Former teacher, Catherine Lynch, of Education Resource explains the gruesome story:It marks the day in 1605 when Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Guy Fawkes was also known as Guido Fawkes, he was born and educated in York during the reign of Elizabeth l, a Protestant monarch. Many Catholics, who were regarded as enemies of the state, were subjected to torture, imprisonment and execution. Her successor, King James I, was more moderate but many Catholics remained unhappy that they weren’t permitted to practise their religion at home in peace.
At the age of eight, Fawkes’ father died and his mother married a Catholic. Fawkes converted to Catholicism and went to Catholic Spain to fight in the war against the Protestant Dutch reformers (the Eighty Years War). In Spain, Fawkes tried to get support for a Catholic rebellion in England, but he was unsuccessful. He met Thomas Wintour who, back in England, introduced him to Robert Catesby. Catesby planned to assassinate King James I because he wanted England to have a Catholic monarch.
Catesby, Wintour and Fawkes were joined by others in their plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament during the state opening of Parliament. Fawkes would light the fuse, escape across the river Thames and make his way to Europe. However,an anonymous letter was sent to William Parker, Lord Monteagle, alerting him to the plot. On November 5th1605, Fawkes was discovered underneath the Houses of Parliament guarding the gunpowder. He was arrested and tortured.
Fawkes and eight of the plotters stood trial. The jury found them guilty and they were killed in January 1606. For years, the failed Gunpowder Plot was marked by bonfires, special sermons and public events such as the ringing of church bells. An Act of Parliament named November 5th as a day of thanksgiving for the “joyful day of deliverance”. This act remained in force until 1859. Over time, Bonfire Night has become the more commercial celebration we have today.
London City Mission (LCM) is challenging Christians across the UK to spend a night on the streets in its Big Winter Sleepout on November 19th.
Anni Uddin, Field Director for homeless and marginalised at London City Mission, said: “The reality of homelessness in this country is heartbreaking and it’s likely to be significantly worse this winter.”
“The Big Winter Sleepout is a powerful way to step into the life of those on our streets, experience what they face, and hopefully stir our hearts to engage with them in our daily lives. This is beyond just donating money; it is giving time and effort to change your perceptions about homelessness as you help make a change in the lives of people who are homeless.”
This winter, it’s estimated that 1.2 million households in the UK are at the risk of becoming homeless. After a decrease in homelessness from 2021 to the summer of 2022, this forecast would mean the undoing of the efforts of so many who have been supported out of homelessness.
Funds raised from the Sleepout will go towards the charity’s Webber Street day centre in Waterloo. Webber Street is a place where those struggling with homelessness can go to during the day and receive hot breakfasts, clean clothes, help with finding accommodation, career advice and a chance to hear the good news of Jesus shared to them lovingly. Last year, Webber Street provided more than 10,000 breakfasts, 2,000 showers and hundreds of clothes and toiletries. The centre is also home to the Corner House, a short-term accommodation home, where mid-term housing is provided for four men at a time.
Sign-up for the Sleepout here: lcm.org.uk/sleepout. Participants can complete the sleepout at the Webber Street day centre or it can done in a back garden, balcony or doorstep.
‘You’re advised not to travel by train today.’ Notifications of rail strikes and ‘planned disruption’ were all over the media. I’m not a big risk taker so felt it wise to heed the warnings. I patiently worked my way through an ongoing exchange of emails to rearrange an important face-to-face meeting with a potential new client based in London. Undeterred I agreed to a new date for the meeting, while hoping and praying that the opportunity hadn’t been blown.
‘Your return train has been cancelled.’ The email pinged in at 5.00am, 45 minutes before my alarm was due to go off. My initial disappointment at losing precious moments of sleep was instantly over shadowed by a wave of mild panic, followed by a double shot of adrenaline, a coffee, a quick search for alternative trains and a few deep breaths. Undeterred I set off for the train station, while hoping and praying that I would somehow be able to find my way home.
‘Your outgoing train has been delayed by 40 minutes’ announced a very apologetic voice over the tannoy. I found a seat on the platform, watched the world go by for a while, and listened to the repeated apologies. Undeterred I got on the train, while hoping and praying that the delay wouldn’t make me late for said meeting.
