Inside this DOOR CHURCHES AND

TOURISTS

PAGES 10- 13 What do you think of visi-tors? Are they a nuisance? Or do you see ministering to them as part of the Church's mission? Burford Church has a whole range of guides for them and leaflets on prayer too. Does your church? Do you need help in writing a

church guide?

WHAT ARE

CATHEDRALS FOR?

PAGE 9 Cathedrals attract thousands of tourists. But they are not just architectural gems. What is their future? Bishop Ronald Gordon, a Canon of Christ Church, writes about the Ca-thedrals Commission.

There is stained glass in

abundance in Christ

Church and across the

Diocese. June Osborne

picks out some of our

finest like this St Birinus window at Dorchester.

This issue also tells you

how to be a book agent,

gives an insight into the

week of a Christian

broadcaster and in-

cludes our popular church tearoom guide.

And more. Craft made; skilfully designed; affordable. OXFORD: King Edward St (BETWEEN HIGH ST & ORIEL SQ)

WOODSTOCK: On the A44 CHELTENHAM: Regent Arcade

Sharing the Good News in the Decade of Evangelism

Issue Number 44

The Diocese of Oxford Reporter: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire July 1993

UP AND AWAY FOR JESUS A day to take the walls off the church!

On stage, Marcus Green, an ordinand from Wycliffe Hall, cool behind his shades, sang with the Groovy Heroes. In the warm sunshine the young and not so young danced on the grass. A nun sat eating an icecream. Children queued excit-edly to have their faces painted. The vast balloon gently tugged at its moorings. All in all it was an idyllic afternoon.

But there was a serious side too. 'Together for You' organised by the Oxford Churches in South Park on Sunday, June 13 was described as an afternoon "to take the walls off the churches". Christians from all over Oxford and from many different denominations came together to express and celebrate their faith in all kinds of ways from gospel and rock music to Taize worship and silent prayer. Christian organi-sations, charitable groups and commercial concerns were also represented in the exhibition area.

Links between churches

In previous years Oxford' s churches have joined in the annual March for Jesus. This year they decided to do some-thing new. So they decided to take the walls off the church in order to give others the chance to see them enjoying and celebrating God's love. The event was also seen as one w1ay of building and strengthening links between churches in the run up to the Oxford Christian Festival in 1994.

Seven local churches in Thame did March for Jesus on June 12. More than 200 people walked through the streets of the town led by members of St Mary's Parish Church and Thame Baptist Church music groups. Marches were held simultaneously in over 80 countries including Albania where Phil Austin and Mark Fitter from Thame are both working with the youth mission YWAM. They sent a fax to St Mary's

Church to say they were marching for Jesus in Tirana.

Pictured: (above) Marcus Green singing with the Groovy Heroes, a rock band based at St Aldates' Church. All its members are Oxford University undergraduates and wor-ship at St Aldates'. (right) The St Aldates Dance Group formed specially for the day are dancing with hand signs devised by Australian aboriginals to express the meaning of the Gospel. The group is led by Fiona Magawan (extreme left) who is researching Australian Aboriginal Music and Dance at One! College. Photos by Frank Blackwell.

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Page 2

OBITUARY Harry Carpenter, Bishop of Oxford 1955-1970

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

The DOOR, July 1993

CHILTERN SHOW - 16TH - 18TH JULY

MUSIC FESTIVAL AND FASHION SHOW - Along with the traditional show jumping and agricultural classes, this unique show is additionally themed into five different areas: environmental, consumer, homes and gardens and leisure - which includes a mighty music festival in a giant theatre tent for 6,000 and a fashion show coordinated by Paul Mowatt. BOOST FOR BRITISH BREEDING - Three day eventer Charlotte Steel, who runs Breed for Gold, the campaign for better British horse breeding, is offering a £50 prize and £150 off the stallion fee for the best mare in both the Paul Fabrications Foxhunter class and the A and B jumping competition. Other show sponsors for show jumping and agricultural classes include Radiol, Spillers Horse Feeds, Brown and Merry Estate Agents, Lebatts Lager, Nestle, Greenacres Equestrian Centre and Arnersham Dolls House. LOCAL DRAMA STUDENTS PERFORM - Students from Stagecoach Performing Arts Aylesbury Centre will perform a half hour presentation of dance, singing and drama on Sunday morning in the Theatre Tent.

SPORT WITH AYLESBURY VALE - Aylesbury Vale District Council Leisure offer junior football coaching, aerobics displays, electronic basketball and American Football games, rugby coaching, KUNG FU demonstrations, displays and coaching. CHRISTIANITY MESSAGE - A Christian theatre group, the Riding Lights Roughshod Company, organised by Pilgrim Promotions, will give shows on Sunday when churches of several denominations will have stalls in the leisure area as part of a religious festival designed to extend the Christian message. WHEELCHAIR SPORTS -The British Wheelchair Sports Foundation are giving displays of fencing and wight lifting as well as taking part in a cross country obstacle course. LOCAL HOSPITALS PARTICIPATE - Exhibitors from local hospitals and hospices will take part in fund raising displays including paediatrics, care of the elderly, the Patients' Charter and Mobile X-rays. COUNTRY SPORTS DISPLAY - The British Field Sports Society are putting on a twenty minute display on Saturday, featuring fishermen, the shooting fraternity and a parade of foxhounds. A static display will show the role of country sports in conserving the countryside, its wildlife and rural employment. Top performers for the nightly music festival will be announced shortly. The show's main sponsors, independent local radio station FOX FM, are backing the Homes and Gardens' Exhibition and offering the public rides in the Unipart Flying Fox, their traffic-spotting helicopter. OPENING TIMES Agricultural Show, conservation and consumer exhibits: 9am - 6pm Homes and Gardens Exhibition and Leisure Arena: 9am - 11pm ADMISSION TICKETS £9.00 daily, t4.50 children, senior citizens, parties of 20 and more. Children under five - free £23.50 Members three day. Car Parking £1.00 (adjacent to site) Free Shuttle Buses will operate from and to Aylesbury Town Centre and Stoke Mandeville British Rail Station. There will also be two Park CHILTERN'S JOUSTING KNIGHTS— The jousting knights of Arkioy will and Ride sites east and west of Stoke Mandeville. for,., one of the main ,ttrnotiono at this rooro or,, (hiltrro Show.

For Show information and advance telephone ticket sales by credit card: FM In Touch on Oxford 865865

For Postal ticket bookings: Shows Box Office, 4 Grove Parade, Buxton, SK17 OAJ. Telephone: 0298 72272

Behind a somewhat prim exte-rior, Bishop Harry Carpenter had a warm and kindly personality. Although a formidable scholar, he was self-effacing in manner and always ready to give weight to the views of others. Indeed, his fault (if it was a fault) was to understand the other side of an argument too clearly. This some-times made him appear to be indecisive; this was not so, and he was a man of sound judge-ment.

He became Bishop of Oxford somewhat reluctantly in 1955 after 28 years at Keble College, first as Tutor and then as Warden. His episcopate covered the 'swinging sixties', and such phenomena as the Beatles, the Profumo Affair and the Honest to God debate. It was a time of great change, both socially and morally, as the nation emerged from the post-war depression. It was a time of great change in Diocesan affairs too. In 1955, for example, the Diocesan budget was £37,000. It remained at that figure for the next five years and contained no provision for the augmentation of stipends. By 1970, the budget (including Church Commissioners' grants) stood at £675,000, and clergy augmentation was firmly within it. Through all these changes he led the Diocese with a firm faith, and with quiet common sense, and we have reason to be thankful for his guidance then.

"For the leadership he gave to this Diocese; wise, understanding and just in his judgements; selfless in responding to the endless demands of pastoral care. For his sharp sense of the ridiculous and gentle hu-mour which saved many from much folly."

When he became bishop the diocesan was responsible for the whole Diocese with the assist-

ance of suffragans who were also archdeacons. Over the years he separated the role of suffra-gan bishop and archdeacon and delegated a good deal of re-sponsibility to the suffragans. He made a formal Visitation of the Diocese every three years, and was probably the last dioc-esan in the two Provinces to do so. As a result he was well known and loved by the parochial clergy in the three archdeaconries, but his experience convinced him that the Diocese was too much for one man. When the Church Assembly failed to act on the report of the Arbuthnot Com-mission, he established his own working party under Ralph Verney to consider the division of the Diocese. In the event, it decided against division, but the report laid the foundations for the present area scheme.

He was an old-fashioned Anglo-Catholic and a conserva-tive by nature, but he was not afraid of new ways of working. The dedication last year of the ecumenical Church of Christ the Cornerstone in Milton Keynes city centre was but the last mani-festation of his initiative and determination, even while the new city was still on the draw-ing board, that the churches should work there together. On the national scene he was for a time the chairman of the Angli-

can-Methodist Conversations, and although he had by then retired, he was disappointed when the scheme for the union of the two churches failed to be approved by the General Synod.

"For his endurance through times of darkness and the constrictions of old age - for his maintenance to the end of an intellec-tual vitality and eager in-terest in whatever came up in conversation or world news. For the peace and trust of his dying."

Bishop Harry was ably sup-ported by his wife Urith who survives him. Their home was always warm and welcoming. Those who attended them will still remember the parties they gave for Church House staff, with competitions and entertain-ment organised either by Bishop Eric Knell of Reading at the piano, or by their young son Humphrey, who is now the well-known writer.

Frank E Robson Registrar of the Diocese

The quotes above are some of the bidding prayers used by Dr. Robert Runcie, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, at Bishop Harry's funeral. There will be a memorial service on Saturday October 2 at 230pm in Christ Church.

A HOST OF ATTRACTIONS FOR THE FAMILY AT THE NEW CHILTERN SHOW INCLUDING JOUSTING. ..BUNGEE JUMPING.. .MOTOR CYCLE DISPLAYS. ..ESCAPE ARTIST AND THE SMALLEST HORSE IN THE WORLD!! A host of attractions for all the family are booked for the new Chiltern Show, Britain's first major event of this kind, from Friday 16th July to Sunday 18th July, Risborough Road, Stoke Mandeville, Bucks. The jousting knights of Arkley will give a 45 minute display while Escape Artist J C Diamond performs a hair raising 15 minute blindfold drive and escape from chains. There are two thirty minute motor cycle displays, one by world famous Eddie Kidd and another by the Magnificent Seven Motorcycle team. And members of the public will have a chance to participate in the hair raising sport of bungee jumping from a 160 foot tower. Thomas the Tank Engine (model) will give visitors free rides round the showground every day from 9am - 6pm SMALLEST HORSE - On view will be tiny Countess Natuschka less than 24 inches high, believed to be the smallest horse in the world, from the Sussex based Toy Horse International Stud.

S

The DOOR, July 1993

NEWS

SECOND FOUNDATION FOR CARTERTON Thirty years to the day after the foundation stone of Carterton' s St John the Evangelist Church was laid, on June 71963, theArchdea-con of Oxford laid another foundation stone for a major extension to the church.

The extension will provide a new worship area to seat 300 people, a creche, office and kitchen, meeting rooms and Sunday School facilities. The Vicar of St John's, the Revd

Roger Humphreys, said: "We are very excited about the possibilities offered by our new build-ing. We try to be a church for the whole commu-nity, and the new facilities will be of great value to the town."

Pictured above on June 7 1993 are (left to right): the RevdMarkBulman, curate, the Vicar, and the Venerable Frank Weston, Archdeacon of Oxford.

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Archbiship Desmond Tutu preached at St Nicolas Church, Newbury on Thursday, June 17 during his visit to this country for Bishop Trevor Huddleston 's 80th birthday celebrations.

The Archbishop, who was also in England for a London conference on South Africa, was in Newbury for the annual serv-ice of the Southern African Churches Development Trust ( SACDT) of which he is Presi-dent. The Trust exits to support black education in southern Af-rica. Last year it raised over £40,000 for projects ranging from deprived primary schools

The companion relationship between the Diocese of Oxford and the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman in South Africa was officially inaugurated in two celebrations, held thousands of miles apart, on Ascension Day, May 20. The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Richard Harries, who has recently returned from a visit to South Africa, was the preacher at the service in Christ Church Cathedral, and the Revd Lanceford Moeti, a deacon from Soweto, was invited to read the Epistle.

Sister Margaret Mary, Rev-erend Mother of the Society of the Precious Blood Convent at Burnham Abbey, Taplow, was joined by Sister Agnes Mary in leading the intercessions, and at

A unique ecumenical course for training Lay Preachers and Readers has been launched by the Milton Keynes Christian Council.

When students in the city begin their training in Milton Keynes in September they will be drawn from Anglican, Bap-tist, Methodist and United Re-formed Churches. However, it is hoped that by the time they complete the course, they will be accredited by all four de-nominations to serve in the churches of Milton Keynes.

Although the course draws

to soup kitchens. In his sermon the Arch-

bishop said that this is a "moral universe" where people know instinctively that injustice is wrong. He also outlined the key factors which he said had led to South Africa's move towards a unitary democratic state. These were: the collapse of Commu-nism in the 'second world'; the imposition of sanctions and the relentless pressure produced by the heroic struggle of so many people against apartheid both within and without the country. The courage of President de Klerk combined with Nelson

the end of the service, Bishop Richard led the congregation in the special prayer written for the new relationship.

