New plans for a temporary annexe on grass at the rear of the church have been submitted to the city council to provide space for children and young people's worship.Church officials say there is an "urgent need" for more accommodation to cater for a boom in attendances since the Grade II* listed Minster underwent a radical change of style two years ago aimed at a younger audience.When the new Vicar of Preston Rev Sam Haigh took over in September 2019 the church's congregation was dwindling. Now Sunday services, featuring guitars, drums and keyboard, average 165 worshippers, a figure which is expected to grow to around 400 in the next two years.The Minster is hoping to build a permanent annexe within five years, subject to funding. So in the meantime it has asked for planning permission to place a temporary modular cabin in the churchyard at the back to bridge that gap."Preston Minster is now a young and fast-growing church," says a planning statement. "The church has continued to grow through the Covid-19 pandemic."It is anticipated that the Minster will grow to an average congregation of 200 to 250 by mid-2022 .... and is set to grow to around 400 in the next two years."A significant proportion of this growth is children and young people, creating an urgent need for ancillary space to accommodate this alongside the Sunday service."The report says that despite a "thriving children's ministry" the Minster only has space for up to 25 children.It says that the lack of space has placed "great strains" on the facilities, offset during the summer by the erection of a marquee at the rear of the church. But with winter approaching the need for indoor accommodation "is becoming increasingly urgent."The change of direction came in 2019 when £1.5m of funding was allocated to transform the Church of England in Preston and re-invigorate the Minster. A radical style of worship was introduced, while more traditional services were switched to its sister church St George's off Lune Street.The new Vicar, a former car mechanic, promised a "significant shift" in style with contemporary services, reaching out to people under 25, particularly the city's huge student population.Since lockdown was lifted and the church has been able to return to live worship, the attendances have been steadily growing.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Chief Rabbi and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster have warned of the risk to vulnerable people should Parliament back a new attempt to change the law on assisted suicide.In a joint letter to peers, Archbishop Justin Welby, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who is President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, and The Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, speak of their ‘profound disquiet’ over the Assisted Dying Bill, ahead of its second reading in the House of Lords on Friday. The Private Member's Bill, tabled by Baroness Meacher, proposes legalising assisted suicide for terminally ill people with under six months to live.The three faith leaders highlight the risks and dangers entailed in the provisions of the Bill and the ‘real-life’ practical inadequacies of its proposed safeguards.The common good is not served by policies or actions that would place very many vulnerable people in more vulnerable positions, they warn. They appeal for people of all faiths and none to join with them through the ‘common bond of humanity’ in caring for the most vulnerable in society.In contrast to the Bill, the faith leaders call for measures to make high-quality palliative care available to all at the end of their lives. The aim of a compassionate society should be ‘assisted living’ rather than an acceptance of assisted suicide, they note.“By the faiths we profess, we hold every human life to be a precious gift of the Creator, to be upheld and protected. “All people of faith, and those of none, can share our concern that the common good is not served by policies or actions that would place very many vulnerable people in more vulnerable positions. “We appeal to people of whatever faith or belief to join us through our common bond of humanity in caring for the most vulnerable people within our society. “In contrast to the proposals in this Bill, we continue to call for measures to make high-quality palliative care available to all at the end of their lives. “We believe that the aim of a compassionate society should be assisted living rather than an acceptance of assisted suicide.”
Bells have traditionally been rung to mark significant moments, both in times of celebration, such as victory in war, and as a warning of impending danger, such as invasion.A number of Church of England churches will be among those joining in the Ring Out for Climate initiative at 18:00 on Saturday 30th October. The United Nations Climate Change conference takes place in Glasgow between October 31 and November 12.The idea was devised by Edward Gildea, the adventurer and environmentalist, who is a member of St Mary's church in Saffron Walden, Essex, as a vivid warning of the danger from the climate emergency.The Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, the Church of England’s Lead Bishop for the Environment, said: “Church bells have traditionally been rung through the centuries to raise the alarm for local communities. “The recent ‘code red’ report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is an alarm call for us all. “A nationwide ‘ring out for climate’ on the eve of the COP26 can be a warning symbol, but also one of hope.“Hope that this conference will lead to action for us all, like Jesus, to tread more gently on our single island planet home and care more for those already adversely affected by climate change, especially in the economically poorest places on Earth.”Bell ringers across the country are supporting the initiative.Simon Linford, President of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers, commented: “Bellringers understand how important the bells they ring are not only to the church but also to the local community. “The sound of bells was missed during lockdown, and it is now being welcomed back as part of the nation’s soundscape. “Many bellringers are planning to join in with “ring out for the climate’, lending their powerful voice in support of efforts to halt climate change.”Mr Gildea said: “I was inspired by several things including Clap for Carers during the pandemic and, the historic uses of church bells. “Ringing church bells as a warning for people in this country at times of national crisis is well known – with bells for the Spanish Armada right through to the Second World War. “The climate crisis is not just a national problem but a global one. “I thought ringing the bells for climate would be a way to wake people up, in every part of the country, to the urgency of the crisis we face ahead of COP.“It can act as a warning in every parish that climate action is necessary, and we have an opportunity to make progress in Glasgow.” Where churches participate a notification on social media or in newsletters can help make the local community aware of the significance of the bells.
Earlier this month, following an accident, I had my first journey in an ambulance. At high speed and with blue lights flashing, the lovely paramedics enquired about my occupation. They responded by waxing lyrical about their station chaplain whose care they described as ‘absolutely amazing’. I enjoyed a moment of deep pride in my colleagues. This week, as we commemorate Luke the beloved physician, I give thanks for all in healing professions and in particular for our clergy in parishes, schools and chaplaincies. I also think they are ‘absolutely amazing’. Perhaps I can encourage us to revisit the Guildford Clergy Wellbeing Covenant which we launched last year as part of our way of caring for them? I also want to express sincere thanks this week to St Luke’s for the Clergy. Founded in 1892, this charity works hard to ‘care for the carers’ and has provided medical support to 60 clergy in our diocese in the past 3 years. If you’d be interested in contributing to their work, either through medical expertise or financial contribution, do be in touch with me. Archdeacon Paul
