NewsBeaconsfield’s Big SocietyPAGE 3

Spotlight on

Israel and PalestinePAGE 6

FAMILY‘I didn’t know you cared’ -resources for older carers PAGE 7

DoorpostWhat’s on across theDicoesePAGE 11

Comment

Rosie Harper on theKirchentag festival PAGE 15

God in the Life ofRetiring EducationDirector Leslie StephenPAGE 16

Inside:Reporting from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire www.oxford.anglican.org July/August 2011 No. 226

Running the race - churchesand the Olympics - 8 and 9

A class act for Diocese’s new academySTAFF and students inBuckinghamshire are preparingfor their school to be transformed into a Diocesansponsored academy.

The Government is expectedto give the final go-ahead thismonth for the Chesham ParkCommunity College to becomethe Chiltern Hills Academywhen the new academic yearstarts on 1 September.

The news comes as theDiocese’s Education Departmentworks to support Church ofEngland schools that are consid-ering becoming academies under the Government’s conver-sion scheme. While the schememeans they may sever their linkswith local authorities, they willremain attached to the Dioceseand be run with a strongChristian ethos.

Bishop of Oxford, the Rt RevdJohn Pritchard, said: “TheDiocese is very happy to workwith the Government on its Academy Conversion Programme. It presents us withconsiderable challenges, but wehave developed the capacity tohandle them, and the results arestarting to come through. LeslieStephen and his team have beenremarkably energetic and far-sighted in the way they haveengaged with this major changein the English educational landscape.”

The proposed Chiltern HillsAcademy will be the thirddiocesan sponsored academy.

The Oxford Academy on the siteof the former Peers School,opened in 2008 and was closelyfollowed by the Aylesbury ValeAcademy in 2009. Both haveseen improvements in exam results and outcomes since becoming academies.

It will keep Chesham Park’sexisting performing arts statusbut will gain a specialism in de-sign – an appropriate move asPrincipal Designate KevinPatrick acknowledged that thecreative industries are a majoremployer in Buckinghamshire.

Mr Patrick, who is currentlythe Headteacher of CheshamPark, said consultations intowhether to apply for academystatus revealed 87 per cent of thelocal community were in favourof the plans.

“From day one it is going to bevery much an improving school.We want to embed Christian values across the school andmaking sure every young personfeels valued.

“We are in a lovely positionwhere we will be going to stagenot age teaching. When children are ready to take examsthey will be given the opportunityto take them rather than being

held back by the age group theyare in.

“It means some students willbe starting GCSEs at 14 andsome starting A level work at 15-and-a-half. Mr Patrick is in touchwith Pinewood Studios, one ofthe academy’s partners, with aview to developing close co-operation and opportunitiesfor students.

“300 businesses are linked into the studios. Those businessescan help support the youngsterswho live in a small town at theend of the Metropolitan Line to

aspire to become professionals.”He said 30 per cent of young-sters in the schools catchmentarea were from the lowestdeprivation index in the UK.

Director of Education for theDiocese, Leslie Stephen, said:“We are delighted that our thirdacademy will be opening itsdoors to pupils on 1 September.This academy is unique in its approach to improving standards as it’s going to takeforward opportunities for youngpeople to use the design processto develop their creativity.”

By Jo Duckles

‘We want to embed

Christian values

across the school.’

Illuminating science lessons at Chesham Park. Photo: Chesham Park

theDoor JULY//AUGUST 20112

Prayer & reflection

The following is for guidance only; please feel free to adapt to localconditions and, if you wish, produce your own deanery prayerdiaries.

JULYPray to the Father through the Son in the power of the Spirit for:FFRRII 11 AArrbboorrffiieelldd wwiitthh BBaarrkkhhaamm:: clergy Piers Bickersteth, John Parker.The White House School Conventional District.

SSAATT 22 BBeeaarrwwoooodd:: clergy Haigh Etches, Stuart King. The Coombes(VC) School.

MMOONN 44 WWoooosseehhiillll CCoonnvveennttiioonnaall DDiissttrriicctt:: clergy Haigh Etches, LibbyGodden (Methodist); LLM Elaine Steere

TTUUEE 55 CCaalliiffoorrnniiaa:: The leaders and congregation at St Mary and StJohn’s. Gorse Ride Junior School.

WWEEDD 66 CCrroowwtthhoorrnnee:: clergy Lisa Cornwell; LLMs Hazel Berry, GillianGyenes, Lewis Simmons. Crowthorne (VC) School.

TTHHUU 77 FFiinncchhaammppsstteeaadd:: clergy John Edwards; LLM Keith Atton.Finchampstead (VA) School.

FFRRII 88 HHuurrsstt:: clergy John Coombs, Clifford Smith, Judi Hattaway;LLM Patricia Smith. Hurst St Nicholas (VC) School.

SSAATT 99 OOwwllssmmoooorr:: clergy Roy Burgess.

MMOONN 1111 RRuussccoommbbee aanndd TTwwyyffoorrdd:: clergy Simon Howard, SallyDakin, Tim Dakin, Geoffrey Pugh; LLM Paul Minton, youthdiscipleship worker Becci March, youth worker Pat Hall.Polehampton Infant and Junior (VC) Schools.

TTUUEE 1122 SSaannddhhuurrsstt:: clergy John Castle, youth worker Ben Askew. StMichael’s (VA) School.

WWEEDD 1133 SSoonnnniinngg ((iinncclluuddiinngg CChhaarrvviill)):: clergy Jamie Taylor, MichaelForrer; LLM Bob Peters. Sonning (VA) School.

TTHHUU 1144 WWaarrggrraavvee wwiitthh KKnnoowwll HHiillll ((iinncclluuddiinngg CCrraazziieess HHiillll && SSttPPaauull’’ss)):: clergy John Cook, Pam Gordon. Knowl Hill (VC), Crazies Hill(VC), Robert Pigott Infants (VC), Robert Pigott Junior (VC) & ThePigott (VA) Schools.

FFRRII 1155 WWookkiinngghhaamm:: clergy David Hodgson, Michael Johnson,Caroline Cramer, Colin James, Helen Charlton. All Saints (VA)School.

SSAATT 1166 WWookkiinngghhaamm SStt PPaauull ((iinncclluuddiinngg EEmmbbrrooookk SStt NNiicchhoollaass)):: clergyJohn Connell, Peter Day, Tony Kemp. St Paul’s (VC) School.

MMOONN 1188 WWookkiinngghhaamm SStt SSeebbaassttiiaann:: clergy Andrew Marsden, ErikFudge; LLMs Russell Shipton, Jill Bright, Ann Potts; youth workerDebbie Harris; children’s worker Sally Alexander. St Sebastian’s (VA)School.

TTUUEE 1199 BBaammppttoonn wwiitthh CCllaannffiieelldd ((iinncclluuddiinngg AAssttoonn,, SShhiiffffoorrdd,, LLeeww))::clergy David Lloyd, LLM Arthur Pont. Aston & Cote (VC), Bampton(VC), Clanfield (VC) Schools.

WED 20 BBrriizzee NNoorrttoonn aanndd CCaarrtteerrttoonn:: clergy Bill Blakey, JamesMaddern, Jo Reid. Carterton St John’s (VA) School.

TTHHUU 2211 BBuurrffoorrdd wwiitthh FFuullbbrrooookk && TTaayynnttoonn,, AAsstthhaallll wwiitthh SSwwiinnbbrrooookk

aanndd WWiiddffoorrdd:: clergy Richard Coombs, Cedric Reavley, JonathanHunter Dunn, Stephen Blake; LLM John Leach.

FFRRII 2222 CCooggggeess aanndd SSoouutthh LLeeiigghh:: clergy Andrew Sweeney, TimEdge, Andrew Pritchard; LLMs Nick Pike, Richard Young, DavidSmith. Witney The Blake (VA) School.

SSAATT 2233 DDuucckklliinnggttoonn wwiitthh HHaarrddwwiicckk:: clergy Bob Edy; LLMs DavidAdams, Ruth Edy, Ian Paul. Ducklington (VC) School.

MMOONN 2255 LLoowweerr WWiinnddrruusshh:: clergy Sarah Sharp; LLM Lynda Blair;pastoral assistant Alison Shaw. Standlake (VC) School.

TTUUEE 2266 MMiinnsstteerr LLoovveellll:: clergy Adrian Gabb-Jones. St Kenelm (VC)School.

WWEEDD 2277 NNoorrtthh LLeeiigghh:: clergy Andrew Sweeney, Miri Keen, AndrewPritchard. North Leigh (VC) School.

TTHHUU 2288 SShhiillll VVaalllleeyy aanndd BBrrooaaddsshhiirree:: clergy Harry MacInnes, LizJohnson, Patrick Wheaton. Alvescot St Peter’s (VA) & Langford StChristopher (VA) Schools.

FFRRII 2299 WWiittnneeyy tteeaamm:: clergy Toby Wright, Elizabeth Thomson, JoannaCollicutt McGrath, Sally Wright, [vacancy]; Church Army Jeff Hill;LLMs David Exham, Rosemary Peirce, David Claremont, Sally Down.Witney St Mary’s (VC), Witney The Batt (VA) & Hailey (VC) Schools.

SSAATT 3300 RReelliiggiioouuss CCoommmmuunniittiieess:: Order of St Benedict, Elmore;Society of the Sacred Mission, Willen; All Saints Sisters of the Poor,Oxford; Community of St Clare, Witney; Community of St JohnBaptist, Begbroke; Community of St Mary the Virgin, Wantage;Community of the Companions of Jesus the Good Shepherd,Begbroke; Community of the Sisters of the Love of God, Oxford;Sisters of St Etheldreda, Willen; Society of the Precious Blood,Burnham.

AUGUSTPray to the Father through the Son in the power of the Spirit for:MMOONN 11 GGaattee:: clergy Christa Pumfrey, Janet Lawrence; LLM GeoffMorris. Stoke Goldington (VC) School.

TTUUEE 22 HHaannssllooppee wwiitthh CCaassttlleetthhoorrppee:: clergy Gary Ecclestone; LLMEric Dodworth.

WWEEDD 33 LLaammpp:: clergy Richard Caddell; LLMs Andrew Geary, JoeGeary, Wendy Reidel, Priscilla Parry.

TTHHUU 44 LLaavveennddoonn wwiitthh CCoolldd BBrraayyffiieelldd,, CClliiffttoonn RReeyynneess aanndd NNeewwttoonnBBlloossssoommvviillllee:: clergy Christa Pumfrey, Janet Lawrence. NewtonBlossomville (VC) School.

FFRRII 55 NNeewwppoorrtt PPaaggnneellll wwiitthh LLaatthhbbuurryy aanndd MMoouullssooee:: clergy MichaelGodfrey, Glynis Bell, Karen Browne; LLMs Mervyn Evans, ColinTaylor. OOllnneeyy:: clergy Claire Wood, LLMs David Richbell, RenaPartridge.

SSAATT 66 SShheerriinnggttoonn wwiitthh CChhiicchheelleeyy,, NNoorrtthh CCrraawwlleeyy,, AAssttwwoooodd &&HHaarrddmmeeaadd:: clergy Mandy Marriott, Pam Fielding; LLM John Fielding.North Crawley (VC) & Sherington (VC) Schools.

MMOONN 88 CChheerrbbuurryy wwiitthh GGaaiinnffiieelldd:: clergy Neal Phair, Joy Hance.Buckland (VC) School.

TTUUEE 99 GGrreeaatt FFaarriinnggddoonn wwiitthh LLiittttllee CCooxxwweellll:: clergy Charles Draper,

Simon Wearn; LLM Graham Scott-Brown, Helen Wilson.

WWEEDD 1100 GGrreeaatt CCooxxwweellll wwiitthh BBuussccoott,, CCoolleesshhiillll && EEaattoonn HHaassttiinnggss:: Theleaders and congregations from Great Coxwell with Buscot,Coleshill and Eaton Hastings.

TTHHUU 1111 SShhrriivveennhhaamm && AAsshhbbuurryy:: clergy Richard Hancock, EdwinClements, Anne Bell; LLM Rodney Elton. Shrivenham (VC), Ashbury(VA), Longcot & Fernham (VC) Schools.

FFRRII 1122 SSttaannffoorrdd iinn tthhee VVaallee wwiitthh GGoooosseeyy && HHaattffoorrdd:: clergy Tim Rose,Charles Patterson; LLMs Angela Gosden, Jill Smith, PeterStallabrass. Stanford in the Vale (VC) School.

SSAATT 1133 UUffffiinnggttoonn,, SShheelllliinnggffoorrdd,, WWoooollssttoonnee && BBaauullkkiinngg:: clergyRosanna Martin, Jim Payne; LLM Sue Saunders. Uffington (VC) &Shellingford (VA) Schools.

MMOONN 1155 GGrroovvee:: clergy John Robertson, Paul Eddy, Paul Gooding;LLM Sue Powditch. Grove (VC) School.

TTUUEE 1166 HHaannnneeyy,, DDeenncchhwwoorrtthh,, aanndd EEaasstt CChhaallllooww:: clergy RobertTeare. Hanney (VC), East Challow (VC) Schools.

WWEEDD 1177 RRiiddggeewwaayy:: clergy Alan Wadge. Childrey The Ridgeway(VC) School.