Even at short notice many people managed to attend, in-cluding John Clark, partnership secretary of the General Synod Board of Mission. After the serv-ice, the Venerable Frank Weston, Archdeacon of Oxford and chairman of the Partnership in World Mission Group, and his wife Poppy, entertained some of the guests.

Similar celebrations were held in South Africa, where Revd Graham Smith, vicar of Kidlington and Rural Dean of Oxford, offered greetings to Bishop Winston Ndungane of Kimberley and Kuruman on

largely on Methodist and An-glican material it has been ap-proved by all the Churches. The preparatory work was set up under the auspices of the Chris-tian Council's training commis-sion led by its director the Revd Ian Jagger. So many people re-sponded to the recruitment drive that more tutors are being sought.

Each of the Churches already trains people for this form of ministry. However, this is be-lieved to be the first time an ecumenical training course has been brought into being.

Mandela's willingness to for-give had also made a vital con-tribution, he said.

There were 600 people in St Nicholas' Church for the serv-ice including many retired mis-sionaries who had seen service in southern Africa and the com-mittee of the Diocesan South-ern Africa Partners in Mission group.

The Rector, the Revd David Cook, is Archbishop Tutu's Commissary in the UK. He has also just been elected Chairman of SACDT succeeding Canon Cyprian Thorpe who held the position for 12 years.

behalf of the Oxford Diocese. On the Sunday following

Ascension Day, as a large part - of the Kimberley and Kuruman Church came together in South Africa for a Diocesan Family event, Frank Weston developed the theme of 'companionship in suffering' in his sermon at Christ Church. He said that such a rela-tionship was made real in the 'Lamb who had been slain', encouraging us to discover with our brothers and sisters in Af-rica a companionship in wor-ship of the Lamb, the same risen and ascended Christ. May this be so.

Bill Whiffen Secretary, Diocese of Oxford Partnership in World Mission

Help for farmers

Statistics suggest that as many as four farmers aweek commit suicide in England and Wales. Now a card scheme alerting farmers in Oxfordshire to the help which is available to them in times of stress has been launched by the broadcaster and author, Mollie Harris (Martha in 'The Archers').

The Oxfordshire Card Scheme has been produced jointly by a number of rural or-ganisations which have joined forces with the Samaritans and the Citizens Advice Bureau. The Church has been a major finan-cial contributor. The Revd Glyn Evans, Rural Chaplain for the Oxfordshire Archdeaconry, was also a member of the Scheme's planning group. The cards are available from Nick Read at the National Farmers Union Region Office, Agriculture House, Eynsham, Oxon 0X8 1TW.

CUF on show An exhibition of photographs of some of the Church Urban Fund's 556 projects will be at Christ Church Cathedral for two weeks from July 5.

Prizes for caring A competition to find the best rural church community care schemes has been launched by the Arthur Rank Centre to celebrate its 21st year. Prizes will range from £50 to £1000. The judges want to discover as many different church schemes as possible and hope to report their findings later in the year. The organisers are aware that many Christians are work-ing in excellent non-church schemes. However, they emphasize that this competi-tion is to identify church schemes however small. Entry forms are obtainable from the Arthur Rank Cen-tre, Stoneleigh park, War-wickshire CV8 2LZ. Tel-ephone: 0203 696969.

Lusaka to Dorchester The Dean of Lusaka Cathedral in Zambia, the Very Revd Pierre Dii, will be the guest of honour at a lunch in the Dorchester Abbey Guest House on Satur-day, August 28. He will also preach at the 10.15 am Eucha-rist the following day. After the lunch the Dean will give an 'up date' on Zambia in particular the work done at the Makeni Ecumenical Centre to help the poorest people of Zambia gain a farming and business education. Parishes and individuals with a link with the Church in Zambia are invited to take part in both events. To help with catering those who would like lunch are asked to phone the Rector of Dojchester, the Revd John Crowe on 0865 340007.

Page 3

DESMOND TUTU'S VISIT TO NEWBURY

Safety net for addicts A Christian drug rehabilitation project in Reading has won govern-ment funding for a revolutionary project to encourage families to take drug addicts into their own homes.

Married couples who volunteer to host drug or alcholol abusers will be trained later this year by Yeldali Christian Centre staff. This follows an anouncement by Government minister, Dr Brian Mawhinney of a year's funding of £56,000 for the scheme.

"The right family atmosphere can be the ideal place for people with drug and alcohol dependencies to overcome their abuse/ addiction," states David Partington, Director of Yeldall Christian Centres. However, opening your home to someone with depend-ency problems is not something to be taken on lightly," he adds.

First ever ecumenical lay training course

Christ Church blesses SA link

COUNCIL SHOWS CARING FACE OF CHRISTIANITY

The Bishop of Oxford presided at the Annual Eucharist and Dedication Service for the Diocesan Council for Social Work on May 20 at St Mary's Parish Church, Kidlington near Oxford. Over one hundred people attended including the Mayor of Milton Keynes and the Chairman of Kidlington Parish Council.

The Council is the organisa-tion for promoting and extend-ing family case work in the Dio-cese and is an approved agency.

After the service videos of its housing projects and adop-tion work were shown at the

annual general meeting. "It was good to see so many

representatives of the agency, adoptive parents, foster carers, members of affiliated deanery associations, clergy, hostel resi-dents and office staff as well as members of the statutory agen-cies joining together in worship to celebrate one of the Diocese's ways of showing the caring face of Christianity," said Mrs Shirley Kay, the Director. She also paid tribute to the clergy and laity of St Mary's Church for their warm welcome.

Next year's AGM is likely to be held in Buckinghamshire.

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Obituary

Canon Keith de Berry

'THE FIRST DUTY OF A CHRISTIAN IS TO LOOK CHEERFUL' The driving passion of Keith de Berry's life was the work of evangelism, in which he excelled. He loved nothing better than the opportunity to speak out boldly to non-Christians and he always took immense care to follow up personally those who professed conversion. His methods of evangelism came out of his vigorous daily study of the Scriptures and a deep prayer life, and to the end of his long and fruitful life he remained utterly single-minded in his desire to win people for Christ. He first gave his own life to the Lord at'tke age of 11 and he always had a special ministry to children. He often said that "Children's prayers go straight to the throne of grace".

Always shrewd and perceptive, he exercised a lively ministry as curate of St. Mary's, Islington, as vicar of St George's, Battersea and vicar of Emmanuel, Streatham. He met Betty in 1938 at a CSSM in Bude and they were married in 1939. Throughout theirjoint ministry Betty gave magnificent support and provided a serene presence in their home. He was Rector of St Aldate's, Oxford, for 23 years in which time the church was extended, the coffee house and bookshop

opened and youth centre opened by the Princess Royal. The first Sunday of the Michaelmas term was a Harvest Festival indeed, countless students year in and year out making that all important initial beginning with Jesus. Two weeks later his old friend Bishop Cuthbert Bardsley would follow up with further evangelism. An-nual visits to Lee Abbey in Devon for student working parties, vocational conferences at Sunbury Court, a fortnight's evangelistic mission in September and annual parish houseparties were special features of the work of the Oxford Pastorate under his leadership.

He once declared that "the first duty of a Christian is to look cheerful." Another saying was "Never let a day go by without saying a good word for Jesus Christ." Long after he retired from St Aldate's he continued his work of evangelism: "A life without God is a wasted life," he would say. For him the words are certainly true: "Only one life: it will soon be past, only what's done for Jesus will last".

Michael Chantry The Revd Michael Chantry is Chaplain of Hertford College, Oxford.

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The DOOR, July 1993 Page 4

For most of her working life an older sister of mine had been Head of two large infant schools in succession in the north of England. Somehow she had made time to nurse two elderly parents in turn, and then an invalid neighbour. On the day she retired, 30 years ago this month, she came south to take over my four rumbustious moth-erless daughters and to be my 'official lady'. When I too re-tired we settled first at Steventon, then down here in Sherborne. Later she moved down the road into a nursing home at Yeovil, part of the complex where I now live is 'sheltered accommoda-tion'; and there she spent the remainder of her life. Now it

was the turn of the family to look after her, for the nursing home was run by one of my daughters and her husband. She was moved to hospital only a few days before her death some 18 months ago.

It is important that these 'rites of passage' should run smoothly. We were especially anxious to avoid that awkward situation where mourners leave the Church to find the coffin and family have already swept off to the crematorium.

In the event we arranged a private cremation at Yeovil in the morning. Then after a fam-ily lunch we drove to Sherborne to join to many of her friends at Castleton Church, where we had

often enjoyed those traditional services which she loved. The urn was decently displayed on a fald-stool. Most of my grand-children took an active part in the service. The service-sheet made it clear that family alone should follow the urn out at the end of the service for interment in that lovely churchyard.

Back to the church door, where we were all able to greet our friends as they emerged, and invite everybody to join us for tea at a neighbouring restaurant - a happy epilogue to a day which had been one of thanksgiving for a life rather than grief for a death.

One other problem was the address, which I regard as an

important part of the service. It happened that the only priest available was the junior curate, who knew my sister but slightly. I need not have worried. He had taken enormous trouble to get himself properly briefed, and it paid off.

I'm sorry. I have written so personally this month for two reasons. In these days, when so many are asking what has gone wrong with the country, it is salutary to be reminded of the amount of goodness you can still find in very ordinary peo-ple. And our way of saying a satisfactory goodbye may be some help to others faced with a similar problem.

James Cobban

IN MY VIEW

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I AM writing as a disabled person, with a progressive disorder causing muscular weakness. Already, I use a powered pavement scooter when out of doors, and expect soon to use a power wheelchair to get about. Yet I fell that I am a whole person, and as a believing Christian, enjoy a sense of peace, and a realisation that God's purpose is being fulfilled throughout my life.

The Apostle Paul always com-plained of having a 'thorn in the flesh'. What this was is not known, but much as he prayed for a physi-cal cure, this was not to be granted. Instead he learnt that God's Grace was sufficient for him. Paul was spiritually whole, one who under-stood that God had a purpose for him; he set about finding that pur-pose and lived a triumphantly ful-filled life.

Looking back over my life, my character and direction has been shaped by my disability, and I have been given insights into caring for others that would have been denied me if I had been able bodied. I have no regrets for being what I am!

Recently I attended a Methodist gathering in Scarborough. We had a wonderful week of fellowship, with over 4,000 Christians present. One particularly memorable session dealt with disability and healing, and I heard testimonies from two

wonderful people: one lives with constant noise in his head, suffering from tinnitus, the deafness condi-tion with which the great composer Beethoven coped - and which con-tributed to the greatness of his musi-cal composition. The other has just been ordained as a Methodist Minister. Over the last year Multiple Sclerosis has developed, and she walks now quite badly. Both claimed to be whole people, living under God's Grace and guid-ance, and spiritually complete.

God sometimes helps cure grave illnesses in an apparently miracu-lous and unexplained way: more often he helps people to live with and overcome their problems, and use them to his everlasting Glory by testimony and service to others.

Mike Bruton (Dr. Mike Bruton, a Methodist lay preacher, has Charcot Marie Tooth Disorder. He works as Executive Director of the Disabled Drivers Association, an organisation with 22,500 members, dedicated to help-ing disabled people improve their quality of life through friendship, advice and information, including publication of a magazine called 'Magic Carpet'. Contact DDA by writing to: The Disabled Drivers' Association, Ashwellthorpe, Norwich NR16 1EX. Tel: 050 841 449) -I

I I I I I I I

What is Healing?

The DOOR, July 1993

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Page 5

GOD IN MY WEEK — ELIZABETH FUNNING

A CHRISTIAN IN THE SECULAR MEDIAWORLD •

Elizabeth Funning took over from Chris Loosemore last Easter as Religious Producer for BBC Radio Berkshire. She trained as a Music Teacher, but found God calling her to work in Radio. She combines this half-time post, paid for by local Churches through The Churches' Media Trust, with other freelance work We met her at the BBC studios in Reading whereFrankBlackwell took her photograph.

MONDAY I try to keep this as my day off, but sometimes end up doing an interview. I find radio a very addictive thing. It's certainly a big change from teaching. I hesitate to say I was called to it, but in 1989 I took the plunge and went off and joined FEBA Radio, a mission radio station, for a few months. I enjoyed the radio work but felt that I worked better in my own culture.

TUESDAY My dafor supply teaching. I am the very part-time music teacher at a comprehensive school near my home. GCSE classes and general class music.

I used to be Head of Music at a similar school in Surrey before I decided to try for a change of career. A bit soul destroying at times as supply tends to consist of the dreary side of teaching - you don't build up many relationships with staff or pupils.

WEDNESDAY My 300 to 400 mile week begins! Usually a freelance interview for the Central Office of Information Overseas Radio Service. I tend to cover Third World, environmental and medical issues, usually in Oxford and Cambridge, or London. This week, for instance, I am interviewing a Fellow in Chemistry at St Anne's College on forest fires. Other weeks it can be the extinction of the mammoth or a vaccine for malaria or how to turn sewage sludge into compost!

THURSDAY Drive to BBC Radio Berkshire in Reading. Go through a mountain of post, hoping that some of it will be useful. There are usually some interviews to be done in Berkshire over the

next few days and I ring round my new team of volunteer reporters to see if anyone can cover events I can't go to. I also edit their tapes if they're not confident enough or haven't got time to do it themselves.

I did inherit a few volunteer team members and I have been trying to expand that circle of people. One of them, Mike Curling, a 17 year old schoolboy, gets up early and runs the phone-in competition on Sunday morning. In fact I don't think his parents see him because he's constantly in the radio station.