Long journeys hold a special sort of dread for me. All my life I’ve suffered from chronic motion sickness. And I don’t use the word suffer lightly. Travel pills render me almost unconscious so I’m left with no other options but to manage the process by practical means. I must travel on a completely empty stomach, keep my eyes firmly shut for the entire time and keep my head, neck and body as still as I possibly can. In addition to this I practise the deep breathing exercises which I’ve previously used during 19 hours of un-medicated labour. It may look weird but hey, lots of travellers nap, so I just kind of zoned out all the way from Manchester to London.
Upon arrival at Euston there was a 20 minute queue for the toilets and a 20 minute queue for a taxi. This involved the mildly inconvenient but mostly pleasant and settling experience of standing on solid ground with both of my eyes open. Both of these tasks sit well within my skill set and I completed them with a great deal of satisfaction. The meeting involved chatting to lovely people about creative things. Also good. Another 20 minute queue for the taxi back to the station was followed by a 20 minute stop-start journey over every speed bump in London, but I just about managed to keep myself together.
Another long queue for the toilet. Another long queue at the ticket office. A forward facing seat is vital for me, but my attempts to book one on a later train failed. I explained to the ticket attendant that standing up for the journey would likely cause me to puke and pass out, but he’d obviously heard that one before, and told me seats were pot luck. Then a helpful member of staff intervened and suggested I tried to board the next train north which was leaving any minute now. Running wasn’t allowed in the station, but I did my fastest walking dash and arrived at the platform just in time. The train was filling up with disgruntled travellers.
There were no empty seats left but it was absolutely critical that I got my bum on a seat before the train started moving and my innards along with it. With just moments until departure I quickly squashed myself into a tiny space on the floor and managed to lean my back against a lumpy pile of luggage. Another weary traveller came to mind, a pregnant refugee longing for rest and safety. But there was no room at the inn for her, she had to make do with the only lowly place she could find. As fellow travellers scurried around or stepped over me I pondered the significance of this bottom-of-the-pile story anew.
By now the repeated assaults upon my system were beginning to take their toll. My head ached from lack of food. My stomach felt like a washing machine. I really wanted to go home. I told myself that I had to stay on that train no matter what happened.
A man was working on his laptop just a few feet away. He was chatty and friendly and asked me if I was ok. He was a kindly presence. His appearance, voice and manner were so much like one of my relatives that I had to do a double take. He was a comforting presence. A mobile fan was linked to his laptop and he asked me if I would like him to aim it at me so I said yes please. He was a generous presence. That cool breeze was precisely what I needed. When it was time for me to get up from the floor he stooped down and offered me his enormous hand. I took it. He lifted me up as if I was just a doll. He was a strong reassuring presence. He didn’t know about my difficulties that day, he was just a guy on the train, but he seemed like an angel to me.
What are the best foods to add to your diet to see quicker results from your workout? What would make all that gruelling hard work and discipline even more beneficial? With some trepidation I grilled the Fitness Experts at Breaking Muscle and was pleasantly surprised by their answers!
Their Fitness Experts explained: “While you may be clued up on the necessary exercises to meeting your fitness goals, it’s not always so simple. Your diet is crucial when it comes to working out, as it plays an important role in achieving optimum results. Proteins and carbohydrate are vital nutrients, whether your aim be to lose weight or build muscle.”
Five yummy foods for optimum fitness
1. Greek yoghurt
High in protein and low in fat, Greek yoghurt helps to promote weight loss while simultaneously building muscle. It contains probiotics to improve immune and digestive health and contributes to a healthy gut biome. Adding a handful of almonds to the yoghurt (six grams of protein per ounce) will create an even more effective snack.
2. Brown rice
High in fibre, complex carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fat and antioxidants, brown rice is an excellent food for exercise, supplying long-term energy during workouts. Add kidney or black beans for an increased intake of protein.
3. Oatmeal
Oatmeal can help with endurance and strength. It provides complex carbohydrates and protein to aid workout progress and is rich in fibre. Adding berries, with their inflammation-fighting antioxidants, can contribute to healing after exercise.