TTHHUU 1188 WWaannttaaggee:: clergy John Salter, Michael Berrett, Paul Faint,Keith Kinnaird; LLM Meg Joyce. Wantage (VC) School.

FFRRII 1199 WWaannttaaggee DDoowwnnss:: clergy Elizabeth Birch, Jean Page.Hendreds (VA) School.

SSAATT 2200 AAssttoonn CClliinnttoonn wwiitthh BBuucckkllaanndd aanndd DDrraayyttoonn BBeeaauucchhaammpp::clergy Elizabeth Moxley, Andrew Allen. Wallingford St Nicholas (VC),Brightwell Cum Sotwell (VC) & Crowmarsh Gifford (VC) Schools.

MMOONN 2222 EElllleessbboorroouugghh,, KKiimmbbllee aanndd SSttookkee MMaannddeevviillllee:: clergy JanHenderson. Great Kimble (VC) School.

WWEEDD 2244 GGrreeaatt MMiisssseennddeenn wwiitthh BBaalliinnggeerr && LLiittttllee HHaammppddeenn:: clergyRosie Harper, Carolyn Bailey; LLM Patricia Neale; youth workersHelen Biggerstaff and Lizzie Williams. Great Missenden (VC) School.

TTHHUU 2255 HHaawwrriiddggee wwiitthh CChhoolleessbbuurryy && SStt LLeeoonnaarrddss,, TThhee LLeeee:: clergyDavid Burgess. Hawridge & Cholesbury (VA) & Lee Common (VC)Schools.

FFRRII 2266 LLiittttllee MMiisssseennddeenn ((iinncclluuddiinngg HHyyddee HHeeaatthh)):: clergy John Simpson;LLM Gary Beynon. Little Missenden (VA) School.

SSAATT 2277 PPrreessttwwoooodd && GGrreeaatt HHaammppddeenn:: clergy Deiniol Kearley-Heywood.

MMOONN 2299 WWeennddoovveerr && HHaallttoonn:: clergy Mark Dearnley; LLMs RuthDearnley, Joe Groat, Glenys Newman, Beryl Pearn; youth workerRupert Johnson. Wendover (VC) School.

TTUUEE 3300 WWeessttoonn TTuurrvviillllee:: clergy David Wales, Susan Fellows.Weston Turville (VA) School.

WWEEDD 3311 TThhiirrdd OOrrddeerr ooff tthhee SSoocciieettyy ooff SStt FFrraanncciiss:: minister provincialJoanna Coney; area ministers Sheila Hazell, Hazel Berry, NeilSlocock; area formation guardians Pam Halliwell, Colin Bass,Margaret Ellis.

Sundays in JulyThomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him,“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed arethose who have not seen me and yet have come to believe.”(John 20:28-29 NRSV)

SSUUNNDDAAYY 33 SSoonnnniinngg ddeeaanneerryy:: area dean David Hodgson, lay chairMartin Hughes, secretary Bridget Crossley, treasurer Reg Morton.The people, wardens, PCCs and support staff of the deanery. Thedioceses of Osun (Ibadan, Nigeria) and Osun NE.

SSUUNNDDAAYY 1100 SSeeaa SSuunnddaayy:: for seafarers everywhere. Localgovernment staff and councillors serving the people of Sonningdeanery. The diocese of Panama, (Central America). TheDiocesan Parsonages Board/Buildings Committee: chairmanRobin Birch, director Roger Harwood and staff.

SSUUNNDDAAYY 1177 The diocese of Peru (South America).

SSUUNNDDAAYY 2244 WWiittnneeyy ddeeaanneerryy:: area dean Bill Blakey, lay chair

David Loades, area administrator Linda Wooloff, treasurer SueCampbell, vocations Sally Wright, Church Army Jeff Hill. Thepeople, wardens, PCCs and support staff of the deanery. Thediocese of Port Elizabeth, (Southern Africa).

SSUUNNDDAAYY 3311 NNeewwppoorrtt ddeeaanneerryy:: area dean Christa Pumfrey, laychair Rod Cannon, secretary Janet Gamlen, treasurer KA Gale,ecumenical representative & development facilitator BeverleyHollins. The people, wardens, PCCs and support staff of thedeanery. Local government staff and councillors serving thepeople of Newport deanery. The diocese of Qu’Appelle,(Rupert’s Land, Canada). Diocesan Communications: DirectorSarah Meyrick and team.

SSUUNNDDAAYY 77 VVaallee ooff WWhhiittee HHoorrssee ddeeaanneerryy:: area dean RichardHancock, lay chair Jeremy Twynam, secretary Edward Lehmann,treasurer Daphne Willmett. The people, wardens, PCCs andsupport staff of the deanery. For all those on holiday or changinghouse or job. The diocese of Remo, (Lagos, Nigeria).

SSUUNNDDAAYY 1144 WWaannttaaggee ddeeaanneerryy:: area dean John Robertson, laychair Hugh Rees, treasurer Mrs K Mackenzie, chaplain to the deafRoger Williams. The people, PCCs, wardens and support staff ofthe deanery. Those planning the work of our Sunday Schools: allwho teach & learn. The diocese of Riverina, (NSW, Australia).

SSUUNNDDAAYY 2211 WWeennddoovveerr ddeeaanneerryy:: area dean Mark Dearnley, laychair Gavin Oldham, secretary Gary Beynon, treasurer AllanWhittow, ecumenical representative Norman Dick, Associateclergy Kevan Royle. The people, PCCs, wardens and supportstaff of the deanery. The diocese of Ruwenzori, (Uganda).

SSUUNNDDAAYY 2288 Parish and district councillors serving the people ofthe deaneries of Newport, Vale of White Horse, Wantage &Wendover. The diocese of Santiago, (Philippines).

Sundays in AugustAnd while [Jesus] was praying, the appearance of his facechanged, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly theysaw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared inglory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about toaccomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:29-31 NRSV)

July/August prayer diary compiled by John Manley (The following is for guidance only, please feel free to adapt to local conditions and, if you wish, produce your own deanery prayer diaries.)

The Diocese of Oxford has a new pilgrimagemap, featuring 15 places of special spiritualsignificance. The maps are being distributedto churches over the summer. In each place

there is a special prayer leaflet to help bring the visitalive for visitors. Bishop John is to visit each of thechurches featured over the summer to lead simpleprayers with local people. ‘My hope is that the pilgrimmap will inspire a spirit of pilgrimage in the diocese,’says Bishop John. ‘Do please join me when I visit if youare in the area.’Monday 8 August: 9.30am St Peter and St Paul, Olney;11.15am Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary,North Marston; 12.30pm St Mary the Virgin,

Drayton Beauchamp.Tuesday 9 August: 9am Holy Trinity, Cookham;10.30am St Michael and St Mary Magdalene,Easthampstead; 12 noon St Giles, Stoke Poges.Wednesday 10 August: 10.30am St Mary the Virgin,Speen; 12 noon St Thomas of Canterbury, Goring.Thursday 11 August: 10.30am St Michael’s, StantonHarcourt; 12.15 Dorchester Abbey.Friday 12 August: 9am Christ Church Cathedral.Wednesday 31 August: 2pm St Swithun, ComptonBeauchamp.Dates to be confirmed: St Margaret of Antioch, Binsey ;University Church, Oxford, and St Peter ad Vincula,South Newington.

3

PPrraayyeerr nneettwwoorrkkA NEW prayer network based inMilton Keynes has beenattracting prayer requests fromas far afield as Cambridge,Birmingham, Hull and New York,California and Washington.

The network, set up by StAndrew’s Baptist Church,Bletchley, is building an army ofprayer partners who will be ableto pray for any of the anonymousrequests. In the near future theyare hoping to set up a mobilenumber so people can leavevoice or text messages. Prayerrequests will be sent out once aweek unless something reallyurgent comes through.

For more information seewww.mkprayernetwork.co.uk.

JJuubbiilleeee aappppeeaallThe Revd Eddie Marquez-Picon,vicar of St John the Evangelist,Woodley, is walking 80 milesfrom Lugo to Santiago deCompostela in Spain.

Eddie, from Peru, is hoping toraise money for a Queen’sDiamond Julbilee memorialwindow in the church. To donateto the appeal, make chequespayable to St John the EvangelistPCC-Woodley and send them toRita Gulliver, Apple Tree Corner,1 Warren Road, Woodley, RG53AP.

CChhuurrcchh ttrraaiinniinnggDO you worry about maintainingyour historic church building.

If so, then a Faith inMaintenance Training Day couldbe for you. The day aims to helpvolunteers who look after historicplaces of worship. They includepractial exercises looking atelements of a church buildingand learning to identify defects.

The days are set forWednesday 20 July at St Johnthe Evangelist, Fernham,Berkshire and Thursday 20October at St Mary’s Church,Wendover, Buckinghamshire. Formore information contact KateMinnis on katm@spab.org.uk or020 7456 0913.

SSoocciiaall mmeeddiiaaYOU can now follow up-to-theminute news from the Diocese ofOxford on Facebook and Twitter.

Go towww.facebook.com/dioceseofoxford?ref=ts and look for theOxford Diocese on Twitter to findus on the social networking sites.

JJuussttiiccee ttaallkkCHRISTIAN Aid partnerAddameer provides legal aid andcounselling to Palestinianpolitical prisoners in Israeli andPalestinian prisons.They will be talking about theirwork, on Wednesday, July 6 atthe Friends Meeting House, StGiles, Oxford, from 7.30pm.

NewstheDoor JULY/AUGUST 2011

MORE than 200 people packedinto St Mary’s and All SaintsChurch for a meeting hosted bythe Rector, the Revd JeremyBrooks, to launch the Big Societyin Beaconsfield.

“The enthusiasm among localpeople, churchgoers and non-churchgoers alike, was clearlyevident with the fantasticturnout and the numerous positive contributions during theevening,” said Mr Brooks. “Thechallenge now is to harness thatenthusiasm and take the BigSociety in Beaconsfield forward.

“We heard some great ideas.Now we need to make thingshappen on the ground. As wassaid at the meeting, the goal is tomake Beaconsfield a better placeto live for everyone in our community.”

The meeting was opened byBeaconsfield MP DominicGrieve who said that the BigSociety presented a tremendousopportunity for the communityto connect with disadvantagedpeople locally. “Let me tell youthat there is nothing worse thanbeing poor and in need in aprosperous town like ours,” hesaid.

Mr Grieve was followed by DrBev Daily, the founder of theBurnham Health PromotionTrust, who gave a witty andcompelling talk about how hisorganisation has helped low-income families, the elderly andyoung people within Burnham.He listed the numeroussuccessful projects and servicesrun by Trust volunteersincluding caring for the disabled locally, agrass cutting rota so youngsterscan play football in the local

park, a toenail cutting service forold people, help for under-agedrinkers and a babysittingtraining course. “Goodneighbourliness is the absolutefoundation of humanexistence,” said Dr Daily.

Mike Clare, founder ofDreams and head of the ClareFoundation, talked about thework of his charity especially itsscheme to support poor familieslocally. There was also acontribution by RichardLambert who spoke aboutCareers Springboard, a servicebased in Gerrards Cross whichhelps older unemployed peopleget back to work.

Diane Rutter from CommunityImpact Bucks, an independentbody that provides support toother charities, communitygroups and social enterprises,spoke about the huge opportunitiesfor fulfilling voluntary worklocally and encouraged everyoneto get involved.

Jan Fishwick, Chief Executiveof diocesan partner organisationPACT, also gave an illuminatingtalk about the wide range of localprojects that her organisation wasrunning. Numerous ideas forlocal services came from thefloor during the evening including: litter picking groups;a local transport service specificallyfor vulnerable people, much betterconnection with younger peopleand youth groups in the townand an information andco-ordinating centre forcommunity services.

Anyone who has any ideas forcommunity services or wants tobecome involved in the BigSociety in Beaconsfield Projectshould emailbigsocietybeaconsfield@gmail.c

IN BRIEFBeaconsfield’s Big SocietyBy Bill Penn

Terry Waite is pictured abovereading the final chapters ofthe King James Bible toconclude The Cuddesdon BigBible Read.

The reading of the full textof the King James Bible tookplace at the theological collegebetween 20 May and 12 June

and involved over 200 readersfrom students, staff andfriends of Ripon CollegeCuddesdon. Over £16,000 hasbeen raised for the College’soverseas bursary fund so thatstudents from developingcountries can have theopportunity to study at the

Terry Waite in Big Bible Read

Singing in Sweden

A CHOIR from the Deddingtonand Woodstock deaneries visitedthe Vaxjo Diocese in Sweden.This followed two visits toDeddington over the last coupleof years by the combined choirsof Sofiakyrkan and Dalvik kyrkain Jonkoping.The choir (pictured above) wasprivileged to be invited to singBook of Common PrayerEvensongs in Vaxjo Cathedral,where Bishop Jan-Olof took timeto welcome us, and inSofiakyrkan, Jonkoping.

As a scratch choir we had not

been able to rehearse togethermuch before we left for Swedenand, though serious musicalembarrassment was avoided, ithas to be acknowledged thatPurcell in G Minor has beenbetter rendered! We also sangan anthem by Deddingtoncomposer Donald Lane and aLord’s Prayer by AndrewCampling whose father was amember of the choir.

