y op See y NOVEMBER 2014 MAGAZINE op sit eC THE JOURNAL OF BLACKBURN DIOCESE : THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN LANCASHIRE Archbishop says happy 150th! The Most Rev. and Rt Hon. Dr John Sentamu, accompanied by the Rt Rev. Geoff Pearson, Suffragan Bishop of Lancaster, led 2000 pupils, teachers, governors, local clergy and guests in a rousing chorus of �Happy Birthday’, followed by three cheers for the school at the end of an open-air celebration service. op y sit eC eC The highlight of the two days will be a fantastic mission event �Light in Darkness’. It takes place at 7.30pm on November 4 in the fabulous Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Make sure you bring a friend or family member (or several!) who may not know Jesus, to hear the Archbishop’s powerful testimony. Full details about the visit are available on a special area on the Diocese website at www.blackburn. anglican.org. sit The entire school family gathered for the open air service with the Archbishop Printed promotional materials have been circulated to all clergy for local distribution and other promotional materials for use online have also been sent via email to all parishes. This includes a link to a message on our YouTube channel from the Archbishop himself! op es Earlier this summer a letter sent to Barrowford Primary School in Nelson told pupils that their key stage two test results do not always assess what makes them “special and unique”. Di I first heard about it on Radio 5 and it featured widely in the media *. At first there was a lot of affirmation for what headteacher Rachel Tomlinson had written. There was a personal and child-focussed tone that I applauded. Sometimes it’s OK to be sentimental eW eb This lady obviously has a higher view of education than some in that field who see it too narrowly focussed on job preparation. eC oc eW eb There will be coverage in all local media, including BBC Radio Lancashire, and you can follow the visit live via regular updates on our Twitter feed @cofelancs and also on our Flickr feed and the Youtube channel. sit Di When the Archbishop returns in November he will carry out a number of key engagements including visits to St Michael’s High School in Chorley where a The Archbishop leads the service, accompanied by the Bishop of Lancaster, Rt Rev. Geoff Pearson y eW eb oc The event came just a few weeks before the Archbishop is due to return to the �Vocations Conference’ will be taking place; the University of Central Lancashire Diocese for a major two day visit on November 4 and 5. Chaplaincy Centre in Preston; Blackburn The Archbishop was delighted to preside and preach at the service for Ripley Cathedral; Preston Minster (where he will St Thomas and said: “This school can be proud of its long history and its meet with clergy from around the Diocese); service to the people of Lancaster. It is so important the Church of England has Mitton Church and a church school in schools like this, they are a real sign of hope. Here’s to the next 150 years.” Accrington. oc es But for various reasons the barons of Fleet Street have come down hard on our torchbearer. They have criticised her for plagiarising the material from an American blog and for using sentimental twaddle. eC op y es eW eb Pupils from Ripley St Thomas CofE Academy in Lancaster had a birthday to remember when they received a visit from the Archbishop of York for their 150th anniversary. + Geoff * You can read the letter online: just Google �Barrowford’, �Nelson’ and �letter’. W eb I hear a headteacher who has a wider and healthier agenda for her pupils. OK if it is a bit sentimental, what is wrong with that? Such feeling beats the tick box mentality any day. sit I want to stand alongside this headteacher. She brings a bit of balance back to I take support from the message - Luke 2 v 52: “And Jesus matures, growing up in both body and spirit, blessed by both God and people.” education and lifts it out of the political sphere into a better place. es The 20th annual Horseman’s Sunday Service took place in October at Penny Farm, the World Horse Welfare site in Blackpool, writes Rev Godfrey Hirst, who is known as the �Cantering Canon’. Di The service included a procession of horses as well as hymns, readings and prayers se oc Thirty horses, ridden or in hand, with their owners, attended the Service, which was regarded as one of the best. oc e Part of the Service focussed on the role of the horse in warfare especially being the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of WW1 where over one million horses were used by the British Army. Di The day raised more £250 for World Horse Welfare and the staff there are really grateful for everyone’s support. Di Godfrey Hirst �The Cantering Canon’ at the Horseman’s Sunday event. Picture courtesy of Johnston Press The See can also be found on the Diocesan Website: www.blackburn.anglican.org