4. Sweet potatoes
A source of complex carbohydrates sweet potatoes have a high fibre and water content. This contributes to the feeling of being full. They contain vitamin A, potassium and riboflavin which all aid the muscle building process. Adding red peppers, with their anti-inflammatory antioxidants, could ease post-workout pain.
5. Eggs
Eggs are high in protein and healthy fats. These combined properties build muscle and cause a feeling of fullness, which can aid with weight loss. Adding whole grain bread increases the protein content and adds fibre.
To my great relief the Breaking Muscle Fitness Experts were all in agreement when I asked them about food preparation: “Snacks don’t need to be anything complicated, and something as simple as oatmeal and bananas for breakfast won’t take a chunk of time out of a busy day.”
Kintsugi Hope has seen 5,000 people go through their well-being groups all over the UK. The groups are run by 390 Churches and Organisations, and 1400 Group Leaders, in settings such as Homeless Hostels, coffee shops, schools, universities and churches.
The stories that Kintsugi Hope hears back of lives that have been saved, changed, and restored are so inspiring.
They strongly believe there has never been such an important time as a global community to be supporting people’s mental health.
Iranian women being killed for seeking freedom, children being shot in Thailand, war continuing in Europe, nurses threatening strike action, bills going up – the world doesn’t feel very certain, safe, or healthy right now.
It can be very difficult to live in a world that feels this way, 66% of therapists say that cost of living concerns is causing a decline in people’s mental health.
Kintsugi Hope is taking their message of safe and supportive spaces on the tour all over the UK. The tour, titled “Bouncing Forwards” aims to equip people to deal with life’s challenges with practical support, live inspirational music, and community.
Jess Cooper, Communication Manager at Kintsugi Hope comments; “For millions of people, just living is costing them everything. We are encouraging people to prioritise their mental health, community, and honesty at this difficult time, so none of us feels alone when we are struggling.”
Find out more about the Bouncing Forwards Tour events at www.kintsugihope.com/tour
Brother Andrew, famous for smuggling Bibles across the Iron Curtain in a blue Volkswagen Beetle, has died aged 94.
Nicknamed ‘God’s smuggler’, Brother Andrew’s passion for supporting persecuted Christians spawned global charity, Open Doors that is helping millions of persecuted Christians worldwide.
Anne van der Bijl, better known as Brother Andrew, died on Tuesday 27 September, surrounded by his family who had provided him with dedicated around-the-clock care in the last few years of his life.
The book of his adventures, God’s Smuggler, sold over ten million copies in 35 languages, remaining in print for more than 40 years.
Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland, said: “When Brother Andrew started his ministry, little did he imagine that within 60 years it would embrace millions of Christians worldwide. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy.”
Open Doors currently works in more than 70 countries worldwide, providing spiritual and material support to Christians who live under threat from governments, militants, and social persecution.
Brother Andrew was born on 11 May 1928 in Sint Pancras, the Netherlands. He joined the colonial army of the Dutch East Indies, and converted to Christianity during a period of convalescence, where he spent much of his time reading the Bible.
After receiving missionary training in Scotland, Brother Andrew travelled to Poland in 1955 to participate in a Communist youth rally. He travelled there with a suitcase full of Christian tracts. Arriving there, he discovered that churches behind the Iron Curtain were isolated and in need of encouragement.
His border crossings in a bright blue Volkswagen Beetle stuffed with illicit Bibles in 1957 is recorded in his autobiography, God’s Smuggler, written 10 years later with the journalists John and Elizabeth Sherrill.
The Bible smuggling reached a climax in June 1981 when a 20-person Open Doors crew landed a custom-built barge onto a Chinese beach under the cover of darkness. They floated a million Bibles to waiting Chinese Christians, who spirited them away, copies reaching to all corners of China. Time magazine called ‘Project Pearl’, as it was known, “the largest operation of its kind in the history of China”.
After the fall of the Iron Curtain, Brother Andrew turned his attention to the Islamic World, saying that the rapid spread of Islam posed the greatest challenge yet to the Christian church worldwide. He travelled to the Middle East and South Asia and had private meetings with leaders of several Islamic fundamentalist groups. However, Brother Andrew preached against retaliation – repeatedly declaring ‘I sincerely love all Muslims’ as a counter to the rising Islamophobia in the west.
