Christian Family

Bonhams is to auction a cache of Graham Sutherland’s papers in which he talks about the process of designing and manufacturing his world famous tapestry, Christ in Glory.

The tapestry hangs over the high altar. It took 10 years to make and was woven by Piton Frères at Felletin in the Limousin region of central France.

The weaving process was not without its difficulties as Frères could never see more than 1ft in height of the tapestry at any one time during its creation.

Even once the tapestry had been completed, the difficulties continued as cathedral authorities refused Sutherland permission to hang the tapestry before it left France in order to make any last minute adjustments.

The letters convey Sutherland’s problems with the cathedral authorities and its Reconstruction Committee as the project neared completion.

According to Sutherland, the French Culture Minister, novelist André Malraux, offered to hang the tapestry for him in the Sainte Chapelle in Paris in return for limited public access but the Committee refused the offer.

Sutherland expresses his disappointment over the situation in one letter: “As I have made several ‘redification’ while the weaving has been going on this is a blow to me.

“It seems that no time has been arranged or allowed for the work to be hung and there were difficulties, too, in finding a building large enough in which to hang it.”

The original medieval Coventry Cathedral was destroyed during a Luftwaffe attack on the city in 1940.

The construction of a new cathedral alongside the ruins of the old was intended to be a symbol of reconciliation.

In addition to Sutherland’s tapestry, the new cathedral premiered Benjamin Britten’s specially commissioned work, War Requiem, in which the German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau joined the British tenor Peter Pears in the leading roles.

The auction of Sutherland’s papers at Bonhams takes place on 12 June, just a few weeks after the 50th anniversary of the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral on 25 May.

The papers are estimated at £1,500 to £2,000.

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A dating site has begun a major in-depth survey into Christian, in Christian Family, singles in an effort to understand their experiences within the church.

Christian Connection has already had responses from more than a thousand Christian, in Christian Family,s in the week since the survey was launched.

The questions explore issues such as whether Christian, in Christian Family, singles feel accepted in church, how being single has impacted their faith, and how helpful they have found church advice on relationships and issues of singleness.

“Single people in churches of all traditions want – and need – to share their experiences,” said Christian, in Christian Family, Connection founder Jackie Elton.

“We hope churches will understand and learn from the findings. Single people often feel marginalised in churches which concentrate on the needs of families.

“However, as the number of single people grows in society, it is more important than ever that churches identify ways to make them feel welcome and and fully included.

“Single Christian, in Christian Family,s have already shared experiences and stories – positive and negative – of attending church. We would ask and encourage people to let their single friends know about the survey and encourage them to complete it.”

She added: “Armed with this important information we hope to work with other groups to bring about positive and practical change and development within churches, as well as helping single Christian, in Christian Family,s find a voice.”

The survey, which can be completed by going to www.christianconnection.co.uk/survey closes at the end of June.

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Refugee pastors are asking Christians in the UK to pray for peace between Sudan and South Sudan.

The pastors were forced to flee their homes and walk for days to reach the safety of refugee camps.

Abraham Rehan, pastor of a Sudan Interior Church (SIC), said: “It took us nine days to get here and we felt so bad having to leave all our things behind.”

More than 20 SIC churches have had to close their doors and flee to the refugee camps. They make up some of the 120,000 people who have now fled the conflict between Sudan and South Sudan in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile state, where a humanitarian crisis looms.

Despite the upheaval, Christians in the camps continue to meet for worship and study under the shade of trees.

The pastors meet regularly to pray and discuss how they can best respond to the practical and spiritual needs of the thousands of refugees in the camps.

The thousands arriving at the camps are in need of water, shelter, healthcare and food. Samaritan’s Purse has been helping in the camps since they were established.

The charity is helping to feed 90,000 refugees in the Doro and Jamam refugee camps in Mbane State. Its teams are working up to 12 hours at a time to distribute maize and sorghum, beans and oil.

The only hospital in the Doro region is being overseen by a Samaritan’s Purse doctor. The hospital is providing surgery to wounded soldiers and civilians, while an outpatient clinic is treating malaria. There is also a stabilisation centre for people suffering from acute malnutrition.

One 18-month-old was brought to the centre by her mother just over a week ago, suffering from malaria and pneumonia. She was lethargic and unable to eat or drink anything. After receiving treatment, she gained weight and was discharged.

Health and nutrition coordinator Kelly Now said: “One of the most rewarding things is when we see change.”

At the Yida refugee camp, home to around 30,000 refugees, Samaritan’s Purse is operating water pumps.

In the Nuba Mountains, the charity is running a child protection centre for unaccompanied girls. More than 500 girls are receiving food, shelter and water at the centre.

