Features (March 2010)

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New Canons announced
Archbishop sees “capabilities” at Kirkharle
A visit full of exploration
Kenyan children inspire Alan

New Canons announced

Bishop Martin has announced that seven new Honorary and Lay Canons of St. Nicholas’ Cathedral will be admitted along with Canon Sheila Bamber who will be installed and licensed as a Residentiary Canon of the Cathedral at 6.00 p.m. on Sunday, March 28.

The Honorary Canons are: the Revd. Judy Glover , Vicar of Alston Moor, the Revd. Kevin Hunt , Vicar of Christ Church Walker and Area Dean of Newcastle East, and the Revd. Brian Hurst, Vicar of Bamburgh and Ellingham and Area Dean of Bamburgh and Glendale. The Lay Canons are: Dr. Geoffrey Purves, Architect, Chairman of the Diocesan Advisory Committee and member of Kirkwhelpington church, Dr. John Bull, member of General Synod, and member of the Diocesan Board of Education who worships at Bedlington, Mr. Roger Styring, Lay Chair of Alnwick Deanery Synod and Deputy Leader of Northumberland County Council, who worships at Warkworth, and Miss Carol Wolstenholme, Chair of the Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee, member of Cathedral Council and Reader at Holy Spirit, Denton.

Sheila Bamber

Sheila Bamber has been Diocesan Director of Education in Durham Diocese for six years, and has served in parishes in and around Durham City. Before being ordained she worked for 14 years for the Endeavour Housing Association in Middlesbrough, ending up as Housing Manager with responsibility for 1200 houses and flats. As Director of Education in Durham, she has worked closely with her counterpart in this Diocese, Canon Margaret Nicholson, especially in setting up the North East Education Developments Services and in seeking to appoint a joint Director of Education across our two Dioceses. Sheila has been very active in the Girl-Guiding movement, most recently acting as a Faith Adviser nationally. She believes that a major task of the church is to nurture confident disciples who are equipped not only to live out their faith, but to articulate it. She recognises that her own struggles in this area may be her gift that can help others. She enjoys cooking, walking and lace making.

Brian Hurst

Brian Hurst was born and bred in the diocese, in the village of Corbridge where he was baptised and confirmed in St Andrew’s and this is where his vocation to ordained ministry was nurtured. He studied theology at Nottingham University and trained for ordination at Cuddesdon. He recently did some further study through Cliff College/Sheffield University in Consultancy, Mission and Ministry since when he has taken responsibility for the Work Consultancy scheme for clergy within the diocese. Brian is currently the vicar of Bamburgh and of Ellingham, as well as being the Area Dean of Bamburgh and Glendale and the acting Area Dean of Norham. He has served in a variety of parishes across the diocese ranging from the most densely to the most sparsely populated and from geographically small parishes to the largest in the diocese. He reckons himself to have been particularly blessed to have served in the most beautiful churches, both ancient and modern, in this part of the world and to have worked with some of the loveliest congregations and supportive colleagues. Brian is married to Mo – who teaches Art and RE at Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School, Rothbury.

Kevin Hunt

My connection with and affection for the North-east began in 1977, when I became a Classics student at St John's College, Durham. After graduation and then a year working in an office in London (Church Commissioners Redundant Churches Department!), I trained at St Stephen's House, Oxford. In 1984 I was ordained deacon in Southwell Minster for the parish of St Mark, Mansfield. I moved to Sunderland in November 1985, where I was curate of St Ignatius' & Holy Trinity, and then Vicar of St Mary's & S Peter's; in 1995 I became Rector of the Jarrow Team Ministry; finally I crossed the Tyne to be Vicar of Walker in February 2002. So my ministry thus far has been mainly in north-east urban parishes; I enjoy (most of the time!) the multi-faceted and unpredictable life of a parish priest. I am also an assistant Director of Ordinands and in my second term as Area Dean of Newcastle East. Journeying with those exploring vocation is an engaging ministry of discernment, and I gain much encouragement from working alongside colleagues in the Deanery. Other aspects of my ministry include Ministry Review, Leading from the Future, being Mentor of a Local Ministry Group. Throughout my ministry I have worked in church and community schools, currently as a Governor and as Chaplain of Walker Technology College. An area of increasing concern during my time in Walker has been the plight of refugees and asylum seekers: at present I am Chair of Common Ground, the East Area Asylum Seekers Support Group. I thank God for his calling, grace and strength, and for the love, care and support of family & friends, colleagues & parishioners past and present, without which none of this would have been possible.

