Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

This beautiful event (Luke 1:26-38) took place in Nazareth, when Mary is already betrothed to Joseph. The Archangel Gabriel comes to Mary, greets her as highly favoured, tells her not to be afraid, that she will bear a son Jesus, and that her elderly cousin Elizabeth is already pregnant (with John the Baptist). The church...

– into historic links to transatlantic chattel slavery and announces new funding commitment of £100m in response to findings Back in June 2022 it was reported that the Church Commissioners’ endowment had historic links to transatlantic chattel slavery. The endowment traces its origins partly to Queen Anne’s Bounty, a fund established in 1704. In response to...

It was 300 years ago, on 8th March 1723, that English architect Sir Christopher Wren died at the age of 90. Best known for designing St Paul’s Cathedral, he was also a ground-breaking anatomist, astronomer and physicist. A founder of the Royal Society, Wren served as its president from 1680 to 1682 and was highly...

Spiritual disciplines are practices designed to help us grow as disciples of Jesus. This month we are looking at the practice of fasting. Fasting can be a neglected discipline, but plays an important part in the Christian life, especially during Lent. Jesus began His earthly ministry by fasting in the wilderness for 40 days and...

The daughters of baronets don’t usually choose to work with prostitutes and orphans, but Harriet Monsell was no ordinary woman. She was born in 1811 into one of Ireland’s oldest families. Her father, Sir Edward O’Brien, was 4th Baronet of Dromoland, and represented his county Clare in Parliament. Harriet married Charles Monsell, an Anglican clergyman...

Release International, which serves the Persecuted Church around the world, has named China as a country of particular concern for 2023. Bob Fu, a partner of Release International, warns “The Chinese government has steadily increased the oppression and control of Christians. Techno-authoritarianism in China has begun to reach new extremes under Xi Jinping in his...

The Rectory St James the Least My dear Nephew Darren Those parishioners of yours who won millions on the Lottery and moved into this parish have created quite a stir. It was perhaps a little unwise of them to tell everyone the reason why they had become so wealthy. While most of our parishioners also...

When I was nearly three, I knocked a bucket of tadpoles all over the patio. Those unfortunate creatures must have been collected to educate my brother and I on where frogs came from, but a toddler can’t just stand by and watch. Can I see up close? Or maybe I was ‘helpfully’ moving it to...

The Archbishops’ Commission on Reimaging Care has proposed “a radical and inspiring vision” for adult social care in England. ‘Care and Support Reimagined: a National Care Covenant for England’ calls for a rethinking of attitudes to care and support; a rebalancing of roles and responsibilities; and redesigning the social care system. The National Care Covenant...

A reflection on The Lord’s Prayer A prayer for Lent St David’s Day< Some kind of lamb March Hares The Vicar’s lost his iPad! Your will Prayer ** Editor:  This month is Lent, when we take a good hard look at where we stand with God… A reflection on The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:1-18) Our...

There are many depictions of ‘creatures’ used in decorations in and on our church buildings. Some are beautifully carved in the highly decorated ends of choir stalls. Others can be found on the pew-ends. Sometimes there are human caricatures, perhaps of people the craftsmen knew in real life – their priest or bishop; or even...

According to recent research, even a modest reduction in calorie intake can make a big difference over a sustained period. Or to put it another way, an extra 200 calories a day will make you gain about a stone a year in weight. Rates of obesity in the UK have doubled over the past 30...