That evening I stay with friends in Reading who don't seem to mind putting up an itinerant radio worker. True gift of hospitality!

FRIDAY Try to beat my religious press reviewer, a local URC minister, to the papers, before he makes off with them to write his re-view. I also need to see them to write a religious news bulletin for Sunday. This will be read by the journalist on weekend duty. Start to thrash out a running or-der for the show, think about music, perhaps go out on an interview.

Things gets very hectic at about 4pm. The press reviewer returns and needs recording. We go and fight for a studio as all the weekend producers are compet-ing for studio space at this time in the week.

Diana Bailey, who compiles the diary, comes to take over the Sunday Signpost desk and word processor as she ploughs through the parish magazines and letters

for events. I go off and try to decide which Christian music to play, and see what the computer has chosen for the secular tracks. Usually its at least 8pm before I drive the 60 miles back home.

SATURDAY Late afternoon return to Reading. Finalise runn9grder, write a script, practice for a bit on the mixer desk - I'm still fairly new at being my own technical operator while presenting! It can feel very isolating. When I was a teacher I was part of a staff team and had relationships with pupils and relationships with staff. Then I

turned freelance and I came to the realisation that now I do not work in a team with anybody. Even here at Radio Berkshire, to some extent, it's still an isolated job, as I'm the only person responsible for the programme. I see the team members from time to time but it doesn't quite fulfil my need for a proper working relationship. There are many pressures on Christians within the seculfi media, not least of which is the thought of leaving it and maybe join a full-time Christian station. I think we need to stay in the secular media, but we need both prayer and financial support from the churches.

SUNDAY Get up at 5am. At Radio Berkshire spend an hour drinking coffee and trying to wake up. At 7am I come to life and present the programme! Christians need to understand what radio is good at. We tend to get blinded by numbers and think that presenters can speak to many thousand people in one fell swoop and isn't that a marvellous evangelistic opportunity. I think evangelism is the job of the church. It's best done on a one-to-one basis and not through a radio station. However, I would really be pleased for the churches to let me know what is happening, to let me publicise what they're doing. They can talk about their faith to their hearts' content whereas I have to maintain a neutral presence as a presenter.

After the programme ends, I have to drive 60 miles home, arriving at lunch time. Spend rest of day in progressive state of collapse. I'm working very hard on a Sunday morning and by Sunday evening it takes a Herculean effort to actually get to a church service. The other problem is that I've moved so often in my life that I've only really been a member of the church for a couple of years. I fairly recently had to move home after Bible College and I haven't really found a church of my own. I have a handful of very good friends whom I can talk to about spiritual things, all sorts of things, and we sometimes pray, but more often we just talk. So that is my church at the moment.

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The DOOR, July 1993

NEWS Page 6

BUCKS GEARED UP FOR EVANGELISM

"If the media are to be believed the Church of England is on the brink of disintegration and de-struction," declares the Arch-deacon of Buckingham, the Venerable John Morrison, in his 1993 Visitation Charge to the deaneries. But he goes on to say that although the campaign is very persausive, the media pic-ture is untrue.

The Venerable Morrison says that his extensive visits to parishes throughout the county have shown him how well the Gospel is being preached, that congregations are equipping themselves for evangelism, the number of adult confirmations is growing and that there are more people than ever explor-ing vocations to the ministry: "In our Diocese, David Winter, Ann Faulkner and David Haylett are worked off their feet by con-gregations wanting help with evangelism, mission audit, and

Causes for celebration

Money for a sparkling new technology centre at Marlow Church of England First School has been raised by parents and friends from local industry. The centre which is known affec-tionately as The Den, houses a cookery bay, craft and technol-ogy facilities. The Mayor of Marlow will cut the tape on July 6 at a parents open evening. To assist with the celebrations, there will be a pride of (human) lions and a demonstration of home-made chocolate making.

with stewardship. . . . We do not have green shoots. We have growing branches," he said.

There are problems, of course - the changing ministry, maintenance of church build-ings, and acute shortage of money - but, comparing the Church with a ring of bells at the Cross and Stable Church in Milton Keynes which was old and out of tune and unable to fulfil its purpose of calling men, women and children to worship Almighty God, the Venerable Morrison said that the Church, like the bells, is being put through the furnace to be recast, retuned and brought back to life. The 're-casting' may be pain-ful, excruciatingly painful to some, but the Gospel message is still the same. He ends by quot-ing the words on which Bishop Simon has based his ministry: "Hold fast to Christ, and for the rest be totally uncommitted."

The Bishop of Reading, the Right Revd John Bone, was on familiar territory when he went back to St Mary's CE Primary

School, Datchet to mark their 150th anniversary as he is a former Vicar of the parish. Bishop John led a service in St Mary's Church in thanksgiving for 150 years of public educa-tion in Datchet.

The Bishop of Oxford and his

Church belts ring in Abingdon's Rector When the Revd Michael Goode vvas inducted as the nc Rector ofAbingdon's 1L.rn Mintsti, tbc hulls Of the iO\l. 0 s churches ring out In v, ekorni. The t.t.remony was porformed by the Right Ru\ d John Bone Bishop of It. olin" in St Helcn's Church. \l. hkli w,,., '. packed for thL oucasion haul is the f

k )Fmcr

f Rector oft hL Team

Centre Ministry in Crawley in Susscs. Before that he was Rector of Fla4bufVeax Evesham having seoved hh cur-acv in Sunderland- He is married to Jenny and they have titret. suns

CUF at Christ Church

Photographs of some, of the Church Urban Funds SSf

projects will be on display in a fr*velling xhiW*on at Christ chtireh Cathedsal fotiwo weeks from .)ul) S,

wife Dr Jo Harries joined chil-dren from St Christopher's First School, Temple Cowley in Ox-ford on May 28 for their tradi-tional spring celebration. Bishop Richard and the three Area Bishops hope to visit every Church school in the three coun-ties in 1993 to mark the Dio-cese's Year for Children and Young People.

St Mary and All Saints CE School, Reading has new chapel which also serves as a library and is converted out of a former dining room. On May 19 The Bishop of Reading blessed the altar which is movable and set in a niche when the chapel is not in use for the weekly Eucharist.

BIKE PRIZE FOR CHURCHES CYCLE-RIDE When the Olympic gold medal bike visited Berkshire recently, Paul Everitt (above right) organiser of the Berkshire Historic Churches Trust (CROW) cycle ride was there to greet this remarkable machine. Paul won't alas be able to ride it on September 11 but he is delighted to say that the Bishop of Reading, who isJointPresidentofthe Trust, will presenta brand new bicycle donated by Chris Prettyman (above left) and the Wobbly Wheels Cycle Shop, Cookham, to the person who raises the most money in this year's ride. For details write to your county organiser: Paul Everitt, 7 Burnham Lane, Cippenham, Slough, Berkshire SLI 6LU. Tel: 0628 667646; or Major P Wetherall, The Bell House, Nr Olney, Buckinghamshire MK 46 411A. Tel: 0234 712614; or George Russell, Green Farm, Milton Lane, Steventon, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX13 6SA. Tel: 0235 831928.

That's not cricket! Three members of the Oxford Diocesan cricket team played for an English Clergy eleven against Oxford University Authentics on May 28 at Christ Church. The Authentics declared at 205 for 5 while the Clergy scored 140 for 9. The match was drawn.

The 1993 Church Times Cup, won by Oxford for the last four years, is well under way. The final will be on Thursday, September 2 at Southgate in London. In their first match against St Alban's, Oxford scored 255 for 3 in 40 overs. Their opponents could only manage 52 for 8 after 36 overs before rain stopped play. However, the Church Times adjudicated that the points will be shared.

Oxford beat Chelmsford on June 15 by 170 runs. Oxford: 250 for 4 declared (Wingfield-Digby 104, Rimmer 70); Chelmsford: 80 for 9 (Wingfield-Digby 4 for 20). Against London on June 21 they achieved their greatest success so far this season. Oxford: 186 for 6 - (Gillingham 54, Wingfield-Digby 42, Rimmer 30 not out), London: all out for 79 (Samways 5 for13). If Oxford beat Southwark on June 28 they will be regional winners and move on to the quarter final. On Friday July 9, the Oxford Diocesan Team play the Church Commis-sioners at Jesus College ground, Oxford at noon. All are welcome.

• The Music and Worship Foun-dation (MWF) has organised a song-writing competition. En-tries are invited by July 24 in the following categories: new hymn tune for known words; new words for a known tune; a song for children; a composition for adults. The competition will be judged by Robin Sheldon and Richard Hubbard. Short-listed entries will be presented on October 9 at the Wesley Memo-rial Hall, Oxford. To enter send an SAE to Martin and Barbara Cox, 17 Long Lane, Littlemore, Oxford OX4 3TN. 'Public libraries are not obliged to stock Christian books and yet there is a huge demand for them says the Christian Broadcasting Library Service. Of 135 million books in the UK's public librar-ies less than half a million are Christian. CBLS wants to re-dress the balance by offering libraries a selection of free Chris-tian books. They also hope to issue the top ten Christian vid-eos to schools. For information ring 0773 861801. • A new altar in the chapel at St Stephen's House, Oxford was recently consecrated by the Bishop of Blackburn, the Revd Alan Chesters. He also blessed new accomodation for married students and staff. • Older volunteers will be giv-ing husebound people a happy day on September 10 as part of Senior Volunteer Action Day. The day is organised by Com-munity Service Volunteers and Senior Volunteer Action Pro-gramme.

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THE DOOR — —

Page 7 The DOOR, July 1993

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

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EDITORIAL "On walking round, the vii-

for will aLso find free leaflets on prayer and the essence of our faith. These are taken in large numbers; proof that there is a real demand for spiritual help."

This comment in our fea-ture about Burford church's ministry to its visitors might to give us food for thought. We know from opinion surveys that mans more people pray than evergo to church. It would seem that many more also want to know about our Christian faith.

In this July DOOR we fo ens on church visitors whether they are spending five minutes to admire the stained glass in a remote country church, or liii-' gering for Evensong in our Ca-thedral. The articles make It-clear that our churches are much more than museums to be fitted in between the castles and

the stately homes They arc spir itual havens where strangers conic looking for spiritual an swers.

So shouldn't we feel a little wistful at the thought of thou- sands and thousands of tourists passing through the churches of our Diocese this summer and then disappearing over the ho-rizon" As the Both of Christ shouldn't we perhaps ask our~ selves whether we are doing enough to nourish this spiritual hunger?

At the very least we need to ensure that every church has a supply of well-written free leaf-lets about the essentials of our faith With this in mind we have asked the Revd David Winter, the Diocesan Officer for Evangelism, to prepare a new,

Facts of Faith series for The DOOR this autumn.

Meanwhile this summer let us make a real effort to see our church visitors not as tourists but as pilgrims, Let us keep In mind the Worcester College stu. dent interviewed in The DOOR last year whose conversion came,

while she was looking at paint-ings in an Italian church, And let us pray that many will find what they are searching for in our churches this summer.

Christine Zwart

Bishop Gordon, centre, at the installation ofthe Very RevdJohn Drury astheDean ofChrist Church. This is probably the first time the ceremony was photographed. Photograph by Frank Blackwell.

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The DOOR, July 1993

COMMENT Page 8

A year ago the Archbishops of Canterbury and York set up a Commission "to examine the future role in Church and Na-tion of the cathedrals of Eng-land and to make recommenda-tions as how best that could be fulfilled, including proposals for their government and support". The establishment of the Com-mission was warmly welcomed by Deans and Provosts. Indeed it was very largely at their insti-gation that it was set up.

Lady Howe, wife of a former Foreign Secretary, is chairing the Commission whose num-bers include those skilled in fi-nance and management as well as a musician and an architect, a sociologist and an historian, a diocesan bishop, a dean, a prov-ost and others with intimate knowledge of cathredral life, worship, and ministry to visi-tors. Our own Christ Church

Cathedral is well represented since Martin Stancliffe, the Ca-thedral Architect and I, are both members of th Commission.

During the past eight months much of the Commission's en-ergy has been devoted to mak-ing visits to cathedrals. It is there, on the ground, so to speak that expertise in running cathedrals is to be found. We have gone in groups of three, accompanied by a scribe, to visit between us every cathedral in the country.

Each visit lasts approxi-mately from a Friday afternoon to midday the following Sun-day. In the course of each visit we have attended some of the services, met the clergy and lay staff, usually the diocesan bishop, representatives of cathe-dral organisations, and also rep-resentatives of bodies to which the cathedral relates such as county and civic authorities, edu-

cational institutions and dioc-esan boards.

Oxford top of the list Christ Church itself was one of the first cathedrals to receive a visit; and I have now visited eight other cathedrals. Conse-quently I feel much better in-formed and just about ready to start to assess all the evidence, to identify the issues the Com-mission needs to address, and to move tentatively towards some conclusions and recom-mendations. It is expected that our report will be complete by the end of1994.

Our Commission is always glad to hear from anyone who has views about the future of Cathredrals. So do write, either tome at Christ Church, Oxford OX11DP or to the Scretary, Cathedrals Commision, 1 Millbank, London SW1P 3JZ. But do write soon. We need to hear from you by the end of July.

It is a great temptation, given this opportunity to write in The DOOR, to say what I hope will be the principal conclusions of the Commission. It is one to be resisted. However, there are three points I feel I can make.