Child protection officer Gaby Ovington said many of the girls had to flee their boarding school because of bombardments.

“We’re also teaching them life skills and providing counselling to help them deal with the trauma they’ve been through,” she said.

Asked how Christians in the UK could pray for people in Sudan and South Sudan, Pastor Rehan said: “We need prayer for peace here, so we can go back home. Please also pray that our communities will hold strongly onto faith in Christ and pray for so many people who are sick.”

Samaritan’s Purse UK Executive Director Simon Barrington said: “My heart has been broken by being here and I know that God’s heart is broken too. We need to act now so that these people will get the food, shelter, water and healthcare that they need and to advocate for peace in the region so that people can return home. So please pray for these pastors and our teams here in your Church this Sunday as they continue to meet both these vital practical as well as spiritual needs.”

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Memorial services are being held in Hertfordshire today to mark the 10th anniversary of the Potters Bar rail crash.

Seven people died when the fourth carriage of the London to Kings Lynn train came off the track and became wedged under the canopy at Potters Bar station.

The crash was blamed on a faulty set of points and Network Rail was last year fined £3 million after it admitted breaching health and safety regulations.

Six of the victims were passengers. The seventh, 80-year-old Agnes Quinlivan, was killed by falling debris as she walked near the station.

Friends and relatives of the victims are among those attending the services.

The first takes place at a memorial garden close to the scene of the crash and includes the laying of flowers and a minute’s silence at 12:56pm – the time the train derailed.

This will be followed by a second service at Our Lady and St Vincent church in Potters Bar.

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The sole attorney representing Iranian Christian, in Christian Family, pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has reportedly been sentenced to nine years in prison for alleged acts violating national security and spreading propaganda against the regime.

His imprisonment would place Nadarkhani’s case in further jeopardy, according to observers.

Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, who has defended several people on death row in Iran, told British publication the Guardian that he has also been banned from practicing law for 10 years and prohibited from teaching at universities. The Guardian’s report was published Thursday.

“I have been convicted of acting against the national security, spreading propaganda against the regime and keeping banned books at home,” Dadkhah told the Guardian from Tehran.

“I was in a court in Tehran defending one of my clients, Davoud Arjangi, a jailed political activist on death row when the judge told me that my own sentence has been approved and I will be shortly summoned to jail to serve the nine-year sentence,” the attorney added.

Dadkhah is known mostly for being the only attorney who chose to take on Nadarkhani’s case, which has drawn international attention since the evangelical Christian, in Christian Family,’s imprisonment after speaking out against Islam being taught in his children’s schools.

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which has closely been monitoring he pastor’s case, argues that this move on behalf of the government is not beneficial to Nadarkhani’s current situation. The married father of two sons has been imprisoned in Iran since Oct. 2009 on charges of apostasy and attempting to evangelise Muslims.

“The news that this renowned human rights attorney has been sentenced to prison by Iranian officials is very troubling,” said Jordan Sekulow, Executive Director of the ACLJ, in a press release.

“This development only reinforces the fact that Iran has no regard for basic human rights. It also raises further concern about the fate of Pastor Youcef. With his attorney facing nine years in prison, and no other lawyer likely to take the case, Pastor Youcef has no legal advocate, which places him at greater risk,” he added.

Dadkhah has defended other prominent political and religious prisoners, including human rights activists who faced jail time after the 2009 elections and politician Ebrahim Yazdi, who is known as Iran’s oldest political prisoner due to his involvement in the Freedom Movement of Iran party.

Nadarkhani remains in prison after it was reported in February that an execution order had been handed down by the courts. The ACLJ has confirmed that, as of Wednesday, the pastor is alive. Thursday marks Nadarkhani’s 934th day of imprisonment.

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A specially produced Diamond Jubilee New Testament has become a runaway success.

More than 400,000 copies have flown off the shelves since going on sale at the start of April.

The special editions were produced by the Church of England, HOPE and Biblica as a souvenir to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

They were created for churches to give away for free at schools, street parties and Diamond Jubilee events.

Dr Rachel Jordan, National Mission and Evangelism Adviser, Archbishops’ Council, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the response from local churches with a heart to give the New Testament away to those in their local communities.

“Many homes that don’t have a copy of the key Christian, in Christian Family, stories about Jesus Christ will now be given this wonderful gift so they can read and think about the Christian, in Christian Family, faith for themselves.”

Orders have come in from churches of all denominations and even from outside the UK, with sales reaching double what was expected.

The special editions had been published on a limited run, but due to the huge demand, the deadline for ordering has now been extended to noon on 14 May.

