North East Churches Acting Together (NECAT) – with members including the Church of England, Roman Catholic, Baptist, URC and Methodist churches as well as independent churches – has commissioned consultants to advise on potential sites for affordable housing development. Schemes being considered include supported accommodation for groups including older people and people with learning disabilities.The move comes after the group held two conferences on housing and homelessness in the region in recent years.Revd Joanne Thorns, a Church of England priest and Regional Officer for NECAT, has been working with Chris Beales, a member of the Church of England’s Housing Executive Team.“We know that in comparison to London and other areas, house prices are not as high here in the North East,” she said.“But there are a lot of low paid and insecure jobs and people on zero hours contracts - and that makes it very difficult to get a mortgage.“The need for good quality affordable community based rented accommodation is huge.”So far experts have found 10 potential sites on church land including rural and urban areas, with a shortlist of three sites to go forward initially for further exploration. Rural areas are also affected by the housing crisis especially in holiday areas where holiday lets have increased prices.“We have had conversations with local churches and tried to find something that they can engage with in the long term – we don’t want to just build accommodation and then walk away,” Joanne said.“Living in a community is as important as having a bricks and mortar home and people need to feel they have community around them.”
A collection of artefacts has gone on display for the first time as part of a "highly-anticipated" new exhibition at Canterbury Cathedral.The objects include the first known piece of Christian art made in England after the arrival of the Anglo-SaxonS.The exhibition also includes: Grant from William de Tracy - A penitential gesture from one of the four knights who murdered Thomas Becket in 1170.The Accord of Winchester - An 11th Century document establishing the supremacy of the Archbishop of Canterbury over the Archbishop of York. Papal Mandate from Innocent III - A document from 1205 ordering King John to accept the elected Archbishop of Canterbury. The Lyghfield Bible - A late 13th Century pocket Bible written on high quality parchment.Dr Sarah Turner, collections manager at Canterbury Cathedral, said: "Each object tells a story, sometimes of faith or trust, of anger or repentance, and each one shines a light onto the complex history of the Cathedral."The permanent exhibition is part of the Canterbury Journey, a multi-million-pound project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
I hope many of you were among the thousands who were inspired by Space and Life, the recent illuminated show at our Cathedral. Using the wonderful and expansive interior of the building the artistic duo, Luxmuralis, presented a programme which began by taking us to the outer edges of our galaxy and moving us to consider the beautiful detail of creation and reflect upon our relationship with all that God has created. Space and Life is just one feature of our celebrations of 60 years of being the cathedral for the ‘new’ diocese of Guildford. Last November Bishop Andrew (who shares the 60th anniversary) presented us with a beautiful setting of the Mass – his Diamond Mass and it was sung for the first time. During the Christmas and Epiphany season the church schools of our diocese joined us in presenting displays of artwork with the theme, ‘Everyone is welcome’, with some amazing creations based on the plight of refugees and our welcome for all. Collaboration with our schools continues with a Schools’ Eco Day in early March, and I am really looking forward to the Year 6 Leavers’ Services at the end of the summer term – one of the highlights of the entire year. We have moved into the new context and are now welcoming back hundreds each week for prayer, worship, art, music, reflection and fellowship. Our cathedral offers parishes and deaneries Quiet Days, led retreats and space for prayer and personal reflection. Now that we all have a bit more freedom to move around the diocese, I’d love to be invited to take part in the life of your church or school. Just get in touch. Please pray for God’s mission at our cathedral as we pray regularly for you in your own ministry and service.
