E-petition challenges VAT on alterations to listed church buildings
Christian Today – The Church of England is asking parishioners to show their support as it seeks to end VAT on alterations to its listed churches. Forty-five per cent of England’s Grade I listed buildings are Church of England churches. The Church today launched an e-petition calling upon the Chancellor to bring back zero rate VAT to alterations made to its 12,500 listed churches. The petition has been set up in response to the launch of a consultation by HM Revenue & Customs on VAT charging to approved alterations to listed buildings.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/epetition.challenges.vat.on.alterations.to.listed.church.buildings/29564.htm
Archbishop of Canterbury: Children should be taught the Lord’s Prayer
Telegraph – Children are now half as likely to know the text of the Lord’s Prayer than they were 40 years ago, according to a survey. The study, which compared the answers of children aged 6-12 years old and adults who would have been that age 40 years ago, found that children today are less familiar with religious texts than their parents. However, they are twice as likely to say that religion is important to them compared with those growing up in the 1970s.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9177734/Archbishop-of-Canterbury-Children-should-be-taught-the-Lords-Prayer.html
Methodist Youth President wins British Youth Council Award
Christian Today – The British Youth Council has given its Make a Difference Award to the Methodist Church’s Youth President. The award recognises the effort, creativity, leadership and teamwork of a person under the age of 25 in the running of an organisation or project. It is one of several Youth on Board Awards from the British Youth Council that celebrate organisations and projects that support youth participation. Sam Taylor, the 19-year-old Methodist Youth President of the 2011/2012 session, was selected by a panel of young people with the British Youth Council.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/methodist.youth.president.wins.british.youth.council.award/29561.htm
Art and music tell Easter story in Colwyn Bay
Christian Today – Film, contemporary jazz, art, music and candlelight will combine over the coming week to tell the Easter story at a major exhibition in Colwyn Bay. The 10-day celebration has been put together by Engedi Arts, a project to showcase diverse arts and music in the area. It opens today at the Imperial Hotel, which has been given a community makeover by hundreds of volunteers. Guest lectures, poets and performers of the spoken word will also be on hand to bring the story to life.
Highlights of the exhibition include a candlelight communion, free introductory workshops on glass enamelling and pottery, and a free food celebration called the ‘big feast’. Coordinating the event is Gavin Mart, a student on the CMS Pioneer Mission Leadership course, who was recently appointed Methodist VentureFX Pioneer Ministry for the Conwy and Prestatyn Methodist Circuit. Mart said his vision was to develop a creative hub to serve local established organisations such as those belonging to the theatre, the arts and media.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/art.and.music.tell.easter.story.in.colwyn.bay/29558.htm
Hundreds attend vicar’s funeral
BBC – More than 450 people attend the funeral of vicar John Suddards at the church in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, where he was the parish priest… and where he was killed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-17563605
Sign the e-petition to bring back zero rate VAT on alterations to listed churches
C of e media – The Church of England has today created an e-petition calling on the Chancellor to bring back zero rate VAT to alterations to the CofE’s 12,500 listed churches. It follows the recent launch of a consultation by HM Revenue & Customs on VAT charging to approved alterations to listed buildings, which closes on 4 May 2012.
http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2012/03/sign-the-e-petition-to-bring-back-zero-rate-vat-on-alterations-to-listed-churches.aspx
Quakers divided over ‘loyal address’ to monarch
Ekklesia- A decision by British Quakers to give a “loyal address” to Elizabeth II has triggered heated debate and controversy amongst the denomination’s own members. Quakers have a strong anti-royal tradition. Quakers, also known as the Religious Society of Friends, were one of several groups invited to give an address in celebration of this year’s diamond jubilee. But many Quakers believe that the denomination’s commitment to equality is inconsistent with addressing someone as a superior. Some go further and argue that faith in the Kingdom of God rules out loyalty to a human ruler.
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16464
More Anglicans leave Church of England for Rome
Telegraph – A parish church has been torn apart by its priest’s decision to defect to the Roman Catholic Church.
On Wednesday, the 26-strong choir of St James the Great will sing for the congregation as they have always done during Holy Week.
But this week they will do so a mile down the road in St Anne’s Roman Catholic church, their new home.
Led by Fr Ian Grieves, the priest at St James in Darlington for 23 years, 58 parishioners will formally join the Ordinariate, the body set up by the Pope for disaffected Anglicans.
They are not alone: this week across England, 200 Anglican worshippers and 20 clergy will cross over to Rome.
Many are frustrated by the Church of England’s move to appoint women bishops.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9178325/More-Anglicans-leave-Church-of-England-for-Rome.html
Wesley preacher and medicine man
Christian Today – A live puppy held over the stomach to treat colic How about a dried toad crushed into small pills for asthma Or perhaps orange rind rolled up and inserted into the nostrils to cure a cold in the head? These are just some of the “cures” that were recommended by Methodist founder John Wesley. While most know him as the renowned 18th century preacher and evangelist, few will be aware of his keen interest in medicine.