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands knighted Brother Andrew in 1993. In 1997, he received the World Evangelical Alliance’s Religious Liberty Award, recognising his lifetime of service to suffering Christians and his passion for evangelical ministry.
But perhaps the recognition that pleased him most was the copies of KGB reports, which he obtained after the fall of the Iron Curtain. There were more than 150 pages about him, detailing his work in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Despite this, they were still unable to stop his work.
During Easter 2018, the then-Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt wrote to Brother Andrew, saying, “I would like to express my personal thanks for the extraordinary and courageous support you have provided to the persecuted Church throughout the years.
“Having read ‘God’s Smuggler’ as a child, I know that your story has inspired millions of people around the world to speak out on behalf of the voiceless and suffering.”
Anne van der Bijl was married for 59 years to Corry, who died in January 2018. He is survived by five children and eleven grandchildren.
A private memorial service is currently being arranged.
Chelsea’s Thiago Silva has been guided through a glittering sporting career by the greatest coach he has ever worked with – God, as he tells Matt Lee.
The life of a footballer is determined and directed by so many things, including loyalty, family, traditions and heritage. There are also the recommendations of agents and advisors, and let’s not pretend money isn’t one of the main determining factors in the decision-making process.
Yet when mercurial Brazilian defender Thiago Silva signed for Chelsea in 2020, the then 35-year-old pointed to divine intervention, no less, as a major factor in his move to west London.
The veteran centre-back had just brought to a close a hugely successful spell at Paris Saint-Germain, but the French champions were looking to bring the average age of their squad down, so the Brazil international, who has over 100 caps for his country, was deemed surplus to requirements. This was despite Silva having just played one of his most complete and flawless domestic campaigns, one that saw ‘Les Rouge-et-Bleu’ claim a seventh French crown in eight years.
“Projects come to an end in football and, when you have played the game for a long time, you come to realise that is just how it goes,” Silva begins.
“Every year in sport is very different from the last. In almost no time at all you can have a team that goes from the greatest to a much lower level; and by the same process, in under 12 months, the opposite.
“It is for this reason that I have become very philosophical about football, and my faith has certainly been there with me to help me find a path through some of the disappointments and challenges.”
Crucially, Silva had promised he would complete his PSG project, and that meant, in a Covid-extended campaign, the club didn’t play their Champions League final against Bayern Munich until late August. He subsequently signed for Chelsea just a fortnight before the new season began.
“I took time to make the decision,” he offers. “It was vital for perhaps my last contract in football that I found a new club that, in the same way as did Paris, really spoke to me as being good for me and my family.
“My faith in Chelsea was so strong, and God steered me to a place in which now I am very happy.”
Thiago Silva’s contentment is in direct correlation to his success on the pitch. He joined the Blues during a period of rapid change at the club; they had only recently emerged from a transfer embargo, and had been forced to rush a number of youth-team graduates through into first-team action during the previous season.
Under his leadership on the pitch, and with the help of other senior pros at the club, including fellow defenders Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso, Silva oversaw the emergence of players such as Reece James, Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori – who has since departed for Silva’s former employer AC Milan – Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
“I think we had a number of players who got the opportunity to make something of themselves much earlier than would normally have been expected, and that turned out to be a really good thing,” he says. “Their development was accelerated forward and that only served to build the project higher and stronger than we imagined.
“It goes to show – sometimes adversity in football, and in life, is a very good thing.”
But where does Silva’s dedication to God come in? Simply, the Rio-born defensive lynchpin professes that while he is in control of who he is and what he does on the pitch, he will always be guided by his faith.
“I believe God sets me challenges and asks me to do my best to fulfil them,” he says. “That is my duty and my obligation to him, and it is a role I take seriously.
“When I joined Chelsea, I obviously turned away offers from elsewhere – some would have made playing very easy, others would have earned me more money, or taken me and my family to live in absolute comfort; but very quickly I knew that God wanted me to come here to do something special… to help the next generation of players, and to serve a club that needed help.”
Silva firmly believes in the power of action, too – both mental and physical. “God has always put me on a path, but the impetus to walk down it has to come from within.
“I always feel as though he is watching me, expecting me to stand up and take those steps, and it is my duty and privilege to do that.
