Crosslincs

CROSSLINCS News from around the Diocese of Lincoln www.lincoln.anglican.org

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Jul/Aug 2014

New Bishop of Grimsby looks forward to working across the whole of the Diocese THE new Bishop of Grimsby has spoken of his excitement at moving to the Diocese as he prepares to take up the position.

The Revd Canon Dr David Court will be consecrated Bishop at St Paul’s Cathedral on 25 July and begin work in early September.

David, 55, has been vicar of Cromer, Norfolk, for the past 11 years, is Rural Dean of Repps and is an honorary Canon of Norwich Cathedral. He has described the honour of becoming Bishop as ‘a huge privilege’.

The announcement of his appointment was made at Grimsby docks on 9 May. David said: “I received an incredibly warm welcome. It was a huge relief for the news to be finally out in the open.

“Simply being addressed as Bishop for the first time on that day is one of the moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life and made me realise what was happening. I’m hugely excited about the possibilities and opportunities that lie ahead.

“It does feel I am coming into a diocese which knows what it wants to be about. It feels the plans are there in broad brush strokes but to come in and be able to influence that with others is very exciting.

“The Bishop of Grimsby has two different roles, the tradition of the Bishop in the northern part but also this

David and his wife, Ann, pictured at Cromer Pier. (Photo: Will Harrison)

other brief across the whole of the Diocese of trying to make us more effective in mission, evangelism and worship renewal. I will have to balance both those things.

“I’m aware it’s a much bigger job than I am doing now, but I’m also aware that in my experience and the gifts God has given me, I can see some part of preparation for this.

“The first thing I have got to do is get a feel of where we are at, talk and listen to as many people as possible.

Then work out how to make those faithful, joyful and confident communities we want to see across the whole of Lincolnshire.

“What’s my vision? I would like to see thriving churches appropriately serving the communities they are set in.”

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NEWS

THE GREAT WAR

London theatre date for community choir

Commemorating the First World War

Find out how a new music project has been giving a voice to those living and working on Lincoln’s Ermine estate.

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A special publication as we prepare to mark 100 years since the start of The Great War. PAGES 11 TO 14

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Crosslincs is produced by the Diocese of Lincoln

The submission deadline for the next edition is Friday, 25 July.

Media Officer/Editor Sarah Baker T: 01522 50 40 37 M: 07885 99 99 06 E: sarah.baker@lincoln.anglican.org Communications Officer Michelle Lees T: 01522 50 40 34 M: 07885 99 99 07 E: michelle.lees@lincoln.anglican.org Diocesan Offices Edward King House, Minster Yard, Lincoln LN2 1PU. T: 01522 50 40 50 E: reception@lincoln.anglican.org www.lincoln.anglican.org www.facebook.com/Dioceselincoln www.twitter/CofELincoln www.flickr.com/Dioceseoflincoln The Bishop of Lincoln The Right Reverend Christopher Lowson T: 01522 50 40 90 E: bishop.lincoln@lincoln.anglican.org Interim Diocesan Secretary The Reverend Canon Richard Bowett T: 01522 50 40 30 E: richard.bowett@lincoln.anglican.org PA to the Diocesan Secretary Mickey Tucker-Lowe T: 01522 50 40 32 E: michelle.tl@lincoln.anglican.org The Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey The Venerable Jane Sinclair M: 07809 52 19 95 E: archdeacon.stowlindsey@lincoln.anglican.org The Archdeacon of Lincoln The Venerable Tim Barker M: 07590 95 00 41 E: archdeacon.lincoln@lincoln.anglican.org The Archdeacon of Boston The Venerable Dr Justine Allain Chapman M: 07715 077 993 E: archdeacon.boston@lincoln.anglican.org W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLICAN.ORG

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BORN in Norwich, David attended the local comprehensive school near his home on the Heartsease estate in the city. He studied electro-chemistry at the University of Southampton, conducting research into the structure and medicinal opportunities of sugar, achieving a PhD. While at university, he was introduced to the Church, and soon made a commitment to a life as a Christian.

It was while teaching chemistry and physics at a rural comprehensive school in Oundle, Northamptonshire, and living in Peterborough, that he was called to the ministry though his parish church.

He served his first curacy at Barton Seagrave with Warkton in the Diocese of Peterborough from 1991 to 1994 and was then Curate at Kinson in Salisbury Diocese from 1994 to 1997, where he was responsible for youth and David and Bishop Christopher pictured at Grimsby Docks for the children’s ministry announcement of his appointment. (Photo: Will Harrison) and church planting. From 1997 to 1999 he was Priest-in-Charge at Mile Cross in the Diocese of Norwich and Vicar from 1999 to 2003. Since 2003 he has been Vicar of Cromer and Rural Dean of Repps and Honorary Canon of Norwich Cathedral since 2010.

David is married to Ann and they have two grown-up sons Jonathan, 27, and Matt, 25, and a daughter Naomi, 14. The family will be moving closer to Lincoln than previous Bishops of Grimsby, to enable better access to the whole of the Diocese.

David said: “My family are looking forward to the move. For Naomi it’s a new school and finding new friends, for Ann it’s finding out what her role is going to be, she wants to be involved in life within the Diocese. Matt will move with us and be looking for a new job. Jonathan will stay for now. We have always done ministry as a family, we come as a unit.

“I’m delighted that David will be joining the Diocesan team as we seek to build the Church and make it a real force for good in all communities of Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.”

The Bishop of Lincoln, the Right Reverend Christopher Lowson

“Lincolnshire is an area we have visited every year but not an area we claim to know well so we are looking forward to discovering new places. We do enjoy the sea and are grateful to God the job is not that far from it.

“I am really grateful to Bishop Christopher for the opportunity, I want to be a support to him and very much look forward to working with him and others across the Diocese.”

David will be welcomed to the Diocese at a special service in Lincoln Cathedral on 27 July at 5.30pm and all are welcome to attend.

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Exciting times ahead at All Saints’ Church, Winterton A MAJOR reordering project is underway at a North Lincolnshire church.

The Grade 1 listed All Saints’ Church, Winterton, is now closed while work takes place to create a large space in the church for community use while incorporating dedicated heritage areas to tell the story of Winterton’s past.

The project, which is set to cost in the region of £1-million, has received £748,100 from the Heritage Lottery Fund with a further £200,000 from a range of other grant-making organisations.

The plans include an extension to house a new kitchen and toilets, linked to the church through the north porch.

Chair of the All Saints Forward project, Robin Shawyer said: “We didn’t originally think of making the church a heritage centre.

“A large number of people don’t come to church but regard it as their church and have links with it. One thing Winterton hasn’t got is anywhere to celebrate its heritage.

“From that, All Saints: The Story It Tells Of Winterton, was born. First and foremost it will be a church but we can devote a bit of space to telling the

story of Winterton.

This is the oldest building in the place and we have many archives here.”

Among the church’s range of artefacts are a group of circa 18th century West Gallery instruments together with manuscript music from the period and numerous paper archives.

The tower itself is also full of original features and its importance has been recognised by English Heritage who accepted the church needed an extension rather than altering the existing tower space.

Robin added: “A commercial kitchen will be able to serve 120 hot meals and it means the range of possibilities is quite enormous. We know there’s a demand for lunch clubs and after a funeral, or even a wedding, we could offer a buffet.

“By doing this it means the church, which is right in the middle of Winterton in an ideal location, has got a huge space which can be used as a church as well as for community functions.

We can show how the church is, and

LINCOLN Cathedral has unveiled a significant new sculpture as part of a major re-ordering process designed to deepen the experience of pilgrims and visitors.

The seven-foot tall stone sculpture of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in whose name the historic cathedral is dedicated, is one of the largest works commissioned by the Dean and Chapter since The Reformation.

It was dedicated by The Bishop of Lincoln,

“We can show how the church is, and always has been, integral to the village story.” always has been, Robin Shawyer integral to the village story.”

Modern technology will also play a part in the works with the installation of cameras in the tower so people can see the clock working and the bells ringing and a touch screen kiosk where visitors can view photos and other information.

It is hoped the works will be completed by Easter 2015.

For further details, visit http://lincoln. ourchurchweb.org.uk/winterton

the Right Reverend Christopher Lowson, during Choral Evensong on May 31.

The commission was undertaken by the renowned liturgical artist, Aidan Hart, who has works in more than 20 countries of the world, including within many cathedrals and monasteries.

Weighing 1.5 tonnes, the sculpture has been carved, largely by hand, from an original three-tonne block of limestone sourced from Great Ponton Quarry. For more information visit www.lincolncathedral.com DIOCESELINCOLN

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Can you hear the people sing?

By Sarah Baker

A COMMUNITY choir, set up just 18 months ago, will travel to London next month to perform at the Young Vic theatre on the capital’s South Bank.

On 26 July, the singing group Ermine Voices, from Lincoln’s Ermine estate, will feature in a matinee performance of David Grieg’s award-winning play, The Events, which was named the Guardian’s Best Piece of Theatre for 2013.

The choir’s invitation to take part follows their performance of The Events at Lincoln Performing Arts Centre (LPAC) in March 2014, after which the writer said they were exactly the sort of choir the piece had been designed for.

Ermine Voices was borne out of the 50th anniversary celebrations of St John The Baptist parish church in 2013.

of this project is about giving “thisPartestate a voice.”

Fr Stephen Hoy St John the Baptist, Ermine

Father Stephen Hoy, said: “We wanted not just to celebrate the church but the whole community and wanted to leave a lasting legacy from the year.”

An application to Awards for All secured £10,000 and after a concerted effort to drum up interest from the estate, around 60 people turned up to the first rehearsal. This later settled down to around 40 regular singers.

Tori Longden took over from Macauley Crawford as musical director in September 2013 and the choir has performed in a variety of settings from the Waterside Shopping Centre to Lincoln’s Christmas Market.

Fr Stephen said: “Part of this project is about giving this estate a voice.

“People came out of the LPAC performance crying because it was something they achieved and thought they would never be able to. It is a tremendous thing for them.

enlisting the help of the best workshop leaders in the UK across 2014 and 2015.

Current partners in the project include St. Francis Special School, Ermine Primary Academy, Lincoln Castle Academy and Ruckland Court Care Home.

