside in

1990, and practiced there for twenty-five years in Crime and regulatory Law, In-quests and Professional Disciplinary hearings. He was appointed as a part-time Crown Court Judge (a recorder) in 2008, before appointment as a Circuit Judge based at Newcastle Crown Court in 2015. Tim has served as a member of a PCC, and as vice Chair of Governors at St Bartholomew’s Church and Primary School, Longbenton for the last 18 years. He has also served for eighteen years as Deputy Chancellor for Durham Diocese. Tim holds particular oversight of the Deaneries of Bellingham and Newcastle East.

laura peace, dioceSan reGiSTrarLAurA is a Partner in the real estate team at Sintons law firm in Newcastle, and is head of their faith-based institutions team. Before her recent appointment as Diocesan registrar, she was appointed Deputy registrar for Newcastle Diocese in 2016, and is also Diocesan registrar for Carlisle Diocese. Her team’s faith-based work also includes work with other Chris-tian denominations and other faiths. She is a member of the Ecclesiastical Law So-ciety and the Ecclesiastical Law Associa-tion.

■ For church legal enquiries, clergy can contact Laura at laura.peace@sin-tons.co.uk

A new Diocesan legal team

Simon Wood

Tim Gittins

Laura Peace

11growing church bringing hope

Confirmation of Election of Bishop Stephen Cottrell as the 98th Archbishop of York

Bishop stephen Geoffrey Cottrell will be confirmed as the 98th Archbishop of York at 11am on Thursday 9 July 2020, in a service

broadcast entirely via video conference due to the coronavirus restrictions. As pre-siding Judge, the Archbishop of Canter-bury, the Most Revd Justin Welby, has granted permission for the virtual service to take place.

The service, which had been due to take place in York Minster, will be in two parts: a legal ceremony with readings, prayers and music; and a film marking the start of Bish-op stephen’s ministry as Archbishop of York.

The service will include music from York Minster Choir and Manor Church of Eng-land Academy school (York). Young people from across the North of England, will read a letter written by the medieval religious scholar Alcuin of York. Bishop stephen will offer his first address as Archbishop of York. prayers will be offered for the Archbishop, the Diocese of York and the Northern prov-ince of the Church of England as well as for the wider world in these difficult times.

Commenting on the service, Bishop ste-phen Cottrell said: “i am looking forward to beginning my ministry as the 98th Arch-bishop of York. This isn’t quite how i imag-ined it would begin. it is certainly the first time an Archbishop’s election will have been confirmed via video conference. But

we’re all having to re-imagine how we live our lives and how we inhabit the world. These are difficult times. My hope is that through this service the love of God that is given us in Jesus Christ will shine out, per-haps even to those who while never attend-ing a service in York Minster, might have a look online. i can still just about remember

what it’s like to not be part of the Christian community. What inspired me to follow Jesus is that vision of a new humanity that i see in him. Following in the footsteps of my many predecessors, i look forward to serv-ing our nation and bringing the love and peace of Christ to our world, especially here in the north.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said: “Like so many across the Church of England and Anglican Commun-ion, i am looking forward to welcoming Bishop stephen to his new ministry with joy, thanksgiving and hope. he radiates the love of Jesus Christ wherever he goes, and along with my fellow bishops, i look for-ward to serving alongside him. These are difficult times for everyone, and frightening and painful times for many. But we believe as strongly as ever that Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness. i pray that this new beginning for Bishop stephen as he becomes Archbishop of York is also a moment that refreshes our hope, deepens our faith and sends us out with new energy to love and serve others in Christ’s name.”

Commenting on behalf of the Bishops of the Northern province, the Bishop of New-castle, Christine hardman said: “The Bish-ops of the province of York welcome Bishop stephen to his new ministry and look for-ward to working with him in serving com-munities across the north and in building confidence in the good news of Jesus Christ.”

The service will be available on the Church of England website.