under News, or scan the �QR code’ on the back page with your smartphone to be taken to the Diocese website page which contains the current and archive editions of The See. y News? Feedback? thesee@blackburn.anglican.org op COMMENT op y Is your name in God’s Book of Life? sit eC It is fascinating how so many of us are entertained by the reality TV shows, in which people compete against one another in a dancing or baking or talent spotting show. When it comes to God, we tend not to be not so comfortable that He, as Judge of all humankind, should be in a position to make judgements about how we have responded to Him. It feels somewhat inconsistent. our future into His hands and commit to following Him is what causes our name to be placed in His Book of Life and it is the most important decision we ever make. As we recall the names this month of those who have given their lives in the service of their country in Remembrance services, as we read out the names of loved ones in Books of Remembrance, may we be prompted to make sure that our names are written in God’s Book of Life. That’s the one that counts ultimately. eC eW eb Di oc One of the themes running through the Bible is that of God’s Book of Life, in which are inscribed the names of those who have chosen to become followers of Jesus Christ. A name in this Book is a guarantee of eternal life with Christ beyond death and of sins forgiven. op y sit eC es eW eb Something of the drama of who gets sent home and who stays grips our attention, as judges or the public make decisions about the performance of others. It is a normal human activity. Di But there are also additional challenges – fewer resources, poverty more extreme than we usually encounter in the UK, communities affected by HIV and AIDS in a way it’s difficult for us to comprehend and apartheid, though overcome, has left its mark. op eC se es oc Di We were also challenged, churches in South Africa face many of the challenges that churches here do – managing finances, supporting those in need in their communities, deciding how best to use resources etc. eC op y sit Sam and I were greatly encouraged by the strong faith of some of the young people and adults we spent time with who were committed to serving their church. We hope we too were able to bring encouragement to those we met. The Dioceses of Blackburn and the Free State are also celebrating 50 years of being linked this year. There will be a service of celebration on Sunday November 30 at 4pm in Blackburn Cathedral, at which Fr. Andile Mbutye from Bloemfontein will preach. More information on the opposite page. W eb It was fantastic opportunity to �encourage one another and build each other up’ (1 Thes 5:11). 2 sit eW eb oc es Our trip concluded with a weekend at the Diocesan Centre in Modderpoort including a Youth Conference and Diocesan Open Air Service (commonly known as the �Cave Service’). One of the key aims of this trip was to prepare for another trip. In August 2016 we hope to return to the Diocese of the Free State with 20 young people aged 16-21yrs. If you or a young person you know would be interested in this fantastic opportunity please email youth@blackburn.anglican.org or go to http://www.bdeducation.org.uk/youth-trip-to-the-freestate.html oc e Di We were also able to spend time with Mosamaria AIDS Ministry Itekeng Disabled and OVC Centre; Sunflower House Children’s Hospice; Rev. Hilary Murphy’s Township Outreach and members of the Diocesan Youth Academy. We also hope to equip and support the ongoing ministry of our brothers and sisters in churches and schools in the Free State by sharing resources, knowledge and experience. Di oc Over the course of the two weeks we had the privilege of visiting four schools and 13 churches. Following our visit we hope that we can encourage and challenge churches and schools here by sharing the testimonies of those we met (if you’d like us to visit your church/school please get in touch). sit Youth team members visit the Free State eW eb es On Monday August 18 this year Sam Cheesman (Youth Worker/Chaplain at Ripley St Thomas) and I flew to Bloemfontein in South Africa to spend two weeks in the Diocese of the Free State, writes Kat Witham, Diocesan Youth Officer. y If you are not sure about all this, why not come and listen to It is not enough to be in or rely upon our name in the Baptism the Archbishop of York in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom on or Confirmation or Electoral Roll register at church. The November 4th. It will be a very special evening and might be decision to repent of life without God, to trust our present and particularly helpful in answering your questions. + Julian Sam Cheesman with the exuberant kids from Mosamaria OVC After-School Club. y op PEOPLE AND PLACES op op y sit eC sit eC November lunchtime recitals at St George the Martyr, Preston beginning at 12.30pm: November 