Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

Church leaders warn Johnson about Brexit Doesn’t God want clergy in the North? Christians escape as Boko Haram attacks northern Cameroon villages In a league of their own The church under the stairs Canonisation of John Henry Newman The growth of prayer bots – and other worship technologies Millions displaced as monsoon causes devastation in...

St Deiniol was a 6th century monk of Wales who came to be the ‘first bishop of Bangor’.  And a mighty bishop he was, too: Deiniol founded the two monasteries of Bangor Fawr (on the Menai Straits) and Bangor Iscoed (Clwyd), which, according to Bede, became the most famous monastery of British Christianity and came...

John Chrysostom (347 – 407) is the saint for anyone who applies their Christianity to public life, and also for anyone who hates travelling in bad weather.  Chrysostom did both, and had trouble both times. Born into a wealthy home in Antioch, John Chrysostom studied both oratory and law.  In 373 he became a monk,...

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has come under pressure from various church leaders concerning Brexit. The Bishop in Europe, Dr Robert Innes, said that a priority for Mr Johnson should be the ‘forgotten million’ UK citizens living in the EU.  “They worry about residency issues, health care, pensions and travelling.” The Joint Public Issues Team,...

On Holy Cross Day the Church celebrates the Cross as a symbol of triumph, as the sign of Christ’s victory over death.   Holy Cross Day goes right back to 14 September 335, and we have the mother of a Roman Emperor to thank for it. Helena was a devout Christian, and after her son, Constantine,...

Can it be true that God is calling most Anglican clergy to the South of England?  Does He really want churches in northern urban areas like Burnley, Wigan, Sheffield and Bury and other post-industrial towns to struggle on with very few clergy? Well, you might be forgiven for thinking so, when you compare some figures. ...

Teaching people to ‘tithe’ can be a delicate matter.  Some clergy teach ‘tithing’ well, and inspire their people to great generosity of spirit.   Other clergy teach ‘tithing’ at least well enough, and get their people’s sluggish cooperation. But – there are clergy who teach ‘tithing’ badly – and then, watch out!   St Adam (bishop 1213...

When we sing the Sanctus in the Eucharist, we are affirming that our worship here on earth is caught up in the worship offered by the angels in heaven. They praise God around His throne of glory, but they are also agents of His care and guidance in our lives. Leading them is the archangel...

About 200 families escaped with their lives when Boko Haram Islamist militants recently ransacked a mainly-Christian village in the Far North Region of Cameroon. The armed gang stormed Roum village, in the Tourou area, setting fire to homes, killing livestock and plundering food stores and possessions. A Barnabas Fund contact estimated around 1,120 families in the...

Ninian was a Celt who was born about 360, in southern Scotland.  He was remarkable for two things:  he was almost certainly the first man in Scotland to live in a little white stone house, and also the first to preach the gospel to the Scots.   Just as remarkable:  becoming the apostle to the Picts...

Have you ever sinned since you became a Christian?  Really sinned – or in other words done something that was SO wrong and totally ‘out of line’ with being a Christian that you are still ashamed when you think of it now.  If so, and if you went on to ask God’s forgiveness for it,...

Joseph of Copertino (1603 – 63) should be the patron saint of all awkward people who mean well, but who drive those around them to distraction – especially their church leaders. Joseph began life in a garden shed, because his father had sold the house to pay debts.  Then he grew up wandering about open-mouthed...