Tori Longden, said: “Ermine Music will build upon the success of Ermine Voices by creating more opportunites for people to get involved in musical activities designed to build confidence, develop new skills and lift the spirits.

“We are always looking for new members. You don’t need any prior singing experience, you don’t need to be able to read music, and you certainly don’t need to have the world’s greatest voice, you just need enthusiasm.”

Ermine Voices is running a come-and-sing workshop with the renowned Sue Hollingworth from 7pm – 8.30pm on 26 June in St John The Baptist, Ermine. The workshop is free.

To register for a place or for further details about the choir, email erminevoices@gmail.com

The Events: What’s it about?

“When we told the choir we’d been invited to perform at the Young Vic, they just couldn’t believe it and were absolutely thrilled.”

When Claire, a priest, survives an atrocity she sets out on a quest to answer the most difficult question of all; ‘Why?’. It’s a journey that takes her to the edge of reason, science, politics and faith.

Ermine Voices are now looking forward to becoming part of a larger music project on the estate, Ermine Music, which has secured funding from the Tudor Trust. The project aims to bring even more singing into the Ermine community by

David Greig’s daring new play explores our destructive desire to fathom the unfathomable and asks how far forgiveness can stretch in the face of brutality.

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Plenty of fun to be had at Church Schools Festival 2014

By Gillian Georgiou THIS year’s Church Schools Festival began on 20 May in Lincoln Cathedral. Over the course of the eight-day event, one hundred church schools and more than 3,000 children visited the Cathedral and celebrated being part of the Church School family in the Diocese of Lincoln.

The theme for the Festival was ‘Here I am, Lord’. For the visiting Year 6 pupils it was a chance to celebrate the end of their time in primary school and the beginning of the next stage in their lives. It was our opportunity to remind them that God knows them all by name and is with them throughout all their experiences.

During the Festival, the pupils experienced a wide variety of activities. These included beekeeping, carving, brass rubbing, modern dance, bell-ringing, storytelling, and Godly Play, amongst many others. As well as participating in these activities, they also had the opportunity to

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explore the Cathedral with either a guided tour or using one of the Cathedral’s new Explorer Packs. In the afternoon, everyone shared in an act of worship led by a variety of clergy from around the Diocese. One of the highlights of the Festival was seeing the pupils process up the nave of the Cathedral carrying their school’s banner.

“We had such a lovely day, thank you so much!”

Jennie Fullwood, Head of Scunthorpe C of E Primary School This Festival could not run without a huge amount of good will from many people. We are very grateful to Lincoln Cathedral for continuing to let us host the Festival in the mother church of the Diocese, to the Cathedral tour guides for helping the pupils explore the Cathedral and to the Cathedral’s Works Department for providing a stone mason throughout the Festival so the children can see their work up close. Many of those who lead workshops and activities give freely of their time and expertise, and for

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this we are very thankful. The Festival could also not run without the help of the adults who accompany the pupils to the Cathedral – headteachers, teachers, teaching assistants, parents, local clergy, Bishop’s Visitors, and so on – we appreciate the effort they make to ensure everyone has a wonderful day.

Church Schools Festival 2014 ended on 11 June and the planning for Church Schools Festival 2015 has already begun.

If you would like to know more, or if you think you may be able to help out, please contact Diocesan RE Adviser and Lincoln Cathedral Schools Officer, Gillian Georgiou by email to gillian. georgiou@lincoln.anglican.org Many local areas hold their own Church Schools Festival. In March this year, St Wulfram’s Church, Grantham, hosted the Grantham Church Schools Festival. Liz Boland led six local schools in a welcome and an afternoon act of worship, and during the day the pupils explored the theme of ‘Journey’ throughout a range of exciting workshops. Many thanks to all who were involved in this wonderful day, including Archdeacon Justine, who preached in the act of worship, all the workshop leaders, the adults who came along to help and, of course, all the pupils from across Grantham.

If your local area is hosting a similar day, please let us know so we can celebrate it with the whole Diocese!

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Exploring the fresh perspectives and energy that youth ministry brings “YOU’RE a bit young aren’t you?” - the opening statement I have most often heard during my first six months of incumbency. I wonder what the local commentators would make if I were twenty years younger? Youth in ministry adds surprise, energy, fresh perspective, and many other qualities; those things in the Diocese we surely long for and would want to encourage through our Young Vocations, as well as our established ministries.

We have no doubt heard from many a dog owner how the introduction of a puppy brings new life to the faithful yet old friend in the household. I wonder if we would be so courageous in allowing a Young Ordinand, or someone young who is exploring their calling, to show us new ways, and bring renewed life into our own ministries.

Alice and Ross have been gaining valuable first hand experience through their pastoral placements, and I know they have grown in their character, faith and calling, and

“ON 1 September, 2013, I began my new position as the Pastoral Assistant of St. Benet Fink, Tottenham. The geography is alien to that of my home town of Boston, being made up mostly with African-Caribbean people, with a large influx of Ghanaians.

There are large pockets of poverty, with unemployment rates one of the highest in London, and it is still recovering socially from the 1985 Broadwater Farm riot, and the 2011 Tottenham riots.

The church is in the Anglo-Catholic tradition, which is worlds apart from parishes I have worshipped in prior to coming here. The first thing I learnt was just how broad the Church of England is in terms of tradition, and finding benefits in all these traditions.

Being a Pastoral Assistant means I play W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLICAN.ORG

I’m certain those who they served under and alongside have also grown in their understanding of culture, faith, and ministry. Here are two short snap-shots of their time on placement.

As the Young Vocations Officer and Assistant DDO, it is a delight to see our Young Vocations explore their calling, and as I spend time with them they keep me fresh and energised for my own ministry. In the Diocese we are committed to exploring, supporting and nurturing Young Vocations; if you feel God is calling you, but others keep reminding you “You’re a bit young aren’t you?” then get in touch and let’s explore together if God’s calling you to bring surprise, energy and fresh perspective into God’s Kingdom.

Revd David Oxtoby david@oxtobyhome.co.uk

a vital role in the pastoral ministry of the parish and its day-to-day running, ranging from visiting the sick and housebound, to filling up candle boxes.

I have also been given the ability to preach once a month and increase our presence on social media. But my main focus has been in children’s ministry.

In addition to writing the lesson plans for Sunday Schools, I set up a Messy Church and a Sweaty Church (Messy Church’s sporty cousin). We are encouraged to reflect critically on our work in monthly sessions, which has been very beneficial as we have been able to tap into a wealth of knowledge from priests who lead these sessions, as well as learning from each other as we live out this work in the here and now.

“I believe God is calling me to serve as a priest in his Church” On the 2 May, 2014, my supervisor was also licensed Priest at our neighbouring parish, St. Philip the Apostle. As a result of this, I have now become their Pastoral Assistant too.

The church is in need of revival after a long interregnum, to which I will play a major role in, whilst also learning what is needed to surge life back into a failing parish.

I believe God is calling me to serve as a priest in his Church, and this time working in Tottenham will not only continue informing me of my sense of vocation, but also give me some of the practical skills needed for my future ministry.

My supervisor and I are going through the ordination criteria with the hope of going to BAP, and, if I am to be recommended, starting theological college in September 2015.”

Ross Brooks

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“I AM two thirds of the way through my time as a Root Group pastoral assistant at St Albans Cathedral and Abbey Church, so let me tell you a little about my placement!

‘Roots at St Albans’ is a well-established pastoral assistant scheme that has run continuously for roughly 25 years. I regularly bump into clergy who were Roots 20 years ago and did the same job as me (I’ve yet to meet a previous Root who isn’t now ordained, which is a little disconcerting). Personally I’m using my time here to grow in my faith, and to be open-minded in discerning God’s will for my life. I’m also here to offer my energy, time and abilities to the life and ministry of the Abbey community, which is an amazing privilege.

It’s a very practical and hands-on job, experiencing the ups and downs of everyday life in Britain’s oldest place of Christian worship. The Abbey marks the site where Alban, the first

martyr, sacrificed his life for his faith over 1,700 years ago - more than 200 years before St Augustine came to Canterbury!

Being a parish church as well as a cathedral, the Abbey offers a uniquely large and varied insight into parish ministry.

My personal responsibilities, alongside Graham Kirk-Spriggs, my Co-Root, primarily include lots of organising and facilitating of Youth work with the Abbey’s five groups for children and young people. We also do lots of pastoral visiting, school volunteering and verging (you can learn an awful lot from a cathedral verger).

Additionally we both take a share of liturgical duties; leading morning and evening prayer, serving or being subdeacon at the Eucharist and leading prayer in various other contexts.

If there’s something happening in the Abbey, we’re probably involved somehow!

I am continually astounded by the creative opportunities and responsibilities that are entrusted to us, and by the compassion of our clergy team.

In September I’m going to Durham University to read Theology, saying goodbye to the people who have loved me into surviving and flourishing here. I’ve seen a lot of what ordained ministry is like from the inside, and that has been remarkable.

There have been some really dark and tough moments and there have been wonderful, breath-taking, faith affirming times too. I’ve learned all sorts of survival skills for life in fastpaced ministry, but they are good skills to have no matter what the future holds.”

Alice Jolley

Elloe East Deanery holds its annual schools festival THE story of Daniel in the lions’ den was the theme of Elloe East Deanery’s annual schools festival this year.

The event, for Year 4 children, was held over three days at Gedney Victory Hall and combined drama, music, dance and craft. Fifteen schools took part throughout the festival.

The project, organised by a small committee, is funded

by Mary Bass Charity Trustees and all the churches in the Deanery.

The activities are delivered by ACT II, a professional theatre company based in Spalding, and Katrina Brackenbury, a freelance dance instructor and choreographer.

A spokesman for the event, said: “Events such as this one are invaluable in encouraging young people to understand the stories in the Bible and to make it a living and enjoyable experience that they will always remember.

“The organisers are already planning for next year’s event.

They would be happy to share their experiences with any other Deaneries who may wish to put on similar events.”

For details, contact Gill Graper on 01406 423803.

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Reaching out to those most in need in our communities A £1-MILLION fund is being launched to support projects which address social justice issues across the Diocese.

The money forms the first phase of a £5-million fund which is being made available by the Diocese of Lincoln following the Central Services Review. The remaining £4-million will be launched this autumn to help churches and their partners energise themselves in mission development.