Judy Glover

Judy Glover describes herself as an outdoor person, and still misses the life of farming that she enjoyed for 25 years. (Sheep don't answer back, and collie dogs worship you without reservation, even if you dare to alter their routine!) Undertaking ordained ministry in a rural area was therefore a logical decision following ordination, and her previous experience has proved invaluable in rural parish life. During 10 years as a vicar in Upper Coquetdale, Judy's passion for evangelism has been expressed particularly through two channels, ecumenism and the church's ministry to visitors. On the ecumenical front, four denominations signed a covenant in 2003, and now work together on almost all aspects of ministry (and Christian fellowship) apart from regular Sunday morning worship. Such working greatly enlarges the pool of talent from which to draw when some new initiative is proposed. Upper Coquetdale probably has the only ecumenical Local Ministry Group in the diocese. Judy believes in celebrating and building on the faith that we share across the churches, while respecting the differences that remain. Judy's interest in the church's ministry and welcome to visitors began long ago as a lay person in the diocese. She is a member of the diocesan Tourism Task Group, and has represented the diocese at conferences of the national Church Tourism Association.

Carol Wolstenholme

Carol Wolstenholme is a Reader at Holy Spirit Denton, where she has worshipped almost all her life. She is particularly interested in Local Ministry in the parish and the development of lay people in leadership roles. In the diocese Carol chairs the Mission and Pastoral Committee, is a member of the Cathedral Council, Bishop’s Council and the Strategic Development Group. She has been involved in the design and development of the Diocesan Leadership Programme and is the strand leader and task group co-ordinator for the recently launched Deaneries’ Development Programme. She is excited about new directions and developments in the Church and the potential for people to grow and develop in that process. Carol is a member of General Synod. She works part time as a management consultant and sits, as a member, on employment tribunals.

Geoffrey Purves

Geoffrey Purves was born, brought up and educated in the North-east. He has spent his professional life in private practice as a chartered architect designing many buildings in the region in the conservation/ ecclesiastical, primary health, housing and retail sectors. He is married to Ann, lives in Kirkwhelpington where he is churchwarden at St.Bartholomew’s Church, and is interested in both rural and urban environments. As Chairman of the Newcastle DAC as well as the Northumberland and Newcastle Society he is closely involved with church buildings, the wider built environment and the heritage of the Region. As part of the Diocesan 125th celebrations in 2007 he edited the book “Churches of Newcastle and Northumberland, A Sense of Place.” Currently changing role in his practice to a consultant, he also acts as an adjudicator in construction disputes and is Hon Treasurer of the Architects Benevolent Society.

John Bull

John is married to Sonia, without whose support he says he would not be able to carry out the Church’s work. They have one son who is a surgeon in London. John has worshiped at St Cuthbert’s Bedlington since 1979, and during that time he has been a church warden, vice-chair and chair of the PCC. He is a member of Bedlington Deanery Synod, having been Lay Chair for a number of years, as well as a member of the Diocesan Synod where he has served as Vice-President/ Lay Chair for a number of years. John is also a member of Bishop’s Council. His major interest is in education and he has been the chair of the Diocesan Board of Education where he still serves as a member. As a lay member of the General Synod since 1995, and with this interest and his educational interests, John was invited to be a council member of the National Society (Church of England) for Promoting Religious Education. The National Society was founded in 1811 and it exists to promote “Education with a Christian Purpose, supporting all Church of England school and colleges, and those involved in Christian and Religious Education in parishes.”

Roger Styring

Roger Styring is a retired chartered engineer with long background and experience in the electricity supply industry. He has been married to Jenny for 41 years and has two grown up children, David and Julie. He enjoys being a grandparent., but says his household is ruled by a West Highland white terrier called Jock. Roger has lived in Lesbury for 31 years and has always been active in village life. He is a governor of two schools and former chair of the local cricket club. As Deputy Leader of Northumberland County Council, he takes a lead on community involvement and has responsibilities for financial management and corporate strategy. Roger is in training for Reader Ministry. He has been a member of Diocesan Synod for more than 20 years, and is a member of Warkworth Local Ministry team. He has served on General Synod, the Parsonages Board and the Diocesan Pastoral Committee. He currently serves as a Ministerial Reviewer, a Local Ministry team Mentor and the Lay Chair of Alnwick Deanery Synod. For Roger engineering is a profession and a hobby, DIY is a therapy, and car maintenance is a joy!