The New Testaments feature eight pages of images from the Coronation and the Queen’s life, linking her 60-year reign and her Christian, in Christian Family, faith. There is a suggested reading section with Bible references on various topics and a clear guide to help readers understand the significance of Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection.

The text is the British New International Version 2011, which has been ‘donated’ by Biblica.

Mark Finnie, Church and Bible Engagement Director, Biblica, said: “Our passion is to distribute Bibles and New Testaments in creative and culturally engaging ways.

“We are delighted to be working with HOPE and the Archbishops’ Council to provide churches, schools and organisations with the Diamond Jubilee New Testament, in what is possibly the largest single distribution of scriptures within our country in living memory.”

Roy Crowne, Executive Director of the national mission movement HOPE, said: “We are thrilled with the response so far. We are making this souvenir New Testament available at cost price – so that churches can give them away as a lasting reminder of the Queen’s 60 years of faithful service to the country and Commonwealth.

“We hope that many more churches will use this opportunity to give this special gift to people in their communities as they celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.”

Copies can be ordered via email from lynn.robinson@biblica.com or by calling 028 9073 5875

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The conference, held at St Mark’s, Battersea Rise, brought together 200 leaders of the FCA to discuss the future of the movement.

The FCA grew up out of the 2008 GAFCON conference of orthodox Anglicans and their strong opposition to the liberalisation of Anglicanism in parts of the Communion, particularly North America.

In a closing statement of commitment on Friday, FCA leaders said their two goals were to proclaim and defend the Gospel throughout the world, and to strengthen the church worldwide by “supporting and authenticating faithful Anglicans who have been disenfranchised from their spiritual homes”.

“We heard numerous accounts from Anglican leaders around the world who have been harassed by their own bishops and fellow clergy for their Gospel witness, yet have been grateful for the stance of the FCA,” the statement said.

“We note that The Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada are proceeding post-haste to approve same-sex blessing rites with total disregard for the conscience of their own members, for the moratoria mandated by the official Instruments of the Anglican Communion, and for the broken state of communion where more than half the world’s Anglicans are represented by the FCA.”

At the start of the closed-door conference, the Primate of Kenya the Most Rev Eliud Wabukala called for an elected chair to the Primates’ Meeting, which has until now been chaired by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

He said that an elected chairman “means he is accepted by all of us”.

In an address, the Archbishop said revisionist interpretations of Scripture had presented Anglican identity with “unprecedented challenges”.

“If we are to understand the implications of this crisis for the recovery and renewal of Anglican identity, we must first be clear on what sort of crisis it is,” he said.

“We cannot treat this as simply an institutional crisis. The breakdown of the existing governance structures of the Anglican Communion is a symptom of a deeper problem.

“It is now generally recognised that the instruments of unity – the Primates Meeting, the Anglican Consultative Council, the Lambeth Conference – no longer command general confidence.”

Archbishop Wabukala said the rejection of the proposed covenant by the Church of England and other parts of the Communion showed it was “obvious that institutional remedies for the crisis have failed and that the problems we face are far too deep seated to be dealt with by merely managerial and organisational strategies”.

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The Archbishop of York has addressed 50 headteachers from schools and academies across northern England on the importance of religious education.

Meeting the headteachers today at his official residence, Bishopthorpe Palace, Dr John Sentamu challenged Education Secretary Michael Gove’s decision to leave RE off the English Baccalaureate.

“Religious knowledge forms and creates a culture,” he said.

“Whatever we might think of Michael Gove, in this country, religion and practice will never be on the sidelines.

“It is a surely a mistake, to turn education into a box ticking exercise focused on exam success and the supply of skilled workers to industry and commerce. Education is good for its own sake.”

He added: “Trying to side-line Jesus Christ is like trying to disguise the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral with a bobble hat. It is not possible.”

RE was left out of the English Baccalaureate despite concerns over the subject’s future from church leaders and a nationwide petition signed by more than a hundred thousand people calling for its inclusion.

The decision was strongly criticised in a Church of England report last month, which warned of “multiple challenges” to the subject across the school system.

The Church School of the Future report stated that the exclusion of any consideration of the subject from the current revision of the national curriculum was “likely to have a damaging effect on the status of the subject despite the retention of the statutory requirement”.

It noted, however, that the Government appeared to have “no will” to address the challenges facing RE.

“While the Church of England has received some encouragement to work together with other

partners to address some of the issues related to religious education, the responses of the

Government to these concerns have been disappointing,” it said.

“Realistically, the Church is limited in its ability to influence practice in the classroom even in its own schools. It does, however, have a voice and will continue to press for recognition of the damage being done to religious education.”

It adds: “High quality religious education and collective worship should continue to make major contributions to the Church school’s Christian, in Christian Family, ethos.”

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