7; Felix Niel (flute) and Tyler Hay (piano); November 21, Qian Wu (violin) and Russel Lomas (piano). Admission £6 (including light refreshments). y A Fairtrade Christmas Market, with light refreshments, will be held on Friday November 14th and Saturday November 15th from 10am 5.30pm in St Andrew’s Church Hall, Liverpool Road, Longton, PR4 5AA - with a wide variety of food and gifts for sale. Christmas cakes/ puddings and a variety of wines may also be ordered. St Leonard's Church Penwortham is holding a Christmas Tree Festival on Saturday November 15 from 10am-5pm and Sunday November 16 after the 10am service until 4pm, followed by Songs of Praise. Admission £2; accompanied under 16s free. Refreshments in the large hall. sit es wine and mince pies. For further details, please ring the Parish Office 01254 703929. eC eW eb Di oc St John the Evangelist, Worsthorne, Burnley, invite you to their 39th Annual Christmas Concert and Cantata on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th December. War, peace and the origins of the white feather are Tickets are £5 each (reserved seating). For further just some of the big issues pupils in our church information, please contact Arlene Sykes on 01282 schools can explore thanks to exciting new 438319 for reservations or visit our choirs website educational resources from our friends at the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales. Now these at www.sjschoir.com A Festive Fairtrade Market will be held at The resources - designed for Year 2 to Year 9 - have Grand in Clitheroe on Saturday 15th November been published and are available to download for from 10am - 3pm. Stalls will include Fairtrade all schools to use. Go to their website and search products and local sustainable crafts. Refreshments �WW1 resources’ to find the materials. will be available and local primary school choirs will Pictures taken at the Maundy Service earlier this year of HM The Queen presenting Maundy Money sing Christmas Carols throughout the day. Admission is free. to recipients from across Lancashire are still op es eW eb 15, 17-22 and 24-29th. The middle one being for those involved in church ministry. available to order on the Diocese website. The ordering area will remain live until the end of the year. Only recipients and their family and friends are able to access this area with password information supplied to recipients in a letter earlier in the year. A very successful community event (pictured) was held at St Andrew’s Church Accrington in September. The event, which was the second of its kind to be held in the church, was sponsored by Community First and brought together over 150 children and adults from the diverse community. Many young children and other family members from different faiths and cultures came together to communicate with each other, play party games, enjoy face and henna painting and many other fun activities. All who attended, including the Mayor of Hyndburn, Councillor Munsif Dad, who opened the event, spoke positively of the enjoyment experienced in an atmosphere of friendship. y encourage children in schools in the Diocese to Whalley Abbey is holding a special Christmas lunch become involved with the work of The Children’s Society and receive collecting boxes during week in December and is taking bookings now. There will be delicious food and a great atmosphere October. Posters and information sheets will go out and the venue would be ideal for an office or church to schools and parishes in early September. If you could help by suggesting a school you know would group party. The week runs from December 15 – like to be involved and helping to distribute boxes December 19, noon for 12.30pm dining each day. For more information call 01254 828400 or visit the please email children@ blackburn.anglican.org St Silas Church Preston New Rd, Blackburn is shortly website www.whalleyabbey.org to see the full to begin a major fundraising drive to save the menus. Are you longing for beauty, space and quiet in your church’s Harrison organ. The launch event will be on December 13 with a concert by the Rawstorne life? The Iona Community is facilitating a series of Singers, then early next year there will be a concert quiet weeks through November called �Reflection on February 28 by Nigel Ogden of BBC Radio 2 for Action’. For more information see fame. See the church website www.stsilasorgan. www.iona.org.uk where you find the online org.uk or email stsilasorganfund.email.com booking form. This year these weeks run Nov 10News round-up Autumn Fair, St. Silas’s Church parish centre, Preston New Road, Blackburn. Saturday, 22 November 2014 11am-2pm. Admission free. Proceeds go to Church funds and Organ Restoration fund. Donations welcome. For further details contact 01254 262324 or 01254 671293. Di eC op y oc e se W eb sit eW eb es Di oc oc es Di sit eW eb oc Di eC The Blackburn Diocesan