News (September 2009)
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Church Academy opens its doors
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The Northumberland Church of England Academy, one of the biggest and most ambitious projects of its kind in England, opens its doors to the children of east Ashington, Newbiggin by-the sea and Lynemouth this September.
For Canon Margaret Nicholson, Diocesan Director of Education, and her team, the opening of the 3,000-pupil school – which will eventually offer teaching on five separate campuses – represents a major milestone for Christian-based education in the diocese, and is the culmination of years of planning and negotiating. “It’s a great moment,” Mrs. Nicholson says, “But this is only the start of the Academy. Now we have to make our vision a reality. Although it is a very large school we’re keen it should have a small school, family ethos with good relationships within the school, with our pupils’ families, and with the wider community.”
The Northumberland Academy is cosponsored by the Duke of Northumberland and the Diocese, and it will cater for pupils throughout their school career, from the age of three when they enter the nursery until they leave, to go to work or into further or higher education. There will also be a regional all-age provision for children and young people with complex special needs.
The Academy replaces 10 schools - seven first schools, two middle and one high school - which together made up the former Hirst partnership in Ashington. It will open in the 10 existing buildings, but an extensive building and refurbishment programme costing over £48m starts in 2010 so that eventually the Academy will operate across five sites.
Canon Nicholson adds: “Our aim is to offer a high quality education for all, with a broad and balanced curriculum which builds on learner skills and development throughout a pupil’s school career. Staff, working in close collaboration to ensure a consistent approach across all the sites, will ensure that all our children make the progress of which they’re capable. The age range means that there will be continuity through the different stages of learning, uninterrupted by the need to change schools.”
Like all Church of England schools, the Academy will serve the whole community, welcoming children of all faiths and none. Christian principles and values such as respecting the unique worth, value and dignity of each individual, treating others as you would like to be treated, showing care for the vulnerable and needy, and care for the planet, will be the basis of daily life in the Academy.
“The Northumberland Church of England Academy aims to provide an education that stretches the mind, strengthens the body, enriches the imagination, nourishes the spirit, encourages the will to do good, and opens the heart to others,” Margaret Nicholson says. Executive Director Phil Hearne, who turned a failing school in Paddington into a much-respected academy, heads up a large staff team at Hirst and is responsible for providing strategic leadership, which will include ensuring that the Academy’s Christian character, policies and priorities are understood and practised across all sites. The school has also appointed a full-time chaplain, Alison Harding.
In the lead-up to the existing schools closing for the summer holidays, pupils have been taking part in discussions about uniforms, logos and campus names for the new academy. Staff and facilitators as well as officers from Alnwick Castle and the Diocese have taken part, and our picture shows Stephen Manion, from the Duke of Northumberland’s office, consulting with some of the children.
“For more than 200 years the Diocese and the Duke of Northumberland have together played a valuable role in education in the County,” Mr. Manion, says. “Today our joint goal is simply to serve all the children in the community in which the new Academy is located.”
Bishop Paul Richardson, chair of the Diocesan Education Board, adds: “Helping to set up the Academy has been a major operation for the staff of the Board but we are all excited by the project. It has already made the front page of a national newspaper as the first Academy of its type, and the Board is looking forward to working with our other sponsor, the staff and teachers, the parents, the local community, and, not least, the pupils, to create a school with a reputation for excellence where students are helped to fulfil their potential.”
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Come as you are
Some 63 parishes from Alston to Willington, from Bolam to Woodhorn, are issuing invitations for Back to Church Sunday on September 27, having signed up for this national drive to reach out to families, friends and neighbours.
Some parishes are taking the opportunity to build on last year’s experience while others have signed up for the first time, with every one of the Church’s 44 dioceses taking part this year, and twice as many participating churches as in 2008. Throughout the country, regular churchgoers are being encouraged to invite someone they know who used to attend church to come back on this particular Sunday, and the churches involved will focus on extending an even warmer welcome than usual.
Says one bishop of last year’s BC2S: “The impact of Back to Church Sunday is not just measured in statistics; it is measured by the wonderful impact it has had on numerous individual lives.” Although it is now too late to order packs for this year, there is still time to prepare for this year’s event through making use some of the many free downloadable resources available on the Back to Church Sunday website, www.backtochurch.co.uk which includes Top Tips for welcome and worship material.