- Thursday, 9 July, 2020

Bishop Stephen Geoffrey Cottrell

Setting God’s People Free

by Carol Wolstenholm

An exciting initiative launched by the national Church and adopted by Newcastle Diocese to help lay people live out their faith confidently in everyday life – at work, school, home, and with friends and family as well as Sundays and to encourage and support the whole people of God (lay and clergy) to work together as equal partners in the mission of the church.

Time on your hands?If the coronavirus lockdown has meant the

luxury of having a little more time than usual at your disposal, you might like to consider one or two options that encourage our development.

Everyday Faith A Church of England discipleship campaign

offering 21 days of reflections, prayers and stories to help you find and follow God in everyday life.

Access at https://www.churchofengland.org/about/renewal-reform/setting-gods-people-free/everyday-faith

A new Diocesan Directory of Resources

There is now a Newcastle Diocese Directory of Resources available that you might like to try, available on line at https://www.newcastle.anglican.org/SGPF/Directory/

If you have any comments or questions about SGPF please email us at sgpf@newcastle.anglican.org

Faith in Children – A conversation with Children's Ministry adviser and author Ronni LamontThursday 28th May 2020, 11:00-12:00

Would you like to join renowned Children's Ministry adviser and author Revd Ronni Lamont in a Zoom conversation about her new book, 'Faith in Children' on Thursday 28th May 2020 11:00-12:00?

For ministers and educators, Ronni Lamont's writings have long been a welcome source of practical and theological inspiration. Faith in Children builds on her previous work, extensive experience and new empirical research to offer a window into how children think and grow in faith. With rare insights into a range of teaching methods, learning styles and the unique spirituality of children, Faith in Children illustrates how adults can learn from children as they learn from us.

Ronni will be answering questions including: ■ How should we value children's spirituality? ■ What's the point of play? ■ Kids in Church - what's the deal?

To join Ronni, Karenza Passmore, (RRC Director) and others in

Conversation reserve your place today by emailing enquiries@resourcescentreonline.co.uk. Places are limited. Participants will receive details on how to join the Zoom chat once their place has been confirmed.

How to make a Hunger Cloth with RRC Director Karenza PassmoreWednesday 10th June, 13:00-14:00

Join Karenza Passmore, Director of the Religious Resources Centre, to explore what a Hunger cloth is and how it might be used and learn how to create a Hunger Cloth (on any theme) with groups (of almost any age and size!). This will be an informal Zoom session from Karenza's house with plenty of time to ask questions and interact.

Participants will also need: Plain white paper, pens, colours, and anything else you would like to work with, e.g. fabric, playdough, card.

To join, reserve your place by emailing enquiries@resourcescentreonline.co.uk. Places are limited. Participants will receive details on how to join the Zoom chat once their place has been confirmed.

12 generous engaged open growing church bringing hope

Pioneer Ministry: Doing things differently

St Brendan’s Day (May 16th) is an appropriate time to be writing for the Pioneer column. He was known as Brendan the Navigator who journeyed reputedly in a little coracle (boat) landing on small islands off Ireland and Scotland sharing the Christian faith there. He allowed the winds and waves (the Holy Spirit?) to guide him. He prayed, ‘Lord I will trust You, help me journey beyond the familiar and into the unknown. Give me the faith to leave old ways and break fresh ground with You’. How even more appropriate that I write as a priest and pioneer minister working in lockdown when our church buildings are closed to the public. If there was ever a time for the church to be pioneering, to be breaking fresh ground and leaving behind the familiar and venturing into the unknown it is now.