“I don’t think anyone can expect something to happen unless they truly put the effort in to make change, and that’s why people from very humble and limited backgrounds, such as myself and so many others who have emerged from the streets of Brazil, can achieve important things, and inspire others to do the same. This, to me, is God’s influence.”
Silva, who is a Christian, admits he has had to adapt to the UK football schedule, not least during the festive calendar. When playing at PSG, and previously at AC Milan, where he starred for three years from 2012, players were given Christmas off to spend time with their families.
In the Premier League, however, the festive football schedule is one of English football’s finest traditions, so being apart from loved ones was something the defender had to get used to. “Again, I feel it was God asking me to sacrifice something of myself for other people, and I was happy to do that.
“Time with my family is incredibly precious to me, and to them, but experiencing English football at Christmas and sampling that incredible atmosphere that comes at that time of the year, was something I found very special, and the joy I could see on fans’ faces was unique. It all made sense to me.”
Thiago Silva’s journey through football started in the Campo Grande district, located on the western side of Rio de Janeiro. The shantytown environment wasn’t conducive to sporting prowess, a drawback compounded by the fact he had no immediate father figure in his life after his parents separated. Instead, he grew up with his mother, two brothers – and a God-fearing stepfather.
A promising young footballer who had been spotted by Fluminense at the age of 14 when playing in midfield, his early development was stunted, and he trialled for various other local sides, eventually being picked up by hometown side Barcelona Esporte Clube, a small Rio-based outfit from the lower divisions of Brazilian football.
His career suddenly took off in 2001 when he earned his first professional contract, with RS Futebol (now Pedrabranca) and within a year had been spotted by Roma coach Bruno Conte. Despite pleas to travel to Italy, Silva signed for Brazilian club Juventude, where he was converted into a powerful, skilful centre-back.
A move to Porto followed, and then he joined Dynamo Moscow on loan. However, Silva was struck down with tuberculosis in Russia and was hospitalised for six months. “The pain and the length of time I suffered took away so much from me,” he says. Doctors had to be on hand several times a day to administer injections and tablets that would eventually lead him to a place of recovery.
“In many periods it felt like I was never going to get better, and at many points they were worried I may deteriorate and, ultimately, die,” he reveals.
“I have never felt closer to God than in those moments, nor further away from myself. It was a very strange thing to go through – it was terrifying and sad, but as I gradually managed to pull myself away from the darkness, I felt confidence and courage like never before, and many times in the years since I have tapped into that spirit as a way of helping me use God and faith to overcome challenges.
“Sometimes adversity in football, and in life, is a very good thing”
“I will not say that contracting tuberculosis created the person I am today, but it is certainly true that I would have been a different person had it not happened, and I do think a lot of my strength has come from proving to myself that I could overcome what happened.”
During his treatment, Silva frequently expressed a desire to quit football, though he credits God and his mother for convincing him to pursue with a career that still offered so much potential, despite the long-term implications of the illness.
As it transpired, Fluminense offered the defender a contract when he returned to full fitness in 2006, and after three hugely successful years at the Maracanã – during which time he broke into the Brazil national squad – Silva secured a £8million move to AC Milan. Once there, he excelled, guiding the club to the Serie A and Italian Super Cup titles. And when the time came to join PSG, a £40million fee made him the most expensive defender ever to play the game.
The centre-back’s slew of awards and trophies since is like something out of Roy of the Rovers. After seven league titles with PSG and 18 other domestic cup triumphs in France, his switch to Chelsea was noted by some as the actions of a player winding down his career. After all, he was less than a month away from his 36th birthday when he put pen to contract.
Yet at Stamford Bridge he claimed the one trophy that had eluded him for 19 years as a professional footballer – the Champions League title – as the Blues saw off Manchester City 1-0 in the 2021 final at the Estádio do Dragão stadium in Porto.
“To win the Champions League, after so many years of trying with Milan and PSG, was so special. I feel it was something given me by God as a gift for everything I had tried to do.
“I know I worked so hard for what I earned, though I still believe none of it would have been possible without my faith.”
Silva followed up that success with the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, as Chelsea ascended to their highest ebb.