Perhaps the highlight of thetrip was the Sunday MorningHogmassa in Sofiakyrkan whenwe joined with the Sofia/Dalvikchoir, singing Swedish andEnglish music.

By Hugh White

FROM Reading’s oldest friary,to the town prison, and now athriving landmark church -Greyfriars has a great story totell.

It will be marking its 700thbirthday on 9 and 10 July with aweekend of free fun events and areflection on the story so far.“We warmly invite the people ofReading to celebrate with us,”says vicar, the Rev JonathanWilmot. “Come and be part ofthe story!”

Greyfriars is listed by EnglishHeritage as one of the earliestknown examples of Franciscanarchitecture. The Greyfriars 700celebration weekend kicks offwith Reading’s biggest ever gameof hide and seek, Hunt TheMonk, on Saturday 9 July. Tenpretend monks - dressed in thegrey habits which gave theoriginal grey friars their name -will be hiding around the towncentre. Find all ten “monks” towin a prize. Questionnaires withclues are available fromGreyfriars Bookshop or fromgreyfriars.org.uk.

There will be activities for allthe family on Saturday 9 July:games and crafts for children,football in a mobile sports arena,‘Colour Me Beautiful’ – that’sadvice on what to wear (well,after being known as grey for700 years...), puppet shows,

music and history, a dance anddrama workshop, free Chill OutCafe, Prayer Stop - anopportunity to drop in forprayer for whatever is on yourheart - a lunchtime barbecueand, of course, birthday cake.

Reading is known worldwideas the place where the oldestknown manuscript of harmonicmusic was found (dating fromc.1260). Summer Is Icumen In willbe among the musical gemsperformed by CHORUM at 700Years In Words and Music(Saturday 1.30pm and 3.15pm),alongside a new work by CathySummers, who has composed asetting to The Lord’s MyShepherd (Psalm 23), arrangedby local composer, David Rance.

Jonathan Wilmot said “Theoriginal Franciscan Friars whofounded Greyfriars served thepoor and needy and peopleflocked to hear their teaching.We have continued to serve inthe same spirit. As we givethanks on this special weekendwe want this to be a celebrationfor the people of Reading. It’sgoing to be lots of fun!”

To enable parents to take partin events, a crèche will run onSaturday 9 July; booking inadvance for the crèche isessential as places are limited.See www.greyfriars.org.uk fordetails.

Be part of Greyfriars’ story

Advertising Feature4 theDoor JULY/AUGUST 2011

Consistently still the best one-day agricultural show in the country

Lots of fun for all the family!Metropolitan Mounted Police Activity RideBand of the Royal Corps of SignalsThe Sheep Show + Vintage Tractors +Food Hall + Livestock +

Show Jumping + Shopping Marquee + Home & Garden Marquee +Countryside Area +Over 200 stands +FREE CAR PARKINGTICKET HOTLINE01296 680445Tickets onlineAdmission ADULTS £12 CHILDREN £6 • OAP £10 • GROUP £30

www.buckscountyshow.co.uk

Bucks County ShowWeedon Park, Aylesbury

Thursday 1st September 2011

This prestigious West Wales International MusicFestival provides Choral, Orchestral and Chamber

Music in beautiful venues in and around Fishguard.Artists include:

Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, conductor - Owain Arwel Hughes, Peter Donohoe, St.

Petersburg String Quartet, Sir Richard RodneyBennett and Claire Martin,Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra

with Tony Jacobs and Catherine Sykes, John S. Davies Singers,

Orchestra of the Swan with Julian Lloyd Webber and Jiaxin Cheng (‘cellos) and David Curtis, Frith

Piano Quartet, Richard Jenkinson (CBSO), RichardParry, National Youth Choir of Wales, YoungMusicians’ Platforms, Rodolpho Bonucci and

Dorothy Singh and more....

July 22nd - July 30th Brochure - May 2011Box Office 01348 875538 (mid June)

Enquiries: 01348 891345 (Alan Caunce Artistic Director)

01348 891226 (Chairman)www.fishguardmusicfestival.co.uk

The Festival celebrates its 42nd year in 2011

Music and events in Fishguard, Goodwick, St. DavidsCathedral, Rhos-y-Gilwen Mansion and Newport

CCotstswoldoldWildlildlife e Parkand Gaand Gardensdens

A magnificent collection ofanimals, flowers and plants

for all ages to discover!

www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.ukBurford Oxfordshire OX18 4JP

Open everyday from 10am

Everyone likes a day out inthe sunshine and our localregion has plenty for all agesto see and do.

The Cotswold Wildlife Park inBurford with its gardens has muchfor everyone to enjoy. Recently theysingled out their Asiatic Lions.“Perhaps at first glance, one of ourmost recognisable species is ourlions. Lions are familiar to all due totheir unmistakable appearance andtheir use on everything from theroyal seal to the badge on the

England football kit. Butappearances can be deceptive; ourlions are actually Asiatic rather thanAfrican, the last remnants of theirkind found in the Gir forests of India.Asiatics differ in a few subtle waysfrom their African relatives – themales have a shorter mane andthey tend to live in much smallerprides. They are also highlyendangered and extremely limited intheir distribution. Our three lions areall now of advancing years and arehappy enough lying out in the sunon warm days, don’t be deceived

SSuunnnnyy ssuummmmeerr ddaayyss oouutt however at their laid backappearance, despite the apparentlack of energy, I am sure they wouldstill happily add zoo keeper to theirvaried meat diet!”

There can be few people who arenot excited at the thought of arailway journey on a real steamtrain. The Chinnor and PrincesRisborough Railway offers everyonethe chance to step back in time thissummertime. Some of the specialevents planned, in addition tonormal opening hours, include:Murder Mystery Dining Train on July9th, August 20th - This is an eveningevent, a Sherlock Holmes murdermystery, presented by professionals,with quiz, prizes and certificates forthe winners. The evening includes a3-course meal served by stewardson board the steam train.Senior Citizens Day on July 17thwhere all senior citizens travel half-price. This is also a cream tea dayfor that special day out. July 23rdhas a Fish and Chip Quiz Evening -a general knowledge quiz whilsttravelling aboard the steam train.The evening includes a fish and chipsupper.

Annual Gala Day on August 7thwhen all available steam and diesellocomotives will be in operation, witha special timetable. Free bus servicefrom Princes Risborough Station toChinnor. From August 27th-29th areTeddy Bear Days. Each childcarrying a Teddy Bear will travel freewhen accompanied by a fare-payingadult, with special entertainment for

the children. The Murder Mystery,Fish and Chip Quiz, and CreamTeas must be pre-booked, on 07979055366.

Starting on Thursday 1st

September is the Bucks CountyShow. With over 200 stands and afull line up of events the event livesup to its promise as ‘the best one-day agricultural show in the country’.

There’s plenty of action with theMetropolitan Mounted Police ActivityTeam and the Band of the RoyalCorps of Signals on this years bill.With vintage tractors, shopping,livestock and a garden marqueethere’s something for all the family.

For young people the annualCreation Fest at the Royal CornwallShowground, Wadebridge, in earlyAugust, offers Music, worship, skatepark, seminars and much more.Creation Fest is free to attend -visitors can simply turn up andenjoy.

If you want to camp on thefestival site there are discounts ifyou book early, and online bookingvia PayPal is now available.Creation Fest offers something forall the family with a full programmeof music, Bible teaching, seminars,workshops, sport, film, ‘CreationKids’ and family fun. There’s amassive skate park with pro demosthroughout the festival.

Cathedrals everywhere haveentertained pilgrims and travellersfor centuries, their history andbeauty continue to attract thousandsthrough their doors year after year.

theDoor JULY/AUGUST 2011

News5

THE vicar of White Waltham and hisfamily are set to cycle 1,000 miles in threeweeks on two tandems this summer. TheRevd David Andrew, his wife Caroline andtheir two children, Naomi, 16, andThomas, 14 will pedal across as manyinteresting bridges as possible along theway.

Named the “Rainbow Bike Ride” theirjourney will raise funds for ProjectRainbow – a scheme to build a centre forchildren’s work and other churchactivities. David said: “We chose bridgesas the theme for our journey becauseProject Rainbow is all about buildingbridges within our community.”

The Andrew family is used to travellingon two wheels rather than four. Carolinesaid, “As Christians we feel we have aresponsibility to care for our planet, andone way we put this into practice is to usethe car as little as possible. Bicycles havealways been our main means of transportand our three-seater family bike was afamiliar sight in the neighbourhoodwhen our children were younger.

“We have had family holidays on cycles

before, but this is the first time we haveundertaken such a challenging ride.”David added, “We are leaving WhiteWaltham in mid August heading west tothe first Severn Bridge which is at thesouth west corner of our journey. Ourroute then takes us to Ironbrige andacross Wales to the Menai bridge, andfrom there we head east to the Humberbridge via Chester and York.”

Naomi and Thomas, who are bothpupils at Cox Green School, are used totheir family’s cycling habits and arelooking forward to exploring some moreof England and Wales as well as samplinglots of Youth Hostel breakfasts. BobCrittenden, Chairman of ProjectRainbow, said, “We are enormouslygrateful to the Andrew family for usingtheir summer holiday for the benefit ofProject Rainbow, which will in turn helpeveryone in our local area.”

By Bridget Tracy

Riding for the RainbowThe bells, the bells...COME and have a go at bellringing. That isthe message from Newport Pagnell ParishChurch in Buckinghamshire where thecentenary of the re-casting of its bells isbeing celebrated.

Everyone from teenagers to pensioners iswelcome to meet local ringers and try theirhand on the bells, most of which originatedfrom 1749, on 26 June. The bells were re-cast in 1911 by Gillett and Johnston.

The bell ringing takes place 10.30am to1.30pn on 26 June and a specialcelebration service takes place at 6pm.

iPray launch mixes ancientand modernAN up -to-the minute iphone applicationallowing users to access liturgy is beinglaunched.

iPray has been developed in Canada anduses texts of Morning and Evening Prayerfrom the Book of Common Prayer as wellas explanations of liturgy and a host of otherinformation. It is availalbe through the iTunesstore and an extension to cover Andoidphone users is being considered.

“It automatically displays the appropriatelessons, collects and Psalms for the day allin one go,” says Prudence Daly, chairman ofthe Prayer Book Society. “It’s a modern wayto enjoy church tradition with all the hassleremoved. It can be enjoyed by countlessAnglicans across the globe.”

Take me to the bridge, the David family are ready to ride. Pic: Bob Crittenden

IN BRIEF

ONLINE

@To sponsor the family visitwww.charitygiving.org.uk/andrewfamily or emailinfo@projectrainbow.org.uk

Chaplain earns police awardThe Revd Graham Choldcroft, who hasbeen a volunteer chaplain in Oxfordshirefor the past five years, has been chosen asThames Valley Police’s Volunteer of theYear 2011.

Graham, who is a member of the Door’sEditorial Support Group, supportsofficers, staff and their families in policestations on a day to day basis and in majorincidents. Volunteers co-ordinator ClareJordan said: “For the past three years,Graham has attended meetings of theOxfordshire Diversity Group. He wasinstrumental in arranging and furnishingall the prayer rooms in the area forofficers and staff to use.

“This included liaising with theFacilities department to find suitablelocations for prayer rooms in each majorstation and arranging items such asBibles, Korans, prayer mats and anythingsomeone would need to feel comfortableshould they wish to use the room.

“Another role that Graham undertakesis to attend the John Radcliffe Hospital inOxford when the body of a member ofthe armed forces is repatriated and thecortege brings them to the hospital.Graham organises himself and other

chaplains to be there to support theofficers and members of the public wholine the route.”

Graham is available to assist not onlyduring working hours but also inpersonal situations such as funerals. Hehas played a significant part in the SafeDrive Stay Alive project to educate youngdrivers and passengers about thecircumstances that can lead to a crashand the consequences for those involved.The events are based around a filmedscenario of a collision and include hard-hitting talks by emergency workers as wellas victims of road traffic collisions andtheir families. Young people are oftendeeply affected by the presentation andGraham is on hand to provide support.

Fine furniture for church and home

Ronald Emett01308 868025 ronald@emett.co.uk

Visit me atwww.ronaldemettfurniture.com

St M

ary,

Shr

ewto

n, W

ilts

theDoor JULY/AUGUST 20116

Israel and Palestine

Spotlight on...

PALESTINIAN Christian Tanas Alquassisworks for the Oxford based Church MissionSociety helping share God’s love andseeing Christians reconciled in Israel.

“I’m responsible for work in Europe, theMiddle East and North Africa,” says Tanas,whose work includes liaising withBethlehem Bible College and theorganization Musalaha, which meansReconciliation. Musalaha is a non-profitorganisation that seeks to promotereconcilliation between Israelis andPalestinians as demonstrated by the life andteaching of Jesus. It aims to reconcile alldenominations of Christians as well asthose of other faiths.

“We started it with one faith, because ifthe Body of Christ cannot be reconciled wecan’t expect others to be reconciled,” saysTanas. Musalaha recently spent a Friday anda Saturday in Coventry Cathedral tellingchurches about work in Israel and Palestine.

“It’s a challenging subject, even forchurches. I used to work for Musalaha inJerusalem but because of restrictions Icould no longer get a permit. My wife used

to work for the EU but when her contractfinished it was hard for us to stay and CMSneeded someone who speaks Arabic,” saysTanas, who also lectures on the history ofconflict at Regent’s College.