I was trained to lead services in church, and now I cannot. I initially found this disorientating and even debilitating. How could I meet the needs of my congregations during the coronavirus pandemic when

I cannot call-in on them, have small study groups in houses, nor take services? So, like many of my colleagues up and down the UK I returned to pen and paper, sent cards, prayers, short sermons, service booklets and other information through the post. I ring those I cannot email or meet for zoom coffee after church. I have specifically prayed for them (I’m sad to confess) more than ever before, visualising

where they sit in the pews.But what about the non-church

attenders? Those with whom, or for whom, I pioneer, regularly meeting at the pop-up café, or the community garden project, or the parents and staff I see at school and in the shops? For me this has been the biggest challenge. To go ‘beyond the familiar and into the unknown’. I have had to leave ‘old’ ways behind and break fresh ground with God and here is the nub of it. This Covid-19 experience has compelled me to break fresh ground with God. To come to Him and admit I feel stripped of my role without the usual activities. What I most need now is to come to God in prayer, and ask him to show me how I can still help people see or find Him in their lives, in their very difficult lives right now.

Pioneering isn’t about getting people to come to church, to engage there with what we as Christians find helpful, (but now also cannot access), but rather it is about building relationships and trust, helping people who wouldn’t think of coming to church, guiding

their reflection, bringing to their minds the possibility of God being interested in them, of God being with them in these difficult days, of faith being the scaffolding, the support system to help them live, of Jesus being the person they can trust and follow in the context of their lives, right where they are now.

So to attempt to meet some of these needs I reluctantly began to offer an online YouTube service on a Sunday morning. ‘Church at Home’ has begun. It’s not what I normally offer on Sunday but there are hymns, prayers, a bible reading and video clips that help expand the theme and a short talk spread throughout the 35 or so minutes. I am pleased the congregations are watching and appreciating it. I send the script of the service to those who don’t use computers so they still can be nourished hopefully.

I am surprised however at the number of other people who are watching. About 45-50 people in total usually attend services, but in the last month we have

averaged 100 a week. Even more exciting, people are ‘liking’ the service or messaging me showing their appreciation and saying how helpful and reassuring it is at this time. These are people of all ages who previously have said to me ‘I don’t ‘do’ God’, or who never come to church, but are now engaging at some level. Online services are helping people anonymously access faith in the comfort of their homes, bypassing the fear of walking into a church not knowing what or who they will find there, nor when they should stand up or sit down. They don’t need to arrange child care, or alter their weekend habits, but turn up and view when they can during the week.

I am trusting the Holy Spirit to work in their lives, as the winds and waves buffet them, as we continue each week, and as we look to the future of our churches, that we can further engage with them. Might they be the new worshipping community I was licensed to establish in Widdrington Station when I arrived in August 2016?

by Revd Joanna JL Dobson

Joanna’s Rainbow Church at home

North East aNd North Cumbria suiCidE PrEvENtioN NEtwork lauNCh NEw wEbsitECoping with the current pandemic isn’t easy, for most it is a challenge, but for some the impact has been much greater. Deterioration in mental health continues to be a concern as this crisis continues.

The need to focus on the general mental health and wellbeing, is already recognised as a public health priority. The aim of the North East and North Cumbria Suicide Prevention Network is to do everything possible

to stop us losing any life to suicide and complements the wider public health approach.

The Suicide Prevention Network is especially focused on people in our communities who are more at risk and already struggling, and for whom the current situation poses a potential increased risk. People who are vulnerable and finding social isolation even more difficult may be feeling there is less support available, so we are all working together to make sure people are aware of and can easily access the support they need to stay mentally safe and well. Making good information easily accessible to people

is a key objective of the Network and is especially important during this current crisis.

As part of the varied approach to this, the Suicide Prevention Network are launching a new website, covering the whole North East and North Cumbria area. The website will provide a new community resource for people seeking

help and advice about suicide and mental wellbeing, guidance for those who have sadly been bereaved by suicide, and signposting to a library of professional resources for those working in suicide prevention.

Information on the Suicide Prevention Network can be found at the new website: www.stopsuicidenenc.org

TOWARDS A SAFER CHURCHwww.newcastle.anglican.org/safeguarding

With Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser Ruth Rogan

An egg-straordinary event for Christian Aid Week

News from Christian Aid North East with Revd Jane Nattrass 

For obvious reasons, we have not been able to celebrate Christian Aid Week in the normal way this year. No house-to-house collec-

tions, no coffee mornings, lunches or other get togethers, but at St Nicholas, Gosforth, we were determined to do all we can to support the vital work of Chris-tian Aid.

our solution may seem quite novel, but in these strange days is becoming more commonplace.