The Diocese of Lincoln Social Justice Fund will be administered by the Lincolnshire Community Foundation and grants will be available from April 2015 to support projects based around four main themes addressing the vulnerable, the isolated, older people and those living in poverty.

A Social Justice panel has been established to consider each application and will be commissioning research this summer to gain a broad evidence base to understand the need across the Diocese.

Interim Team Leader for Mission, Revd Canon Andrew Vaughan, said: “Our partnership with the Lincolnshire Community Foundation is resulting in a Social Justice Fund being made available for projects from April 2015.

“In the interim period, those responsible for the

From yo ur

administration of the fund will be looking at appropriate research to inform their decision making, to understand what Social Justice means throughout the Diocese.

“Alongside this, the Bishop of Lincoln and Bishop of Grimsby will be launching a £4-million Transformation Fund this autumn, which will help enrich the ministry and mission of the Diocese.

“One fund is strengthening ourselves to help others, the other is directly supporting those in need.”

The Social Justice fund aims to build fair, just, sharing communities for people living across the Diocese and to make life more comfortable, easing distress and isolation for those most in need.

Projects could include improving access to essential services; support for people leaving prison and their families; activities that encourage residents to become more active and feel less isolated in their community; ways to tackle poverty in its various forms i.e. fuel poverty, financial hardship and unemployment as well as integration projects.

The Diocese of Lincoln Social Justice Fund will open for grant applications in January 2015 when details of how to apply will be made available. First phase applications will need to be submitted by 31 March, 2015.

For further information, contact Simon Bland on 01522 50 40 61.

Archde acons...

Churchwardens’ Oaths of Office

THE Archdeacons would like to thank all churchwardens and other parish representatives who attended this year’s annual Visitation Services. The services were well attended. We will be writing to those churchwardens who were unable to attend the services, and who have therefore not taken their oath of office for the 2014/15 year. Details will be given of when and where oaths may be sworn.

New Churchwardens’ Training

A training event for churchwardens who are new to the office, or who are looking for refresher training, is taking place on Saturday, 19 July 2014 from 9.15am to 1pm, at Fortuna Horncastle Business Centre (formerly Horncastle College), Mareham Road, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 6BW. The event is free, but booking is essential as places are limited.

To book a place please contact churchwardenstraining@lincoln.anglican.org or telephone the Archdeacons’ office on 01522 50 40 80.

The Archdeacons Visitation Charges are available to read via the webpage, lincoln.dioce.se/QPG46F W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLICAN.ORG

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CHAPLAINCY HELPING PRISONERS ‘THROUGH THE GATE’ Over the next few editions, we will be looking at chaplaincy roles across the Diocese. We start by speaking to Community Chaplain Kirstie Clarke who is working on a new project to support prisoners on release from HMP Lincoln…

THE Release Lincs project has been set up to support prisoners ‘through the gate’ working with them in the days, weeks and months following their release.

Kirstie Clarke was appointed as Community Chaplain in November 2013 to set up the project and the first group of volunteer mentors have just undergone training.

Kirstie said: “Chaplaincy in prisons is very respected and very much an integral part of prison life. Community chaplaincy is different because it looks to the time beyond release.

“Faith communities tend to be relatively stable over time so are well placed to offer open ended support. A large percentage of our mentors are people with faith and it is a unique selling point for Release Lincs that they aren’t just doing it to make a difference but they believe the work of the Kingdom of God is to bring that unconditional, forgiving and being forgiven lifestyle.”

The Release Lincs project forms part of a network of community chaplaincies across the country and supports comments made by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling that everyone leaving prison should have a mentor, something the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 seeks to address.

The project was the brainchild of prison chaplain, now managing chaplain, Andrew Roberts who wanted HMP Lincoln to support people through the gates. A reference group set about finding funding for the idea and in

2012, Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services was invited to take on the project.

Kirstie said: “The great thing is that this project fits the gap Chris Grayling has identified.

“Part of a prisoner’s punishment is being disconnected from the outside world. For some that creates an anxiety that will influence them when they get out.

“We will generally be asked to get involved with a prisoner three months prior to release and will talk to them about why they need a mentor. It could be because they are afraid of going outside, it could be concerns about going to the council to sort rent arrears, they might be struggling to claim benefits or might need access to a GP or dentist. They could be nervous of meeting family and friends.

There might be a legal high shop they can’t walk past without going in and a mentor can work to help them overcome that.

“Being a mentor is different to being a support worker. Often clients see the value of a volunteer because they see they have chosen to give their time to help.

“Once that trust is there, you are in a position to move that person on a lot.”

Anyone interested in becoming a mentor needs to be able to give a couple of hours each week and will be given full training.

Community Chaplain Kirstie Clarke, pictured outside HMP Lincoln.

have been working with a couple of clients who have been released and one of them has already been offered employment.”

Figures published in June of last year show that a ‘through the gate’ pilot project in Peterborough found there was an average of 148 reconviction events per 100 offenders between September 2010 and March 2012, a nine percent reduction on figures for September 2008 to March 2010.

Release Lincs has been welcomed by HMP Lincoln Governor, Peter Wright.

He said: “It’s a common sense thing to have a person that can offer support and guidance and an empathic ear to people’s problems. The idea of trust is really important.

“This could be really wonderful. I have got real confidence this will build up over time.

“It would be good if we could get people that have been through this prison experience to come back and be mentors.”

For more information, contact Kirstie on 07951 256550.

Kirstie said: “It’s early days yet but we DIOCESELINCOLN

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MISSION COMMUNITIES: Parishes holding initial conversations on how they might look PARISHES across the diocese have now received information about the mission communities model and discussions are beginning to take place.

Each PCC has been asked to hold a meeting, and feed back initial thoughts on what their mission community might look like, by 14 July.

In some areas, the existing parish or benefice will be the natural mission community. Others may wish to explore sharing with a neighbouring parish or benefice to ensure the human and financial resources available result in an effective mission community.

PCCs are also being asked to complete a church categorisation form aimed at encouraging them to consider what role their church buildings play within their community. The categories range from being key mission churches through to churches where the long term viability is uncertain.

The Archidiaconal Mission and Pastoral Committees, which met in May, provided an opportunity for people to ask questions and learn more about building an effective

Caption competition:

mission community and these were well attended.

Archdeacon of Lincoln, the Venerable Tim Barker, said: “I am delighted in the interest in this new initiative, which is aimed at helping parishes to receive the full benefit of the new discipleship development programmes and the proposals we are developing for helping parishes to rise to the challenges and opportunities of our church buildings.

“But I recognise that it is a ‘big ask’. There may well need to be difficult conversations and a change in mindset. We are asking for huge generosity from those whose much loved church buildings are categorised as ‘celebration or festival churches’, or as churches whose future is uncertain.

We won’t get it right at first. Taking a risk is preferable to doing nothing; because that is not an option.”

Priest in Charge of the Parish of Louth, the Reverend Nick Brown was living and working in Devon as the Diocese of Exeter began to establish their mission communities.

He said: “I worshipped in a parish in the Diocese of Exeter during the early stages of the development of mission communities, and understood them as a good way for the local church to develop partnerships that were natural.

“In Exeter, one of the selling points in many places was the way that mission communities were intended to give parishes an opportunity to engage from the bottom up, working out how churches needed to be for the future.

For some it seemed quite scary, but brought opportunity.

“In our Diocese, a lot of the churches already work together so mission communities have the potential to reflect current relationships where they work, while providing a way of making changes for the future in a flexible way.”

The AMPC meetings taking place in September will again be opened up to all for the beginning half of the evening.

THIS grouping of street signs was pictured in Florida and sent to The Bishop of Lincoln. Bishop Christopher is offering a bottle of wine to the winner of our caption competition.

Send your entries by email to sarah.baker@lincoln. anglican.org with ‘caption competition’ in the subject box.

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The meeting dates are as follows: Monday, 15 September (Stow & Lindsey AMPC), Tuesday, 16 September (Lincoln AMPC) and Thursday, 18 September (Boston AMPC). The meetings are at 7pm; the venues will be published on the Diocese’s web site nearer the dates of the meetings.

Editable response forms are now available to download from the website at lincoln.dioce.se/VKYJJK Please ensure you include the name of your parish on the forms. For more information, please contact your rural dean or archdeacon.

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Marking the centenary of WW1 Tragic story of one Lincolnshire family to be told this summer

By Michael Hortin, Programme Editor BBC Radio Lincolnshire WORLD War One had a profound effect on our country and its people. This summer, in partnership with the Diocese and the University of Lincoln, BBC Radio Lincolnshire will bring alive 1914 through the tragic story of one county family.

In 1914 the Beechey family, headed by mother Amy, was made up of eight brothers and five sisters. All the brothers were to serve for king and country between 1914 and 1918, five of them would go on to pay the ultimate price.

The family are one of only a handful in the country to lose so many sons.

Informed by extensive research, this unique partnership called “Leaving Home” will put together three dramas to mark the family’s loss.

The first will see a radio play recorded at both Boston’s Blackfriars Arts Centre and the Riverhead Theatre in Louth.

This will then be broadcast on BBC Radio Lincolnshire at the end of July and August. It will tell the story of the family from the outbreak of war to the loss of the first of the Beechey brothers in action.

The second, a concert performance, will involve actors portraying all family members in a one hour performance at the Arboretum in Lincoln on 26 July. This venue was chosen because the public park is less than a minute’s walk from the house, on Avondale Street, where the mother Amy lived during WWI. “Leaving Home” will then culminate in a series of drama performances in the village of Friesthorpe, and its church St. Peter’s on 3 and 4 August. The village was chosen because the boy’s father, the Rev PWT Beechey, was vicar there until his death in 1912. He is buried in the church yard, while a memorial to the brothers was unveiled inside the church by their mother just after the war.

As part of that performance, all three bells at the church will ring for the first time in more than a hundred years.

The parochial church council have been successful in a bid

Freisthorpe church

to the Heritage Lottery Fund to pay for the restoration.

Some of that money will also be used to install an audio tour about the family, church and village of Friesthorpe.

That is something both the university and radio station will help to create and install.

In addition to the cast portraying the family, in full period costume, we have several other creative partners. I am pleased to say the Band of the Royal Anglian Regiment and the Military wives Choir at RAF College Cranwell are both involved. There is an added poignancy to the Royal Anglians inclusion, as one of the brothers who was killed served in the Lincolnshire Regiment, which the Anglians are a successor of.