At the start of 2022, Silva extended his playing contract with the west London club, which means the upcoming season – one that features the unique interruption of a winter World Cup in Dubai – will again see the Brazilian legend battle for his first domestic trophy in England.
His Chelsea side came close last season, losing FA Cup and League Cup finals to Liverpool, both times on penalties, but there is one title Silva wants more than any other.
“Mostly I pray for happiness and security for myself, my friends and my family; but sometimes when thoughts creep in about football, it is the Premier League title that is the thing that I would like to bring home,” he smiles.
“I know I have been so lucky in my life and in the things I have achieved, but perhaps there is room for one more thing!”
“I know I worked so hard for what I earned, though I still believe none of it would have been possible without my faith.”
Whether he succeeds in that aim – and Chelsea will almost certainly have to see off the challenges of Manchester City and Liverpool to achieve that – the defender’s legacy in the sport will always be about so much more than just silverware.
A champion who has recovered from so much adversity; an advocate of God; an exemplar for the next generation of players and those who want to give back as they have received… football has its critics, but it is a better place for Thiago Silva’s presence.
When it comes to time well spent, not much comes close to a game played with your friends under the sun.
For many, bowls is reserved as the sport of a certain generation – played slowly, with precision and patience. But for the D+D Bowls Club, it’s the sport of a lifetime; relaxing and so sociable.
In February, the D+D team set off from their UK HQ for the West coast of America to find the ultimate ways of spending time during balmy summer days – all under the brand’s SS22 TIME + PLACE campaign.
On the greens of Beverley Hills’ Holmby Park, they found it, pitching the UK versus the US in a game of wit, skill, and ruthless tactics, as the newly formed D+D Bowls Club took on the experience of Holmby Park Lawn Bowls Club, a group of retired Hollywood actors and film directors.
Everyone wore their selected pair of D+D sneakers from their SS22 collection – proving their abilities to take on the challenge of staying comfy (and looking hella swag) whilst the temperature climbed.
Designed to be lightweight, and made by hand with soft but durable materials, each sneaker has been ventilated with perforation or breathable technical mesh to maximise airflow to the feet.
Despite everything, the afternoon wasn’t about showing what our latest collection can do. It was about showing what D+D is all about – footwear that’s made to be worn and built for purpose, not just by individuals but by communities. Footwear that is made with quality and comfort at its core and designed to be as versatile as you need it to be.
And if you’re wondering Team D+D got absolutely murdered on the field.
Five years after 23 people lost their lives, Sorted’s Val Fraser shares her personal memories about the Manchester Arena tragedy and reflects on an act of terrorism that shook the world.
In 2017, I was assigned to a journalism gig in Manchester. A colleague and I were briefed to create multimedia coverage which would tell the stories around two Suffragan Bishops’ walkabouts. “My” Bishop was the Rt Rev Mark Ashcroft.
Meetings were scheduled. Itineraries were mapped out. Tea and biscuits were stock-piled. It all promised to be very jolly. But then, just before the first stop on our 12-day tour, tragedy struck at the heart of Manchester, sending shock waves across the world.
LENDING SUPPORT: Bishop Mark talks to police officers who are on the beat near Media City.
On 22 May, at around 10.30 pm, as concert-goers were leaving the Manchester Arena following a concert by American singer, Ariana Grande, a suicide bomber detonated a homemade bomb. The act killed 23 people and injured more than a thousand others, many of whom were children.
It was the deadliest terrorist attack and the first suicide bombing in the UK since the 2005 London bombings. Emergency services worked incredibly hard. The whole nation seemed to be on edge, prompting fraught discussions in high places.
LENDING AN EAR: The Bishop talks to people shocked and alarmed by the bombing.
The walkabout, or ‘pilgrimage’, had been prepared well in advance as part of a Church of England initiative called Thy Kingdom Come. In the aftermath of the bombing, it was deemed more important than ever that a comforting Christian presence should be visible, so the decision was made to go ahead as planned. Not really sure what to expect, I loaded up my gear and prepared to follow Bishop Mark around various Manchester locations.