We look forward to receiving reports and photographs of the event to make a special feature in the Link. Also through sharing our stories and our ideas we will be able to build our resources for future events. If you have any questions please contact Revd Dorothy Robinson dottirobinson@hotmail.com Tel. 0191 2570980 or Captain Steve Dixon s.c.dixon@bigfoot.com Tel.0191 262 1539
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Panic Stations gains support
LOCAL Liberal Democrat MEP Fiona Hall has slammed controversial plans for another coal-fired power station at Blyth, saying they "fly in the face of reason". And two other local MEPs, Conservative Martin Callanan and Labour’s Stephen Hughes, have also indicated their broad support for campaigners’ opposition to the plans. Link recently reported on the “Panic Stations” campaign led by Dr. David Golding, CBE, who together with supporters met local residents at Cambo, near Blyth, to firm up plans for opposition to the power station proposals.
He says: “We are most grateful for the support of all three of our recently re-elected MEPs. We seek changes to the Government’s proposals for new coal-fired power stations and associated demonstration units for Carbon Capture Storage, as announced by Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change in April with a view to minimising the UK’s future carbon emissions. The matter is of the utmost importance since coal is the most damaging to the climate of all fuels and because of the need to cut CO2 as much and as fast as possible.”
Fiona Hall says: "The current proposals fly in the face of reason. The idea of starting with small-scale 'pilot plants' for CCS is a sound one. But it is vital that the pilots are designed to capture all the CO2 being emitted - otherwise we will be trialling a system which is only marginally better than the non-abated coal powered plants that exist at present.
"With climate change happening faster than anyone predicted, the fact is that coal-fired stations without 100% CCS are killers."
Dr Golding adds: “We make no criticism of CCS as such. On the contrary, we would warmly welcome appropriate efforts to develop this technology, which would be of incalculable value in the fight against climate change. What we are saying is: By all means press ahead with CCS demonstration plants, but wait until the process is proven before embarking on large scale new coal build.”
He goes on: “In other words, we are totally opposed to the construction of ‘death factories with fig leaves’ - new, full sized, coal-fired power stations, trying vainly to hide behind fig leafsized CCS units! The weasel words, ‘Clean Coal’, are routinely applied to such systems, but they are anything but clean! They would start belching out their carbon – tens of millions of tons of it every year – at the very time (around 2015) when global emissions need to begin to decline. Furthermore, if CCS cannot be made to work at an acceptable cost - and we have to face up to the fact that this possibility, however unwelcome, is a very real one – we will have shackled ourselves to these highly polluting monstrosities for decades to come.”
In the Comment section, David Golding replies to the letter from John Cure in the July/August edition of Link. Click here to read it.
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Winchester link visit
Newcastle’s Winchester link received a boost this summer with a visit to our partner diocese, led by the Revd Pamela Ingham.
A packed programme began with tea with the Archdeacon of Bournemouth, followed by Evensong and discussions at St. Mark’s, Ampfield. This was the parish where the vicar took his son, Vere Awdry, to watch trains on the nearby railway. This bore fruit, of course, as not only did the child grow up to be ordained, but he also wrote the ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ stories. The Vicar of Killingworth, Tony Pattison, spoke of an earlier railway heritage from the North.
The next morning the common problems and opportunities that asylum seekers and refugees bring to our respective areas were considered, with contributions from people engaged in ministering in both dioceses, including Chris Carol who works in the East end of Newcastle. The Newcastle visitors were surprised to discover that Bournemouth was contracted to receive all of Surrey’s asylum seekers, and so had more of a problem than expected.
The Revd. Bob Burston of Wooler, and Tom Johnson of the Wooler and Glendale Development Trust, spoke of the way in which local communities can develop and how the Church can engage with this process in serving its community.
The effects of retirement and an aging population were considered with Garry Taylor, vicar of Highcliffe, who has the council ward with the highest percentage of over 60’s in the country in his parish. He proposed some solutions in terms of all age worship. Zoe Hart, Winchester’s Fresh Expressions officer, led a session on ‘New Ways of Being Church’ and Mike Powis gave examples from the student world.
Evensong at Christchurch Priory was a fitting lead in to the discussion of the churches’ mission to holiday makers and tourists, with special reference to the vast opportunities that heritage offers. Andrew Duff, a tourism consultant who has been working for the dioceses of Newcastle and Durham, deftly lead the discussions with contributions from Ron House of St George’s, Cullercoats.