One is that a cathedral is, in some sense, the Bishop's church. That is what makes a cathedral a cathedral. It is the place where the Bishop has his 'cathedra', his throne. The throne is not a symbol of 'hands on' management which, in the

English situation, would widely be thought inappropriate. It is, however, a reminder that the mission of the cathedral ought not to be quite independent of that of the Bishop and his dio-cese, that the cathedral is - what-ever precise content you give to this - a mother church in the diocese and that the cathedral is most evidently a cathedral when the Bishop is present in person, say for an ordination or as the president or preacher on Easter Day.

All are different A second point is that not only

are no two cathedrals exactly alike, they are many of them dual-purpose, even multi-pur-pose buildings and foundations. This is obviously true of a par-ish church cathedral, which has a parochial as well as a diocesan role. It is strikingly true, too, of Christ Church Cathedral which has to serve a single institution founded by Henry VIII to per-form two functions, that of ca-thedral chapter and that of col-lege. In a well-managed cathedral subsidiary roles, ac-quired by design or by the acci-dents of history (eg the Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester and International Reconciliation in Coventry) will not obscure but may even enhance the primary and defining role as the Bish-op's church.

A final point is that our ca-thedrals are not only an out-

standing part of our cultural her-itage, with a unique power to attract visitors and tourists; they are a not insignificant embodi-ment of the Church's mission. Through their prayer and preach-ing, their architecture and their offering of music, and the de-voted work of staff and volun-teers, they speak of the love of God to those who pass through their doors. They have an op-portunity that is given to few parish churches to communi-cate with the unchurched.

Why not try this summer to visit a cathedral you have never been to before? And if it's a little while since you have done so, why not pay a visit your own cathedral also? If you are from this Diocese there is no need to enter by the tourist route and pay the tourist entrance fee. Just tell the custodian at the Tom Tower entrance and you can enter for free at the west door.

Our cathedrals are clearly one of the glories of our Church. They could be more glorious still. That they should be is the prayer and hope of the Cathe-dral Commissioners.

Bishop Ronald was Head of the Archbishop of Canterbury's staff in Lambeth Palace from 1984 to I99landBishopofPort-smouth for the nine years before that. From 1971-75 he was Vicar of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin.

Cathedrals Commission

CAN WE SEE A FUTURE FOR CATHEDRA LS?

What is a cathedral? The throne of the Bishop, the mother-church of the diocese or a tourist attraction uniquely qualified to minister to the unchurched? All these and more says Bishop Ronald Gordon, Sub-Dean and Canon of Christ Church, in a report on the work of the Archbishops' Cathedrals Commission.

The DOOR is published 10 times a year by the Diocese of Oxford Editor: Christine Zwart. Deputy Editor: Venetia Horton. Distribution and Business Manager: Tim Russian. Editorial Support Group: Jane Bugg (Chairman), Frank Blackwell (Dorchester), Catherine Dyer (Wokingham), Richard Hughes (Whitchurch-on-Thames), John Morrison (Aylesbury), William Purcell (Botley), Tim Russian (Long Crendon), Richard Thomas (Communica-tions Officer), John Winnington-Ingram (Cottisford), David Winter (Parish Resources). Editorial Address: Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford OXI 0NB. Tel: 0865 244566. Advertising: David Holden, Goodhead Publishing Ltd, 33 Witney Rd, Eynsham, Oxon OX8 1PJ. Tel 0865 880505. The DOOR is published by Oxford Diocesan Publications Ltd (Secre-tary TC Landsbert) whose registered office is Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford OX1 0NB. The deadline for the September issue is: August 9 for features, August 12 for letters and What's On, August 17 for news and August 23 for advertising. There is no August DOOR.

I FROM PORTSMOUTH WITH LOVE

Jon Nicholason (right) Deputy Head of St Edward's Royal Free Ecumenical Middle School Windsor, arrived at Diocesan Church House on May 31 after walking 85 miles from Portsmouth Cathe-dral. He brought a letter ofgreetings from the Revd Crispian Hollis, Roman Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth which he presented to Martin Gorick, the Bishop of Oxford's Chaplain.

St Birinus Pilgrimage

The 17th annual Dorchester Ecumenical Pilgrimage to com-memorate the conversion of Wessex (England south and west of Dorchester) in 634 by the missionary, St Birinus will take place on Saturday, July 11.

The main pilgrimage (12 miles) led by the Bishop of Dorchester starts from Blewbury at 1.30pm with the proclamation of the Word. Crosses along the way mark stations for prayer. A shorter walk (5 miles) from Brightwell, near Wallingford, leaves at 330pm. There will be maps on sale for lop at the start of both walks.

Dorchester Abbey will be closed from 5.30pm until 6.15pm when the procession of pilgrims begins. Pilgrims will walk to the Abbey for a service of Thanksgiving and Dedica-tion at 7pm. The offertory col-lection will be for the ongoing work of the youth link with South Africa, particularly the township of Alexandra and the sqatter camp at Vlakfontein.

After the service a coach will leave Dorchester to take drivers back to their vehicles (there will be a charge to cover costs). The day will end with a barbecue in the grounds of St Birinus Ro-man Catholic Church.

For a pilgrimage leaflet send a self-addressed label and stamps to: The Pilgrimage Of-fice, 4 Samian Way, Dorchester on Thames, Wallingford 0X1C 8JS.

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Page 9 The DOOR, July 1993

Most of Vincent Strudwick's article (May DOOR) on chang-ing patterns of Church life was fine - but not the idea of a smaller Diocese, please! Our huge Diocese embraces a very wide variety of communities, different as chalk and cheese - Milton Keynes, Oxford, Witney, Slough, Bracknell, Windsor, Burford, Newbury, 'Lark Rise', Beaconsfield, Aldermaston etc so we need each other. In fact, the trouble is that so many of us don't realise the fact, and stay cloistered in our own parish - or even our own congregation!

Rich and poor, trendy and staid, intelligentsia and anti-in-telligentsia, black, white, urban, rural, inner-city, suburban - we ought to be meeting more not less! A small Diocese could be a homogenous Diocese with no understanding of other people's problems, strengths and needs. Our solution of 'areas' seems to work well, but I sometimes wish each parish had a partner (pref-erably of a very different sort) in each of the other areas of the Diocese, to enable parishioners to widen their horizons and their sympathies: St Scholastica's, Oxbridge; Emmanuel, Down-town and St Eggfrith's-in-the-Wold could do each other a power of good!

Alison Adcock Oxford

BUREAUCRACY

GONE MAD We have read with some appre-hension the strictures introduced under the new legislation of the Care of Churches and Ecclesi-astical Jurisdiction Measure 1991. We feel that these are unduly restrictive, particularly in so far as routine maintenance and care of trees in the church-yard. The scope and responsi-bility allowed to PCCs to main-

tain their churches is now mini-mal, and to add insult to injury, expensive faculties have now been imposed for even the most minor work (One does not get much done for £300). In short it looks like expensive bureauc-racy gone mad.

Do not be surprised if less and less tender loving care is lavished in the face of the extra administration and costs. Con-trols of this sort inevitably kill enthusiasm and ideas.

We realise that Local Au-thorities have powers in respect of listed buildings, and of trees in conservation areas; and I be-gin to wonder if we may not be better served by the profession-als at District Councils than by our own bureaucracy putting one extra layer of control over us. At least there is no charge for per-mission to lop trees in conserva-tion areas, nor for repainting under Local Authority controls.

Particularly do we feel that identical redecoration and re-placing like with like in respect of carpets, curtains, walls and gates should be freely within the scope of PCCs without the extra charges and form filling. JF Phillips and CRM Fox Churchwardens, Westwell

INVESTMENT

ETHICS Mark Roach wrote an interest-ing advertisement feature on the Bishop of Oxford's recent legal challenge to the Church Com-missioners based, it would seem, on a leaflet published by the Church Commissioners them-selves. Not surprising, therefore, that his feature gives the im-pression that the Commission-ers were left entirely vindicated by the judgement and that noth-ing was gained by the challenge.

In fact, a careful reading of

the judgement itself shows that the Bishop won an important new concession, the repercus-sions of which are increasingly worrying a whole range of fi-nancial institutions. I quote from the judgement:

'There will be some cases. when the objects of the charity are such that investments of a particular type would conflict with the aims of the charity. If trustees were satisfied that in-vesting in a company engaged in a particular type of business would conflict with the very objects their charity is seeking to achieve, they should not so invest.'

So far, so good. But the judge-

ment then continues with a vital point, introduced during the ar-gument through an intervention by the Attorney General, if my memory serves me correctly:

'There will also be some cases when trustees' holdings of par-ticular investments might ham-per a charity's work either by making potential recipients of aid unwilling to be helped be-cause of the source of the chari-ty's money, or by alienating

some of those who support the charity financially.'

In such a case, trustees would need to balance the risk of financial loss against the prof-itability of those particular shares. Granted, it is still a fi-nancial consideration rather than an ethical one, but the point is potentially devastating to those who continue to shield behind the argument that 'they have a legal duty to maximise their in-come' no matter what the cost to the support or effectiveness of the charity concerned.

In this respect, the judge-ment gives a great deal of ground, not only to the Bishop of Oxford's case, but to any

group who feel that a Trust's behaviour or holdings are alien-ating its supporters or damag-ing its effectiveness.

It is a vitally important point, with clear implications for chari-ties generally as well as a number of areas of the Commissioners' work and one that is entirely lost on the summary given in last month's advertising feature.

Richard Thomas Abingdon

UNIQUENESS OF

CHRIST I would prefer not to add to the stretching out of the debate over the Abbey at Sutton Courtenay, although I would say that any Christian centre that allows heal-ing within its walls that is not through the Name of Jesus, such as Tibetan healing exercises, cannot be fully Christian. My main purpose of writing, how-ever, is to emphatically disa-gree with Bishop Donald Arden of Middlesex, who wrote in the June DOOR, where he wishes to remind us that the God of compassion in the Koran is the same as the Father of Jesus. I would dispute this totally, both as one who has read much lit-erature from Muslim sources, as well as one who has worked amongst those of other faiths for the last ten years. The God of the Christian Bible bears little resemblance to the God of the Koran.

Unfortunately, in these present times we are seeing more and more Christians falling into the trap of recognising all reli-gions as equal. My cry is that the Christian Church will once again rise up and proclaim the unique-ness of Christ. Let us as Chris-tians declare the love, grace and forgiveness of our God.

Norman Critchell Slough

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A trial of boys' voices for this world-famous Choir will be held on Saturday 2 October 1993 at St John's

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Burford"s in the top ten! Burford Parish Church in the Cotswolds is one of the most visited in the country. Cedric Reavley, a Churchwarden, explains how they provide for the needs of visitors as well as for their regular congregation.

professional firm of cleaners do the floors - by far the biggest job - and the rest is done by volun-teers. We also keep the church neat and tidy - last Sunday's hymns on the board look as bad as

out-of-date notices. As there is sometimes a good crowd of visi-tors, it is important to have pri-vate place for prayer, and a side chapel, where the Sacrament is reserved, is set aside for this. As the visitor leaves the church he will see a well-secured milk-churn by the door bearing a notice which says, "We hope you enjoyed your visit. Thank you for your gift." It is emptied daily and the offerings monitored to see how different presentation can affect them.

Security is of course a prob-lem. Many treasures have been

Mrs Larema Ayerst (left) has been church watching at St John's, Burford for the lust 20 years

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13 27

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The DOOR July 1993

Page 10 Page

THE CENTRE POINT

stolen over the years, so we have reluctantly locked away our re-maining ones, only bringing them out for services. The danger time is not when there are many visi-tors about, but in the quieter win-ter months so we lock the church at 3.30pm then, about the time it gets dark.

An important scheme, related to every aspect of catering for visitors, is our rota of stewards. This was originally arranged to combat the security problem; someone in the church for an hour at a time whose simple presence we hoped would deter thieves and vandals. But we also find that visitors appreciate a word of wel-come, and someone to answer questions.

The volunteer cleaners form part of the rota, and other stew-ards take the paper or a book to read, or do such jobs (like tidying hymn books) as they see need

At a conservative estimate, Burford Church is visited by 70,000 people a year. This gives us a great opportunity for com-munication: the mission of the church comes first, but at the same time, we recognise that it is im-portant to present the history and architecture of the building as in-terestingly as we can.

In many ways these two aims can be realised by the same prac-tical steps: making the visitor feel welcome, presenting an attrac-tive building which people want to enter, and giving signs of an active, worshipping community. There is therefore a notice saying 'Church Open' during the day, and details of when the services are held. The churchyard is kept tidy 11j a team of volunteers with financial help from the Town Council.

Inside the church, there is a free, multi-language leaflet of welcome, which emphasises the purposeof the building. There is also an up-to-date guide book, postcards and leaflets on specific aspects such as the stained glass and the bells.

Although we have so many visitors to our particular church, many smaller churches in neigh-bouring villages have compara-tively few, so a new leaflet was introduced four years ago giving a short description of every church in the deanery together with a map. Nearly 1,000 of these per

year have been sold since then, and reports from some local churches indicate an increase in visitors.

In our own church, a few lights are deliberately left on in the chancel and sanctuary for the visitor, and items of special inter-est have notices or information boards giving more details than is in the guidebook. On walking round, the visitor will also find more free leaflets on prayer and the essence of our faith. These are taken in large numbers: proof that there is a real demand for spir-itual help. A bookstall is in evi-dence as well, stocked by the gen-erous help of a local bookshop and second-hand books from the congregation.