I zoomed, clicked, filmed and tweeted as he received warm, well-planned welcomes at schools, hospitals and churches. But in between these vicar-friendly venues, Bishop Mark took to the streets. He walked through shopping centres, busy markets, parks and towns. He rode trains and buses. And it was here, off-plan, with no script, in unchartered waters as it were, that he engaged with total strangers. It’s my observation that a man with clearly recognisable Christian markers such as a clergy collar, a large shepherd’s crook and a massive cross and chain, was able to elicit an interesting variety of reactions in public spaces.
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN: A message speaks loudly for those who perished.
Watching these encounters up close, it quickly became apparent to me the bombing had caused the public’s mood to shift quite significantly. Many people were reeling from the shock. There seemed to be a heightened awareness that humans are capable of unbelievably horrible acts. Andy Burnham, the city’s mayor, described the act as “evil”. I for one felt he’d summed it up accurately.
Knowing that it was possible for any one of us to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time, was deeply disturbing. This disturbance seemed to generate some degree of openness towards God, towards goodness, towards hoping for things to be better than this.
DEEPLY MOVED: Bishop Mark reads some of the tributes left for those who died.
And it was in this atmosphere that Bishop Mark was able to pause and pray with, for, and over people. Some requested a blessing. There were lots of these essentially private moments, when I switched the camera off, retreated to a suitable distance and gave him the space to minister to some confused and fearful folks. I think he just wanted to meet with people and offer them some hope.
As well as being kind, Bishop Mark is also very fast on his feet. On one leg of our journey, he somehow managed to give me the slip. I was hot on his heels, following the trail when he seemed to double back and disappear into a rabbit warren of hospital corridors. I started to panic, thinking I was going to miss the ‘Bishop visits hospital’ story. But when our paths crossed again I learned he’d been praying in the chapel. In that sanctuary, he met with hospital chaplains. They told him about the doctors and nurses who had cared for patients that were seriously injured in the bombing. And I was glad not to have been there.
MAKING SENSE OF THINGS: The Bishop talks to school children about the tragedy.
In truth, I was glad that those moments had been just between them and God. I was glad that I missed that particular story because I don’t think it was ever mine to tell.
Val Fraser is a regular Sorted columnist and a Manchester-based freelance journalist
People who attend Methodist churches aren’t usually associated with living life on the wild side. But that all changed during the height of the Covid pandemic when one minister used heavy metal music to reach out to his online congregation.
Such was the impact, the story has now become the subject of a three-part video series.
Available on social media platforms Facebook and YouTube during the lockdown, the service was created by Methodist minister, James Morley. Dubbed Metal Compline, it consisted of liturgy and music – heavy rock style!
A NORMAL SUNDAY: a typical Methodist congregation gathers for its weekly service.
The electronic evening service was made available to his own flock, and other people who needed to find peace and reassurance. One key supporter was Barrie Morley, a resident of the Methodist Ministers’ Housing Society (MMHS), which provides housing for retiring Methodist church staff. Barrie, who is also an ordained minister, also happens to be James’s father.
“During the first big lockdown, I thought, ‘What would a heavy metal compline look like?’” said James, who looks after three churches in Derbyshire.
James shares the story of his innovative style of church service – with Barrie also contributing – in the latest edition of Roof ‘n’ Roots, which is distributed to MMHS residents across the UK. Their interview has also been made into a video series.
FATHER AND SON: James and Barrie discuss spiritual matters – and heavy metal.
“It did draw folk,” said Barrie, “particularly when there was no physical ‘being together’. It was very important.”
The first part of the video series Dad, Lad And Distorted Guitars can now be viewed on the MMHS website. Click here to gain access.
The Methodist Ministers’ Housing Society is a national charity providing rented houses and flats at special rates for retiring Methodist presbyters and deacons of limited means, who meet established criteria. It also supplies housing for their widowed partners, and for ministers retiring on health grounds.
LENDING SUPPORT: Bishop Mark talks to police officers who are on the beat near Media City.
LENDING AN EAR: The Bishop talks to people shocked and alarmed by the bombing.
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN: A message speaks loudly for those who perished.
DEEPLY MOVED: Bishop Mark reads some of the tributes left for those who died.
MAKING SENSE OF THINGS: The Bishop talks to school children about the tragedy.
A NORMAL SUNDAY: a typical Methodist congregation gathers for its weekly service.
FATHER AND SON: James and Barrie discuss spiritual matters – and heavy metal.