Archbishop sees “capabilities” at Kirkharle

Last month the Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, visited the diocese to meet people in the parishes and get a feel for the work going on here. Link offers a snapshot of his visit and captures some of the most memorable moments.

As part of his visit to the diocese, the Archbishop travelled to Kirkharle Courtyard to gain a greater understanding of the problems and challenges facing small businesses in remote rural areas. The old farm steading, once employing two men, has been converted to provide several workshops and a coffee house where some 30 people - most of whom live locally - now work full or part time.

Kirkharle is the birthplace of Lancelot Capability Brown, arguably England's most famous landscape designer. Brown was responsible for creating the parklands that surround many of our most famous historic houses, including Stowe, Croome Park and Blenheim Palace. He was given the nickname "Capability" by his clients when he described their landscapes as having "capabilities".

On his visit to Kirkharle, the Archbishop was shown the new lake designed, but never created, by Brown. There is strong evidence to suggest that this plan represents Brown's first ever effort at landscape design and was completed before he left to go south at the age of 23. Kitty Anderson, who is coordinating the project, says: " The intention is to give our visitors an idea of Brown's genius and vision. The public will be allowed free access to walk around the lakes and parkland from this summer, although the project won't be fully completed until the end of the year."

The Archbishop met Alan Harrison, a former schoolmaster and now the resident silversmith at the Courtyard, as well as Stephen and Jason Robinson Gay, cabinet makers. He was particularly interested in meeting the four young members of staff employed in their workshop. A set of library steps in the making, that doubled as an armchair, was much admired during the visit. Dr Sentamu said of the Courtyard: '' It is a remarkable project, turning a yard into an amazing, diversified community where the farmers can benefit. What the community is trying to do is not to leave anybody behind. They, as a community, are moving forward. It is exciting''

The visit ended with refreshments in the newly opened restaurant. John Anderson, the owner, said of the visit :''It was an great honour for us to host this visit by the Archbishop and Bishop Martin, though sadly time precluded a visit to our little church of St. Wilfrid's nearby where Brown was baptised. Nevertheless I hope very much that members of congregations from throughout the diocese, either as individuals or as groups, will visit the Courtyard and enjoy a similar experience. They will see talented craftspeople at work, view a beautiful landscape set in an historic context and, hopefully, depart having learnt a little more about one of Northumberland's most famous sons''.

For more information, please visit www.kirkharlecourtyard.net

1. The Archbishop meets the Kirkharle cabinet makers;
2. With Canon Alan Hughes;
3. Relaxing with members of St. Martin's congregation in Byker;
4. Meeting Canon Pat Johnson, outgoing president of the Mothers' Union;
5. Pictured at Kirkharle with John and Kitty Anderson;
6. With Canon John Sadler discussing the plans for St. Michael's, Byker

A visit full of exploration

The Archbishop had a packed schedule for his flying visit to the diocese. First port of call on the visit was Church House in Percy Main where Dr. Sentamu met diocesan staff and supporting ministers. He chatted with staff over coffee and when asked for some “words of wisdom” to help encourage them during difficult economic times, he quoted the late Michael Ramsay: “Without God, the world is not. Without the world, God is.” He also told staff that he was impressed with the offices at Percy Main and with the obvious enthusiasm and dedication of those who worked there.

Then it was on to the law courts in Newcastle to meet diocesan chancellor, Judge David Hodgson. The Archbishop himself is a lawyer by training, and was a judge in his native Uganda before coming to Britain.

After lunch Dr. Sentamu visited St. Martin’s and St. Michael’s in Byker to hear about the work of the Urban Ministry and Theology Project, and the homeless project housed in St. Silas. At St. Martin’s he was shown how a church can adapt its building to serve its community, and at St. Michael’s – where members of the congregation meet in a local shop because their building is unsafe - was told of the potential for community and cultural development.

After delivering his lecture at the Civic Centre (see Page 1), the Archbishop spent an evening with the Bishop’s staff, and the following morning travelled to the West End Refugee Service housed in St. Philip’s Vicarage, Arthur’s Hill.