One thing that we find makes all the difference to people's im-pressions is the cleanliness of the church. In a building the size of ours, this is a mammoth task. A

doing. There are even a few stew-ards who are not regular mem-bers of the congregation, but are willing to do a little for the benefit of the visitors on whom the town relies so much. Retired people can help enormously even if they only do an hour a week.

We are always willing to learn from others about ways of in-forming visitors about Jesus Christ and about our building, and glad to share our experience.

When Christ is ALL

Pulpit, font and lectern, Altar-rail and nave, Aisle and stained-glass Windows Sculptured architrave, Stone-slab floor and massive pew Cry 'tradition! - nothing new'.

Simple hall with platform, Carpet on the floor, Modern plain-glass windows, Yale lock on the door; Lessons by no symbols told, Truth is all - but truth is old.

Yet in great cathedral Men have sat in awe As the living Spirit Drew them to adore. And in humble chapel Where the Cross was preached, Men have fallen prostrate, Hearts the Saviour reached. Glorious church or simple hall Christ will fill, when Christ is ALL.

Ken Miles

It has often been said that if you can teach a child a little about the interior of a church and the sym-bolism of the building, then that child will find it easier to grow up in the Christian faith, or at least to return to the roots of faith later in life.

When my own children were younger and we were out in the car for a day, they had a standard reaction whenever we saw a church and they .thought I was about to indulge in my favourite pastime of 'church crawling'. They would cry "tin roof' and this was followed by loud engine noises from small mouths as my passengers willed me to drive on, preferably at speed.

They soon found out, how-ever, that even chapels that do indeed have tin roofs can have a story to tell (I can think of a par-ticularly interesting listed exam-ple in Bath) - even though as teenagers now they would un-swervingly profess a total lack of interest in any church architec-ture.

I can also remember a hazard-ous (and probably very unwise) crawl along the top of an ancient rood loft to gaze at close quarters at the vestiges of some fascinat-ing wall paintings (at a North-amptonshire church I shall not name) in my quest to explain - literally - what church crawling is all about.

From their wanderings inside cathedral roofs, their gazings into

'Just visiting' but are

newly uncovered 18th century centre churc vaults and from lessons that bats a busy shopj in fact prefer porches to belfries, parish chur I can hardly believe that my chil- So perli dren will not, at some stage of centrate on their lives, show an interest in the side of the bi delights to be gained from ex- lar rather tI ploring old churches. point of intr

Likewise I can hardly really your young believe it is not possible for be led to re everyone to be interested in the for God pre- subject if it is introduced in the Church right way. lead young

And there of course is the of many asç skill. Whether it be the old church can be as v marooned in fields up a lane on the angle at the edge of the village, or the to be at to hilltop site with a near circular function, to churchyard that unquestionably on the torn dates from pagan times or the city churches, If

I

I

ting' but are they made welcome?

oad of tin roofs ective, writes about exploring churches with children

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0 Page 11

The DOOR, July 1993

CHURCHES AND THEIR VISITORS

Is it time to think more about tourists?

The Rural Development Commission tells us that 73% of the popula-tion of this country visit our rural areas at least once a year. Visits to the countryside adds some £8 billion to the rural economy . Tourism is clearly a key feature of our rural life.

A small working party of representatives from every deanery in the Dorchester Episcopal area has been meeting to look at the issues. 196 questionnaires were sent out to rural parishes. The return rate was just over 69%. Analysis is underway and some statistics are beginning to emerge.

Respondents suggest that tourism accounts for the employment of some 10% of our villagers. 56% said that the main attraction is the Church 34% indicate that it is the scenery which attracts. Visitors arrive in villages mostly by car - 96% of respondents indicate this though coach,foot and even horse-back bring some visitors. Some villages welcome tourists, providing good signposting, seats, chil-dren's play areas, holiday cottages, and garden centres. 17% of respondents thought that the local village shop only survived in these difficult economic times because of its use by visitors.

So clearly for many villages tourism is an important fact of life though only 48% of respondents thought tourism to be a good and helpful thing for the life of the village and only 3% said that there had been a village discussion about tourism.

Only 53% of the Churches in the area are kept unlocked during daylight hours. Of those churches kept locked only 41% have a sign indicating where the Church key can be acquired. 3% of all churches in the area have a regular attendant to help visitors and to watch over the security of the building. 9% of churches in the area have over 1,000 visitors per year. 74% of Churches have a visitors book. Only 34% of churches display a welcome sign and 60% have some sort of explana-tory leaflet.

Thirty eight per cent of respondents said that their church made use of the opportunity for evangelism that visitors created, and many respondents felt that The DOOR was a useful piece of evangelistic material for visitors to have. Churches in our area like to see people at services - 98% said that they clearly indicated the service times elsewhere in the village as well as in the church. 76% of churches do not provide an intercessions book for people to write in; only 23% provide an area designated and labelled as a place for prayer and only 28% provide prayer helps. 44% of Churches do not have a Bible for people to look at.

Only 3% of parishes have had a discussion about their visitors; some wrote that the questionnaire has prompted them to think more care-fully about what they do, and about the opportunity for evangelism that visitors provide. Watch this space for the recommendations of the

- working party once the analysis is complete! Glyn Evans

th century is that bats to belfries, at my chil-te stage of erest in the 1 from ex-

irdly really Issible for sted in the iced in the

urse is the old church

D a lane on tge, or the ar circular iestionably s or the city

centre church looking out across a busy shopping centre, every old parish church has a story to tell.

So perhaps it is best to con-centrate on the human interest side of the building, and the secu-lar rather than the sacred as a point of introduction. In that way your young subjects will at least be led to realise that man's quest for God pre-dates Christian times-

Church buildings, of course, lead young people into elements of many aspects of study . These can be as varied as working out the angle at which the sun needs to be at to allow a mass dial to function, to studying the lichens on the tombstones, or, in new churches, looking at the way in

which brick or concrete weathers in a different way from stone. They can learn about how their forefathers functioned in a more agriculture-centred economy or how wool, in so many parts of the country, was the basis of much of England's medieval prosperity.

Or they can just look and marvel at the simplicity and ex-pressiveness of Anglo-Saxon church art, which so often bears resemblance to the out-put of younger children.

If it all sounds a bit educa-tional, it is. But then what is life if it is not a process of education? And if you wish to play an infor-mal part in your child's Christian education then church and church-yard wanderings provide a won-derful tool - teachers would use the word resource - with which to do this.

If you are away from home - say on holiday - the children prob-ably won't even realise that they are having a lesson. And if your fascination with churches and churchyards is anything like mine, you won't even realise you are giving one!

Be a Church Detective is published by The National Society! Church House Publishing £4.95 with cartoons including the one left by Taffy Davies.

As the 'Reapers' mowers roared and the bells rang, the 'Holy Dust-ers' (as we nickname our clean-ing team) got under way. This was the signal for the first local to come and claim their own. For that is what they were invited to do one Saturday in March.

St Giles 'At Home' day had been billed as a welcome to YOUR heritage with a warm in-vitation all day, especially to those who may never have darkened the church door before except perhaps for a baptism, a wedding or a funeral.

For 900 years Stoke Poges' church has witnessed to the spir-itual and physical life of villag-ers. The loves, labours, laments of Thomas Gray's "Rude forefa-thers" and their descendants.

There is a memorial to those lost in the Boar War erected by schoolfellows near the Second World War window and high on the wall near the altar, the car-nage of the Great War is recorded, whilst in the churchyard rest the four schoolboy companions lost comparatively recently in the Lands End tragedy.

Against a backdrop of church activities and displays, the Brown-ies arranged flowers for their win-

dows and visitors swirled around waiting to rub the portable brasses or have a go with the handbells. Time for a guided tour, a visit to the archives or up the steps to the belfry for a look see!

An organ recital rang out as an American visitor, refreshed with a cuppa quipped: "Gee, has the church been in mothballs? Is this you re-opening?" "No," we said, "Things happen all the week. Today we are just celebrating them altogether".

As the flow of over 300 visitors continued and the children in the creche corner squeezed through the play tunnel and down the slide, the choir robed ready for the fi-nale, a 'Top Ten' community hymn singing followed by prayers. 'Shine Jesus Shine' rang out and then an anthem, and 'Abide with Me' witnessing to our catholicity of styles and bring-ing to an end a truly happy, sunny day. It had been an outreach day when no recruiting was drummed up, no donations asked for, just an invitation to 'Come Home'.

Heather Harris

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The DOOR, July 1993

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Page 12

FIRST PRIVATE NURSING HOME REGISTERED TO BS 5750

Chilterns Manor Turret House Rest Home for retired and elderly 27 Kendrick Road

Northern Heights, Bourne End Reading Gracious surroundings where residents are treated as guests in a home-from-home atmosphere, and families and friends are made welcome.

Privacy is balanced with companionship. Frail and elderly folk are welcomed and caringly looked after.

For help and advice telephone: Mrs Barar, RGN 0628 528676 0734 867735

We take pride in caring

FREELAND Nursing Home, part of the Parc Care Group has become the first private nursing home to become reg-istered to BS 5750 by the British Standards Insti-tution's Quality Assurance division.

Freeland House, located in the village of Freeland near Witney, Oxfordshire, provides residential nursing care for the elderly and is registered with the Oxfordshire Health Author-ity.

BS 5750 is the national stan-dard for quality management systems which lays down a number of requirements which an organization should follow to ensure the quality of their products or service.

BSI Quality Assurance, together with the National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts (NAHAT) and the Registered Nursing Home Association, has recently produced a set of guid-ance notes for nursing home services in the continuing care nursing sector who are looking to become registered to BS 5750. These guidance notes

apply to existing providers of nursing home services in the independent sector who are reg-istered under Section 21 (1) (a) of the Registered Homes Act 1984.

Within the continuing nurs-ing care sector, the aim of a quality system is to make sure that the care service provided by the nursing home meets the requirements of the patients being cared for. This covers all

elements of the service, from administration to staffing lev-els, training, care procedures to social and dietary care and accommodation through to cleaning and property and

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nursing care of heavily depen-dent patients. Duncote Hall Nursing Home Nr Towcester, Northamptonshire. - one of the Parc Care Groups Homes is also due to receive the prestigious BS 5750 award in May 1993.

As Connie Mulshaw, Parc Care's operations manager explained:

"Whilst staff attainment of National Vocational Qualifications such as City and Guilds ensures that we provide a high level of service, we see registration to BS 5750 as giv-ing us the disciplines necessary to achieve and maintain this high standard. We have worked extremely hard over the past six months with BSI to register Freeland House and we are now well on the way to registering our other eight nursing homes to the standard".

The Rt Hon. Douglas Hurd, CBE, MP for Witney presented a BS 5750 registration certifi-cate to Freeland Nursing Home at Freeland House, Freeland, Nr Witney, Oxfordshire.

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The DOOR, July 1993

FEATURE

How to write a good church guide There are 825 churches in the Oxford Dio-cese each with a story to tell. It may be the story of a community, or of changing archi-tectural styles. Most importantly it will be the story of the spiritual life of those who have worshipped there. Most likely the three strands - the history of the community, the growth of the building itself and the life of the worshipping congregation will be wo-ven together.

Imagine that you are a visitor, perhaps from a far off continent. You are exploring the English countryside when over the hill a spire appears and you decide to take a closer look. The ancient church is open and the inside is all that you had hoped for. There is a guide book on sale but it is uninviting and seems to say little about the people who use the church. You leave, disappointed.

Twenty miles down the road is another village and another church. In the porch is a sign welcom-ing visitors with a very brief, clear outline of the church's history. Inside is a table with a number of guides, one for children, one a brief summary set out on a single sheet and a very attractive longer guide which seems full of interesting detail about the church, about the building and about the sur-rounding community. Naturally you buy one and after a happy hour browsing you feel you have made a friend.

A good church guide can make such a differ-ence to a visitor that four years ago the University of Oxford Department of Continuing Education held a weekend workshop called 'Writing a Church Guide'. It was led by Dr Kate Tiller, University Lecturer in Local History and Dr George Tyack, Director of the Stanford University Centre in Ox-ford and included visits to two contrasting churches - St Giles', Standlake and St Mary's, Freeland. The 'first originated in the 12th century but reflects the styles of a number of architectural periods while the second has been little altered since its completion in 1871.

At the end of the course Dr Tiller and Dr Tyack agreed to write a guide book for Freeland to encour-age certain approaches to guide writing. A second guide for Standlake's church written by Dr Tiller and Dr John Blair is due to be published soon.

iST -MARY -THE 'VIRGIN

The two guides produced set out to demonstrate three elements - the historical context of the church in the community, the evolution of the building as known from built and documentary evidence, and a walk round the exterior and interior bringing together the first two elements in a clear way calculated to sharpen the observer's understand-ing and interest. Illustrations or plans should be integrated into the text helping to describe and explain.

Some of the underlying principles for writing a good church guide are that a church more than any other building, reflects the history of the community it serves in a wide variety of aspects, power, ownership, individual or group wealth, piety, artistic fashion, liturgical, administrative and political changes. To really undestand what he or she sees, the visitor needs to know how and when the church took shape, was used and altered, and if possible why developments occurred. The building needs peopling. Kate Tiller

The Freeland Guide (U) In 1988 the parish undertook a stewardship re-newal programme. The result was a Parish Plan with 16 points, one of which read "Prepare a leaflet on the history, architecture and decoration of our

SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK 1. What is the function of the guide? 2. What should be in it?