World Development Group would like to encourage more churches and schools A special multi-media event, �Brothers in Arms’ to use and sell Fairtrade products. Traidcraft and takes place shortly. It tells the amazing story of the Created catalogues and information on doing more Chavasse twins, Noel and Christopher, highly Music for Remembrance Day with The Elswick for Fairtrade will be available at the above event. th decorated soldiers who served with great Alternatively, please contact Cath Greenlees: 01772 Singers on Sunday 9 November 2014 at St Paul's distinction in WW1. Their lives tell an inspiring story -613500; cathgreenlees@hotmail.co.uk Church (Marton) Blackpool starting at 7.30pm. of courage, service, sacrifice and faith lived out Tickets £8 children under 16 free. For further details A church in Leyland is about to practise some new under fire. The evenings are free and are on please ring 01253 987529 (Pauline Wilson) or ministry that is sure to put a smile on the faces of Thursday 20 November 2014 at 7.30pm St 01253 692047 (Church Office). the congregation. For they are playing host to a Cuthbert’s Church Centre, Lytham Road, Fulwood, The Diocesan World Mission Group is planning to visitor from South Africa whose ministry is, quite Preston, Lancashire, PR2 3AR and Sunday 23 hold a �happening’ at Lancaster University simply, just clowning around! The Rev. Michael November 2014 at 7.30pm Lancaster Methodist Chaplaincy Centre on Thursday, November 6, 7pm Fourie, together with his wife Dr Elaine Fourie, are Church, Scotforth Road, Lancaster LA1 4TE. To book for 7.30pm. The main speaker will be JP Carvalho, a visiting St Ambrose Church in Leyland from the places or for more information please contact young Brazilian man who works with OMF church’s link parish of St John the Baptist in Miranda Wraithmell, Parish Mission Support Harrismith. Michael is known in South Africa for his International in Japan, and reaches out to young Department Secretary. Email: people, in particular, through Gospel street dance. miranda.wraithmell@blackburn.anglican.org or call �clown ministry’ and is running a clown workshop The Group invites parishes across the diocese to free of charge at St Ambrose Church Hall on Moss 01254 658916 attend and hopes especially that youth leaders will Lane PR25 4XA, near to Junction 28 on the M6, on A Messy Christingle event takes place at The feel able to bring their groups to join in an evening Sunday, November 9 from 2-6pm. More Minster, Preston on Saturday November 29 from 3- information from Rev. Duncan Clarke on 01772 of worship and fun. 5pm. Before the event itself the organisers want to 623426. St Aidan’s Church Hall, Station Road, Bamber Bridge. Trash or Treasure? Table Top Sale. Buy or While her husband is clowning around (see above) Dr Elaine Fourie will be running an interpretive sign sell unwanted items. November 15, 9.30am-1pm language and communication course at St Ambrose (Sellers from 9am; Tables £7). To book a table please call Ellis on 01257 267464. Church Hall on November 8 between 10am and noon for anyone interested in this ministry. More Situations vacant or wanted information on number above. Do you want to train to be a secondary school St. Peters Church Darwen, Master Singers Concert teacher? Then the Ripley PGCE could be your route is on Saturday 8th November at 7.30pm at St into teacher training. Now recruiting for September Peters Church. The cost is £8 per adult and A picture taken at a recent meeting of Deanery 2015 in the following subjects: Mathematics, concession £6. Children under 16 free. This will be Clergy Wives. They, and other similar groups, Modern Languages, Design Technology, Music, a wonderful evening of music and not to be missed. History, Geography. Get more details at: have done this for many years, once a month at Funds raised are towards the organ repair. Tickets each other’s houses for coffee and a chat. They www.ripleytsa.com or via email at available shortly from St Peters church office. are all either wives of retired clergy or clergy teachingschool@ripley.lancs. sch.uk. widows. As well as keeping up-to-date with all St. Peter's Church Christmas Craft Fayre to be held Clergy updates things clerical they also act as a support group for on Saturday 29th November 2014, 10am – 3pm. A The Revd Andy Froud, Vicar of Clitheroe St Mary each other. host of stalls and refreshments including mulled Forthcoming events 3 y The Revd David Goodwin has been granted a general licence in the Diocese whilst he serves as Chaplaincy Headquarters Adviser to the National Offenders’ Management Service. The Revd David Reynolds will retire as Rector of Mawdesley with Bispham, Croston and Bretherton on 30 November. David was ordained in 1973 and served at Formby, Widnes and Southport in the The Revd Jeff Finch will retire as Team Rector of the Diocese of Liverpool. He came to Mawdesley in 