Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

Nelson Mandela, who led the movement to end South African apartheid, was released from prison 30 years ago this month, on 11th February 1990. He became President of South Africa in 1994. Mandela had been involved with the African National Congress since 1944, advocating non-violent resistance. But after the Sharpeville massacre of peaceful demonstrators in...

As late last year Islamic State released a video claiming to show the killing of 11 Christians in Nigeria, persecution watchdog Release International named Nigeria as a country of special concern for 2020. Other persecution hotspots are likely to include Iran, Iraq, China and India. A splinter group of Boko Haram produced the video claiming...

By Steven Croft, Christopher Herbert and John Pritchard, CHP, £4.99 Reflections for Lent is designed to enhance your spiritual journey through the forty days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday (26 February – 11 April 2020). Covering Monday to Saturday each week, it offers reflections on readings from the Common Worship Lectionary, written by some...

Lent Fasting From the Vicar Love in action! Where is love? Getting married soon? I believe, help my unbelief Lent – a good time to deepen your prayer life It’s all in the spelling… Have a purpose for your life! ** Editor:  The Rev Paul Hardingham considers self-discipline during Lent. Lent Fasting   This month...

The popular video-sharing website YouTube, which for most young people seems to have been around for ever, was in fact founded only 15 years ago, on 14th February 2005. It was launched officially in November that year after more development and testing. It is now one of the most visited sites on the internet. YouTube...

Church of England Christmas advert got 170,000 views in just 48 hours An Open Letter to the Prime Minister Psalm 23 Garden coming to RHS Chelsea New research findings published on clergy flourishing Church of England appoints National Environment Officer ** Church of England Christmas advert got 170,000 views in just 48 hours The Church...

Church Action on Poverty Sunday takes place later this month.  Many of us want to help the poor, but the challenges are huge. ‘Good News for the poor’ – that was what Jesus promised – and the crowd flocked to hear it. But He didn’t promise to abolish poverty. ‘The poor you always have with...

Editor:  As saints’ days do not change, this material has appeared before on this site.  The days with the asterisk, Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, are new this year. 1          Brigid of Ireland – Abbess of Kildare, c 525 2          The Presentation of Christ in the Temple/ Candlemas 3          Anskar – Archbishop of Hamburg,...

150 years ago, on 17th February 1870, the Elementary Education Act – commonly known as Forster’s Education Act – was introduced in England and Wales.  It provided a framework for the education of all children between five and 12. Many people objected to the concept of universal education, including the upper classes, who wanted to...

The Church of England’s Christmas Advert for 2019 was viewed more than 170,000 times in the two days following its launch, with viewers tuning in via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. In the first 48 hours, the advert received over 110,000 views on Facebook, and a further 60,000 on Twitter, entirely through organic sharing by...

Young people who go to church are less likely to struggle with anxiety than those who do not go to church (22% compared to 33%.) Fewer church goers are also lonely and isolated (16% compared to 31 %) In a survey almost one third of all young people reported feeling sad or depressed; this was...

Brigid, you could say, was the female Patrick of Ireland. Historical facts about this first abbess of Kildare (d.c. 525) may be scarce, but her ‘Lives’, written from the 7th century, tell many anecdotes and miracles which over the centuries have become deeply rooted in Irish folklore.  Brigid came from a village near Kildare, of...