3. For whom is it written? 4. What sources should be referred to? 5. How should it be written? 6. How should it be presented 7. How long should it be? 8. How much should it cost?

church for visitors". Research work began in 1989 and the material was collated by a former Vicar of Freeland, Canon Ronald West. After the Writing a Church Guide weekend when students used St Mary's as an example, Kate Tiller and Geoffrey Tyack agreed to write the guide. 2000 copies were published and it sells at £2. The result is a quality guide with stunning photographs on the front and back cover by Michael Ryan, a local photographer. There is a preface by Cohn Randall, eighteenth Vicar of Freeland. The guide is then divided up into two sections, the first shorter one about the village of Freeland and its relationship with the church and the second a very clear, readable account of the building. For a copy write to: J. Peverel-Cooper, 29 Pigeon Houses Lane, Freeland, Witney, OX8 8AG (12.50 with postage)

St Giles, Standlake ( price not decided) Churches like Standlake which have grown up over seven centuries are often the most difficult to write about . But this guide does a splendid distillation job. It first sets the church in its geographical, historical and social context before moving on to describe the church in more detail. The plans and drawings are particularly helpful in working out what was added when and where. The guide also takes you on a carefully worked out tour of the outside and inside of the building. Publication is anticipated soon.

MORE GOOD GUIDES

St Mary's, Burghfield (5) A Living History of Burghfield and its Church

was published this year to coincide with St Mary's 150th anniversary. It is an unusual guide because it is a community effort with eleven different chapters each written by a different person.. There is even a chapter compiled by the pupils of St Mary's School, a walk around the graveyard by Bob Morrison with a list of the wildflowers found there besides chapters about the church artefacts, the building, the village and life in the 1840's. It is an impressive publication. All Saints, Loughton (Free) This is not really for casual visitors but deserves a mention. A folder includes facts about the life of the church and its clergy, a statement of the church's vision, a brief guide to the church, a stewardship leaflet, the latest newsletter and a card to return to the minister. St John the Evangelist, Newbury (SOp) St John's was the only church in the Diocese to be completely destroyed by a World War II bomb so its story is unique. Bob Gibbs who wrote the guide was a churchwarden for 26' years. What makes this guide special are the prayers and meditations for each part of the building. St Nicholas, East Challow (Free) Keeping down costs was important when this brief history on a single folded sheet was pro-duced in 1991. But it is well-written, includes a clear plan, and is a good example of just what can he done on a shoe-string!

FURTHER INFORMATION Writing a Church Guide, David Dymond, (Church House Publishing, £2.95) Helping the Stones to Speak, Moyal Feehally (Tortoiseshell Publications, £2) * Be a Church Detective, Clive Fewins (National Society I Church House Publishing, £4.95)" * Available to buy from Barbara Doubtfire, at Church House. If you need advice on writing a church guide. the Diocesan Parish Development Officers will be pleased to advise you.

• One hundred balloons with messages about the setting up of a united church, were released at Thatcham near Newbury on June 6 to cel-ebrate plans for a Local Ecumenical Project for the new Dunstan Park Estate. The LEP will involve the Anglican and United Reformed Churches. • The RedLion Inn at Chaigrove is one ofafew pubs to be owned by an ecclesiastical charity, the Church Estate Trust. The newly refurbished pub will be the venue for the Chaigrove Folk Festi val from July 9 - 11. Money raised will go to buy equiment for the Chinnor Resource Unit for Autistic Children. As befits a pub with ecclesiastical connections, there will be a 'folk orientated' act of worship on July 11 at 11am at St Mary's Church. • Parishioners at Grendon Underwood were sur-prised when their Team Rector, Canon David Owen, turned up in 17th century costume to open proceed-ings at the Village Feast. He was showing solidarity with members of the Sealed Knot Regiment dressed in costumes ofthe Civil Warperiod who made a lively contribution to the day's activities.

0

• Young musicians from the Amersham area are giving a concert at St Mary's Church on July 2 to raise money for young people at a training centre in Swaziland. Theyoungpeople learned ofthe Manzini Industrial Training Centre through Sister Naomi OHP who works there and whose brother is a church warden at St Mary's. • The Church Times recently told of various Chris-tian Aid Week enterprises. Clearly they hadn't heard about Charlbury near Witney which has a Christian Aid Shop each year superbly run by a retired clergyman, the Revd William Jarvis and a band of volunteers. Anything saleable is accepted from Monday to Saturday. The Friends Meeting House is transformed after morning worship into an amateur department store and by the end of the week Christian 4id were £2620 better off this year.

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The DOOR, July 1993

STAINED GLASS Page 14

TREASURES OF BEAUTY MYSTERY AND FAITH

June Osborne, author of Stained Glass

in England * picks some of the Diocese' finest examples of stained glass.

Not just decoration, not mere church furnishing, stained glass at its best is vitally connected with belief. In its original setting, the most important windows were generally in the east end of the church, nearest to the altar. Here would often be portrayed the central themes of the Nativity, Crucifixion and Resurrection.

In the Middle Ages, even the very making of glass was accounted a mystery and a miracle: that the basest of materials, earth and sand, could be changed by fire into a wonderful translucent substance. Through this the early morning light would shine onto the altar, illuminating anew its glowing colours and images.

Fashions change, iconoclasm comes and goes. Much glass was destroyed, either through Puri-tan zeal or eighteenth century aesthetics. So it is rare to find medieval glass in its original setting; and where it does survive, it is especially telling. We are very fortunate that so much has been preserved within this Diocese.

Glowing colour In Dorchester Abbey, for instance, there is a magnificent and complex East Window, of glow-ing colour, still largely composed of fourteenth century glass: St Michael and the dragon, St Lawrence with the gridiron of his martyrdom, the Annunciation, the Virgin and Child, and the local saint, St Birinus, preaching to the people (illustrated). The latter appears too in even ear-lier glass, a mid-thirteenth century roundel in the east window of the North Chapel.

Great riches are to be found too in Christ Church Cathedral. The Becket Window in the Lucy Chapel dates from the same period as much of Dorchester's early glass, and it is in situ. Few windows anywhere give such an insight

into the medieval mind; as well as the main themes, the murder of St Thomas, St Augustine preaching, and St Martin dividing his cloak with a beggar, we find all manner of drolleries and grotesques tucked into the minor tracery lights - harpies, a three-legged man, and a centaur.

The fine fourteenth century glass of the chancel of St Andrew's, Chinnor, recently cleaned, includes a stately figure of St Law-rence. But it is not just in the great churches that medieval glass survives; even in the smallest and most remote there are sometimes treasures to be found. The East window of St Mary's, Beckley, for instance, has delightful tracery lights depicting such themes as the Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin, and in St Peter's, Marsh Baldon, we find a most elegant image of St Anne, green-robed against a scarlet ground, teaching her daughter to read. And in Chetwode (St Mary and St Nicholas ) we find thirteenth century glass, recently restored, including a St Nicholas and the royal arms of England.

In the nineteenth century there was a revival

of stained glass amounting almost to a renais-sance; it was a new approach to the art associated chiefly with the names of William Morris and Burne-Jones. It was in Oxford that the two first met, and memorable examples of their windows are to be found not only in certain college chapels (particularly Manchester College, with crimson-winged angels holding globes that represent the days of the Creation ) but also farther afield. Middleton Cheney (All Saints) has a superb east window which various members of Morris's company took a hand in designing, and a dra-matic west window of the Burning Fiery Fur-nace, designed by Burne-Jones.

An ethereal quality The art is by no means dead. The best of the modern glass does not ape the medieval, but has a positive statement to make in its own terms. In St Laurence, Tubney, two recent windows by David Wasley use effectively a technique of fusing glass, giving an ethereal quality to his trumpet-blowing angel and God the Father. Some of the finest modern glass has been designed by John Piper. In Sandford St Martin, for instance, there is a window on the theme of the saint to whom the church is dedicated. He is not repre-sented as a person, but the central symbolism is there - the hands, the sword, and the rich cloak being divided.

At All Saints, Farnborough is the delightful window that Piper designed in memory of Sir John Betjeman; full of summer colour, it is surely the most cheerful memorial window ever con-ceived. There is fine Piper glass too at St Bartholomew's, Nettlebed, including the East Window depicting Symbols of the Resurrection. With its fish, butterflies, and Tree of Life, all in brilliant and yet never strident colour, it has nothing to do with the 'dim religious light' that some people used to associate with stained glass. Religious, in the true sense, it is, but vibrant and alive. And how apt that a medium, which is itself a symbol of the Resurrection, should be used to interpret such a theme.

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An extract from Jane Pike's poem The Morning Star.

ANSWERS siqo SPJRMOJ sqq am op M04 :doj

UrjiJ L jSuio5 M Aaql 0124A% MOU1 M1D Mfl Op SMOPU1M 5puq ON 9 Z UROW srq&sop qM ps!ei iopuy ç -siqlo 5uiuou Asi jou :xSpsi ON 1, LajGqmAar Su!og drqs siqi Sr :AsM MOq ON tUM UqS SO UtMOqSApaiSflSf S! puUnJ UO SSOJ ON Z sauisua jo lonj OU :3jOwS ON 1 S 5 ampid UJ

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own car, and so became familiar with the surrounding countryside. Then as time went on they felt the need to stop driving and now have built up a good rapport with a local taxi service. They talked about the decision to move. "One of the reasons that we thought of moving is that we felt it would be better if we were nearer to our daughter. We also wanted someone to keep an eye on us. So why have two moves, to a warden controlled flat that has no other back-up facilities and then have to move later into a nursing home, why not do it in one jump! Our daughter pointed out that Newdale Court had got all the help that we Wee trying to get in our next home. It bridges the gap so vO between ordinary house and nursing home."

The Close Care way of living gives each resident aidir families the peace of mind that they will always be well looked after. It also provides comonship if they wish. "Our neighbours are great friends and we can have a good laugh, we havE aglass of sherry and listen to the talking books together and we find the mobile library and the 1pobile shop very useful." There are also tea afternoons here when the residents can all get together, and they have entertainers in the nursing home to'which all are invited.

Some of the care that Mr & MrsLinton have, they speak for themselves. "We can have our lunch brought to us in our home when we wish, they are wonderful, there is so much we can't always eat it all. Vanessa is marvellous, she cleans our rooms and often finds things we have lost, even money! Ann, our care assistant, comes to bath us in our own bath twice a week, which is so lovely as I can get in, but can't lift myself our, also at 84 it's very tiring."

Mr Linton often goes for short walks. "When the wer i to the pub to collect the beer!"

So Close Care Apartments allows residents to live independently as their will and health allows, secure in the' knowledge that help is available should the need arise.

Finally both Mr & Mrs Linton say how they feel about living at Newdale Court." All these little things mean so much to us. This is our home now and we love it, even when we are ou we look forward to coming home."

4JJ'9II.

IIIIIID

Page 15 The DOOR, July 1993

YOUTH GROUP SETS SAIL WITH THE MORNING STAR

Hi there. I hope you enjoyed looking at the pictures and read-ing about the Children's Gift Days in the last issue of The DOOR. There is something very special about working together, enjoying new experiences and praising and worshipping the Lord, when there are lots of chil-dren present.

Have you ever thought how a group of Christians can be a bit like a ship in port, waiting to sail off on a voyage?

Some of you may have been on a large ship - a ferry, perhaps. While it is in the port, it is tied up or anchored. The only engines running are the generators for lights and other on board power. The ship may have its radar scan-ner going round - a bit like our eyes - checking what is going on • For the ship to begin moving, the ropes have to be untied and the anchor raised. There has to be fuel on board and power to run the engines and turn the propeller. Of course, each mem-ber of the crew has to know what to do, and they work as a team. If one or two people don't

Tracy Kent, 15, from Cheddington, describes what happened at this year's Mursley Deanery Youth Festival.

Everyone arrived Friday evening and set up their tents in the comfortable (?!?) field. The first evening was spent getting to know each other, then everyone went over to the church for a meeting and evening worship conducted by the Revd John Sciater, John

do their job properly, then the whole ship may be at risk! How is this like us as a group of Christians?

So that our ship can begin its voyage it needs fuel - this comes from the power of the Holy Spirit. I've written quite a few times in this column about how He can give us power - so we need to pray to God, some-times on our own and some-times with others. We need to use our 'radar', our eyes and ears, to be aware of those around us and their needs and of how we can help.

What do we understand about how our ship works? We do have a sailor's manual - the Bible. We need to read it, and it will help us to know the best way to run the ship; and of course, if we are a friend of Jesus, He shows us the way (rather like a map!) Of course, our ship can't sail without let-ting go of ropes and hauling up the anchor. This means that we must believe in God, and that He will always be with us, no matter how terrible things seem.

Russell and Andy Crich. The highlight of the evening was most definitely the rap per-formed by Andy and John! It got everyone laughing and for those who were feeling slightly overwhelmed, it was certainly welcoming. The singing, ac-companied by guitars, drums and a keyboard continued until the early hours of the morning.