Last Saturday morning we held a par-ish brunch for Christian Aid but we all stayed at home and joined each other on Zoom or by telephone – and I suspect one or two may have kept their pyjama bot-toms  on. There was a very welcome opportunity for us all to chat and catch up, and two slightly tricky quizzes – one on the Bible, and one on general knowl-edge.

However, the high point was a practical cookery demonstration by Simon Dou-glass, the chef at rosie’s Bistro and Patis-serie in Gosforth. You may think that poaching an egg is a simple task but so many people struggle to do it without it falling apart or going solid. Simon let us into the professional secrets as well as the making of hollandaise sauce (much bet-ter than going to the supermarket), and then made us all envious with eggs Flor-entine, eggs Benedict, and eggs  royale. Sadly, he then disappeared with his girl-friend, Emma, to scoff the lot!

The work of Christian Aid continues all year round and not just this week. Please consider having your own event soon – even if we can’t do it in person, we can do it together. We gave out details of how to donate direct to the charity. Donations can be made online at https://www.christianaid.org.uk/

It’s a great honour to be appointed High Sheriff of Northumberland - particularly at this moment.

My aim, over the coming year is to add value where I can. I am particularly focused on helping those volunteers who step forward to serve and help others, particularly in the challenging times we are experiencing.

Duty of Service is, perhaps, an old

fashioned concept, but it lies at the heart of so much of the incredible work that is going on at present to combat Covid-19.

Whilst we are experiencing challenging times, we are lucky to be part of a stunningly resourceful community, and with determination, common sense coupled with a touch of imagination and lots of hard work, there is little we cannot achieve.

The extraordinary circumstances of recent months mean that my year in office is likely to be very different to a High Sheriff's normal year. I am working with a range of people to find ways to support the ‘doers’ in the community safely, without getting in the way of critical operations.

I have already been humbled by the stunning and imaginative initiatives that are springing up to address the

current lockdown. People getting on with life not, perhaps, as usual - but stepping forward and getting on with things anyway.

Finally - spare a thought for those on the front line of this battle, many of who continue to fight the virus under high intensity conditions. Let’s keep them in mind as we manage our own challenges - and ensure we don't inadvertently contribute to theirs.

Like most of you, instead of supporting public events, my chaplain and I had to mark VE 75 Day in isolation. As a piper I joined in ‘The Battles O’er’ initiative and played that pipe tune and also one composed especially for VE 75 in the foothills of Cheviot, whilst my chaplain Canon Alan Hughes kept the two minutes silence and played The Last Post and Reveille in Berwick.

Tom Fairfax, High Sheriff of Northumberland

A message from Tom Fairfax, High Sheriff of Northumberland, 2020-2021

13growing church bringing hope

Tom Fairfax, High Sheriff of Northumberland, playing bagpipes on VE Day

Chef Simon Douglass

The RuRal ChuRCh, SuSTainable TouRiSm and The ‘new noRmal’When we held our ‘contextual workshop’ in Bamburgh on 28 February we did not discuss the likely impact of Covid-19 on our topic – the rural church and sustainable tourism. There were then just twenty confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the UK and although its spread was already beginning to dominate the headlines, and there was the start of talk about possible closures of schools and the cancellation of large sporting events, it was still widely perceived as someone else’s problem. What a difference ten weeks makes!

On 31 March Visit Scotland published the result of a survey of 2,243 businesses carried out over the previous 10 days. The outlook was gloomy. Most businesses across hotel/B&B/guest houses; activities and attractions and food, drink and retail, and across all sizes of business, estimated that without support they would not survive for more than three months. Those who responded to the survey almost universally dismissed the idea of loans, even interest free, because with the cancellation of the peak holiday season of 2020, the prospect of not receiving any income until March 2021 would leave them unable to repay.