As a production we have benefited from fantastic support from the Diocese of Lincoln. In particular Bishop Christopher and Revd Charles Patrick at Friesthorpe. Without their help the project could not have been as ambitious as it has. Tickets for all of the performances will be free. Listen out for details of where you can get them on BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

If, though, you can’t join us at one of the performances, worry not, we will have extensive coverage through the summer on BBC Radio Lincolnshire. This will include not only the broadcast of the radio drama, but also live coverage of performances at both Lincoln and Friesthorpe.

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• Barnard Beechey, a schoolmaster in Dorchester. The eldest at 38, a sergeant in the 2nd Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment as a private and was the first to die, in the Battle of Loos in France in September 1915.

• Frank Beechey, a teacher at the Cathedral Choir School, a Second Lieutenant with 13th Battalion East Yorkshires.

Legs torn off by a Somme shell in November 1916, lay in No Man’s Land under enemy fire from dawn until dusk before an army doctor risked his life to crawl out and administer morphine.

• Christopher Beechey, a railway clerk who emigrated to Australia, served as a stretcher-bearer with the Australian Infantry until a Turkish sniper’s bullet in his shoulder ended his war - but, thankfully, not his life.

• Harold Beechey, had also emigrated to Australia to farm and became Lance Corporal with the 48th Battalion

• •

• •

Australian Infantry. Fought the Turks and dysentery at Gallipoli, wounded in the Somme, killed in action in Bullecourt in April 1917 aged 26.

Charles Beechey, a maths teacher at Stamford School.

Died of a bullet wound in East Africa in October 1917, aged 39, a Private with 25th Battalion Royal Fusiliers.

Leonard Beechey, a quiet, romantic boy, had worked as a railway clerk in London. Died, aged 36, in December 1917 in the battle of Cambrai, a Rifleman with the London Irish Rifles.

Eric Beechey, survived the war working as an army dentist in Malta and Salonika.

Samuel Beechey, the baby of the family, spent the last three weeks of the war as a junior gunnery officer on the Western Front, aged 19 - and came home safely to train as a chemist.

The story of the Beechey family is one of terrible tragedy and will touch the hearts of many as we pause to remember the sacrifices made during The Great War. Their story will also be told in another new play, The Last Post, being performed by the Lincoln Mystery Plays community theatre company this November. Jason Hippisley tells us more about the Beechey story...

A DELICATELY written, framed tribute hanging on the wall of a now redundant church near Market Rasen, and others carved in stone and woven into a pew cushion in the shady nave of an adjacent parish church, are typical of the hundreds of memorials to The Glorious Dead and Rolls of Honour proudly displayed in our churches.But these have an added poignancy in that they detail the uniquely terrible toll which befell one family in just three years.

They tell of the extraordinary sacrifice of the Beechey brothers - eight sons of the Rev Prince William Thomas Beechey, rector of Friesthorpe with Snarford for 21 years up to his death in 1912.

All of them fought on the various fronts of the First World War, with five paying the ultimate price for King and Country; a price recognised in person by the King and Queen who famously thanked their mother for her sacrifice.

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“It was no sacrifice Ma’am”, replied the reluctant heroine. “I did not give them willingly.”

With so many swept up into its devastating path, it is hardly surprising that the writer of the Snarford tribute recalled only seven of the Beechey boys.

There was one other English family which lost five sons, but none other which sent so many - eight - and saw a sixth crippled for life. Only two returned to Lincoln to support their grief-stricken mother Amy and their five sisters.

It is a family trauma without recorded parallel, which remained forgotten and unmarked beyond the family for nearly 90 years, until the depth of the tragedy was unfolded by historian and journalist Michael Walsh who stumbled across it by chance after highlighting the plight of the five Souls brothers in Gloucestershire in 2001.

Having heard from Josephine Warren, daughter of the Beechey’s 13th child Edie, Walsh travelled to Devon to delve into a small brown suitcase of 300 or so letters sent by each of the boys from their respective WW1 trenches, and stashed in an attic.

Those letters are now bequeathed to the City of Lincoln and sit in the Lincolnshire Archives where each one was poured over to inspire and influence The Last Post, to be performed in Armistice Week this year in tribute to the Beecheys and their brothers in war. Writers David Owen Smith and Pete Came spent more than a year reading through the letters, piecing together the wider story, researching the period and meeting with Mrs Warren to craft the play.

These letters were scratched onto scraps of paper, scribbled in the firing line and from their deathbeds. They variously detailed the absurdities of life in the trench, exercised deep

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philosophy and poetic notions, displayed bravado, pleaded for food parcels and sympathised with their mother’s deepening tragedy. From them emerges a remarkable story.

Being so heavily influenced by the boys’ letters written home from training camps, various places in France, Flanders, East Africa and Gallipoli - the battlefronts where they met their fates - The Last Post is very much the Beechey’s story, told through their own words.

This story of a local family’s exceptional service and sacrifice will be staged from 12 to 15 November in Lincoln’s Drill Hall, where some of the boys - including Sam packed off to the Western Front to face the guns for

the last three weeks of the war - were put through their paces in readiness.

While presenting the Beechey family’s extraordinary resilience, The Last Post can also be seen as a reflection of the courage and fortitude seen at every hearth and table across the land; dignity, patriotism and extraordinary sacrifice. It is told through the eyes of the Rev Beechey’s youngest daughter Edie, recalling her mother’s stoicism on the home front. With Amy Beechey having gone on to live an active and fulfilling life as the unofficial archivist of the new St Giles Church and estate in Lincoln, where she became a founding resident, no-one could more adequately epitomise the family motto ‘persist and endure’. Mercifully, she died in 1936 before being able to witness another war wreak untold

havoc on families.

The family’s name lives on beyond the memorials at Snarford, Friesthorpe and All Saint’s on Lincoln’s Monks Road where Amy sought solace with each devastating letter. Through local endeavour they are remembered at her grave in Newport Cemetery, on the city’s monument and even private acts of homage. Stamford School still presents a CR Beechey Cup for cricket, Michael Walsh’s book is a highly regarded tribute, and now the exquisitely written The Last Post strives to bring wider recognition still to this remarkable family.

For details of The Last Post visit www. lincolnmysteries.co.uk and book tickets at www.lincolndrillhall.com

‘Chaplains provided a source of faith, normality and reassurance...’

Canon Alan Wilkinson is author of ‘The Church of England and the First World War’. Here he talks about the role of Chaplains in the First World War… NORTH-WEST of Lincoln are the parishes of Kettlethorpe, Laugherton and Fenton. John Walker, Rector from 1913-19, served courageously as an army chaplain 1915-16. He was stationed at a Casualty Clearing station. The battle of the Somme began in July 1916.

‘We have 1,500 in and still they come…with fearful wounds, lying in agony, many so patient…one goes to a stretcher, lays one’s hand on the forehead, it is cold, strike a match, he is dead – here a Communion, there an absolution, there a drink, there a madman…swearing and kicking, I have him a drink, he tried to bite my hand and squirted the water from his mouth into my face…’ But after Communion another prayed ‘Gentle Jesus, meek and mild…’ There were hundreds of burials, scores of letters to write to grieving relatives. He borrowed morphine for wounded Germans lower in medical priority. Sometimes he spent all day and night in the moribund tent packed with those beyond medical help. He said Mattins and Evensong daily.

Sometimes a handful would join him. He mused: ‘it keeps coming over one like a wave, the madness and folly of it all…Tommy does not want religion, I don’t persuade him.’

Most chaplains ministered for the duration. Later they suffered bad press despite heroes like Tubby Clayton and Studdert Kennedy. At first, chaplains were forbidden to visit the front, so were accused of cowardice, though some disobeyed. But of the 185 killed, 111 were

Anglicans. Three received the Victoria Cross and many were decorated. When Kennedy was in the front line a sergeant asked ‘Who are you?’ Kennedy replied ‘I’m the Church’. ‘Then what the bloody hell are you doing here?’

Chaplains provided a source of faith, normality, reassurance and a contact with home. A veteran in 1993 remembered his chaplain with affection, as ‘top drawer’. In November 1916, he and the chaplain stood in the trench and sang a hymn for those in No Man’s Land. Overnight, snow fell and covered the bodies.

Anglican chaplains were only about half the total number, but almost three quarters of the men registered themselves ‘C of E’. Many were brought up in Sunday School not church, so sacramental shorthand, vital in crises, was unknown. Some chaplains preferred word to sacrament.

Yet familiar liturgy and rituals nourish and reassure.

Many chaplains came from establishment backgrounds so were less liable to be cowed by ecclesiastical and military authority. Many public schools and Oxbridge colleges sponsored inner city missions. Priests who came from such noblesse oblige traditions were often more at ease with working class soldiers than often supposed.

The Church in the Furnace (1917) showed that leading Anglican chaplains were more ready than those from other churches to ask radical questions. Having experienced the gulf between soldiers and the church, they campaigned for a reformed liturgy, a wider range of ordinands, more church self-government and a just society. Several occupied important roles in the post-war church. Through the British Legion, TocH (founded by Tubby Clayton) and remembrance rituals, ex-servicemen kept in touch with the church.

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New book tells the story of Lincolnshire’s war memorials ON 4 August, 1914 Britain declared war on Germany after the invasion of neutral Belgium, part of their so-called Schlieffen Plan, to achieve a swift victory in the west.

The conflict quickly developed into a war of attrition and unprecedented bloodshed resulting in over eight million military deaths and some twenty-one million wounded.

Early in the war a decision was made by the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission not to repatriate those of Great Britain who had died overseas, but to bury them on or near the battlefields where they had fallen. The subsequent growth of the war memorial movement in this country was born of the need for families and friends to have a focus for mourning and remembrance. The scale of loss was such that almost every town or village has some form of memorial.

The First World War Memorials of Lincolnshire provides a comprehensive gazetteer of the 295 external First World War memorials in the historic county of Lincolnshire (generally excluding memorials and tablets located within buildings).