An afternoon walk on Hengistbury Head lead to a great deal of informal reflection on the common problems and opportunities that ministry in our respective areas delivered. This, together with a final session on possible future issues for shared exploration, laid the foundations for the continued companionship of the two dioceses.
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Mobile bells
The Durham and Newcastle Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers (The D&N) held a promotional day using the Lichfield Diocesan Mobile Belfry earlier this summer to encourage people to take up the age-old art of church bell ringing. A team of helpers set-up the belfry on Northumberland Street and gave members of the public a chance to have their first go at bell ringing.
Throughout the day, the team handed out 1500 promotional leaflets and helped more than 200 people from toddlers to octogenarians to ring a bell. Thanks must go to the Evangelism Task Group who helped to secure the site for the event and provided much of the funding.
If you are interested in learning to ring church bells please contact Brian Spurling edsec@dandn.org 07706997049 or have a look at our website www.dandn.org.
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Hotspur Festival
For the recent Hotspur Festival celebrating the 700th anniversary of the arrival of the Percy Family in Alnwick, schools across the county were invited to make banners out of recycled materials relating to the Percys and their history. The banners were paraded on the rather rainy Saturday morning of 27 June and there was a judging and prize giving by the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland in the Market Square. Faith schools were prominent among the prize winners. For the following month the 21 banners were on display in St. Michael's Church Alnwick where the industry and imagination of the children was much admired. Our picture shows the winning banner.
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Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary
Servers from the diocese attended the Northern Festival dedicated to Our Lady and the Saints of Northumbria held at St Oswald’s, Hartlepool, recently. The principal celebrant at the concelebrated Eucharist was Bishop Paul Richardson and over 150 servers and others attended. During the event an icon of “Our Lady and the Saints of Northumbria” was blessed by Bishop Paul and then taken in procession round the church. The icon can be viewed at St. Bede’s church, Newsham.
The Guild - among whose objects are the raising of the spiritual tone and conscientious performance of altar servers - is looking to recruit new members. The diocese has at present two chapters: St. Oswin, which covers the coastal area up to the Scottish Border, and St. Benet Biscop in the city of Newcastle and West. The chapters meet monthly to sing their office and afterwards meet in fellowship, often providing support for servers who may find themselves the only server at their churches. Any altar servers who are interested in joining please contact Roland Robins on 0191 2511715.
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Special service of dedication and blessing at Alston
The beautiful town of Alston , which is reached by narrow, winding roads, carries a burden which has touched many local people, and at the end of July a special service of dedication and blessing took place in the churchyard at St. Augustine’s in the town.
The Revd. Judy Glover led the worship and prayers as a memorial stone was laid to commemorate the lives of those who have been killed and injured on the roads around Alston.
Church warden Anne Lascelles explains: “Alston lies at the meeting point of many roads, for the most part narrow and winding. They are beloved by motorcyclists and cyclists at weekends, in the summer in particular. They are mostly A roads also used by commuters and travellers. Unfortunately accidents are not uncommon enough and it is a familiar sight to see bunches of flowers by the roadside.”
The idea for a permanent memorial in the churchyard of St Augustine’s Church to those killed or injured on the roads around Alston Moor was the idea of the previous vicar, the Revd. John Hardy, and the stone was donated by a local company, Alston Natural Stone. The lettering was paid for by donations from motorcyclists and others, with remaining money being donated to the local Air Ambulance service.
Our picture shows the memorial stone on the grassed bed next to the church after the blessing. In the picture is Tom Pepin, who was injured in a car crash on Hartside in 1993. His mother June Pepin, says: “Unlike many road accident victims, Tom was fortunate enough to survive, though he is a paraplegic. He does however lead a fulfilled and active life, playing wheelchair basketball.” The memorial stone has a plinth in front for people to lay flowers, and the stone itself is surrounded by rosemary plants.
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MU 100th Anniversary
Members of the Mothers' Union at St. Paul's, Choppington and the Church of the Holy Family at Stakeford have celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the formation of their branch.
The Eucharist service, held at St. Paul's was conducted by Bishop Martin, assisted by MU Chaplain, the Revd. Marion Penfold. The branch was delighted to welcome Diocesan MU President, Canon Pat Johnson, Deanery President, Jennifer Snowdon, and previous parish clerg - Richard Ford, Glyn Evans, Judith Grieve and Jeremy Thompson. It was great to see them all together! Members and officials from all over the Deanery of Bedlington and the Diocese of Newcastle joined MU members for a buffet supper, served afterwards at Holy Family Church - a wonderful evening enjoyed by all.