On 20 March the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak announced the setting up of a job retention (‘furlough’) scheme, which on 17 April was extended to the end of June, and then again on 13 May until the end of July, and in a more limited form until the end of October, but there can no guarantee that this can continue indefinitely. Limited grant funding to businesses was announced on 3 April. Village halls and other small businesses have benefitted from this, but the impact is limited on the tourism

industry more widely.

On 27 April the Guardian reported that ‘tourism hotspots could face the worst of post-lockdown job losses’, with a possible 33% overall reduction of employment. The hardest hit were likely to be those aged 16 to 24. 80% of employees in hotel and food sectors were furloughed and 68% in arts and recreation. Visit Britain estimated that the cost to the UK tourism industry in 2020 alone would amount to £15bn, with 22 million fewer visitors. The NewcastleGateshead Initiative estimates that the North East visitor economy alone will lose up to £3bn this year if lockdown continues into the summer months.

Another phenomenon of the pandemic has been a sudden drop in donations to charities, including to the churches which also depend on the use of their buildings to maintain income.

Even in the United States, church leaders have agreed that whatever form the ‘new normal’ takes, the churches, if indeed they survive, will not be the same after coronavirus.

One key reason for this decline, anxiety apart, is that household incomes have been hit. According to a joint report by Newcastle University’s Centre for Rural Economy and Rural Enterprise UK published on 20 April, Covid-19 is ‘impacting household incomes and rural businesses in every sector within our diverse rural economies, as well as charitable and community organisations. Some of these impacts will also be medium or long-term.’ They also point out the knock-on effect of this on visitor economies to many rural areas.

Most analysts agree that whenever and however the lockdown is lifted, travel and tourism will take a long time

to recover. Tom Burridge, BBC Travel Correspondent wrote on 30 April that there are likely to be fewer flights and higher prices. Not all airlines will survive and restrictions at airports and the need for social distancing at all times is likely to mean that international travel will be for the few not the many. This will have two effects on the local economy: few, if any of the high-spending overseas visitors will come to the region but more local visitors will have little alternative but to holiday closer to home. The big question that cannot yet be answered is, what level of service will they find? What will they do and who will feed, lodge and entertain them?

Rural societies in turn may, at first at least, feel very nervous about an influx of visitors, especially from the urban North East. The infection rate of Covid-19 has risen markedly in the North East, especially in poorer parts of the region. On 4 May Public Health England figures were reported to show that the North East overtook London as the region with the highest rates of Coronavirus infection in the country. In other parts of the country, but even here in the North East, there has been evidence of growing hostility to second home owners, as there was also towards those who broke regulations to flood to beauty spots in the early stages of the lockdown. The latest trends in the spread of the pandemic are not likely to assuage those fears quickly.

One brighter consequence of the adoption of a new normal may be that there will be a limited flowering of the local arts scene - an idea suggested both by Will Gompertz, BBC Arts Editor and also by Richard Morrison, the chief music

critic of The Times. If so, church buildings may be well placed to allow low-cost venues with adequate space for social distancing, but before then we will have to figure out how we are going to unlock them and use them in any way at all. If a ban on larger gatherings means that church buildings remain off-limits we will have to wait longer before we can begin to re-engage with the first tentative visitors to the countryside.

In the longer term, if we can survive and find a way of weathering the next couple of very difficult years, the churches may once again be in a position, arguably an even stronger position, to pick up the threads explored on 28 February in Bamburgh, with an even stronger emphasis on the significance of local partnerships and on the need to serve the needs of local communities and nearby populations. The quality of the stories we tell, the appropriateness of the welcome we offer and the warmth by which we do it all will be more important than ever. Initiatives such as the diocese’s Rural Churches for Everyone Project, once it can begin work again, may be able to help communities be better equipped to do this.

The way in which the churches have already responded in taking a lead in the community response to the Covid-19 pandemic has helped to regain us a position of trust, one which we will need to respect and nurture; and we will need to continue to work with partners to re-build a local economy that will need support for a long time. Our allies must be local food producers, farmers and retailers as well as a hospitality industry that will struggle to get back onto its feet.