An opening chapter is devoted to several interesting stories in Lincolnshire relating to The Great War. Included are the details of a devastating raid by a German Zeppelin over Cleethorpes on 1 April, 1916 killing 31 soldiers of the Manchester Regiment and the story of Lincolnshire’s Bravest Village. Instigated by the Lincoln Incorporated Chamber of Commerce a competition was organised to establish the village or small town in Lincolnshire which had the highest average of men who had enlisted for their country by mid1915. With a population of only 42 the small settlement of Dalderby near Horncastle was awarded the prize of a stone wayside cross for sending eleven eligible men to the armed forces. It was unveiled in October 1915 by General Sir William Robertson, born at Welbourn and the only soldier

in British Army history to rise through the ranks from Private to Field Marshal. Thankful Villages are also discussed at length in the book together with a very sad story relating to the small hamlet of Low Toynton near Horncastle.

A comprehensive register containing all the names that appear on the memorials identified in the book has been produced, including all those names of the Second World War and later conflicts where these have been added to a Great War memorial.

The First World War Memorials of Lincolnshire

by Michael Credland was published in April 2014.

THE Dalderby Cross recognises Lincolnshire’s Bravest Village, which sent the largest percentage of its eligible menfolk to the Army or Navy prior to 1 May, 1915.

Dalderby’s percentage was 72.7% making a huge impact on the lives of the villagers.

The cross carries the names of 11 men from five local families: H Billing, JH Garner, L Garner, H Garner, RG Garner, JE Rylatt, FA Rylatt, J Scholey, TW Scholey, W White and A White.

A service will be held at the Dalderby Cross at 3pm on 27 July, 2014. Members of the Garner and Scholey families are still in the area and plan to attend the service. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the other families is asked to contact 01507 588253.

New resources to help your parish mark the centenary of The Great War THE Church of England’s Liturgical Commision has published a new set of resources for parishes and groups to use to commemorate the centenary of World War One. The resources include prayers, music, literature and art, together with an outline for a service around a war memorial, Propers for a Requiem Eucharist, and a vigil service for August 3 and 4.

Details can be found at www.churchofengland.org/ww1

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SIX MONTHS ON FROM DECEMBER’S FLOODS: The clean up continues at Boston Stump DECEMBER 5, 2013 will remain in our minds for a very long time writes Boston Stump Appeal Director Peter Coleman.

That is the day when a tidal surge flowed up the River Witham, overflowed its banks and flooded the church and over 400 houses and businesses. The church being located only 10 metres from the flood walls was one of the buildings worst affected. The water level was recorded at half a metre above the 1953 level making it the worst flood the church has suffered in recorded history.

The architect’s initial estimate of the total cost of the damage to the church is between £500,000 and £1,000,000 some of which will be covered by the church insurance. As far as we know St Botolph’s was the only church in the country to be affected by the devastating floods that swept the country late last year.

“The

water level was recorded at half a metre above the 1953 level making it the worst flood the church has suffered in recorded history.”

Since then work has been progressing to both clean up and dry out the building. The church, working with the insurance assessor, the cleaning team, the church architect, contractors and

volunteers, has made great strides in getting things back to normal. Whilst some of the long term fabric damage is still being assessed, the following has been confirmed: • Flood water inundated the boiler room located under the church, severely damaging the heating boilers and the pipe work. Because of the damage the complete system will need replacing, including relocating the boilers to a different location to mitigate any future floods. It is expected that this work will take about eighteen months to complete.

• The cafe, shop, offices and toilets were also badly affected and need considerable repairs before they can be re-opened to the public. We are on track to get the repairs completed and have recently reopened the shop and toilets. The cafe is due to follow in the next few weeks.

• The Blenkin Hall was also badly affected and work is currently underway to carry out the repairs and get the hall back to an operational situation.

• The flood has also delayed work on the next phase of the restoration programme. The new stone for restoration of the Cotton Chapel was submerged in the mason’s store and work resumed in March.

•

Other work that will be

High water mark showing the 5 Dec, 2013 flood against all others.

needed includes a new sound system, and the church putting in place a flood mitigation plan including providing flood gates to the church’s seven doors.

• The wooden pew platforms were also badly damaged and will cost over £160,000 to remove and for replacement stone floors to be laid.

We cannot hold any major events until this project has been completed as the affected pews have had to be sectioned off for health and safety reasons so restricting seating to 400 instead of 1,200. We are investigating sources of funding to pay for this work.

This is a very difficult time for the church: many people are working hard to get this work completed as soon as possible; however it will be some time before we will be able to get the church fully operational again.

Fundraising success for church’s pop-up shop IN just a few months, a pop-up shop at St Edith’s Church in Grimoldby has raised around £5,300 for local charities and the church.

The idea was started by Freda Lammin and sees everything from flowers, to bacon butties being sold at an event each Saturday from 10am to 2pm.

Various charities have benefitted from half the profits for a four-week cycle each including LIVES First Responders, The

Ark animal rescue and the local branch of the MS Society.

Throughout July, however, all the money raised will go to St Edith’s to help towards the cost of a new heating system.

Churchwarden Janet McKee, said: “It’s an impressive amount of money that’s been raised but it’s the good feeling it’s generated in the community as well.”

For more information contact Freda on 01507 327280.

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Examining the continuing growth of food banks

By Sarah Baker

Between 1 April, 2013 and 31 March, 2014, a total of 913,138 people in crisis across the UK were provided with three days’ emergency food from a Trussell Trust food bank. We take a look at what is happening across our Diocese and why in 21st century Britain, people are still needing help to feed themselves and their families.

A TOTAL of 4,472 people across our Diocese have been supported by a Trussell Trust food bank in the last 12 months.

The Christian charity, which works with many churches and communities to operate the largest foodbank network in the UK, recently published its figures for the period April 2013 to March 2014.

In the Yorkshire and Humber region, which includes figures for Lincolnshire, 37,403 received three days’ emergency food from Trussell Trust food banks in 2013/14, compared to 10,380 in 2012/13 - a rise of 360%.

And its chairman has warned that the number of people living on the poverty line could be much higher.

Chairman, Chris Mould, said: “These figures are shocking in 21st century Britain. But perhaps most worrying of all this is they don’t include those helped by other emergency food providers, those living in towns where there is no food bank, people who are too ashamed to seek help or the large number of people who are only just coping by eating less and buying cheap food.

“In the last year we’ve seen things get worse, rather than better, for many people on

Here are just a few of the food banks operating across our Diocese...

1. Lincoln foodbank (Trussell Trust) 2. St Luke’s Church Foodbank, Birchwood 3. Scunthorpe foodbank (Trussell Trust) 4. Horncastle Community Larder 5. Sleaford Community Larder 6. Grantham foodbank (Trussell Trust) 7. Deepings foodbank (Trussell Trust) 8. Stamford foodbank (Trussell Trust) 9. Bourne foodbank (Trussell Trust) 10. Agape Care Foodbank, Spalding 11. Boston foodbank (Trussell Trust) 12. Skegness Community Larder 13. Alford Community Larder 14. Louth & District Community Larder 15. CARE food larder (Grimsby) 16. Brigg foodbank (Trussell Trust) 17. Holbeach Community Larder

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low incomes. It’s been extremely tough for a lot of people, with parents not eating properly in order to feed their children.

“Unless there is determined policy action to ensure that the benefits of national economic recovery reach people on low-incomes we won’t see life get better for the poorest anytime soon.”

s ank b d Foo ren’t oviding ls.

HOLBEACH Community Larder a pr arce t p u was set up on 6 September, 2013 aboy food ffer e t but here the team are offering s ju enc lso o advic g a more than just food parcels. r g eme Many postinen n On 1 November, they began offering l sig and evmeals a t i v d a free, two-course cooked meal at e k coo the Reading Rooms next to the library, and now a team of kitchen volunteers, led

by Sue Dunne, regularly serve between 20 and 30 meals each Friday. These are served to rootless, homeless, elderly and lonely people

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who would rather eat in company or can’t face making themselves a proper dinner. Donations are asked from those who can afford it.

Through careful housekeeping and donations of bread, fruit and vegetables from local people, this has made a profit of £200 over the last four months which has been ploughed back into funds.

This runs alongside the foodbank where around 20 volunteers help Jane Francis with the administration of receiving vouchers and issuing food parcels.

The above graph details national data which shows the main crisis causes for voucher referrals to a foodbank:

Case study: Scunthorpe foodbank SCUNTHORPE part of the network and

by Scunthorpe

foodbank is Trussell Trust is coordinated Baptist Church.

foodbank is there to help people in crisis, at the point of their crisis, not to support poor life-style choices or encourage a spirit of dependence.

In the last financial year (April 2013 – March 2014) it fed 2,641 people including 968 adults and 1,673 children.

“Clients are allowed up to three parcels in a six month period, unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Many of our clients only visit the foodbank once. Our records show that very few people need to be supported in this way, and those that we have helped over and above the three parcel limit, are amongst the most needy and vulnerable in our society.”

The operation itself is no small task with between 50 and 60 volunteers involved in running the foodbank.

Last year, 20.5 tonnes of food were donated which then needed sorting and distributing as required.

Implementation and resources manager, Helen Armstrong, said: “Around 60 per cent of our claims are benefit related, 15 per cent debt related, with a small number of domestic violence and sickness cases.

This profile hasn’t really changed over the time we have been open.

“All our clients’ data is recorded on a database and interrogated on a regular basis to ensure that the foodbank services are not being abused. Our

Scunthorpe foodbank was opened in July 2010 and in the last year, saw a 90 per cent increase in the number of clients accessing its services.

Helen said: “From the clients we see, and the stories they share, we know that we are providing a vital service in our community.

“Our foodbank is a place where not only can people receive much needed supplies, but also a listening

ear and signposting to other services.

As a church we are committed to seeing people’s lives transformed as part of our mission to extend God’s kingdom here on earth. God uses our foodbank to bring practical love and hope to those who are despairing.”

And Scunthorpe foodbank would not be able to offer the amount of support it currently provides without the support of the people of North Lincolnshire who give so generously at supermarket collections and by dropping off donations at the church and other local collection points.

Helen added: “Local businesses, churches and schools are incredibly supportive, donating finance and food. Without this generosity the work could not be sustained.

“We have a great partnership with Community Union who have helped us by raising vital funds and supplying laptop computers for use in an internet style cafe we run while the Distribution Centre is open.”