The Mothers' Union in Choppington was started in 1909 by Mrs. Phyllis Burdon, the wife of the parish priest, the Revd. John T Burdon. Records show that there has been an almost uninterrupted history of the branch in the parish, with membership figures ranging from 18 to 70. This year we have 23 members and would love to encourage younger members of the parish to join us to continue this history of work for the Worldwide Mothers' Union for another 100 years.
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St. Nicholas' Cathedral run
Despite warm weather which made the exercise hard work, Michael Stoddart, Director of Music at St. Nicholas’ Cathedral, completed the 29 miles he undertook to run to raise money for the cathedral choirs.
Michael says: “I was greatly encouraged by Dagmar Winter who ran with me on day one, and the choristers who met me for the final push up ‘The Side’. We have raised more than £1000 so far.”
There is a gift aid form available online at www.michaelstoddart.org which also gives information about the run, the cause and how to donate.
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Diabetes sufferers meet to celebrate
Everybody knows diabetes is a major health problem nowadays particularly in the North East. It is described in the report “Our Vision Our Future” recently published by NHS North East as one of “the top three conditions, which have the highest levels of morbidity and service demands”. Unfortunately the incidence of the disease is increasing and affects people, who are older, from deprived areas or from a South Asian background disproportionately.
The discovery of insulin in 1921 changed the lives of people with Type 1 diabetes dramatically. Before then such a diagnosis was little more than a death sentence. Since then the treatment of the disease has changed beyond all recognition. Gone are the days when people such as my grandmother in the 1930’s had to boil up and sterilize huge glass syringes so she could inject herself with insulin. This was apparently a very hit and miss affair as it was difficult to make up the right solution.
Since then the NHS and Diabetes UK have worked hard to develop research and bring about huge improvements in the treatment and care of people with diabetes. In 1987 and 1997 the British Diabetic Association campaigned successfully firstly for disposable insulin syringes and then ten years later for pen needles to be made available on prescription. Today the charity is the major campaigning and fundraising charity for people with diabetes in the UK. It provides not only information, practical support and advice in a variety of ways but also funds research.
There is much to be thankful for in the treatment of diabetes. To mark this the Newcastle Diabetes UK Volunteer Support Group are holding a Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving at 7.00pm at St Nicholas’s Cathedral in Newcastle on Monday October 5. The service will end with a brief act of remembrance for people who have had to live with diabetes. Tea and coffee will be available in the cathedral refectory from 6.00pm so people can meet and chat.
If you or a friend or a relative have diabetes or if you work in any way to support the treatment and care of people with diabetes, you will be most welcome. If you can come it would help preparations for the service if you could inform me, Diane Packham. Please either e-mail on diane@derekpackham.com or phone on 0191 285 0454. This would be greatly appreciated.
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St Gabriel's Festival
St Gabriel's Church, Heaton, commemorates its patronal festival and 110th birthday with a flower festival on the theme of "Celebrations" later this month. Bishop Paul will officially open the event on Thursday September 24 at 7.30 pm, and the festival will be open to the public between 10am and 4pm on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 September.
On Friday evening our organist David Stannard, will be giving a piano recital at 7pm. The celebrations will continue on Sunday September 27, with a Parish Eucharist at 9.45am. The festival will conclude with a Festal Evensong at 6.30pm.
Everyone is welcome to take part in the celebrations, especially former parishioners and friends. For further information please telephone 0191 2650329.
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Earsdon memories wanted
Parishioners in Earsdon and Backworth are being asked to record happy memories from their childhood in order to help deprived children in England and Wales. The contributions going on display at the Eccles Hall in Earsdon on Saturday September 5th 2009.
The event which will run from 10.30 am to 2 pm will include a lunch and raffle with the proceeds going to the Children’s Society.
The Vicar of Earsdon and Backworth, the Reverend Andrew France, said “We often hear sad stories involving the neglect and abuse of children; it will be good to read about happy memories of childhood and raise some money to help create better memories for children who lead difficult lives.”
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Wallsend Commendation
Two members of Saint Luke’s Church Wallsend were among those honoured for their work in the community at the Chairman of North Tyneside’s Commendation Awards this summer.