Saturday afternoon there was a canal trip on the Leighton Lady. Workshops were organ-

It also means that we must let go of things like greed, selfishness, hate, unkindness: I'm sure you can think of more ropes and anchors like these! If the whole crew works in this way, they become a team, and the ship can set out on its voyage of discov-

ised by Ann Duff, including drama, photography and flower pressing. To end the day we had a barn dance and once again worship continued through the night until very late (or early!) The whole weekend was fun-packed, full of worship, songs, games and much more. The weekend ended with a concert.

Bishop Simon of Bucking-ham came to take the final com-munion service, which proved to be a very emotional affair!

cry. Bon voyage! Why don't you test your

powers of observation and look for the differences between pic-ture A and picture B below? There are at least seven changes. You can find the answers at the bottom of the page.

Prayers and readings were shared amongst the groups and it seemed to bring everyone much closer together. The Bishop joined in with the fun and games after the service and was even battered by a Frisbee!

The Mursley Deanery Youth Festival takes place every year on May bank holiday weekend at St Mary's Church, Old Linslade. It is open to everyone in the Mursley Deanery aged between 13 and 17 and leaders.

A group of young people from the Diocese recently went to sea for a week on board the sail training ship Morning Star. Sail-ing from Chatham Historic Dockyard on Saturday May 29, the crew members had only met on one occasion previously.

"Time to think, time to pray, time to learn as you are sailing away."

High winds, thick fog, a lost anchor and sailing through the night were just a few of the things which the crew learnt to cope with. But in their com-ments, Guy Hopkins, Oily Hanks, Jenny Tindall, Ed Bracklik, David Estabrook, 011y Hermes and Lucy Marshall show how much they enjoyed their first experience at sea.

"Thanks fora great, great week's sailing and draw-ing me closer to God."

The Revd David McDougall who led the group, said: "It's been a mad, mad crew and it's been a deep experience of team work, of community; of sail training and of deepening our understanding of God."

"This has been a really

fab experience, I've learnt so much and really enjoyed it."

"Several of the crew have come to know God for the first time, others have heard God speak to them through the Bible and in s a still, quiet voice. All have learnt a great deal about themselves and how much we can love each other for who we are - not any image we want to project."

"This has been one of the best weeks of my life. I've learnt a lot about sailing, other people, myself, and God, thank you very much."

I know the young people who sailed away this year would want to encourage others to do the same. We certainly will be hop-ing to offer a similar opportu-nity next year and would wel-come enquiries from aiy of our readers who would like to regis-ter now.

"We went out as a bunch of individuals, we came back as a crew, each having discovered a bit more about God."

Peter Ball Diocesan Youth Officer CAMPING, CONCERTS AND COMPANIONSHIP

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The DOOR, July 1993

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Page U

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Page 17 The DOOR, July 1993

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE 4J BRAND NEW PARK HOMES

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Page 18 The DOOR, July 1993

BOOK STALL

AGENTS OF THE WORD Three agents working for the Fountain Christian Bookshop in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, talk to Simine Arnfield about their work, the kind of books people like to buy, and how important books can be to the Christian lifestyle.

The summer brings many visitors to DorchesterAbbey

JOAN HAYES

Dorchester Abbey

The 12th century Abbey Church of St Peter and St Paul in picturesque Dorchester-on-Thames, is the setting for Joan Hayes' quietly successful bookstall. Over a period of twelve years, Joan has

developed a system which meets the needs of Dorchester Abbey's many visitors. Against a background display of photographs of the parish, the unmanned bookstall stocks Abbey guides and post cards alongside books which Joan judges appropriate for Abbey visitors.

The Abbey is seldom empty in the summer, and the added attraction of the tea-room brings in even more people. If Joan is in the Abbey arranging flowers she will watch out to see which books visitors are interested in. Otherwise she leaves them free to help themselves. "I think people will buy from a bookstall when they wouldn't buy from a Christian bookshop, particularly if no-one is looking over their shoulder," she says.

Joan likes to have books covering as wide a range of interest as possible, both theoretical and practical. Some of the books which she has found to be popular with children include CS Lewis' Narnia tales, Little Fish and Lion Story Bible books and traditional books like A Pilgrim's Progress.

Among adult buyers she finds that classics like The Practice of the Presence of God and The Imitation of Christ. sell well as do books dealing with

some of life's problems such as illness, bereavement and depression. People also look for information on bringing up children (especially books by Dr Dobson), personal relationships and Bible study notes. More lighthearted books by Thora Hird, Catherine Marshall and Margaret Cundiff sell well, as does work from Joyce Huggett and Mary Batchelor.

CAROL PIGGOU

All Saints Chilton

Not far from the ancient Ridgeway path facing the wind-swept gallops on Blewbury Down is the old Berkshire village of Chilton, now part of Oxfordshire.

Carol Piggott has been managing the church bookstall for the past ten years. Since she moved into the village with her family 16 years ago she has seen the church congregation grow, fed by new housing development in the village and by church outreach. "Out of a village population of 1,000, over one hundred are on the electoral register and have some involvement with the church," says Carol.

The church bookstall has grown with the church. With Oxford and Newbury over fifteen miles away and Wallingford ten miles, the bookstall serves people who wouldn't otherwise make the effort to visit a Christian bookshop.

"The Church is always open," says Carol. "People from the village who go in to pray and be quiet can browse through the

books. We also get joggers from the nearby Atomic Energy Research Establishment who look in during their lunch hour, and at one point, the church seemed to be the meeting place for the village young people."

Carol tries to cater for the different types of people who visit the church. She always has a stock of Bibles and books on coping with life's problems. "There are quite a few Sci-fi fans in the village," she says. "Books by CS Lewis and Frank Perretti sell well."

She also stocks books which are being studied in the house groups, seasonal books and some which are recommended by the clergy. Recently Carol has found that people are buying fewer books on impulse but they are placing specific orders with her. For information on new books Carol relies on the 'New Books' shelf at the Fountain. Information on Sunday School material is picked up at Spring Harvest.

Each book contains an envelope (recycled offertory) with the name of the book and its price. Money from the purchase of books is paid into a special post office account. Into this Carol also pays money received from the Treasurer for Sunday School material.

As the Fountain gives a discount of ten per cent Carol

has built up a small reserve which covers any loss or damage to books, though this happens very infrequently. Carol is also able to pay her bills promptly without having to wait until she has collected her money.

HANNI GRIFFITH

Highmoor Hall

Hanni Griffith manages the bookstall at Highmoor Hall, the beautiful home of Ann and Paul Persson which is a centre for Christian retreats and conferences.

Hanni's passion for selling books started when she discovered how much she was helped by reading Christian literature: "The first book I read was Seeking God by Joyce Huggett. It just met me where I was and from then on I read many similar books including a number by Esther De Waal," she says.

"As a result I was very keen to start a bookstall at Highmoor Hall. I have read every book I sell and am very keen to introduce them to other peQple. I wish some of these books were available in secular bookshops, because I think they contain information that could change people's lives.

"Two weeks ago we had a

two-day conference called 'Coming to God' which was led by Joyce and David Huggett. I always put the books out on days like that as well as copies of the music cassettes which we use in our meditations.

"I only buy books which are relevant to the theme we are studying, which is usually about looking for God and coming close to Him. I read the Church of England Newspaper and Renewal to see what is new. If I read a book I look at the bibliography and order any which seem interesting, and

when I go on a retreat, for example to St Mary's Convent, Wantage, I will look at what is available there. I am especially interested in books on inner healing and damaged emotions, books like Emotionally Free by Rita Bennet and any books by Mary Pytches. Also anything on relating to God, to the past, to your husband, to your children, to your neighbours and to friends, and books which are accessible to people without a personal faith. This article first appeared in the Christian Bookseller.

HOW TO BECOME A BOOK AGENT To become an agent you need a book agent's licence obtainable from The Publishers' Association, 19 Bedford Square, London WC1B311J. You will be asked to name the bookshop you wish to deal with and to give the name of a vicar, rector or priest as a reference or, if it is for a school bookstall, the name of the headteacher. For more information contact St Andrew's Christian Bookshops on 0246 2168.

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The DOOR, July 1993

WHAT'S ON

EVERYTHING STOPS FOR TEA ABINGDON. St Nicholas Church; Coffee mornings every Saturday during June, July and August 1030am - 12pm. AYLESBURY. St Mary's Coffee Shop open 1030am - 3pm Mon to Sat. Snacks and teas. Tel: 0296 28518. BEACONSFIELD Coffee House in town centre: Christian books and snacks. Open Saturdays 10am-5pm, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10am-4.30pm and Wednes-days 10am-2pm. COOKHAM. Charity teas at Holy Trinity from May to September. 3.15 - 515pm on Sundays, Bank Holidays and most Saturdays. DORCHESTER. Abbey Tearooms. Staffed by an army of volunteers, the top price for any item is SOp. Open Wednes-day, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from about 3pm "until the food runs Out". HADDENHAM. St Mary's Church Centre open for cream teas every Sunday in July and August until 12 September 3 - 530pm. Wheelchair access. Church open. HIGH WYCOMBE All Saints' Coffee and Book Shop, Castle Street open six mornings a week. Serves hot and cold drinks, scones, cakes and biscuits. HUGHENDEN. Teas served in the Church House every Sunday and Bank Holiday as well as every Saturday in August. weekday parties also catered for. Enquiries to 0494 529579. KIDLINGTON. Cream teas served in St Mary's Church Refectory each Sunday in August. LAMBOURN Bank holiday Monday 30 August cream teas 3-6pm in church grounds. LONG CRENDON. Teas in the Church House, High Street, every Saturday and Sunday 3 - 6pm through July - Septem-ber. Wheelchair access, parties catered for: 0844 201096. MARLOW. All Saints Church Hall, The Causeway serves home-made teas every Sunday and Bank Holiday from May to the end of September 3pm - 6pm. Wheelchair access. MAIDENHEAD. Tea, coffee and home-made cakes every

Thursday from 930am - noon at St Mary's Church Hall, High Street. MILTON KEYNES. The Cornerstone Pantry open all year (except Good Friday and Christmas Day) Mon to Sat lOam - 4pm. Hot lunches; teas and cakes, all home-made. Tel: 0908 237777. OXFORD. St Aldates Coffee House (oppostite Christ Church). Open lOam - 530pm Saturdays andlOam - 5pm Mon - Fri for lunches and teas. - OXFORD. St Giles' Parish Rooms, 10 Woodstock Rd, open for tea, coffee, cake and biscuits from 3.30 - 5pm every Sat and Sun. Tea at 20p has to be the cheapest cuppa in Oxford! OXFORD. St Michael at Northgate. Refreshments in the church centre. Wed 12 noon - 2pm, Sat 11am - 1pm. Coffee, tea, cakes and sandwiches. (There are two steps at the entrance to the centre). READING Greyfriar's Coffee Shop (pictured above) Mon-day-Sat 10am-5pm. See also page 20. SLOUGH (Upton). St Laurence Church is open for tours and refreshments July 16 - September 5 from 2-5pm. 'I'HAME St Mary's Church open lOam - 4pm every day (1pm - 4pm Sundays). Refreshments all day. Gift shop: cards, books and Peruvian jumpers. Groups welcome: for bookings contact Doreen Urch 0844 208204. UFFINGTON. St Mary's Church. Teas from 5pm on Sundays June to end of Sept in Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall. Cakes, sandwiches, cream teas. Wheel chair access and toilet. MU and other church parties welcome: please ring Fay Foster 0367 820363. WINGRAVE (Aylesbury) Cream teas in the church 3 - 530pm on June 27, July 11 and 25, August 8 and 22. Wheelchair access and toilet. -. WOODSTOCK Tea and home-made cakes available every Sunday in St Mary Magdalene Church 2.30 - 530pm. Wheelchair access. Open June to September.

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Page 19

CHRISTCHURCH CATHEDRAL :OXFORD. Sunday Service Sun.

Qam II. 15rn . 6pm. Weekdays: 715am, 735am. 6pm (Thu's Even-song 5.35pm and Sung Eucharist 6pm).

SPIRIT LEVELevery Sunday morning 7-9am on BBC Radio Oxford (95.217M).

JUNE Wed 30 - Sat 3 July HENLEY meals served all day in the Chantry House St Mary's Church with craft market. Money to Children's Society.