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GOLD AWARD SUCCESS FOR SCUNTHORPE ACADEMY THE St Lawrence Academy, which is sponsored by the Diocese of Lincoln, has achieved the Cultural Diversity Quality Standard Gold award.

The report notes that this small secondary academy has 12 different languages within its community, and its strong ethos worked out in the every day life of the school contributes to the increasing exam success of its pupils.

The staff are very understanding of the young people and recognise that many come from challenging backgrounds and therefore need more support in order to achieve.

The school also received the SSAT Educational Outcomes Award in April this year. The school qualified for the award by being in the top 20% of schools nationally for progress made by pupils between KS2 and their GCSEs. The award was presented at a ceremony hosted by SSAT on June 2.

The school’s mission statement “STRENGTH FOR TODAY, BRIGHT HOPE FOR TOMORROW” is obviously played out in everyday school life; the core values of the school, truth, respect, generosity, forgiveness and justice form the backbone of the school climate.

The Bishop of Lincoln, the Right Reverend Christopher Lowson, said: “These are tremendous achievements and the Diocese of Lincoln is very proud to sponsor an Academy which is clearly working very hard to ensure the best outcomes for its pupils.”

The whole team at The St Lawrence Academy are to be congratulated in providing a distinctively Christian educational experience in a way that celebrates difference and is fully inclusive of all.

Building links between parishes and schools LINCOLN Diocesan Board of Education is working closely with the Diocesan Director of Ordinands to provide clergy with appropriate training in schools’ work. This will ensure that future clergy will have a better understanding of how schools work and what their future roles may be ensuring that parish/school partnerships are of an outstanding nature – supportive to both parties and placing church and school, together, at the heart of the community.

Last year a scheme was piloted for curates that enabled them to spend a week in school. 15 curates were able to take advantage of the scheme and feedback has been really positive. This year we will be looking to repeat the scheme.

The curates should experience an ‘immersion’ in the life of the school which could include: • •

• • • • •

Helping with a variety of classes/ages Observing and contributing to collective worship – whole school, class, KS Playground duty Governors/staff meetings Breakfast/after school clubs Small group activities Etc etc!

The purpose is not for them to be a priest in school, but for them to gain an understanding of the roles of, pressures and responsibilities of all of the adults in the school community.

Any schools who are keen to be part of the project and are willing to host a curate are asked to call the Diocesan Board of Education on 01522 50 40 10.

Grant for work with children and young people A VILLAGE church has received a grant of £500 to help with its ongoing work with children and young people.

St Andrew’s Church in Cranwell made a successful application to the Evan Cornish Grassroots Fund to help fund the work of its weekly drop-in and associated activities.

The church started drop-in sessions in 2007 after the Neighbourhood Policing Panel highlighted the need to do more for village youth.

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games, chat and listen to music; and since its formation there has been a marked reduction in anti-social behaviour in the village.

In addition to the weekly sessions, a programme of summer activities is also organised, including a coach outing to Skegness.

Churchwarden and lay chair of Cranwell PCC, Trevor Bush, said: “The estimated cost of running the sessions and the summer outings is in the region of £1,000, so we are very grateful to the Evan Cornish Grassroots Fund for providing a grant towards these costs.

“We offer our outings free of charge to the children because we know there are some families that couldn’t afford to pay. Any spare seats are then offered to senior citizens at cost price and we’ve found similar outings in the past have helped aid community cohesion between the age groups.”

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Discovering the history of your local church AS INTRODUCED in the last edition, the Down Your Wold project is encouraging local communities to find out more about their local heritage.

One group embracing that is the Spirit of Sutterby, set up almost a year ago to find out more about a small church which is now cared for by the Friends of Friendless Churches.

Sutterby church is a simple two cell building, in a small hamlet that was once home to a medieval village, surrounded by land belonging to the Harrington Estate in the Lincolnshire Wolds.

Geoff and Denise Wheatley were first introduced to the church on 24 June last year after a friend invited them to a prayer meeting there, led by Canon Peter Coates.

“The exciting thing is we don’t know what we are going to find.”

Denise said: “It was one of those evenings you dream about. The church is in the most superb location. When we came out we just had that sense of place, that people had been going there for hundreds of years.”

“What’s interesting is it’s new information that we are finding.”

After making some initial enquiries, the couple formed a steering group, together with Dave Start, David Stonehouse and Julia Brocklehurst, and started looking into the church’s history.

A recent search for old gravestones using a ‘broggling’ method has uncovered what appear to be foundations at one end of the church, although seemingly too far away to belong to the current building. The church also contains many mysteries from a bricked up Norman doorway on the north side to disproportionately large pieces of stone used as building materials.

Around 60 people attended an initial open meeting and more than 80 volunteers are now associated with the project, helping to explore four strands: the church, the churchyard, the village and the area’s natural history.

Geoff said: “The exciting thing is we don’t know what we are going to find. There’s no doubt it’s been a settlement since Anglo-Saxon times, and its name Sutreby means Village of Shoemakers in AngloSaxon.

Geoff Wheatley

The group will also be recording gravestones and carrying out research into the past families of the village.

A full programme of events has been organised by the group, including a number of practical workshops.

Denise said: “Volunteers are able to learn a range of transferrable skills and that’s exactly what Down Your Wold is trying to achieve.

“It’s a great group of people and we are having fun uncovering things. Anyone interested is still welcome to join us.”

For more information on the Down Your Wold project visit www.down-your-wold.co.uk or to get involved with the Spirit of Sutterby, call Denise on 01790 754079.

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The Discipleship Team are organising a number of events, training sessions and consultation days to help people deepen their discipleship. The Archdeacon of Boston, the Ven Dr Justine Allain Chapman, looks at what discipleship really means.

Discipleship. Is it a new buzzword?

We are beginning to hear a lot about discipleship in the Diocese of Lincoln, but it’s much wider than that. The churches nationally, as well as Pope Francis, are promoting the concept of discipleship as the aspect of Christian life needed for our time.

Of course we do know what discipleship is. It is following Jesus throughout life’s journey. Next year, 2015, will be a Year of discipleship. We have already begun to pray, as a diocese, for a renewing of our discipleship.

Painting by Elsbeth Gardiner-Crehan

Jesus is at the heart of discipleship.

For the first disciples that we read about in the Bible, knowing Jesus meant a change of life that gave them hope for a future, healing and answers to their deepest questions.

Think of Matthew the tax collector W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLICAN.ORG

who was able to leave a job he was more than uncomfortable with and do something great with his life. Think of Mary Magdalene who was healed and through Christ able to find dignity and become the first witness to the resurrection. Renewing our discipleship will mean discovering more of who Jesus is, in the Bible and in the present, for the risen Christ is among us.

Following Jesus is central to discipleship, and the word emphasises movement and activity. As we pray for a renewal of our discipleship we will need to be aware that God answers prayer and we will find ourselves in different, and perhaps unexpected, places. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus leads us to new pastures. He also leads us to still waters and restores us when we are weary.

A call on us all, as disciples, is to follow Jesus together as part of his body, the Church. Discipleship is not a solitary activity. Jesus gathered groups of disciples together and taught them, ate and drank with them. They didn’t always get on and at the moment when it counted, when Jesus was arrested, most of them fled. However in the presence of the risen Jesus they were able to gain in confidence and purpose so that when he ascended into heaven they could preach, teach and organise new disciples to form flourishing Christian communities.

We follow Jesus together and we follow him throughout our lives. The word discipleship reminds us that growing and maturing are vital to Christians

at every stage of life, including passing on our skills and experiences to others in such a way as they can learn and take up responsibility.

So what is discipleship? It is our response to being created by God, called by Jesus and sustained by the Holy Spirit.

Discipleship is following Jesus, together, throughout life’s journey. It isn’t new, but it is being renewed so that we become the confident disciples our Diocesan Prayer asks God to make us.

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What is A Season of Invitation?

The Discipleship Team have been organising events for people to find out more about A Season of Invitation. But what does it all mean? Chris Tufnell explains...

‘Back to Church Sunday’ began in 2004 as an annual opportunity for churches across the UK and abroad to invite people to come with them to church. Ten years on, we’re entering a new season, moving from one invitational service to five:

Back to Church Sunday (September) Harvest (October) Remembrance (November) Christmas Starts (early December) Christmas (late December)

The reason for this change is that research shows people are much more likely to come to church and keep coming if they’re invited several times. So we’ve built A Season of Invitation, with five invitational moments coming one after the other.

We believe that a simple invitation is a powerful way for a Christian to introduce a friend to Christ. In John’s Gospel we see the power of invitation in action; Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well and she comes to believe in him. She then goes and spreads the news around her town. Many in that town responded to the woman’s invitation by coming to meet Jesus, and then they said to her: “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world.” John 4:42 This is the key to the spontaneous expansion of the church – an ordinary Christian inviting an ordinary non-Christian to take a closer look at Christ. Holding your own Season of Invitation is about encouraging your church family to invite someone they love to come to the church they love.

To find out more, register your church and order invitation packs, from the website www.seasonofinvitation.co.uk or call 0845 302 6868.

What does the Bible say about discipleship?

Part 2: Follow Me...

“As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake - for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people. And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Mark 1: 16-18 To explore Part 2 of this series of features, visit our website lincoln.dioce.se/S1x6PV

Meet the Discipleship Team: Louise Vincer What did you do before you became a Developing Discipleship Advisor?

I worked for the worldwide church in different ways. I was a volunteer in South Africa, both with USPG and as an election monitor before the first democratic elections in 1994. After that I worked in the worldwide grants & projects office of The Mothers’ Union.

After I was ordained in 2000 I served as a parish priest in Chelmsford and Southwark Dioceses. I moved to Grimsby with my family in 2011 and worked in three deaneries as community chaplain and parish development advisor.

Who is your favourite disciple and why?

I love the fact that we know something about some of the disciples and nothing about others, but that together they were all important to Jesus.

Although she’s not one of the Twelve I like Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus because Jesus encouraged her when she wanted to learn more from him; she sat at his feet which is where disciples traditionally sat.

What gifts do you bring to the discipleship team?

I really enjoy working with small groups of people. I have an eye for detail but I like to see the bigger picture too!

What does discipleship mean to you?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s phrase to describe discipleship is inspiring: “living life in the likeness of Christ”. To me that means seeing God, other people and the world in a new light, and doing so in the company of other people.