There he met project leader Lindsay Cross and learned that currently WERS has seven paid staff, 60 approved volunteers, and more than 800 clients. It forms a vital link in the chain of local support services, he was told. Its services include daily drop-in advice sessions, a counselling service, a befriending scheme, a clothing store, an emergency hardship fund and an awareness-raising and education programme.

The final leg of the Archbishop’s visit to the Diocese was spent in Northumberland where he visited the Kirkharle rural workshops development, the Cheviot Centre in Wooler, and Holy Trinity parish church in Berwick.

At Wooler he heard how the churches and the local community had worked together to provide a focus for visiting tourists and for the community itself, and at Holy Trinity church in Berwick he met Canon Alan Hughes and learned of the historic church’s restoration programme and the plans to rebuild its organ.

Bishop Martin, who accompanied the Archbishop on his journey of exploration, said: “It’s been great to have him with us, even though it’s been a very hectic couple of days!”

Kenyan children inspire Alan

Alan Vout, a member of St. Aidan’s Church in Brunton Park, is a man with a big idea. Although he’s 84, Alan became so inspired by a talk about St. Catherine’s House of Hope orphanage in Kenya, that he determined to help the children there. And he didn’t simply want to help with fundraising – even though his church was in the process of raising more than £1,000 for St. Catherine’s.

Instead, Alan wanted to travel to Kisumu in Kenya, see the work of the orphanage for himself, and find out how he could help directly. Alan takes up the story:

“A fellow church member had a relation who’d married an African, so he thought he might be able to make some introductions for the Sunday school classes at our church who wanted a link aboard,” he explains.

“As a result about 40 people turned up to Café St. Aidan, which has become a bit of a venue for local people going shopping in Brunton Park, to hear somebody called Catherine Otiene give a talk about this orphanage in Kenya.”

He adds: “As soon as I heard about the work of St. Catherine’s, I got it into my head that I was going to go!”

Catherine Otiene is a co-founder of the orphanage in Kisumu, which has charitable status with a parent company based in Switzerland. So inspiring and so moving was her talk at St. Aidan’s that the church immediately committed to a fundraising campaign, and Alan asked for permission to visit.

“I organized a flight, had all the necessary injections and made a list of items I would like to take with me. I had two cases, one containing my few clothes etc, the other packed with items which included footballs, knickers, socks, scissors, pencils and sharpeners, erasers, sellotape, straws, balloons, tennis balls, soap, pens, colouring pencils and crayons, books, calculators, vegetable peelers.. .”

He pauses: “The list goes on and on. I couldn’t get skipping ropes, which I understood the children wanted, so I bought a washing line and cut it into lengths. They went into my suitcase as well.”

Alan arrived at a place of hope which was also a place that clearly needed help. The orphanage houses 36 children, boys and girls, aged six years to 17. Most had lost their parents to AIDS, malaria or tuberculosis. There are hopes to expand the facilities to accommodate 50 children, but at the moment there are 200 waiting for a place at the orphanage. Alan says: “The children’s quarters were concrete buildings with a corridor running along one side. A number of walls were spaced out to form areas for bunk beds to sleep six children. There were also toilets, but these were just holes in the floor, one with a raised concrete pad for a sitting position. The shower areas left a lot to be desired. The water was quite cold, having been drawn from rain water collected in tanks on the roof. Each child had a box to keep a very small amount of donated clothing, along with a few odd items.”

He adds: “At meal times, providing it was not raining, the children would line up with their plates and cups. Every day they would get UGALI (pronounced OOGAHLEE) made from ground maize and water, sometimes with a few squares of meat, other times with greens similar to spinach. Meals were very repetitious and cooked in a small building on a fire on the floor, the cooking pots supported on the burning branches. The only liquid would be a cup of water.

“Each time I managed to get to the nearest shop I would buy a large bag of lollypops and toffees, which went down very well. We can think how lucky we are to live where we live, to have the things we have, like food, shelter, warmth and love - which are basic human needs. We have these in abundance.

“Yet I must say the children appeared to be very happy. I decided we had to have a party before I left, and in fact we had two. I bought chicken, crisps, popcorn, more lollypops, lots of bottles of pop, and huge bottles of squash. The ladies produced an endless supply of chapatis. Best of all, the children sang for me, and I could not stop the tears.”

Alan found that there were no grants available for funding, and that donations and sponsorships are the only way to keep the orphanage running.

“When I left it was an emotional end to a very satisfactory visit,” he says. “ I am now planning to make another visit.”