1987 and took on responsibility for Croston and Fellside on 30 November. Jeff served his Title at Bretherton in 2006. Briercliffe. He was Priest in Charge of Brindle St James and Assistant Diocesan Director of Education The Bishop has granted Permission to Officiate in from 1987-1993 and Vicar of Laneside from 1993. the Diocese to the Rt Revd John Goddard and the In 2000 he moved to the Fellside as Team Vicar, Revd Anthony Rees. becoming Team Rector in 2008. sit eC During the last 50 years we have been engaged in Sunday school projects Mosamaria AIDS Ministry, Sunflower House Children's Hospice; there have been industrial mission links, high school links, mothers union links and there have been two youth pilgrimages and one adult pilgrimage. We hope that as many people as possible will come along and share the celebration and give thanks to God for a wonderful journey together. We have enjoyed exchanges from as little as three weeks to as long as three years (Archdeacon Michael Everitt and family). sit It is said that Bishop Charles Claxton (Blackburn) returned from a Lambeth Conference enthusiastic about the link with another diocese. And next year, to celebrate the 50th anniversary the Link Committee is arranging a pilgrimage to the Free State, which will be led by Bishop Julian and will leave on September 24, 2015 and arrive back on October 9. If you are interested in going, contact the organiser, Canon Tom Bill at 26 Thornton Road, Morecambe LA4 5PE; phone 01524 417117 or email tom@thebills.co.uk for more information. eC oc Bishop Burnett visited the UK in June 1965 and Bishop Claxton visited South Africa in 1969. At this stage there were 20 formal parish-to-parish links together with a special connection with Hodderport the home of the Kelham Fathers in the Free State. op We have shared in priestly formation, Sunday School leaders training, stewardship campaigns, clergy schools in Free State and clergy conferences in the UK. So together we have had a long and fruitful friendship. eW eb es Someone mentioned to him a 1948 Mothers Union prayer link between the two Dioceses which predated the formal linking. This reminded Bishop Claxton of his chance meeting with Bishop Bill Burnett (Bloemfontein Free State) at Lambeth. The two got on so well that they decided to commit their dioceses to a formal link in November 1964. y eW eb oc This anniversary year will be celebrated with a service of thanksgiving in Blackburn Cathedral on Sunday, November 30 at 4pm at which Fr. Andile Mbutye from Bloemfontein will preach. A link with the past, present and future visited the Free State and five South African bishops have visited the UK. There have been 75 formal visits of clergy or laity from South Africa and 115 of us have formally visited the Diocese of the Free State not including the many other unofficial visitors encouraged by the link. op y This November the Diocese of Blackburn and the Diocese of the Free State (Bloemfontein) will celebrate 50 years of being linked together, making it possibly the oldest link in the Anglican Communion, writes Rev. Canon John Hall, Link Officer for our Diocese. eC es eW eb The Revd Canon Timothy Lipscomb will stand down as Area Dean of Preston at the end of the year. He will continue to serve as Vicar of Preston St John and St George the Martyr. op The Revd Tracy Swindells, Asst Curate of Lostock Hall and Farrington Moss has been appointed Assistant Curate of Leyland St James. She is to be licensed at Bishop’s House on 6 October. y sit eC Magdalene, is also to be Priest in Charge of Chatburn and Downham. He will be licensed by Bishop Julian on 3 November. Di News? Feedback? thesee@blackburn.anglican.org op NEWS Light in Darkness sit W eb More info at: oc e www.blackburn.anglican.org se Bishop Julian and wife Heather meet Bishop Stephen Dintoe from our link Diocese of The Free State in South Africa during the inauguration service at Blackburn Cathedral last October Di oc e To submit an article for the next edition by the deadline on the left, send to thesee@blackburn.anglican.org For more information about deadlines and guidance for submission of articles to The See, visit the Diocese website (www.blackburn.anglican.org) and search for �The See’ For change of delivery address or quantity of The See contact Christine Ellis at christine.ellis@blackburn.anglican.org or phone 01254 503070 Di Deadline for the December edition is November 3, 2014 Blackpool Tower Ballroom, FY1 4BJ November 4 7.30 - 9pm A FREE EVENT! See you there! se Di oc es Archbishop of York eC op y sit W eb Di And don’t forget to come along on November 30 at 4pm to Since November 1964 there have been three link officers in the UK celebrate and give thanks for the 50 years of close friendship and seven in the Free State. Four Blackburn Diocesan Bishops have between our two Dioceses and to look forward to many more years of friendship together.