Tell us one random fact about yourself!

When we lived in London I was fascinated to watch people have roller blade lessons in Hyde Park at the weekends. I would love to be able to rollerblade really well and even set up something similar in People’s Park in Grimsby...one day maybe!

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New toilet pod providing convenience to St Denys’ visitors ST DENYS’ Church in Sleaford has unveiled two new toilets, helping to improve the facilities available to those attending both services and special events at the church throughout the year.

Feeling it was time to move with the times, the Parochial Church Council approached conservation architect Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams to design a contemporary ‘toilet pod’, cloaked in oak with a curved façade to hold two toilets, one for disabled use.

An additional benefit of the work has also been the creation of a new Parish Information Hub where news of what is happening in the church, the community, and the Diocese can be advertised.

Local firm, Carre Heritage Ltd, employing local and skilled craftsmen carried out the works.

Churchwarden Anne Smillie-Pearson, said: “The result is an astounding and pleasing integration of a new design sited on the west end of the south aisle within the historic walls of this 11th Century Church.

“The specification demanded a high quality of careful and

Pictured in front of the new pod: Maggie Carr (contractor), Anne Smillie-Pearson (churchwarden), Tim Barker (Archdeacon of Lincoln), Revd Philip Johnson (Vicar of Sleaford) and Richard Clash (churchwarden)

controlled workmanship, combined with the use of specific and unique materials.”

The toilet pod was officially opened by Archdeacon of Lincoln, The Venerable Tim Barker, on 18 May. The work means that worshippers and those attending events no longer have to go to the church hall around the corner to use the facilities.

Looking at innovative ways to meet the needs of our communities WORK to understand social issues in the South of Lincolnshire is helping a range of organisations to better tackle the challenges faced.

The Fen Society has brought together various statutory and voluntary organisations and after surveying the 80 parishes in the Boston and South Holland area, drew up nine key areas of concern including poverty, isolation, a lack of transport and the arrival of new communities.

Following discussions about some of the issues identified, three areas of work are currently being looked at.

Father Jonathan Sibley, who has been involved in coordinating the group, said: “We need a report about the state of poverty in South Lincolnshire.

We are starting to develop that with the help of Church Action in Poverty and the University of Lincoln.

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“We are also going ahead with a 40 minute documentary.

and therefore staff in our Church of England schools.

“Another suggestion we are developing is that apart from churches, a lot of rural communities also have a school.

We are looking at whether this could be developed into an official community hub. We’d like to see access to things like the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and parenting groups and run with that.”

“One of the ways that church schools can be different is in their calling to nurture and support those around them. With this in mind the DBE is looking to support some pilot projects of Community Hubs based in schools.”

The idea of community hubs based in schools is something also being being explored by the Diocesan Board of Education (DBE).

Director of Education Jackie WatersDewhurst, said: “The needs that we see in our local communities continue to grow. There seems to be no let up in the increase of food banks, loan sharks at the school gates, debt and housing issues, and all of these have an impact on the pupils and families

The hubs will need to have partners other than the school in order to be sustainable and the local church will also need to be involved.

The DBE will be organising a day for interested schools and parishes, and will aim to bring together projects and organisations already working in their particular area.

If you are interested in attending the day and finding out more, please call 01522 50 40 10.

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AND THE WINNERS ARE...

FIRST PRIZE: Aidan Hawes.

The Muirhead family, pictured at the baptism of Angus Muirhead, at St Michael and All Angels Edenham.

A real variety of entries...

IN the last edition of Crosslincs, we asked you to pick up your cameras with the aim of capturing the life of your church in a single photograph.

There was an excellent response and we enjoyed receiving all your pictures. The entries demonstrated the wide range of events and activities taking place in and around our churches which contribute to life in the local community.

We have chosen two winners with first prize receiving one night’s accomodation for two plus dinner at the Old Palace Hotel in Lincoln and the runner-up a £50 meal voucher for a restaurant of their choice.

Whilst the competition has closed, we so loved receiving your photos we’d be really grateful if you’d keep them coming. We’d like to use them in our leaflets and on the web pages, so any photos of church life, churches or lincolnshire coastline and countryside, please send them in. (Please make sure you have the permission of anyone included in the photographs before sending them to us.)

RUNNER UP: Sara Davies Photo taken from a “Songs of Praise” style evening with Pam Rhodes. The group singing are the Wesley Singers and comprise members of both All Saints’ and the Methodist Church.

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Recent appointments She is currently a Licensed General Preacher in the Diocese of Lincoln serving in Yarborough and West Wold Deaneries.

The Reverend Mary O’Connell will retire from her post as incumbent of Lincoln, St Giles, with effect from 2 June, 2014.

The Archdeacon of Lincoln will preside at the service of induction and installation during August in St Michael’s Waddington.

Julie Robinson has been announced as the new Registrar for the Diocese of Lincoln.

She is a partner in the law firm Roythornes, which has its main office in Pinchbeck, near Spalding.

The Reverend Canon Kathryn Windslow, Rector of Graffoe, Assistant Rural Dean and Diocesan Advisor for Women in Ministry, has been appointed Rector of Storrington in the Diocese of Chichester.

Julie will take up her new role at the beginning of September 2014.

Canon Windslow will be licensed to her new office in September 2014.

The Reverend Stephen Crabtree, Incumbent of the Washingborough Group of Churches, has resigned his post with effect from 21 July, 2014.

Reverend Annabel Barber has been appointed to the post of Part Time Discipleship Development Adviser and Part Time Rector of the benefice of Waddington.

The Reverend David Pickett, Assistant Curate of Edenham with Witham on the Hill, has been appointed Rector of Guiseley with Esholt in the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales.

She is currently Assistant Priest of the benefice of the Skegness Group, in the Deanery of Calcewaithe and Candleshoe.

The Archdeacon of Lincoln The Venerable Tim Barker will preside at the service of licensing and installation in July at St Luke, Stickney.

David will be licensed to his new office on 5 August, 2014.

THE Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey, the Venerable Jane Sinclair, has been appointed Canon Steward of Westminster Abbey.

The Canon Steward is responsible for the Abbey’s welcome to visitors, as well as playing a full part in the ministry, mission and governance of the ancient foundation.

She said: “I’ve greatly enjoyed my ministry in the Diocese of Lincoln, and working with committed and faithful Christians in parishes and in the administration and leadership of the Diocese. Naturally, I’m very excited about beginning a new ministry in W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLICAN.ORG

Reverend Frances Jeffries has been appointed to the post of Part Time Discipleship Development Adviser and Part Time Team Vicar of the Bolingbroke Team Ministry with special responsibility for the Stickney Cluster (pastoral scheme pending).

Westminster, but the move will be tinged with sadness at what I will be leaving behind.”

The Bishop of Lincoln, the Right Reverend Christopher Lowson, said: “It has been my privilege to count Jane among my close colleagues and friends for the last twoand-a-half years. During that time I have come to know her as a person of great warmth, wisdom, integrity and spiritual depth, profound qualities that have supported the Diocese of Lincoln hugely during her tenure as Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey, and will support the ministry of Westminster Abbey well as Jane takes up the post of Canon Steward.”

A service of farewell for Jane will be held in Lincoln Cathedral on Thursday, 26 June at 5.30pm.

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A CHOIR from Lincoln’s twin Diocese in Sweden visited the city in early May.

Sunday morning worship at St Nicholas joining the choir and congregation.

The beautiful voices complemented each other as they sang together in Swedish, English and Latin in All-Age Eucharist.

The 33-strong group from Ostersund in the Diocese of Harnosand, were hosted by St Nicholas’ Church and enjoyed a full programme of performance, sightseeing, hospitality and worship.

After singing in the Cathedral’s Chapter House on the Friday, they enjoyed a tour of the city and then relaxed with an evening meal at the Wig and Mitre.

The Saturday began with a challenging walk up Steep Hill via the 16th Century Guildhall and Stonebow Centre. After attending Choral Evensong at the

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Cathedral, the choir performed at St Nicholas with a repeat of the previous day’s performance in the Chapter House of a contemporary Swedish language work called God in Disguise

by Lars-Erik Larsson.

The third and final day saw the Swedish choir play an active role in

Vacancy for new DAC chair

CHAIR OF THE DIOCESAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE CARE OF CHURCHES (DAC) The Bishop is seeking to appoint a person with appropriate skills and experience to chair the Lincoln Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches.

The DAC has the responsibility of advising the Bishop, the Chancellor, the archdeacons, parochial church councils (PCCs), and the other diocesan committees, on a wide range of matters, including: •

the architecture, archaeology, art and history of places of worship and their contents

•

the use, care, planning and design of places of worship

•

the use and care of churchyards and burial grounds.

The Chair is principally responsible for chairing the business of the sixweekly meetings of the Committee and a typical time commitment is around 10 hours per month. This is an unremunerated appointment, but travel and other agreed expenses may be claimed when necessary.

Those interested should write a letter of application, explaining why they would like to be considered and how they satisfy the requirements on the job description. Please enclose a short CV (no more than two sides of A4).

Applications should be sent to the Archdeacon of Lincoln, The Venerable Tim Barker at 103 Newport, Lincoln, LN1 3EE or by email to gini.hunt@ lincoln.anglican.org Informal enquiries to Tim Barker on 01522 504095 or Keith Halliday, the DAC secretary on 01522 504047.

In the evening, Bishop Christopher and senior members of the cathedral welcomed the Choir by hosting a celebratory meal in the Chapter House. The choir performed some Operatic pieces and traditional Swedish folk songs as well as religious musical pieces and displayed their musical expertise and versatility.

The special experience is hoped to be repeated with a trip by St Nicholas’ church choir to Sweden in 2015.

A VACANCY has arisen for a Chair of the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC).

The DAC is responsible for providing advice on a wide range of matters as well as chairing the business of the six-weekly meetings of the committee. In addition, a number of site visits are arranged by the DAC Secretary to discuss proposals with parish representatives and their advisers, and whilst the Chair is not expected to attend most of these visits, it would be helpful if the candidate were willing to attend occasional meetings, so as to gain greater understanding of the needs and aspirations of the parishes.

The Chair should also be prepared to attend (with the Secretary) the annual Church Buildings Council Conference for DACs which is a two or three day residential event, held in a different diocese each year.