“We have some amazing mission partnersworking in the field who live a life that’s verytough. They support locals to becomeleaders in their own communities. We havea group that’s started where there arePalestinian churches started by Muslim-background believers and it’s fantastic tosee God at work and hear the stories.

“One man in north Afrcia was taken bythe security services and beaten for threehours. He went back to his house group andtold them what had happened but said hedidn’t cry because he wanted to tell themhis faith was strong and that Jesus loveshim. Then he broke down in tears.”

Christians in the UK can support CMS’swork in the Middle East by receiving prayeremails and letters.

“Our aim is to be a good neighbour.Christians are looked at as Crusaders,people think they want to fight but we don’t

- Our message is about love.“The work of Musalaha is about love and

I’m thinking about this even in England itself.Here there is the great example of LoveOxford, when churches get together, but weneed to go further. We need to not labelpeople, but to look at them as God’screation and love them.” For more seewww.musalaha.org and www.cms-uk.org

Musalaha... and loving your neighbour

Tilly travelled to Palestine whereshe joined a team of 16volunteers rebuilding a familyhome that was bulldozed in2004. Now, as the family settle

back into their home, they face a courtbattle to stop the new building beingdestroyed again.

Tilly, 34, who worships at StFrideswide’s, Oxford, said“It costs £20,000to build a house so you don’t need to bepoor not to be able to afford that. Thehouse we built was for two brothers andtheir families and parents. Thedemolition order was issued on the newhouse on 11 May, just weeks afterbuilding work finished. The house wasdemolished originally because the Israelisdeemed that all new buildings and houseshave to have building permits eventhough this is land on the West Bank.

“Palestinian families don’t applybecause it costs money. They then buildhouses anyway and are issued withdemolition orders, but the Israeliauthorities don’t always follow up onthem. They live with the fear that anynight there could be a knock on the doorand the bulldozers will be there.”

The family were living in a refugeecamp outside Bethlehem, less than 10miles from their home. The group’sabiding memory of that camp was anoverwhelming smell of urine. Halima, thegrandmother, had special permission togo to the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalemand said specifically that she would prayfor the group for the rest of her life, fivetimes a day. “No Christian would pray fivetimes a day,” says Tilly, clearly impressedby Halima’s commitment.

Tilly has supported the Amos Trust for10 years. She first visited Israel aged 18,when she followed St Paul’s last journeyfrom Jerusalem to Rome. Havingtravelled around the Middle East she feltdrawn back but wanted to go in a capacitythat wasn’t voyeuristic and would helpraise awareness of the situation. TheAmos Trust is a Christian organisationwhich aims to give a voice to the voiceless,helping bring messages about Palestine topeople in the UK. Tilly was the youngestmember of the team she was workingwith, with the oldest being in their 70s.The work was carried out was inconjunction with the Holy Land Trust, aBethlehem based organization that workstraining people in non-violent resistanceand peace work, and the IsraeliCommittee Against House Demolitions,(ICAHD). ICAHD is based in Jerusalemand, among other activities organisesrebuilds of Palestinian houses in Israel.

“It was about showing that people fromthe outside world were standing with thePalestinian people. Even though they arenot free, there are people who in theWest who are willing to come into theirsituaion and stand with them. I learnt alot about non-violent resistance and whatthat means about demanding peopletreat you with dignity. When I looked atthe Gospels I reflected a bit on that in thesense of we see Jesus’ character and hisactions towards people who wanted tostone him or arrest him. There’s

something about the strength and thedignity we can have if we refuse to engagewith violence.

Tilly said one of the oldest people onher team was Anna, a 75-year-old Germanwidow and a Quaker with a lot ofexperience of the Middle East. On oneday the workers were paid a visit by theGoverners of Jerusalem and Bethlehem.“They were politically big cheeses andturned up with a full entourage of big,shiny cars. They gave a speech, thankingus for witnessing the situation and whilethis was going on, we realised one of theguys had a pistol stuck in his belt. On thehillside was a guy with a very big gun. Ijust thought that was par for the course.Anna stepped forward and said ‘Thanksfor your words. We have come standing insolidarity as part of a non violentdemonstration and non violence is whywe are here and your guns offend us.Please don’t come here again with guns.’

“The Governor of Bethlehem said:‘Thank you very much, the next time wecome we will bring you flowers.’ A fewdays later they came back and brought uslittle plaques to say thank you. Therewere no guns and a rose for each one ofus in the group.”

FOR Palestinian families aknock on the door in themiddle of the night couldherald the arrival of bulldozersready to demolish their home.Jo Duckles meets TillyForster to find out howpeople in this Diocese canhelp.

ONLINE

@For more on how you can helpwww.amostrust.org andwww.palestiniancampaign.org For Palestinian olive products from theWest Bank see www.zaytoun.org

Above are volunteers building. Inset, Tilly

St Andrew's Church,Letcombe Regis

ORGANIST REQUIREDWe are looking for an organist to play forour Sunday Service (10.00am).The stipendand fees will be agreed with the applicant.

For more details contact the Rector,the Revd Alan Wadge - tel. 01235 763805 or

alanwadge@hotmail.com

CHURCH PEWSUNCOMFORTABLE?

WHY NOT TRY SAFEFOAM’S TOP QUALITYUPHOLSTERED FOAM PEW CUSHIONS?

www.safefoam.co.uk Freephone 0800 015 44 33Free Sample Pack of foam & fabrics sent by first class mail

When phoning please quote TD0711

Safefoam, Green Lane, Riley Green,Hoghton, Preston PR5 0SN

Cornerstone Vision publishes this Diocesannewspaper. We also serve the needs ofbusinesses all over the UK with excellent

design and print services

• Business Stationery • Brochures• Leaflets • Websites

For a competitive quote andgreat customer service

Tel: 01752 225623service@cornerstonevision.com

To Advertise Call 01752 225623

To Advertise In

The Door Please Call

01752 225623

To Advertise Call 01752 225623

To Advertise in The Door Please Call

01752 225623

FamilytheDoor JULY/AUGUST 2011

‘I didn’t know you cared’

7

When many of us thinkabout older people andthe church, we tend tothink of people who arein need of care, people

who are physically frail, prone to illhealth, and perhaps forgetful. We maywonder how the church can best serveolder people. But this is muddledthinking, for the church isn’t some sortof agency made up of adults of workingage, whose aim is to do good to thevulnerable – children, disabled people,sick people, and older people.

It is actually a family with members ofall ages and kinds, and its call is not forthe ‘strong’ to do good to the ‘weak’,but for all members to ‘bear oneanother’s burdens and so fulfil the lawof Christ’ (Galatians 6:2). And the fact isthat older people are as often care-giversas they are receivers of care.

This was the theme of a recentresource day organised by SCOP (theDiocesan project on the Spiritual Carefor Older People), which aimed tocelebrate and support the many olderpeople who give care to spouses, or veryold parents, or grown-up children withlearning or physical disabilities ormental health problems, or who are theprimary carers of grandchildren. Age-UK is running a wonderful nationalcampaign on this very topic entitled‘Invisible but invaluable’.

Their senior campaigns manager,Margaret Creear explained the aims of

the campaign: to safeguard and increasefinancial support for older carers (whooften do not think of themselves ashaving any special entitlements becausethey are just doing what comesnaturally); to increase awareness amonghealth professionals of the health needsof older carers; to enable older carers tohave a life of their own by offeringrespite care or mobilising friends andneighbours.

This need for a normal life wasemphasised by several older people whotold us their stories of care-giving. Theyrecounted the joys and difficulties oftheir situations, and reflected on thechallenge of maintaining a connectionwith God in the midst of a routine ofdemanding physical care (parents ofyoung children will sympathise withthis!). They also spoke of their strugglewith seeing God when times were tough,and in living out their relationship oflove with people who could sometimesbe hard to love.

These stories were profoundly moving,and the delegates said that hearing thestories, and witnessing the courage anddignity of the story-tellers was one of themost valuable parts of the day.

Two things from these stories stoodout for me. The first was the carers’descriptions of how they had to become‘fighters’ to get what their loved ones

needed from a system that is so oftenbureaucratic, and seems intent onworking against them. Agenciesincreasingly rely on the internet forcommunicating vital information, andthis excludes many older carers, addingto their sense of isolation.

The second was a phrase used by oneof the story tellers. He described how,having been active in his church, he isnow never asked to contribute anythingto church life, because people assumethat he is so busy with care-giving thatthey shouldn’t bother him: ‘What theydon’t understand is that I WANT to bebothered!’ Bothering and belonging gotogether.

Perhaps the high spot of the day wasthe address given by Alexine Crawford,who spoke of the spiritual challenge ofcaring, with great personal authenticitygrounded in a deeply biblical theology.Alexine is the author of The challenge ofcaring, published by BRF, and based onher experience of caring for her motherin the final years of her life.

The opportunity to exchange stories,to learn from each other, to find outabout resources and, at the end of theday, to worship with each other, washugely appreciated by delegates, youngand old. The final worship included anact of anointing. This expressed andconfirmed the truths that carers

themselves need healing and care, andthat their care-giving is their Christianvocation.

If parishes want to raise awareness ofthe contribution made by older carers tothe church family, an annual service thatcelebrates their ministry would be agood start. For further details of this,and other SCOP events, contactjoanna.collicutt@oxford.anglican.org0797 0932 779

The Revd Dr Joanna Collicutt is theDiocesan Advisor for the Spiritual Care of

Older People.

Joanna Collicutt onresources available for olderpeople who themselves areresponsible for the care ofelderly or disabled relatives.

‘What they don’t

understand is I want to be

bothered.’

GGuuiiddeeppoossttss Independent living resources for people withdementia, mental health problems orlearning disabilities (based in Witney)www.guidepoststrust.org.uk 01993 899980

AAggeeUUKKHas produced two really helpful booklets:‘From us to you: Top tips for older carersfrom older carers’ and ‘Advice for carers: Apractical guide’. Available fromwww.ageuk.org.uk 0800 169 65 65

AAggee UUKK OOxxffoorrddsshhiirreeThe local, and very active, branch of AgeUKwww.ageconcernoxon.org.uk 01235849400

CCaarreerrss UUKKInformation and advice for carers of all ageswww.carersuk.org 020 7378 4999

PPrriinncceessss RRooyyaall TTrruusstt ffoorr CCaarreerrssInformation and advice for carers of all ageswww.carers.org 0844 800 4361

RReetthhiinnkkA mental health charity that offers support tofamily and carerswww.rethink.org 020 7840 3188

AAllzzhheeiimmeerr’’ss SSoocciieettyywww.alzheimers.org.uk Helpline 0945 3000336

OOxxffoorrddsshhiirree ffaammiillyy ssuuppppoorrtt nneettwwoorrkkHas started a network for older carers ofadults with learning disabilitieswww.oxfdn.co.uk 01865 369477

Where to go for help

THE St Ebbe’s Church of England Primary School Choir (pictured right)were among the pupils from acrossOxfordshire Berkshire andBuckinghamshire who were part of theannual Diocesan HeadteachersConference at Blenheim Palace in June.

The choir sang a selection of songs forthe 90 head teachers who travelled tothe conference. Children from the BlakeSchool in Witney gave a presentationabout the school’s Christian values,including talking about their own prayerand the annual baptisms that take placeat the school each year.

Bishop John opened the conference,talking about fairness, using a recentTimes article, which misrepresentedsomething he was trying to say, inrelation to a piece by the Archbishop ofCanterbury in the New Statesman inJune.

“I spent a lot of time supporting theArchbishop and what he said. The Timessaid something completely the opposite.It’s not fair when you aremisrepresented,” said Bishop John. “Somuch in life isn’t fair. One billion peopleare living on less than a dollar a day.30,000 people will die today fromhunger. It’s not fair. Five per cent of theworld’s population own 70 per cent of itswealth. A chief executive’s average payor remuneration is £3.5m per year.

He added: “The Christian religion is atthe heart of a fair, democratic societyand we know that in the West we aretrying to forget about rootedness in theChristian faith. Actually the truth is thatour attempts to be a fair society areconstantly undermined by the difficultyof systems and let’s face it, old fashionedsin and selfishness.”

School choir on song for Blenheim conference

Photo: KT Bruce

Photo: Istock

Don’t forget thateven if you arebasking in thedisappointment

of missing out on tickets forthe Olympics, you could stillbe in with the chance ofbecoming a spectator at theParalympics.

The games originated atStoke Mandeville Hospital,Aylesbury, Buckinghamshirein 1948 when Sir LudwigGuttman organised a sportscompetition involving WorldWar Two veterans with spinalcord injuries. They grewfrom there until the firstofficial Paralympics took place in Romein 1960. Today the games feature eliteathletes with disabilities, but focus ontheir athletic abilities rather thandisabilities.

FeaturetheDoor JU

As people across the UK find out whether they’ve got the tickets for their sport of choice, churchesare being urged to engage with the Olympics. Here the Door explains how.

The race before uThe London 2012 Olympic and

Paralympic Games offeroutstanding opportunities forChristian mission, community

engagement and pastoral care TheDiocese of Oxford has established theThe Race Before Us group to encouragechurches to engage with communitymission opportunities, in line withBishop John’s Living Faith vision. It’s aonce-in-a-lifetime challenge to worktogether and embrace the opportunityto engage with and serve localcommunities. It aims for a legacy ofgreater church unity, communityengagement and making more disciplesof Jesus Christ in every part of theDiocese.