Ann Bramley received the Chairman’s Commendation for her work over the past 16 years as a support worker with the Western Primary School. Ann has established excellent relationships with pupils and parents alike and has contributed to the education of hundreds of children during her time at the school. This has resulted in closer ties between church and school with the school holding its carol service there and individual classes visiting the church for different activities.
Capt. Ian Ferguson of the Church Army was highly commended for his work with asylum seekers and refugees over the past nine years and his involvement in setting up the “Walking With” project as part of Wallsend Churches Working Together. He was commended for the tireless effort given in supporting many families and individuals who had fled horrific situations, and especially to those who had arrived as unaccompanied minors.
Some of these now make up over 10 per cent of the worshiping congregation on Sundays. Some have come for baptism, others have had to flee their home country simply because of baptism. Capt. Ferguson has been involved in the running of confirmation and instruction classes, helping newcomers grow in faith and become part of the worshiping community.
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Crucifix goes home after more than 90 years
It was a journey of thanksgiving for Robert Brind and his wife Hilary of Ulgham in Northumberland when they travelled to France this summer to visit the Basilica of Notre Dame de Brebieres in the town of Albert.
Albert lies close to the Somme, scene of one of the most bloody battles in the First World War, and the town is surrounded by memorials and cemeteries devoted to the lives of the fallen.
One of the British soldiers caught up in the Somme onslaught was Albert Francis Lewis, a relative of Mr. Brind’s, who along with others took refuge in the basilica which was eventually destroyed by the Germans. Albert Lewis clung to a crucifix for comfort, and surviving the attack, he took the crucifix with him when he eventually returned home to Fairwater in Wales.
Little was known about Albert Francis Lewis and his crucifix but his son, John Lewis, who served as a priest in the Diocese of Llanduff, treasured the cross after his father’s death.
Robert Brind explains: “John was my uncle, and during the latter years of his life he became determined to return the crucifix to its rightful place in France. He discussed this with me and my wife and we had plans to accompany him back to Albert with the crucifix. Sadly he died before we were able to go.”
But the crucifix, which had been dated to around 1870, was sent on to Robert and Hilary who quickly made contact with Father Jean-Marie Poitout, the parish priest in Albert. And last month the crucifix was handed back to the Basilica of Notre Dame de Brebieres.
Says Robert: “At the same time we delivered a letter from the Archbishop of Wales, who sent greetings from the Church in Wales, and also pointed out how the centres of worship in both communities, the Basilica in Albert and Llandaff Cathedral in Wales, suffered as a result of two World Wars.”
He adds: “It’s good to know that both have been restored to their former glory.”
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40th Anniversary birthday song
The Churches Conservation Trust , which is responsible for the upkeep of around 350 churches is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a ‘Birthday Song’ event at 40 of its churches all over the country. One of these will take place in the beautiful setting of Saint Andrew and Saint Peter at Bywell on October 3 - a day's singing workshop for singers of all ages and abilities followed by a short informal and free concert including the first performance of a cantata for Tynedale - for soloist, choirs, medieval instruments and organ, written by local musician/composers.
The event will be hosted by Antiphon, the Tyne Valley chamber choir , to help publicise the work of the Trust and in particular, to celebrate its aim of making the churches it maintains more available for community events. (More information about the ‘Create a Cantata’ event can be found on the choir’s website at www.antiphonchoir.co.uk ) Members of the group and their conductor, John Roper, will lead the day’s singing and will be joined in this event by the lively medieval instrumental duo, Misericordia, who play an array of different medieval instruments.
The aim is to get as many Tyne Valley people singing as they can. You don't have to be able to read music to take part and they would welcome people of all ages. The cantata is based on a great hymn of praise for Creation, written by Saint Francis of Assisi, whose movement is 800 years old this year and whose saint's day is October 4. It also celebrates the value of an inclusive community built on our support of one another.
If you are interested in taking part, please download the information, including a workshop booking form, from the website and return it by mid September. If you haven’t got access to the internet phone Judy Lloyd on 01434 606293 who will post one to you. If you are really just a listener, tell your friends and just come along to listen to the concert and join in a well known ‘birthday song’ from 3.30pm to 5pm on Saturday October 3. There will be a retiring collection. You should be back in good time for the final Candlelight Concert in the Abbey Festival!
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