All this will certainly not be the future we envisaged back in February, but it may be greener, more local, friendlier (once the nervousness born of social distancing is overcome), make more imaginative use of social media and electronic communications and ultimately be more truly sustainable.

14

A vicar’s life during Covid-19

Since the pandemic crisis, i have been even busier in the parishes i serve, Brunswick and

Dinnington, than i was be-fore. i have literally walked miles and spent hundreds of hours walking around the parishes dressed in my cas-sock. it has never been worn so much since i was or-dained! The reason i wear it is to stand out, and be a vis-ible representation of the church - to remind people that neither God nor the church has abandoned them.  

 On the colder days, i wear my cape,

and again it has never been worn so much, with a large pocket to store my coffee flask. i wear my old school badge which says in Latin: “in this sign is my hope”. Very poignant in this time of national crisis.

 The response to my walks round

the parishes has been over-whelming. On social media, people have commented that it is so lovely to see the local vicar walking around bringing good cheer and lifting morale, stopping and talking to eve-ryone, which of course adhering to social distancing. it is not that i didn’t used to that before the pandemic. My daily walk has been an opportunity to

become the village parson in the tradi-tional sense. 

 i have enjoyed the

daily disciple of getting out the vicarage and engaging with people, helping to bring hope and reassurance during a time when there is so much fear and uncer-tainly around. even folk who claim not to be reli-gious have said they appreciate seeing the reassuring presence of the parish priest  on the beat. it has helped them, they say, to remain opti-mistic and hopeful during the lockdown.  

 i have also been part of

the Dinnington Parish council’s scheme of delivering food parcels to the elderly and vulnerable. it has been wonderful to witness and see great community spirit as people come together to support their neigh-bours. During the Ve Day celebra-tions, i walked around the parishes wearing flags to show support for all street parties taking place, again

observing social distancing! This lockdown period has been

challenging, but presented us with ways of engaging with our churchgo-ers and the wider community. On easter Day, my wife and i delivered over 65 gift bags to every member of my congregation with spiritual resources, the palm cross, prayers and small treats. They were so grate-fully received that i have continued every few weeks to take these gift bags around the congregation as a way of keeping us together and providing resources to help them in their daily prayers.  With my members being scattered across the far flung recesses of newcastle, it’s a task that takes a while, but to see the look on the faces of those who receive the gift bags is priceless. One of my members liter-ally burst into tears!

 The church is not closed, it’s just

been redeployed. i have always been community minded and feel it’s important for the church to engage with its communities at a grass route level. The pandemic has just expand-ed what i have always been doing, and will continue to do once our churches re-open. 

generous engaged open

by Revd Mark Edwards MBE, Vicar of St Matthew’s Dinnington and St Cuthbert’s Brunswick

The Rural Strand by Helen Savage, Vicar of the Moorland Group of Parishes

Above, Revd Mark Edwards MBE and right his school badge motto ‘In this sign is my hope’

The County Hotel Hexham is an example of the many businesses forced to close during Covid-19

15growing church bringing hope

ACROSS1. Sweet-smelling actor I am spoiling (8)5. Combination of governments seen in fab location (4)9. Set of moral values held by Elizabeth, I conclude (5)10. Bird disturbing nice pal (7)11. Gift from wise man, candid, meeting with anger (12)13. Class with man – a member of the clergy (6)15. A Conservative with a small amount of money revealing stress (6)17. Corrupt agents I tried to break up (12)20. Dull male, French one, with Scandinavian (7)21. Change reportedly taken from table in church (5)22. Some rich efficient cook (4)23. Undergarment found by chaps initially trying robe (8)