The project is inspired by Hebrews

12v 1 which states: ‘Let us run the race thatis before us and never give up.’

Bishop of Buckingham, the Rt RevdAlan Wilson, is also on the group. Hesaid: “The Olympic Games are thegreatest show on earth and offerchurches all sorts of possibilities to raiseour game as communities.”

The Diocese is partnering with MoreThan Gold, which was formed in 1996for the Atlanta games. The Revd JanetBinns, our own Olympic Chaplain, isworking with More than Gold andheading up The Race Before Us. Janetsays: “I am a keen sportsperson andathlete, having competed in numerousraces including the London Marathonover many years. My role as theDiocesan Olympic and Paralympic

Games Coordinator is a wonderfulchallenge, and a great opportunity forme to combine my passion for sport withspreading and sharing the Christianmessage to as many people as possible.”

Some of the group’s suggestions forchurch activities over the next 12months include:Holiday clubs, Sports clinics.Join with local community events, hold a More Than Gold Sunday, or a Sports Thanksgiving Service.

Don’t forget the Torch relay takingplace between May and July. It’ll bepassing through Oxford on 9 July andReading on 10 July. It’s a greatopportunity to serve the crowds withhospitality and outreach and to focus onprayer for the games and everyoneinvolved.

And on 9 June to 1 July the EuropeanFootball championships provide theopportunity to host big screencommunity festivals and sports quizzes inyour churches.

For more on the diocesan Olympicproject see www.racebeforeus.org.uk orcontact Janet on janet.binns@oxford.anglican.org or phone 01753 528672.

For more on the Olympic Torch andthe run up to the games seewww.london2012.com. Also seewww.morethangold.org.ukWhat’s your church planning? Senddetails of your Olympic events todoornews@googlemail.com.

Tickets still available for the Paralympics

Applications for tickets can be made between 9 September and 30 September. To apply go towww.tickets.london2012.com

Janet tells the television cameras about the games. Photo: More Than Gold.

Reproduced with permission of Wheelpower

CYCLISTS and rowers from the Thamesregion will be involved in the Tree of Lightart events in Oxford, Reading, Henley,Windsor and Slough.

They will produce sustainable energy forthe giant tree’s low energy LED lights. Formore informtion on how to get involvedsee http://thetreeoflight.org.

8

HHoolliiddaayyss aatt HHoommee

The Highbury Centre,London.

Christian Guest House on quiet private road.

www.thehighburycentre.org

Free on street parking nearby. Reductionsfor full-time Christian workers.

Tel: 0207 226 2663

The Glenbourne

AA ccoommffoorrttaabbllee hhootteell iinn tthhee ppooppuullaarrAAlluumm CChhiinnee aarreeaa ooff BBoouurrnneemmoouutthh..

Near to the seafront with excellent blue flagbeaches, bus stop right outside, parking, roomsfor 1, 2, 3 or 4 people. All En-suite. Tea/coffee

facilities and tv/radio in each room.Convenient for Bournemouth, Poole and many

other attractions. Reasonable rates.Telephone 01202 761607

www.theglenbourne.co.uk • info@theglenbourne.co.uk

LYNTON DEVONA warm traditional welcome

welcome awaits you at Kingford House

✰✰✰✰ Silver AwardEnjoy excellent home cuisine Ideallysituated for coastal & Exmoor walks.Tel Tricia Morgan on 01598 752361

for brochure and tariffpatriciakingford@aol.comwww.kingfordhouse.co.uk

GATWICK3 - 4 mins

GABLE END

TEL: 01293 783679www.gable-end.com

A warm Irish welcome to ourfamily run B&B. En-suite rooms

& full English breakfast.Courtesy transport & car parking

CORNWALL8 Berth 4 bedroom caravan with

Stunning views over mid Cornwall with own Private

grounds. Set on a small holding in rural area.

From £250 per week .DOG welcome.

www.solesupfront.com/holiday

01726 882506

HHoolliiddaayyss AAbbrrooaadd

Self-catering in heartof medieval village

Sleeps 2-12Tel: 01865 557454

www.gitevezelay.co.uk

VézelayBurgundy

LanzarotePlaya Blanca

Affordable family villa

Budget Ryan Airflights now

available

Tel 01454 260619www.lanzarotevilladirect.co.uk

Travel InsuranceArranged for The Door Readers

0116 272 0500Authorised & regulated by the F.S.A.

SUPERB TOP QUALITY ANNUAL, SINGLE TRIPAND LONG STAY TRAVEL COVER

CARHIRE

FT TRAVELINSURANCE

Available with most pre-existing medical conditions accepted.Specialist cover for people cruising and for high-cost holidays.

Our insurance has a customer 24 hour helpline, full medical cover and,most importantly, an air ambulance get you home service.

WE ARE A SPECIALIST TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANY,HELPING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ESPECIALLY THE

RETIRED AGE GROUP SINCE 1996.We are based in the UK and your call will be answered

by a real person...not a machine!!!Conditions apply

Please call for details ~

CrantockAnneth Lowen, a North Cornish HolidayCottage. Sleeps 7 plus cot. 8 minuteswalk from beach. Great for families,art groups, walkers. Available all year.

Short breaks or holidays.See website for details

www.crantockholidayhome.org.uk or call 01494 528305.

IInnssuurraannccee

To Advertise In The Door Please Call

01752 225623

To Advertise In The Door Please Call

01752 225623

ULY/AUGUST 2011

Steve Ward is the regional co-ordinator for More Than Goldand is watching as plans forchurches to engage with the

Olympics are starting to take hold.Steve is a licensed lay minister in

Chilton and Harwell, Oxfordshire. Hiswork for More than Gold takes in theOxford Diocese as well as Hampshire,the Isle of Wight, Dorset and Wiltshire.His work involves helping churchesimplement the festivals and events. Heused to be the head of park sport andrecreation at Reading Borough Counciland he uses his local governmentknowledge to help churches apply forlicences for events.

“What I used to do at work I now dofor God instead,” says Steve. “I speak atChurches Together meetings, deanery

meetings and, occasionally, moreregional meetings. They can bemeetings of four or five people or morethan 100 depending on what theinterest is,” he says. “Then I support theOlympic Champions in each church. Ifthere is something a lot of people areasking for then I take that back to MoreThan Gold and see if we need to find apartner that can deliver that.

“It’s about taking the church out of itswalls. I see that as one of the big nicethings that churches can do. We aretrying to equip churches along the torchrelay route to come out of its walls,maybe by having a cream tea party intheir area. It’s about the church goingoutside and meeting people.”

Closer to home, Steve, who used toplay volleyball, water polo and still swims

three times a week, has enlisted anOlympic champion for Chilon andHarwell and spoken to ChurchesTogether in Didcot about the games. He added: “From May next year theOlympics will be on the televisionmorning, noon and night. Churchesneed to be able to say come to thisfestival or opening ceremony party. Weare not always confident about doingevangelism but this is more about thechurch serving, being hospitable anddemonstrating the light of Christ in thecommunity.”

us: 2012 Olympics

With the Olympic rowingevents taking place atDorney Lake, localchurches have already

started gearing up to get involved.On Your Marks was a colourful launch

that took place across Eton Wick andDorney, with puppets and games forchildren. “That went down really well

with the community, said the Revd LucyHolt, the Vicar. The benefice is thinkingthrough what it will do for the Olympicsthemselves, possibly joining forces withchurches in the Windsor and Maiden-head Deanery for a celebration.

“One idea was to do an event betweenthe Olympics and Paralympics, or afterthe Paralympics, like a Songs of Praise at

Dorney Lake.“A deanery celebration of mission is

to be held on 10 July in the EtonCollege Chapel.

“I feel we have got to have our eyes onour local community but also withpeople coming in as well, trying to putthe two together.”

Children from Church ofEngland schools producedOlympic themed art work forthe Windows Walls and

Wishes Exhibition in Burnham,Berkshire. The work was inspired by the2012 Olympic rowing at Dorney and ispart of an exhibition at the new homeof Mona Lisa Arts and Media. Pupilsfrom Dropmore Infants School, StPeter’s CE Combined School and LentRise Combined School worked withprofessional artists Rhonda Fenwick,

Gina Martin and Dawn Carroll toproduce sculptures and a short film. StNicolas’ CE Combined School, DorneyPrimary School, St Mary’s FarnhamRoyal CE Primary School, BurnhamUpper School and Burnham GrammarSchool have also been involved with thegroup’s Olympic work.

Artist and group director RhondaFenwick said: “It is a really good way ofinvolving the children in an historicalevent, and great to see their ideas beingput together by professional artists.”

Mona Lisa Arts and Media has receiveda grant for its work from the Bucking-hamshire County Foundation. Rhondaadded: “This is going to help towardsthe cost of making banners to decoratethe villages of Burnham, Taplow andDorney, up to and during the Olympicgames. Our Transformers youth groupwill also be producing a BurnhamOlympic flag to commemorate thegames.” The Windows Walls and Wishes2012 Visual Arts Project started last yearand will conclude after the 2012 games.

Artistic celebration of the Games

Rowers on the River through Oxford. Photo: KT Bruce

Finding our own Olympic ‘Champions’

9

SEEKS NEW MANUSCRIPTS IN

ALL SUBJECTSFor an appraisal contact Melrose Books (Ref:TD )

St Thomas' Place, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4GG

Telephone: 01353 646608

Email: info@melrosebooks.co.uk

MELROSE BOOKSEstablished 1969

Tel:01373 462069

Bound Biographieshelps people writetheir life stories, producing quality illustrated copies forfamily and friends.

DO YOU have a manuscript to produce?

HAVE YOU startedwriting and got stuck?

OR ARE YOU justthinking about it?Contact Sally Gray at

Writing Your Life Story?

67 Conway Close, Houghton Regis, BedsLU5 5SB

Tel/Fax 01582 861407 or on E-mail: biographies@resource24.net

theDoor JULY/AUGUST 201110

The Arctic Highlights voyage spends its entirety within the ArcticCircle giving you not only the best opportunity to see the Northern

Lights but also the chance to take part in some fantastic winterexcursions to areas of frozen land that are seldom seen by tourists.

From £895pp*including flights & fuel supplement

PLUS £50 ON BOARD CREDIT PER CABINBased on an unspecified twin cabin, on half board basis and one or two nights at a centrallylocated hotel in Tromsø.

Arctic Highlights Itinerary

5 Day itinerary 2012Prices based on inside cabin

30th January £8956th February£91513th February£91523rd February£9151st March£895Single supplement £125

6 Day intineraryprices based on inside cabin

25th January£9951st February £9953rd February

Prices are based on two people travelling together sharing a twin cabin/room.Your holiday price includes: return economyflights from London Gatwick including current taxes and charges, voyage in a twin cabin including half board. 1 night at acentrally located hotel in Tromsø including breakfast, transfers as applicable.

For more information and for bookings, please contact us on:

FREEPHONE0800 048 1055

DDAAYY 11 --Fly direct to Tromsø from Gatwick or Manchester where you will be transferred to the ship.

DDAAYY 22 --Enjoy a voyage stopping off briefly at Hammerfest and on to Honningsvag, a small port that is the gateway to the wonders ofthe spectacular North Cape. This evening, as you approach Kjollefjord you will pass a rock formation considered sacred bythe indigenous Sami people which is now the site of an impressive light show, Finnkjerka.

DDAAYY 33 --A voyage, passing North Cape and on to Kirkenes. A range of optional excusions are available before sailing south again.

DDAAYY 44 --Hammerfest and Tromsø. First stop is seen as Norway's Polar capital. The Meridian Column commemorates the first precisemeasurement of the globe. Then its back to Tromsø in the evening and the end of the voyage.

DDAAYY 55 --After breakfast in your hotel there's time to spend the morning in Tromsø where a choice of winter excursions are availablebefore you are transferred to the airport for your return flight.

Both 5 and 6 day itinerary are available. For full details or brochure telephone.

Advertising Feature

OUT NOW!Spring issue of The SonTHE SON is a bright, newsyand uncompromising tabloidnewspaper which aims toput Jesus back at the centre of society.

Written and presented inan easy to read style,based on the UK’sbiggest circulation newspapers, THE SONis an ideal tool to reach believers and unbelievers as well.

The current edition of THE SON includes stories on JustinBieber, Katie Piper, Martin Sheen, Sir Anthony Hopkins andmany more. It’s an ideal tool for outreach.

Why not use THE SON to reach your community?

The Son hotline on01752 225623

Spring 2011

35p

MARTINSHEENON GOD,FAITHANDPRAYERSEE PAGE 6

ww

w.th

eson.o

rg.u

k

KATIE PIPER’S BRAVEFIGHT AFTER ACID ATTACKHORROR – SEE PAGE 3

BIG NAMES ARE IN THE SON

IT’S A WEMBLEYWONDER

FORGHANA’S ASAMOAH

GYAN

FOOTBALLER ‘MARVELLOUS MARVIN’ PRAISES GOD FOR HIS HEALING – FULL STORY BACK PAGE

From no limbs to no limits...NICK VUJICIC was born without arms andlegs. Determined not to let his disabilitylimit his life, he has become an inspirational speaker, talking to millionsof people around the world about the love

of God and the hope that Christian faithcan provide - even in the most challenging personal circumstances.Read Nick’s amazing story on page 8

TEENAGE POP sensationJustin Bieber is already oneof the most Googled peopleon the planet - but he putshis success down to hisChristian faith. Justin said ina magazine interview: “I’m aChristian. I believe in God.”See full story on page 5

POP IDOLVOTES

FOR GOD

SEESTORY BACK PAGE

Great news

Cornerstone Vision, the publishers of THE DOOR, arepleased to announce that from September they will beadding another title to their portfolio of tabloidnewspapers serving Anglican Dioceses.