JULY Thu,1 HOLTON CMS study day at the rectory I 0.3Oam-3.45pm. Freebut please book in advance: 0865 245509. Fri 2AMERSIIAM Programme of clas-sical music by local young people to raise money for Manzini Industrial Training in Africa. St Mary's Church 730pm. De-tails 0494 727839. Fri 2- Sun 4 WHITCHURCH Yellow Braces festival for young people (12-16). Drama, discussion, music, prayer and worship. Sleep intents. Cost £19.50 from Diocesan Church House 0865 244566. Sat 3 READING St Peter's Caversham and St Margaret's Mapledurham Grand Fete at Caversham Court 2pm. Details: 0734 475350 or 0734 478081. Sat 3 DITCHLEY Spelsbury parish fete 2pm. Dilchley House open. Witney Town Band. Sat 3 BLEDLOW nr Princes Risborough. Holy Trinity Church Fete in the gardens of Bee House 215pm. De-tails 0844 344762. Sat 3 EASTIIAMPSTEAD Green and Gold Fete at St Michael's Church 2pm in aid of Relate and the Immediate Care Service. Sat 3, Sun 4 IUNGHAM Medieval Kingham-at-home. Flower festival in church. Saturday: 11 am-5pm Sat 3, Sun 4 NEWBURY St George's Diamond Jubilee Festival 10am-5pm Sat

and 12-6.30pm Sunday. Includes flower display and exhibition. Sat 3, Sun 4 FREELAND Flower festi-val at St Mary's. Songs of Priase Sunday 6pm. Sun HUGHENDEN open air 'All Crea-tures Great and Small' service 3pm Sun 4 BURGHFIELD Concert at St Mary's Church 730pm. Details 0734 834433. Mon 5 CHALFONT ST GILES Con-cert 8pm in aid of Dove Word Ministries. Details 0494 872097. Mon 5 - Sun 11 OXFORD Individually guided retreat at Carmelite Priory, Boars Hill. For details of this and other retreats tel-0865 730183. Mon 5 - Mon 19 OXFORD Touring Exhibition 'Faith in the City?' organised by the Church Urban Fund. Wed 7. OXFORD Alzheimer's Day 930am - 420pm Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate's. Information, speakers, stalls, discussion panel and refreshments. Ad-mission Free. Details 0865 862064. Wed 7 OXFORD First of six lectures on 'What matters most in Christianity' at the Priory Room, Christ Church 5pm. Today 'The Christ' with Canon O'Donovan. Fri 9, Sat 10, Sun 11 CHALGROVE Charity Folk Festival at the Red Lion. Tickets from £5 adults or £10 family for three days. Includes a ceilidh (Fri) music with Fiona Simpson (Sat) and Heron on Sunday plus morris dancing, crafts and workshops. Details 0865 891047. Sat 10 QUAINTON. Church fete at Brudenell House 230pm. Proceeds to church funds. Sat 10 NEWTON LONGVILLE St Faith's country fair. Stalls, crafts, flower festival 2-6pm. Barn dance 730pm, de-tails 0908 375794. Sat 10 TILEHURST Concert with Thames Wind Concert Band 730pm St Mary Magdalen Church. Programme £3 Tel 0734 425290. Sat 10 OXFORD Bring and buy coffee morning at St Andrew's Church, Linton Road, 10.30am-12pm. Admission 30p. Sat 10 NORTH MORETON Ten gar-dens open 2-6pm. Teas, croquet, bowls.

Sat 10, Sun 11 BLEDLOW RIDGE Flower festival to mark 125 anniversary Si Paul's. Organ recital 730pm Sat and Festival Evensong Sunday. Sun 11 DORCHESTER St Binnus Pil-grimage from Blewbury 1.30pm.Ends with service 7pm in Abbey. Preacher Fr Anthony Conlon. Collection will go to squatter camps in South Africa. Contact Pilgrimage Office, 4 Samian Way, Dorchester OX1O 8JS. Sun 11 NEWTON LONGVILLE Flower festival in church. Teas and plants for sale 2-6pm. Concert of chorale and light music in church 7pm. Tickets for concert: 0908 375794. Sun 11 TILEHURST Adrian Plass is the guest speaker at the Youth Praise 7pm St Michael's Church. Details 0734 502945. Sun 11 MEDMENHAM Flower festi-val at St Peter and St Paul's Church and Open Gardens. Brass band.Teas and plants for sale. Admission £3, children free. Sun 11 BURGHFIELD Rocky Gospel Show starring 'Breaking New Ground' 630pm St Mary's Church. Tickewts £2. Details 0734 834433. Sat 17 OXFORD A Musical Present in the Chapel of All Saint's Convent, St Mary's Rd 7pm with Ruth Lindley, so-prano, and Simon Lindley, organ. Sat 17 CUMNOR Concert 8pm St Michael's. Programmes £7 let: 0865 863379. Sat 17, SUN 18 CHARLBURY St Mary's Festival Weekend. Church Em-broidery Exhibition. Saturday 730pm: concert of exerpis from The Messiah. Details :0608 810286. Fri 16- Sun 18 SLOUGH Flower Fes-tival St Laurence Church. Songs of Praise 8pm Fri. Church open lOam-6pm Sat and 25pm Sun followed by Evensong. Fri 1611T1'LECOMPTON Barn dance to raise money for church funds. Details 0608 74313. Sat 17 HAMBLEDEN Concert 730pm. Bach, Handel, Biber and Scarlatti. Tick-ets £6 (0491 574652) or at the door. Sat 17 TILEHURST Flower festival, organ recitals, St Mary Magdalen Church lOam-5pm. Sun 18 SOUTH ASCOT Open Gardens Day 2-6pm. Maps showing gardens (2) available from All Souls' Church. Teas and stalls. Enquiries to Revd D Sebastian Jones 0344 22388. Thur 22 BOVENEY Sung Eucharist 730pm at St Mary Magdalene Church by permission of the Friends of Friendless Churches. Sat 24 ASCOTT.UNDER-WYCH WOOD Fete 2pm on the Green. Morris dancers, teas, stalls. Fri 30, Sat 31, Sun I Aug HENLEY stained glass open day, the Studio, Trin-ity Close. 10am-6pm. Sat 31 July - Sun 1 Aug ICKFORD Flower Festival St Nicholas Church.

AUGUST Sat 7 TIDMARSH and Suiham churches' summer fete in grounds of Tidmarsh House 215pm. Tue 10 OXFORD A day of activities for Deaf Children at The Deaf Centre, St Ebbe's Church 10.30am-3pm. The day

.5 QQ

ends with a service. Details 0235 815047. Wed 18 - Sat 21 NORTH LEIGH St Mary's celebrates its annual holiday event ending with a family service on Sunday at lOam. Sun 22 LITTLE COMI'TON Spon-sored bike ride for church funds. Details 060874313. Sat 28, Sun 29, Mon 30 THAME Flower Festival. Admission £1, accompanied children free. Over 60 arrangements. Saturday and Monday 10am-7pm (ex-

cept during wedding from 2pm Sat) and Sunday llam-6pm. Refreshments.

NOTICES Sudan: anyone with interest/concern/ connection with southern Sudan needed for action day in Oxford, 21 July. Phone Gill Poole 0865 250688. Christ Church Cathedral: welcomers needed. Phone 0235 531229: 100 Hymns for Today 160 copies avail-able at St Michael's Summertown. Tel

Margaret Clarke 0865 59048. Vocations breakfast to explore lay or ordained ministry. Sat 11 September 830am Holtspur, Beaconsfield. Tel: Hilary Unwin 0494 725228.

There is no August DOOR. The deadline forSeplember What's On is August 12.

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CLOSING ]J[

IN THE STEPS OF THE FRIARS

The DOOR, July 1993

There can be few churches in the Diocese with such an unu-sual history as Greyfriars in Reading. It was first built in the 13th century on an island site in a marshy area by Franciscan friars who came from France to preach the Gospel and care for the poor. After Henry VIII closed the monasteries, the fri-ary church was used as a hospi-tal and then for 250 -years as a prison before being restored as a parish church in 1863. In the 1970's a new West End was added and finally in 1983 the congregation took a leap of faith and raised £300,000 to build the Greyfriars Centre with its large multi-purpose hail, offices, a kitchen, a coffee shop and a book room.

If those gentle friars were to return today they would prob-ably throw up their cowls in horror at the traffic thundering past what is now a city centre church. But were they to pop into the Greyfriars Centre they would soon discover that their ministry is flourishing still.

John Brown has been the manager ever since the Centre opened on February 4 1983. A former Baptist minister, he is a big man in every sense, who

sees his work as an opportunity for Christian outreach in the city cntre. The coffee shop is pat-

John Brown, Manager

ronised by local office workers and shoppers while the book room has grown into a book-shop staffed by volunteers and popular with churches of all denominations in south Read-ing. The large hall is used not only by Greyfriars own congre-gation but also for outside con-ferences such as the recent Read-ing Bible Convention which attracted 500 delegates, and even for 'A' level examinations.

"The greatest opportunity at the Centre is meeting the public where they are," says John Brown who believes that some people drop in because they just want to talk over their problems on 'neutral' territory. There is always a trained member of staff available to talk and privacy can

be guaranteed in one of the small side rooms. Another contribu-tion the Centre has made is that many people from the Greyfriars now feel they have a ministry "because without our voluntary help we wouldn't be able to do our work here," he says.

The Greyfriars Coffee Shop is now well known in the city centre not only for its excellent snacks and warm welcome but also for its vivacious Irish man-ageress, Mabel Boyd. Like John she is a deeply committed Chris-tian who believes that God led her to her work at the Centre.

The happiest encounter they

can both remember was the young woman who came in be-

cause she wanted help in mak-ing up her minj about whether to have an abortion or not. They prayed with her and she left undecided only to reappear 12 months later with her beautiful baby.

Over the years the book room has turned into a book shop and the original coffee shop is more like a restaurant. The vision is to eventually enlarge both.

But however big and suc-cessful the Greyfriars Centre becomes one thing is certain, it will remain faithful to the friars'

-

original vision of serving and preaching because it is firmly rooted in the Gospel. Canon Peter Downham, Vicar of Greyfriars says: "Many people come here who have a great need and many come who have never been to church before. It's a warming exercise for them and we are often able to to feed them back into churches where they live. At the end of the day that is the Centre's rationale."

Mabel Boyd summed it up this way: "I feel one of the gifts-God has given me is to be a people-helper and get beside them and share my experiences

with them whether they are Christians or non-Christians. All our answers are found in Christ."

Christine Zwart

For details ofthe Coffee Shop open-ing hours see our tea room guide on page 19. The bookshop is open 10 am - 5pm Monday to Saturday. John Brown somehow finds time to run 'ProjectRomania' which takes foo4 clothing, medical supplies and Christian literature to churches in northern Romania. The Project is supported by Greyfriars and other churches in the area. John will be going out with the next convoy.in September. He is appealing for money and for the use of a large warehouse. Ifyou can help, contact John at the Centre on 0734587369.

Page 20

Thought for the Month by Stuart Blanch

Why I am an Anglican Recently. while looking for an clusis e t's* on ins shelves, rns

e lighted on another book under the title t'hv / am not a

Roman Catholic. To the best of my knowlcdgc I had never read it but was

encouraged to do so given the present concern in the Church of England about threatened defections to Rome- The hook was written not as I supposed by some wild-eyed fanatic, but by Father Kenneth Ross and published by Mowbrays. The author was Vicar of All Saints, Margaret Street, d greatly respected

centre of Aiiglo-Catholic worship and teaching. His arguments were dispassionate and from ms point of stew 'a holly convinc-

ing. But I 'a ould prefer to ask a more postive question "WIi' am

I an Anglican!" I offer three reasons, which will no doubt he supplemented by other readers of The DOOR:-

First, at its best, the Church of England has remained loyal to the Scriptures, and at the same time willing to submit the Bible to scrutiny of modern scholarship, without sacrificing the fundamental truths about God embedded in it.

Second, mv travels in the Anglican Communion have demonstrated the adaptability of Anglicanism to local culture and indigenous leadership. I have preached in Sri Lanka in a service enlivened by the most appealing national dancing I have attended, necessarily incognito in a Muslim slate, a session for study and worship entirely run, in the absence of a priest, h> an Anglican Lay Reader. 1 have preached amidst the grandeur ol Washington Cathedral, and on my one and only visit to New Zealand 1 was greeted at the airport by a Maori Anglican congregation. And all this without any desire or indeed any means of securing a rigid uniformity.

Third, the Anglican Communion is a relatively small com-

munion numbering less than a hundred million adherents, the vast majority of them outside Britain. There are tensions within it, as any Lambeth Conference would illustrate. Happily. it is

not 'infallible' and I would not wish it so. Any claim to infallibility by any Church is a gross infringement of the

sovereignty of God, who is as the New Testament reminds us. "the only wise God". whose will alone must be sought amidst the warring factions of iwstitutional Christianity. I remain an

Anglican, initially by background, subsequently by conviction. Lord Blanch ; the former Archbishop of York He is the author of many books and lives near Banhur.

Space tor Prayer May the road rise with you May the wind be always at your back May the sun shine warm upon your face And the rain fall soft upon your fields And until we meet again May God hold you in the hollow of His hand

According to Outlook, Hughenden 's parish magazine, the former Speaker of the House of Commons, Bernard Wetherall, sent his dinner party guests on their way with this Irish prayer. It is our prayer for you this summer. The DOOR will be back in September.

Who's Who in the Diocese THE BISHOP OF OXFORD The Right Revd Richard Harries,

Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford 0X2 ONB. Tel: 0865 244566.

AREA BISHOPS AND ARCHDEACONS Berkshire

Bishop of Reading: 'The Right Revd John Bone, Greenhanks, Old Bath Road,

Sonning, Reading RGI OSY. Tel: 0734 692187. Archdeacon: The Venerable Michael Hill,

Foxglove House, Love Lane, Donnington, Newbury

RG13 2JG. Tel: 0635 5528290.

Buckinghamshire Bishop of Buckingham: The Right Re-d Simon

Burrows. Sheridans, U rimtns HIlL

Great Missenden. Bucks HPÔ 911D. Tc.i 'd2406 2173 Archdeacon: The Venerahk John MorrIson,

60 Wendover Road, Avlcshur, Bucks HP2I 9LW. - Tel: 0296 23269.

Oxfordshire Bishop of Dorchester: 1 he Right Revd Dr Anthony

Russell, Holmby House. Sibford Ferris,

Banbury, Oxon OX1 5RG. Tel: 029 578 583,

Archdeacon The Venerable Frank Weston Christ Church Oxford OXJ 1DP Tel 0865 276185