DOWN1. Blokes appearing after a prayer’s final word (4)2. Different parent missing the beginning (5)3. Rearranged dance, say, is on the 40th day after Easter (9,3)4. One married couple revealing damage (6)6. Parasites, Northern, initially collecting every permit (7)7. Cheat, cold, accidentally tore musical composition (8)8. Defender, about 50, getting present mentioned berry (12)12. Wrong acid came for scholar (8)14. Fundamental nature of Eastern scenes, possibly (7)16. Royal always last to arrive for worship (6)18. Article about it involves former tax (5)19. Unruly child – first to buy rodent (4)

ANSWeRS tO CROSSWORD 162ACROSS: 1. Epistle 5. Overt 8. Evangelical 10. Sect 11. Recorder 12. Warren 14. Easter 16. Stubborn 18. Icon 20. Nicene Creed 22. Saint 23. Spiders

DOWN: 2.Piece 3. Starter 4. Leg 6. Vicar 7. Relieve 9. Lectern 11. Run down13. Antenna 15. Stipend 17. Bacon 19. Order 21. Cap

Link Crossword 163 Compiled by Mary Sutton HAVE YOUR SAYAnything catch your eye in this month’s LINK?Something on your mind? Or in your prayers?Send an e-mail, message or letter to LINK and we’ll publish the best of them:

Have your say. LINK, Church House, St John’s Terrace, North Shields NE29 6HS. Email us: link@newcastle. anglican.org

This month we are including the crossword for anyone looking for something to keep them occupied during lockdown but just for fun (sorry, no prize this month). Please DO NOT submit crosswords to Church House.

Noticeboard

Visit https://www.newcastle.anglican.org/events/category/all-events/ for events taking place across the Diocese

The planned silent retreat for clergy spouses, scheduled for 22 - 25 June at Shepherd’s Dene, has been cancelled because of the coronavirus restrictions.

tOgetheR AlONeThis is the third column I've written since the coronavirus became a nationally recognised problem. The ensuing lock-down has been a terrible experience for many of us - isolation and quarantine are difficult things and that's before the tens of thousands of bereavements, problems acquiring basic supplies and the deprivation already brought about by job loss in the wake of businesses closing. People are experiencing trauma on a national level and, while the government is discussing easing the restrictions, this is likely to continue well beyond the point when the last inessential shops are allowed to reopen. Some of us have developed unhealthy coping mechanisms. Some of us are suffering intensely from not being able to meet up with friends and family - as good as video calls may be, there's something about being in the

same physical space that is important. Some of us feel too worn out and broken to see a way forward.

But.

On Sunday morning, along with thousands of other people around the world, my family took part in morning worship from home. We began in the kitchen, watching the online video service that had been prepared by the church leadership team, joining in with the prayers, singing along with the songs, and making a coffee whilst listening to the sermon, then adjourning to the living room for "coffee after the service" during which we used video-conferencing software to chat with a couple of clusters of other worshippers

- because the groups were assigned at random, we ended up encountering people we'd never met before (St Paul's has a sizeable congregation) - in a way that would not have happened under normal circumstances. Disabled people have reported finding streamed services more accessible than in-person attendance and several churches are reporting higher levels of engagement online than they had before the lock-down.

A few weeks ago a much smaller number of us 'congregated' for a living-room performance of new material by an artist that we support financially online - there was a group text-chat that continued throughout the concert with the singer able to respond

during the breaks between songs - again, something that was unique to the setting.

My parents are over seventy and self-isolating in a more drastic way than the rest of the family. Their groceries are delivered from a couple of local shops, and one of their neighbours delivers fresh-baked pies and cakes a couple of times a week. They hadn't previously used those shops much or really been more than passing acquaintances with the neighbour but these kinds of connections are being made all over the country.

Things might be grim but there is still light. God is at work - in the examples above and countless besides; even in the darkness where hope is hard to find, God is with us. As we begin to consider the kind of status quo we will be returning to, what lessons can we learn and what new practices should we continue to ensure the new normal is a kinder, better one?

LIKE A METAPHORTim Hardy (formerly of the Religious Resources Centre) writes at www.timbo-baggins.co.uk and spends the rest of his time raising a three year old and riding a bike around Leamington Spa.