SEE ROUND will appear 10 times a year and serves the Diocese of StAlbans. 17,500 copies cover the counties of Bedfordshire and Herfordshireas well as Luton and North Barnet. The new paper will form a bridge,geographically, between The Door, covering the Diocese of Oxford andThe Month serving the Diocese of Chelmsford. The three papers will offera combined circulation of 77,500 circling the north of London.

Singly, See Round offers a great opportunity to reach the St Alban’sDiocese with localised advertising, whilst together the three papers offer avery focussed opportunity to reach Christians in a specific geographiclocale.

In turn these three papers form a part of Cornerstone’s Anglicannewspapers across the south and east of England.

In all, seven papers offer a total circulation of 159,000 copies.There are great discounts for both series advertising and groupbookings. To make sure that your message is in the Septemberedition of The Door and See Round, call the Sales team atCornerstone on 01752 225623.

The DOOR has anew neighbour20th & 21st of July 2011

Cost - £40 for 2 daysor £25 per day

Come to a 2 day Skills Training Course at

St. Margaret’s Catmore, Berkshire

• Day 1 - Learn about Lime,Mortars, Masonry & More

• Day 2 - A series of lecturesby Sara Crofts from SPABand other specialists in:- Conservation Philosophy,Housekeeping of Churches

and their contents, working with professional advisers- CCTV drains surveying- Bats, ecology and their impact on historical buildings

To book and for more information, contactAlison Letts on: 01189 696949 or

alison.letts@ijp.co.uk

theDoor JULY/AUGUST 2011

FFRRIIDDAAYY 11 JJUULLYY

READING: St Agnes Church Hall at7.30pm. ‘Pirates of Penzance’ by theReading Concert Singers. Details0118 9425290.

SSAATTUURRDDAAYY 22 JJUULLYY

HAWKRIDGE: St Mary’s ChurchPatronal festival from 2pm - 5pm andtomorrow from 10.15am - 4.30pm.Details 01494 758332.

KIDLINGTON: Parish fete from 2pm -5pm at The Rectory Garden, 19 MillStreet, Kidlington.

SSUUNNDDAAYY 33 JJUULLYY

LECKHAMPSTEAD: AnnualDownland barn service at ChapelFarm, Hill Green at 6pm. Details01635 248351.

GREAT MISSENDEN: St Peter andSt Paul Church are serving creamteas every Sunday until 2 Octoberfrom 3pm - 5pm.www.missendenchurch.org.uk

DROPMORE: St Anne’s Church areholding weekly cream teas everySunday from 3pm - 5pm throughoutthe Summer.

FLAUNDEN: Enjoy walking in thecountryside near Chesham and stopfor a cream tea at St Mary MagdaleneChurch, Flaunden Hill from 3pm -5pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.£2 incl free tea refill.

WEDNESDAY 6 JULY

ALDWORTH: St Mary’s Church will beserving afternoon teas from 2.30pm -4.30pm every Wednesday throughoutthe Summer. Details 01635 578177.

TTHHUURRSSDDAAYY 77 JJUULLYY

OXFORD: Oxfordshire HistoricChurches Trust have organised anOxford Church Walk in east Oxford.Details 01865 400402.

SSAATTUURRDDAAYY 99 JJUULLYY

WOUGHTON ON THE GREEN: StMary’s Church Strawberry Fayre at

2.30pm. Details 01908 665113.

STOKE POGES: St Giles’ open day‘Poetry, Faith and Flowers’celebrating the King James Bible andthe 260th anniversary of Gray’s Elegy.Organ recital at 1.15pm and choralevensong at 5pm. Detailsmerlin.hj@clara.co.uk

MURSLEY: St Mary the Virgin’s flowerfestival today and tomorrow from11am - 5pm. Songs of Praise serviceat 6pm on Sunday 10 July.

FINCHAMPSTEAD: St James’Church Summer fete at 2pm at theMemorial Park. Details 0118 9730133.

SANDFORD ON THAMES: Flowerfestival at St Andrew’s today andtomorrow from 10am - 6pm.

WWEEDDNNEESSDDAAYY 1133 JJUULLYY

BANBURY: ‘Voices from the Dark’ - Apoignant selection of stories told by21st Century women of overcomingmental, physical and emotionalillness. The Mill Theatre at 8pm.Tickets: £9 (£6 conc). All ticketssales go to The Eve WomensWellbeing Project.

OXFORD: ‘The Power of the Word:celebrating 400 years of the KingJames Bible!’ at St Aldate’s Churchfrom 9.30am to 4pm. Details 01865284876.

TTHHUURRSSDDAAYY 1144 JJUULLYY

OXFORD: The Council for Christiansand Jews are holding a SummerSoiree including supper, with musicby Christopher Dixon, bass baritone.Details 0207 015 5160 - need tobook.

SSAATTUURRDDAAYY 1166 JJUULLYY

HAMBLEDEN: Hampden stringquartet and friends concert at7.30pm at St Mary’s Church. Tickets01491 574652.

CUDDESDON: Festival of Prayer dayat Ripon College from 10am -4.30pm. Details from www.oxford.anglican.org/festivalofprayer. Booking

enquiries 01865 319700.

TTUUEESSDDAAYY 1199 JJUULLYY

RETIRED CLERGY ASSOCIATION:Annual outing to Broughton Castle, nrBanbury. Need to book beforehand -01235 529084.

WWEEDDNNEESSDDAAYY 2200 JJUULLYY

SLOUGH: St Peter’s, Chalvey at7.30pm. ‘A man that looks on glass:Charles Eamer Kempe and the art ofstained glass’ - talk by AdrianBarlow.Tickets £5 at the door.

FFRRIIDDAAYY 2222 JJUULLYY

FINGEST: Hambleden Valley, nrHenley. Healing service with laying onof hands and anointing, with HolyCommunion at 10.15am. Details01491 571231.

WWEEDDNNEESSDDAAYY 2277 JJUULLYY

LOWER BASILDON: StBartholomew’s Church Open Dayfrom 11am - 3pm and on 31 July from2pm - 4pm.

SSAATTUURRDDAAYY 3300 JJUULLYY

OXFORD: Christ Church CathedralSummer concert by the Cathedralsingers at 8pm. Tickets £12 (£10conc) from 01865 305305 orwww.ticketsoxford.com

MILTON KEYNES: ‘CelebratingSpirituality’ - a time for spiritualrefreshment at Christ theCornerstone from 9am - 4pm. Detailswww.cornerstonemk.org.uk

SSAATTUURRDDAAYY 1133 AAUUGGUUSSTT

FREELAND: Drop-in quiet day at theOld Parsonage from 10am - 4pm.

WWEEDDNNEESSDDAAYY 2244 AAUUGGUUSSTT

OXFORD: A singing course forchildren (key stage 2) at ChristChurch Cathedral today from 9.45am- 3.15pm and tomorrow from9.45am - 6.45pm. Details 01869324645.

The DoorpostThe Doorpost is a free service for churches to advertise their events and is designed to be hung on churchnoticeboards. Please send your events to doorpost@oxford.anglican.org or by post to Church House. Thedeadline for the next issue is 5 August 2011.

Courses, training, conferences & workshops in July and August 2011.

11

Courses & special events

Sundays: 8am Holy Communion;10am Matins (coffee in PrioryRoom); 11.15am Sung Eucharist;6pm Evensong.

Weekdays: 7.15am Morning prayer;7.35am Holy Communion; 1pm(Wednesday only) Holy Communion;6pm Evensong (Thursday SungEucharist 6pm).

After Eight: Time to reflect, time topray. Contemporary liturgies for mindand spirit on Sundays at 8pm.

Tel: 01865 276155www.chch.ox.ac.uk

Services at ChristChurch Cathedral6 JULY: ‘See it, Say it, Sort it’ - Part

of the Continuing Ministerialtraining course which aims to startyou on a journey to deal withhdifficulties early and effectively.From 10am - 4pm at DiocesanChurch House, Oxford. Details andbooking form from jeni.hobbs@oxford.anglican.org

12 - 15 JULY: ‘Can these boneslive? Reading the Bible today’. The2011 Modern Church Conferenceat High Leigh Conference Centre.Details 0161 633 3132 or www.modernchurch.org.uk

20 JULY: Faith in maintenancetraining day from 10am - 4pm at St

John the Evangelist, Fernham, nearFaringdon. Free one day course tohelp volunteers who look afterhistoric places of worship. Phone020 7456 0913 for moreinformation and booking details.

‘PLANNING AND LEADINGWORSHIP’and ‘PREACHING’:These two courses are part of aRolling Programme of courses thatare open to all learners of anydenomination. 7.15pm to 9.30pm(5 sessions to take place atdifferent venues and different datesstarting in September). Furtherdetails on both courses availablefrom sheila.townsend@oxford.anglican.org

• Business Stationery • Brochures• Leaflets • Websites

For a competitive quote andgreat customer service

Tel: 01752 225623service@cornerstonevision.com

To Advertise Call 01752 225623

To Advertise In

The Door Please Call

01752 225623

theDoor JULY/AUGUST 201112

I have incredible news to share with you! Formore than two years Cross Rhythms has beenrunning a one hour radio show on an FM radiostation in Bethlehem, and through this our contact has built with many leaders in the city.Then, 3 months ago a possibility arose to go toBethlehem and meet with Arab Christian leadersto explore serving the people of Bethlehem with a radio station.

Well, in May we made that trip, and I am thrilled to reportthat every single one of the 11 leaders we met were fullysupportive of the vision: they endorsed it, they want to beactively involved, and they want to see it happen! I amthrilled at the sense of the favour of the Lord over thisventure, and the doors he has flung wide. Let me sharewith you some examples:

WHO DID WE MEET?

• Four key city church leaders would all be willing to offeradvice and consultation to help position the station in theincredibly complicated cultural, political and spiritual mix

that is the Bethlehem Palestinian Authority.

• Another brave Arab Christian leader runs a Palestiniannews service and he wants to work with us, supplyinghourly news, news features and other programmes.

• The leaders of a significant Palestinian ministry were sosupportive, and they want to supply programmes aimed atyoung people. Plus they may have a location for thestation near Manger Square at the heart of Bethlehem!What better place to 'birth' such a vision!!

• The leaders at a Christian training college in Bethlehemwant to partner with us, building their students into workingas presenters, interviewers and producers!

• The Manager of two of the main local commercialstations wants to run some of our shows on his stationsand said these could point people to our own station!What an amazing marketing opportunity!

• One young Christian man who works as a mediatechnician shared how the Lord has been directing his lifein training in these areas. He believes the Lord showedhim there would one day be a Christian station in the cityand he has a real heart to see this come to pass.

Phew! So we went out to meet some leaders, check the lieof the land, get their thoughts; and we've come back witha possible location, technician, presenters, producers,local news, strategic programmes, high profile marketing,local church endorsement and a board of reference!

WHY CROSS RHYTHMS?

Cross Rhythms has been prepared for this day. Ourunique model of community radio undergirded by Christianvalues is the perfect vehicle to serve people across adiverse community. We are not 'church on air' forChristians; like being 'salt & light' we contribute toKingdom transformation within communities. Also, ourcontemporary Christian music format is perfect. FromBoston to Bristol, Bombay to Bethlehem, young peopleacross the world relate to the Christian rock, rap, r&b andpop that we play. In Bethlehem a staggering 48% of thepopulation is under 18 years old! What an incredibleopportunity to contribute to the values and mindset of theemerging generation in that region!

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Cross Rhythms will need to grow in size to manage anddeliver this responsibility. We need to develop a wholenew station, in a foreign country, with new production, newplaylists, new programmes, new internet links, a newdedicated website, a fundraising dept, training of youngArab Christians in media, travel costs when required, andthe administration and management of all the above. Wewill also need to rent a property, purchase equipment, set up a studio and then employ a local station manager.

A GIANT STANDS IN OUR WAY

This is truly a time for Cross Rhythms to 'crossover'

into a new season of effectiveness, yet paradoxically atthe same time as this opportunity is being offered we facethe giant of one of our greatest challenges to sustainingthis ministry, and with it the unique 'wineskin' of our modelof community radio. This year alone we need to find up to£100,000 extra to our normal projected income. Specifically now, Cross Rhythms needs to find an additional £24,690 to meet our requirements.

WE'RE UP FOR IT! ARE YOU?

Cross Rhythms stands at a crossroads of opportunity. Wehave the faith, courage and desire to go forward into theopportunities the Lord is leading us towards, but we areclearly seeing that we cannot do so without more partnerssharing the vision with us. We are caught up in a greatadventure and we need to run it with you. We need manyfaithful Friends and donors to go with us. At the original'birth' in Bethlehem, both shepherds with little and kingswith much shared what they had. Whether you have littleto give or much to invest, please would you help us tobring this incredible God-given opportunity to birth?