This is a voluntary role which would be ideal for someone with relevant experience, such as a churchwarden, with experience of applying for faculties, or a recently retired parish priest, architect or relevant professional who is keen to support parishes in promoting the Gospel, and who sees the potential of church buildings and churchyards to help rather than hinder this. It is likely that the Chair will be an active member of his or her own congregation.

The workload of the Chair varies month-on-month, but a typical time commitment is around 10 hours per month. The position is unremunerated, but travel and other agreed expenses may be claimed when necessary.

Closing date: 30 June

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Celebrating 20 years of women’s ministry

By Sarah Baker

On March 12, 1994, the first 32 women were ordained at Bristol Cathedral as Church of England priests. We speak to two women, ordained 20 years apart, to get their perspectives.

MORE than 3,000 people marched through the streets of London on May 3 to mark the anniversary of one of the most significant events in the Church of England’s recent history.

St Paul’s Cathedral was the venue for a special service held to celebrate 20 years since the ordination of women. Hundreds of women priests and their supporters turned out with the service screened live to crowds in Paternoster Square.

Before the service began, women ordained in 1994 entered through the Cathedral’s Great West Doors and received a standing ovation lasting 20 minutes.

In his sermon to the packed Cathedral, the Archbishop of Canterbury apologised for the hurt that had been caused by the Church in and before 1994.

Justin Welby said: “As a representative of that institution, I want to thank those here today whose costly loyalty, whose scars, make this celebration possible, and to say personally how I grieve that it cost so much, to apologise for my own part in that hurt.”

He added: “Male or female, it matters not, so long as in our beings, through our clay, in a willingness to risk everything and stop at nothing, we offer ourselves to Christ and for Christ.”

REVEREND Teresa McLaughlin of the South Ormsby Group was ordained Deacon in 2013 and is to be priested at the end of June.

She has been a Lay Reader for 20 years and recalls the moment the decision to allow the ordination of women was made.

“I can remember sitting in the car to listen to the decision being made at Synod and when the decision came through I remember shouting,” she said.

And for Teresa, a vote to allow women to become Bishops is long overdue.

She said: “It’s like saying yes you can be a manager, but don’t dream of being a director.

“At one time women were in the minority. When I was licensed as a Lay Reader the majority were male but now with ordained ministry it’s perhaps going slightly the other way.

“People are very welcoming to you and accept that perhaps the ministry is slightly different to that offered by a man. It’s perhaps a more nurturing side, if the majority of the congregation are female they may find it easier to relate.”

Teresa was amongst those who attended the service at St Paul’s Cathedral and described it as an ‘amazing’ day.

Teresa McLaughlin

To be priested 2014

She said: “It was really moving, but very much a joyful service. When the female priests came in, there was that realisation that they had to wait and fight.

“It’s such an honour from God to be able to fulfill that calling.”

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RECTOR of the Parish of Graffoe, Revd Canon Kathryn Windslow left college in 1986 but could only be made deaconess, and couldn’t wear a clerical collar.

She remembers the 1987 vote which enabled women, including herself, to be ordained deacon, but it wasn’t until May 22, 1994 that she was ordained priest at Lincoln Cathedral.

Kathryn Windslow Priested in 1994

Kathryn said: “The vote went through in November 1992. I saw the vote on television and suddenly there was a ring at the door and people from the parish turned up with a bottle of champagne.

“I came here in 1989 as deacon in charge of a parish. This diocese has been very good at employing women. I was a deacon for seven years, now you are deacon for one and then ordained priest after that.

“We trained alongside men, we did exactly the same thing; but they could be ordained and we couldn’t.

“I think it’s been empowering for other church-going women since that decision. If women are excluded then that’s 50 per cent of people that feel excluded.”

Kathryn was invited by The Bishop of Lincoln to be the senior women for the day at the celebration service in St Paul’s and processed in with him. She described the service as ‘fantastic’ and felt The Reverend Canon Philippa Boardman, leading the service with the Archbishop of Canterbury acting as deacon was ‘profound’.

But she added: “We still aren’t there, and there’s the knowledge that there are a substantial number of people that still don’t think we should be ordained let alone become bishops.

“We can’t keep saying to these people undergoing selection and training, you have misunderstood God’s calling. That’s the impression it gives - you are still not seen as equal.”

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Note: Many of the clues relate to flying or airfields in WW2.

The first correct entry to Crossword No.1 to be opened on July 25 will win £25.

Send to: Crossword, Crosslincs, Edward King House, Minster Yard, LN2 1PU

Across 5, 6 Liberal swans about for inventor (6,6) 9 Maybe my bond (2,4) 10 We can’t believe we arranged this seat (8) 11 A back room with open space (4) 12 4 down boot (10) 13 Simply no charge (4,3,4) 18 N. London carriage (7,3) 21 Lancaster constructors (4) 22 Abundant supply in open cockpit (5,3) 23 Shot with danger (6) 24 Epicentre more likely to give a shaking (6) 25 Grumpy detective with nothing inside (6) Down 1 Weapons expert. Ground crew (8) 2 Mowed a grassland (6) 3 What’s o’clock in Aquae Sulis (8) 4 Aerial fish, foxes or suits (6) 5 Enid’s 4D station (6) 7, 17 And another swinging one for Hurricanes (6,6) 8 Left when visiting (7,4) 14 Gives lift when 4D (8) 15 Another 4D station known to 5,6 (8) 16 4D creature often colourful and garrulous (6) 17 See 7D 19 Osculated (6) 20 Used in excavating earthwork? (6)

The editor’s decision is final. Photocopies acceptable. One entry per person.

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DEANERY CALENDAR June 14 to 16 | Opens 11am Flower Festival St Andrew’s Church, Hannah-cum-Hagnaby Theme of ‘In An English Country Garden’.

Refreshments available. Evening Worship on Sunday at 3pm.

June 22 | 3.45pm Service of Commemoration of WW1 Lincoln Cathedral A service of evensong will be held to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of The Great War. June 28 | 7pm Scunthorpe Co-operative Junior Choir All Saints Church, Holbeach Performance by the award-winning children’s choir. Tickets £8 adults.

Call 01406 424989 June 28 | 7.30pm Music from Stage & Screen St Michael’s Church, Louth Grimsby Bach Choir present their summer concert. Tickets £5.

Call 01507 328149

July 11 | 7.30pm Summer Concert Wilsford Parish Church An evening with the Caythorpe Festival Singers. Admission free with donations appreciated in aid of repairing the roof.

Call 01400 230927 July 11 to 13 Flower Festival St Peter’s Church, Woodhall Spa Woodhall Spa Flower Club will stage the Celebrations flower festival. Preview evening on Friday from 7pm. Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 1pm to 4pm.

Refreshments available.

July 11 to 13 | 11am - 5.30pm The Marshchapel Arts Exhibition 2014 St Mary’s Church, Marshchapel Fine art from many of the best practitioners in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire with purchase possible.

Entry by catalogue, £1.50 on the door. www.marshchapelarts.co.uk July 12 Summer Craft Fair Holy Trinity Church, Martin A summer craft fair with stalls inside and out. Call 01526 378634

June 28 | 7pm Musical evening St John’s Church, Holbeach St Johns An evening of music performed by Spalding Ukelele Band. Tickets £5.

July 12 and 13 Call 01406 540246 / 540267 Patronal Festival Weekend St Swithin’s Church, Lincoln June 28 & 29 A fun day on Saturday, finishing with an Petertide ordinations evening concert by the Woodhall Spa Lincoln Cathedral Singers. Proceeds to the church.

Ordinations take place at 5.30pm on Tickets £5. On sale on the door.

Saturday (priests) and 10.30am on Sunday Call 01522 537 974, 07833 107 054 or (deacons).

07749 752 148.

July 5 to 6 | 10am - 4pm Open Weekend St Andrew’s Church, Stewton On a theme of Flowers at a Country Wedding, with stalls, plants, produce, preserves and home made refreshments.

July 13 | 2pm - 6pm Open Gardens St Andrew’s Church, Butterwick Browse round six gardens. Plants for sale, refreshments. Map at church. Entrance £3, children free.

July 4 | 7.30pm Jazz Concert St Peter & St Paul Church, Caistor An evening of New Orleans jazz by jazz combo ‘New Orleans Heat’. Tickets £10 to include interval buffet.

Call 01472 851339.

July 19 | 7pm Louise Latham in Concert Boston Stump The gifted singer-songwriter will perform; proceeds in aid of St Botolph’s Flood Recovery and Development. Tickets: VIP £10, standard £5.

Call 01205 316130

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July 19 Scunthorpe Male Voice Choir in Concert St Hugh’s Church, Scunthorpe A concert by the Scunthorpe Male Voice Choir. Tickets £7.50 payable on the door.

July 18 - 20 Conference Bishop Grosseteste University Conference entitled Robert Grosseteste and the pursuit of religious and scientific learning in the Middle Ages. With various keynote speakers. www.bishopg.ac.uk/rgconf July 29 | 7.30pm Concert by the Wren Library Consort The Wren Library, Lincoln Cathedral Charles Harrison (harpsichord), Anna Williams (oboe), Mark Hacking (viola da gamba) and Will Burn (bass voice).

Programme of ensemble and solo music by JS Bach. Tickets: £10, £5 for U16s.

Call 01522 561644 August 8 | 7pm Costumed talk on Women & The Great War by Lucy Adlington.

St Peter & St Paul Church, Burgh-le-Marsh A unique insight into the lives and aspirations of women in WW1. Tickets £10, inc. light refreshments. Raising money for Help for Heroes and Burgh Church.

Call 01754 810577.

August 23 | 2pm Glasach Celtic Music Group Boston Stump Celtic music ensemble comprised of graduates from leading Russian music academies with Margarita Mirmova (viola), Maria Nefedova (cello) and Kirill Raskolenko (violin). Tickets £5.

Call 01205 316130 August 23 to 25 Flower Festival St Guthlac’s Church, Fishtoft God’s Garden will be the theme with St. Guthlac depicted in flowers in the Sanctuary, and people of all levels of skill decorating the church. Songs of Praise service at 6.30pm on Sunday.

September 25 | 7.30pm Commissioning of the Discipleship Team St Swithin’s Church, Lincoln

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