HOW DO YOU SUPPORT?

If you are inspired by what God is setting before us,please do not ignore that stirring.

Specifically, will you give today towards our immediateneed of £24,690?

Whether you are a shepherd or a king simply offer whatyou feel stirred to give. Every gift given is an answer to our prayers, and another step towards delivering a unique gift for the people of Bethlehem.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

Jonathan BellamyCross Rhythms CEO

Charity Reg No 1069357

How you can help...YYeess,, II ssttaanndd wwiitthh CCrroossss RRhhyytthhmmss aatt tthhiiss ppiivvoottaall ttiimmee

ooff ooppppoorrttuunniittyy aanndd cchhaalllleennggee!!

I would like to give a one off gift of £________________I enclose a cheque/postal order (made payable to ‘Cross

Rhythms’)Please debit this sum from my VISA/MASTERCARD/MAESTRO as a

one off giftCard number Issue number_______ Expiry date

Please send me information on becoming a regular supporter of Cross Rhythms

Please add me to the Cross Rhythms mailing list

Name:_________________________________________Address:_____________________________________________________________________________________Postcode:_________________Tel:___________________E-mail:_________________________________________Please cut out this form and post it to: Cross Rhythms, PO Box 1110, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 1XR.Alternatively you can call 01782251000 to make a donation or go towww.crossrhythms.co.uk/donations

✁

THRILLINGSUCCESS FOR CROSSRHYTHMS INBETHLEHEM!

www.crossrhythms.co.uk

Advertising Feature

FeaturetheDoor JULY/AUGUST 2011 13

Mums and toddlers meetat the home of the RevdSally Welch in NorthOxford where they takepart in a Start course,

interspersed with blasts of CBeebies.The course grew out of a mother andtoddler group held on Friday mornings.It’s designed to be an ‘antidote toAlpha’ but Sally says it does tend tosimplify matters and remove some of themystery from Christianity.

“Part of the point of Christianity isthat there is some mystery within thefaith and I think that’s one of the thingsthe people felt slightly uneasy with.However, it’s light hearted and one ofthe enjoyable bits was the vox pops,which give permission for a discussion tobe held, which is a good thing. I thinkthe course itself requires a lot moreinput from the leader. It’s not just aready-to-go plan. One activity wasfinding different pictures of Jesus. I wenton the internet to do that and it wasquite a lot of work. If I wasn’t a paidmember of clergy I’d think this wasasking a lot of me. It is something Iwould probably run again as it’s lighthearted and fun.”

Start, which is sometimes used as apre-Alpha course is available from CPAS- Athena drive, Tatchbrook Park,Warwick CV34 6NG Telephone 01926458458 (£39.95).

The Revd Gill Lovell, Rector of StMary’s Church, Burghfield, said: “We aregoing to be doing an Alpha coursestarting in September, probably withother local churches. It is at the earlyplanning stages at the moment. We havedone a lot of Emmaus in the Churchand have done Alpha before. We arechoosing to use Alpha because of thebranding. It’s well known and that’shelpful when we are trying to reachpeople on the fringes of the church andoutside the church because they mighthave heard of Alpha.

“I quite like the Emmaus course. It’svery broad and open, but I also like thehospitality of Alpha. We do hospitalityquite well in our church and I wanted topick up on that and using our goodteam of lay volunteers to lead it.

“We try and do as much as we canecumenically. It’s not always easy but wedo work quite closely with otherchurches in the area and we are alldoing the same thing, trying to reachout to people on the fringes of thechurch.”

Gill said that St Mary’s has always doneBack to Church Sunday, usually linkingit with Harvest. She is not sure yetwhether this year they will use the usualBack to Church Sunday resources or theHarvest Welcome resources, produced

by the Oxford Diocese last year as analternative. It’s been done here for anumber of years with mixed success. Weare working on it and we always getsome people who aren’t regulars. Weinvite all our baptism and weddingfamilies to come along for it.”

The Revd Richard Zair, a communitymissioner and Priest in Charge at AllSaints, Marcham has run a Lost forWords course. He says: “It’s designed tohelp members of congregations who feelawkward about putting their faith intoconversational form. It teaches them tounderstand how they can begin to puttheir faith into words in a way that won’toffend people.”

St Lawrence Church, Appleton andKingston Bagpuize all got together totake part in Lost for Words. The RevdLynn Sapwell, Priest in Charge atAppleton said: “I think most of thepeople who took part were surprised byhow practical it was. There were lots ofdiscussions and questions to thinkabout. We were working out just howmany people we have contact with andthinking about how God might beworking.

“It uses scripture and unpacks a littlebit more each week. At the end it givesfive different strategies and ways ofremembering them. It made peoplethink and gave them a bit moreconfidence. There was something eachweek to think about how people weregoing to follow this up, or whether it wasjust another course and prayer aspectwas vital all the way through. It was thefirst time several of the people from mychurch had done anything like this, so itwas a good opportunity for them. I firstcame across it many years ago. Therewere a couple of funny scenarios, likepeople using the language of Zion andwhy it could be off putting to people.”

The Revd James Tomkins of theRisborough Team Ministry also has aHarvest Festival Service which acts as aBack to Church Sunday style event. Hesays: “There is a really strong out-reachelement to it. It’s not specificallylabelled as anything but is something wehave got into the habit of doing.

“We invite the school in every three orfour months for a service. It gives thechurch a high profile within thecommunity and therefore gives us goodlinks with the school. St Dunstan’s iswelcoming, it’s a church that’s openduring the day time. Everyone iswelcome, whether they have been to achurch service before or not.”

We are now more than half way through our year of MakingDisciples. The Door gives a round-up of how churches areproviding courses and events to help people in theirdiscipleship journeys.

EEaacchh yyeeaarr,, oouurr eemmpphhaassiiss oonn aa ddiiffffeerreenntt aassppeecctt ooff ““LLiivviinngg FFaaiitthh”” sseeeekkss ttoo bbuuiilldd oonn aannddcceelleebbrraattee wwhhaatt hhaass ggoonnee bbeeffoorree.. IInn 22001100 wwee mmaarrkkeedd tthhee yyeeaarr ooff SSuussttaaiinniinngg tthhee SSaaccrreeddCCeennttrree,, iinn 22001111 wwee hhaavvee bbeeeenn tthhiinnkkiinngg aabboouutt ““MMaakkiinngg DDiisscciipplleess”” aanndd iinn 22001122 wwee sshhaallll bbee cceelleebbrraattiinngg ‘‘MMaakkiinngg aa DDiiffffeerreennccee iinn tthhee WWoorrlldd’’..

This November, everyone in the Diocese is invited to an event with Bishop John to markthe turning of the Christian year – the day before Advent Sunday. We will give thanks for allthat has occurred to Make Disciples in 2011 and commit ourselves to Make a Difference inthe World in 2012. The shape of the day will be as follows:

10.00am Welcome and keynote address from Bishop John11.00am A range of workshops that enable sharing of ideas on Making Disciplesand Making a Difference in the World12.00pm - Diocesan Eucharist to mark the turning of the year1.00pm - Finish and depart (enabling us all to get back for school Christmas fetes/ other events taking place on this Saturday!)

More details of speakers at the day will be made available in due course. In the meantime,everyone is invited to mark the date in their diaries and to join us for the changing of theLiving Faith year. The event takes place on 2266 NNoovveemmbbeerr 22001111 at St Andrew’s Church,Hatter’s Lane, High Wycombe.

Join Bishop John for Making a ‘Difference in the World’

Back to Church Sunday (Sunday 25September 2011) has been described as“the largest single local-churchinvitational initiative in the world”. It isbased on the simplest and shortest stepin evangelism - that we should invitesomeone we already know to somethingwe love, or in other words, invite ourfriend to our church.

More than 150,000 people have comeback to church since the first Back toChurch Sunday in 2004 - enough to fillWembley Stadium and the EmiratesStadium put together.

In order to take part in the initiative,churches are invited to register atwww.backtochurch.co.uk. enabling them toaccess its materials, resources and nationalmedia campaign. Speaking about thecampaign, Diocesan Director of Mission,Michael Beasley said, “Research shows thata remarkable proportion of our populationwould like to go to church - if only someonewould invite them. Back to Church Sundayprovides an excellent opportunity for this tooccur.”

There are still some ‘Harvest Welcome’resources left over from last year if youwould prefer to use these. Please emaildebbie.dallimore@oxford.anglican.org formore information.

Get ready for Back to Church Sunday 2011

Nurturing discipleship

ONLINE

@For more seewww.oxford.anglican.org/mission-and-evangelism/nurture-courses/nurture-course

Pics: Istock.

This book strikes chords with me. Iwas nurtured at the feet of JohnStott in his prime, massively

influenced by David Watson and I’m anAlpha course enthusiast. Word and Spiritis where I like to be.

Emmanuel Church in Bicester,Oxfordshire, was started in December2002 by two Bible study groups meetingin Bicester. God was prompting them toplant a new church. They were from twowell known Oxford churches - oneknown for its emphasis on the Word andthe other known for its emphasis on theSpirit. I was appointed to be theirminister and I wish I’d had this book inof me nine years ago. Donaldson’schapters challenged me and got undermy skin to make sure the balance ofWord and Spirit was being implementedat Emmanuel.

Using John Stott’s vision, where hequotes Martin Luther King’s speech in1963 ‘I have a dream….’ Donaldsoncontinued to challenge me, focusing onhow to get a whole church behind thevision. There is excellent material hereto help do just that.

There are valuable insights intoembracing a vision statement easily.Donaldson outlines the stages oflistening to God, studying the Bible withleaders, days away with staff and thechurch council, listening to what theSpirit is saying in our unique locationand then finally drafting a statement that

articulates what the Lord has beensaying. There is so much aboutmentoring leaders and leaving a churchwell equipped to run without dependingon the minister all the time. There isalso much about nurture, going beyondjust caring and listening to feeding withthe Word and training in discipleship sothat God’s people grow to becomemature in Christ and effective servants ofthe Gospel.

The last chapter, called ‘Motivatingevangelism and mission’, should quickenevery evangelical heart. Donaldsonobviously enjoyed his week at theChurch Mission Society HQ browsingthrough their 31,000 volumes! TheBible’s imperative is not hard to find. Itis preaching and teaching to unlock theBible’s grand narrative which is ‘TheMission of God.’ John 20:31 says “Butthese are written that you may believe thatJesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and thatby believing you may have life in his name” .I recommend you buy a copy of thisbook and start soaking in all the richmaterial.

The Revd Chris Boyce is Team Vicar atEmmanuel Bicester.

ArtsChurch: A balancing actBy Chris Boyce

Word And SpiritWill DonaldsonBRF: £8.99

A CHAPLAIN at Aylesbury’s StokeMandeville Hospital, the Revd DavidElliott, is holding an art exhibition inOxford this month.

David, an artist, has set up a series ofworkshops that are a form ofpsychotherapy using music, listening,painting and crafts as part of the physicalrehabilitation of patients at the hospital.The activities are supported byvolunteers and funded by charitabledonations. He says: “Creative activityprovides a welcome distraction from theclinical environment. Significantly itengages patients in creative activity atvarious levels and provides anopportunity to engage socially and learnnew skills.”

The groups also allow staff, such asoccupational therapists, to engage withpatients in a different context. Thewards where the groups are held oftenseem to be encouraged and positiveabout both the effects on patients andthe artwork or music patients haveengaged with.

David added “We don’t have theresources to hold groups on every wardbut we are working in areas such as theNational Spinal Injuries Centre, StrokeUnit and Cancer Care and HaematologyUnit where we hope to make the biggestimpact.”

David’s exhibition can be seen at theKieran Stiles Art Studios, 1 Folly Bridge,Oxford on Saturday 2 July, 1 – 4pm and

Sunday 3 July, 11am – 2pm.

Art for rehabilitation’s sake

St Ives by David Elliott

theDoor JULY/AUGUST 201114

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shallsee God.” Matthew 5 vs 3

On 14 July we celebrate one ofOxford’s own ‘saints‘, JohnKeble. That rather strange-

looking red brick college opposite thePitt-Rivers Museum is named after him.He was one of the leaders of the OxfordMovement in the nineteenth century, agroup whose concern was to re-establishthe catholic credentials of the Church ofEngland in a period when, they felt, thefaith was under threat from rationalism,liberalism and ‘national apostasy’. Thelast-named was the subject of Keble’sfamous ‘Assize Sermon’, which is widelyregarded as the starting point of theMovement.

In a way, that is now all history, andfor most church people today Keble isbest remembered for his hymns. He wasProfessor of Poetry at Oxford University,and perhaps not surprisingly had a giftfor the memorable poetic phrase: ‘Omay no earth-born cloud arise/ to hide theefrom thy servant’s eyes’. I love ‘earth-borncloud’ - the barriers are ours, not God’s.Again, in the same hymn we can find anexample of his typical turn of phrase, atthe same time simple and memorable:‘Watch by the sick; enrich the poor/ withblessings from thy boundless store’.

Other hymns written by him include‘Blest are the pure in heart’, ‘Hailgladdening light’ and ‘New every morning isthe love’. He valued enormously theconcept of the Christian year and wrotea collection of poems with that title.

But day and night, dawn and evening,

also seem to have sparked his poeticimagination.

The members of the OxfordMovement were keen to emphasise thecontinuity of spirituality between theChurch of the post-apostolic era andthe contemporary Church, so several ofthem set out to translate Greek andLatin hymns from those early days. ‘Hailgladdening light’ is one such - a beautifulevening hymn from the third century oreven earlier - one of the oldest hymnswe have in our hymn books.

It evokes images of darkness fallingon a Greek village long ago and thelamps being lit in the home - ‘the lights ofevening round us shine’. But those lightsevoke for the poet the image of theLight of the World, the ‘gladdeninglight’ poured from the presence of Godhimself. ‘I am the light of the world,’said Jesus.

Unlike some of the other leaders ofthe Oxford Movement, including JohnHenry Newman, Keble remained apriest in the Church of England to hisdeath in 1866. I wonder if, when he waswriting his poems about the Christianyear, he ever imagined that his namewould one day become part of it!The Revd Canon David Winter is a formerdiocesan Adviser on Evangelism, former BBChead of religious affairs and the author ofSeasons of the Son (SCM- Canterbury Press) - ‘ajourney through the Christian year’ and manyother books.

Letters & commenttheDoor JULY/AUGUST 2011

Are you perplexed?The Church – a guide for the perplexed. Ididn’t think I fitted this description when Isaw the title of a book reviewed by Dr.Andrew Davison in the Church Times.

After all, I had spent 50 years inmembership and worshipping in a varietyof non-conformist denominations,experiencing a range of churchmanshipfrom conservative to charismatic, andsubsequently 25 years in the Church ofEngland during which I completedsuccessfully a Ministerial Training Schemeon retirement from secular employmentand then served as an Industrial Chaplainfor six years.

But I did start to read the review whichsuggested it was ‘an important book’ andwas ‘a thorough survey with suchcreativity and depth of analysis...’ It was‘densely packed but written with pace anda winning informality’. I continued to readon and decided to ask my local library (stillunder threat of closure!) if the book wasavailable from their stock. It wasn’t, butthey offered to purchase it in paper back. Ihave found it an intriguing andenlightening read. My purpose in writingthis letter is to say that it can now beborrowed from the Oxfordshire CountyCouncil Library Service. Written by MattJenson and David E Wilhite and publishedby T and T Clark.

DDeennnniiss PPiippeerr,, BBaammppttoonn

LETTERS

Audio version

by Rosie Harper

I’m not an easy blub. This year so far Ihave wept once and that was at anutterly sublime Mahler 3 by the Berlin

Philharmonic. So why did MargotKäßmann’s bible study at the Kirchentagthis year leave me damp in the eyeregion? Part of the emotion no doubt hasto do with my personal story.

I grew up in a church communitywhich said it valued women but acted asif it despised them. Even in this lastheave towards women bishops, womenare spoken about as the problem andnot really valued for what theycontribute. In front of my very eyes herewas a woman getting a standing ovationfor gloriously clear and challengingteaching. She spoke for an hour on theBeatitudes. The theology was sparklingand the application sharp.

With the German Federal PresidentChristian Wulff sitting on the front rowas a regular punter, she deconstructedlarge sections of government policy. Shenoted, for example, that the text doesnot say ‘blessed (happy) are the poor’ –the 2.2 million children that die eachyear from starvation are not happy. Howdifferent would it be if 6,027 childrendied of hunger every day in WestEurope? She challenged an immigrationpolicy which fragments families, and shequestioned the school system whichfailed to nourish the souls of thechildren.

Most tellingly she questioned howsending German Troops as part of theEU force over Libya had gospel values.The Federal President took it on thechin. Margot Käßmann is no papersaint. She has four children, is divorced,resigned as bishop after failing a breathtest, and has done battle with breastcancer. She has wisdom and grace andwith it comes a clearly God-givenauthority.

I have never seen a woman flourishingfor the Gospel like that in this country.No wonder I filled up. That alonewould have been worth the trip, butthere was so much more. For example,fascinating conversations with my hostfamily about the complicated transitionto unification. They didn’t want theiconic Frauenkirche rebuilt, it ought toremain ruined as a ‘warning’ they said.

The conversations and lectures werehigh octane, wide ranging and open.Church and State in dialogue in a waythat I envy. Add music and art to themix and stir with a glass or two of localSaxon wine and the returning Rosiefeels alive and challenged. The Revd Canon Rosie Harper is Vicar ofGreat Missenden and Chaplain to theBishop of Buckingham.

Comment

Thought forthe month

by David Winter

15

Sight impairedpeople can nowget a free audio

version of The Door bycontactingGraham

Winterbourne on01884 840285

Comings and Goings -The Revd Kate Stacey will take up postas Vicar of Shipton under Wychwoodwith Milton under Wychwood, Fifield andIdbury; The Revd Philip Derbyshire willtake up post as Priest in Charge atStewkley and Soulbury; The RevdDarren McFarland will take up post asVicar of St Andrew’s, Headington; TheRevd Peter Silva will take up post asHouse for Duty Priest in Charge atGreat Tew with Little Tew and Over withNether Worton; The Revd Kay Peck willtake up post as Assistant Curate atLenborough; The Revd Becky Mathewwill take up post as Team Vicar atBicester with Bucknell, Caversfield andLaunton; The Revd Jon Williams willtake up post as Priest in Charge atWootton, Abingdon; The Revd JenniWilliams will take up post as Associate

Priest at Wootton, Abingdon; The RevdDr Jonathan Mobey will take up post asRector at Harwell with Chilton; TheRevd Mark Bennet will take up post asTeam Rector at Thatcham Team Ministry;The Revd Bill Meyer will be retiring fromhis post as Rector of Binfield; The RevdCanon Dr Marilyn Parry will be retiringas Diocesan IME Officer and ResidentialCanon of Christ Church Cathedral; TheRevd Chris Boyce will be retiring fromhis post Team Vicar at Bicester withBucknell, Caversfield and Launton; TheRevd Dr Bill Beaver has been givenpermission to officiate at the UniversityChurch of St Mary the Virgin. We recallwith sadness the deaths of: TheRevd Alan Paice and The Revd DuncanSladden.

Editor: Jo Duckles Tel: 01865 208227Email: jo.duckles@oxford.anglican.orgEditorial Assistant/Distribution: Debbie DallimoreTel: 01865 208225 Email: debbie.dallimore@oxford.anglican.orgAdvertising: Roy Perring Tel: 01752 225623 Email: roy@cornerstonevision.comDeadline for September issue: Friday 5 August 2011.Published Monday 22 August 2011.

The Door is published by Oxford Diocesan Board of Finance (Diocesan Secretary Mrs Rosemary Pearce).The registered office is Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey Lane, Oxford, OX2 ONB. Tel: 01865208200. While every care is taken to ensure the reliability of our advertisements, their inclusion in TheDoor does not guarantee it or mean that they are endorsed by the Diocese of Oxford.

Alive and challenged

Crowds at the annual Kirchentag Festival. Inset MargotKäßmann. Photos: Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag.

Win a bookThe Door has three copiesof Time For Reflection byAnn Persson to give away.The book, which containsreflections to usethroughout the year, couldbe a perfect way ofswitching from activity to stillness in thepresence of God during your summerbreak. For the chance to win a copy, sendyour name and address to Time forReflection competition, The Door,Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey,Oxford, OX2 0NB, by Friday 5 August.

Competition winnersBrian Foster from Shrivenham, Mrs Ibellfrom Princes Risborough and Mrs Rileyfrom Milton Keynes have all won copies ofGod Lost and Found by the Bishop ofOxford the Rt Revd John Pritchard.

God in the life of... theDoor JULY/AUGUST 2011

Born in Tamil Nadu in India, asthe son of a minister, LeslieStephen has been exposed to

Christianity all his life. “I remembergoing with my father to preach from ajeep in the villages,” he says. Leslie ismarried to Janet and has two grown-up married children.

He studied economics beforecoming to the UK where he gained atheology degree at Aberystwyth andlater completed a post graduateteaching course. Before coming to theDiocese he was a teacher, then movedto Berkshire County Council first asan adviser/inspector and subsequentlyas a senior education officer and acollege principal.

Leslie says that he decided to cometo the Diocese because he wanted hisfaith and his work to be tied togetherclosely. “That’s been the great joy ofworking here,” he says. “Two thingsthat have been my driving forces arethat church schools are part of themission of the diocese and socialjustice – making sure everyone getsthe best from education. What hasbeen tremendous has been thesupport from headteachers,governors, bishops, archdeacons andclergy to develop those things and

now we need to look at how wedevelop them even further.”

A project close to his heart has beensetting up the Oxford Diocese’s linkwith the Diocese of Nandyal inAndhra Pradesh, India. It is a projectthat sees children and teachers fromchurch schools in our diocese visitingand working with children from Dalitbackgrounds. The government ofIndia is breaking down the barriers ofthe caste system, but Dalit people stillencounter discrimination.

“I went there on sabbatical and metthe moderator of the Church of SouthIndia who suggested visiting Nandyal.It is one of the poorest dioceses inIndia where the majority of people areDalits and where the church througheducation is trying to break the cycleof poverty. One of the things thechurch is very much engaged with is therebuilding of the infrastructure of

schools that are in a very poor condition. “I was very touched by what I saw

and I set up the link and invited theBishop of Nandyal to come to theHeadteachers Conference at Blenheim.

Since then the link, Project India,has gone from strength to strength,with schools raising more than£29,000 over the last three years.Teachers from Chalfont St Peters,Waddesdon and Aston RowantSchools have visited Nandyal to assessthe need and develop the work.

The funds have been used to buildand equip a new IT centre, to helpbuild new schools and also torefurbish classrooms and provideteaching resources. Since its initialvisit to Nandyal, Waddesdon Schoolhas now established a global leadershipprogramme for sixth formers at BishopHeber College, Trichy.

As he retires Leslie wants to spend

more time looking after a children’shome set up by his father in TamilnaduState where he was born. The homelooks after 120 youngsters and has asmall primary school. He has set up aUK Charitable Trust to raise funds forthe home. “They are very poorchildren and we are trying to helpthem to come out of poverty and getemployment. Teaching them IT skillsand spoken English is key for theirsuccess and many visitors from the UKhave been helping them,” he says.

Leslie is a member of St Andrew’s,Sonning and St Patrick’s, Charvil inBerkshire who support the home. TheRotary Clubs and Inner Wheel ofReading Maiden Erlegh and LoddonVale have funded large projects andindividuals also give monthlydonations. Leslie has been overjoyed byeveryone’s generosity. “In addition weare funding two girls from the homethrough higher education so that onecan become a teacher and another anurse. It means they will be able tosupport their own families,” says Leslie.

“It has been a real privilege to beEducation Director for such a largeDiocese and I am really proud of ourschools, headteachers, staff andchildren. I take great pride that ourschools are such an important part ofthe mission of the Diocese. They arenot just outstanding in terms ofeducational standards but they liveout our Christian ethos and values.”he says. “It has also been a realpleasure to set up new academies toimprove the life chances of youngpeople in disadvantaged areas.”

The Oxford Academy opened itsdoors to pupils in September 2008, onthe site of the former Peers School. Itwas closely followed by the AylesburyVale Academy and a third one isproposed at Chesham.

“I believe we are all engaged in theministry of God in the work we do inour schools. It is important toremember that schools are part of thefamily of local churches andcommunities and also the wider familyof the Diocese. We are all bondedtogether by our faith.”

Retiring Education DirectorLeslie Stephen spoke to JoDuckles about combining hisfaith with his professional lifeand running a children’shome for some of India’spoorest youngsters.

16

End of term

Leslie at Blenheim Palace. Photo: KT Bruce

Children learning in India

SMC LtdEcclesiastical & Domestic Solar Panels

FFrreeee EElleeccttrriicciittyyuse what you make and save on bills

25 years guaranteed incomeFeed-in-tariffs on top of bill savings

Sell back what you don't usegenerate even more income

01367 710152pv@smconsult.co.uk www.smconsult.co.uk

Award winning

church furniture makers

Makers of the revolutionary Canterbury and York Lecterns

www.fullersfinerfurniture.co.uk

TAYLORS(OF OXFORD)

AND ACCESSORIESClerical, Academic, Legal Wear

and Robemakers109 COWLEY ROADOXFORD OX4 1HU

TEL & FAX: (01865) 722022

• Cassocks • Collars • Surplices and Cottas • Albs • Stocks • Vergers and Preaching Gowns

• Preaching Scarves • Stoles • Hoods • Girdles and Cinctures • Shirts and much moreACADEMIC • LEGAL • CIVIC • ECCLESIASTICAL

ROBEMAKERS

www.taylorsofoxford.com

LeadcraftLeadcraftStained Glass Studio

STAINED GLASS ARTISTSAND CRAFTSMEN

Traditional leaded lights made andrepaired.

Specialists in reproduction of hand paintedand decorative glass for windows and

doors and also internal window cleaningEcclesiastical and Residential

3 Malthouse Lane, Reading RG1 7JATel: 0118 956 8534 Fax: 0118 957 5865

www.leadcraftstainedglass.co.ukBy appointment only

To Advertise Call 01752 225623

To Advertise in The Door Please Call

01752 225623