The Beacon

Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami News

2011-03-14T23:03:00.005Z

Happy New Year

2011-01-17T18:36:00.002Z

Diocese sorry for those deceived and hurt by priest.

2010-08-01T17:53:00.015+01:00

A vicar was found guilty of breaking the law at Lewes Crown Court. The Archdeacon of Lewes and Hastings said "The Diocese of Chichester sets high standards and expects its clergy not only to comply with the law but also to honour the trust placed in them at their ordination and the promises made on becoming a vicar." Rev Alex Brown was found guilty of conducting hundreds of sham marriages to help illegal immigrants gain residency in Britain.

Well the Diocese of Chichester may set high standards for its clergy, but it doesn't seem to bother about enforcing those standards! They have left it to the civil authorities in this case!

More Information »

Vicar of St Peter and St Paul in court charged with breaking immigration laws.

2010-07-07T23:48:00.002+01:00

The vicar of St Peters and St Pauls , St Leonards on Sea in East Sussex, was in court for his alleged part in a scam whereby Eastern Europeans were paid as much as £3000 to marry illegal immigrants.

The vicar was accused of officiating on 383 sham marriages between July 2005 and July 2009.

The case continues.

More information »

Is the B2145 the busiest road in the country?

2010-07-06T20:08:00.004+01:00

The B2145, the road between Selsey and Chichester, has often been cited as the busiest B road in the country. How does this stand up to scrutiny? Well according to stats taken from the Chichester District Council planning website, there are about 12,000 traffic movements along the B2145, on average each day.

Picture source ©Pathetic Motorways.

However the back road from the M25 J11 to Terminal 4 at Heathrow, the B3755 has nearly 37,000 movements a day, three times the rate of the Selsey road.

Another local road, the Chichester to Petworth road, has come out as one of the most dangerous roads in the country. In a recent survey it came out as the tenth worst road.

Beacon of Hope

2010-06-11T15:18:00.000+01:00

Narcissism and the Priesthood

2010-06-10T17:02:00.000+01:00

According to the Rev Patrick Barker there is a significant minority of people who enter the priesthood for the status it gives them rather than any religious calling. Some of these will have a condition known as narcissistic personality disorder the individual concerned may give the impression of overflowing with self-confidence and self-esteem, however the truth is just the opposite. Narcissism is a defensive strategy of a fragilely integrated self against threats of selfcontempt and emptiness.

Narcissists depend upon the acclaim of others for a sense of personal wholeness. That they must depend upon others to maintain psychological wholeness helps explain the curious mixture in narcissistic personalities of indifference to the needs of other people with an exquisitely finetuned sensitivity to their preferences. The narcissist does not genuinely care for other people; rather he uses them for psychic survival.

Criteria for narcissistic personality disorder :

Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power or beauty
Believing that you are special and can associate only with equally special people
Requiring constant admiration
Having a sense of entitlement
Taking advantage of others
Inability to recognize needs and feelings of others
Being envious of others
Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner

More Information »

Haiti Earthquake Appeal

2010-01-18T10:03:00.000Z

The Selsey Conservation Area

2010-01-10T20:30:00.005Z

Introduction
A conservation area is an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. They can range from a small group of buildings up to whole city centres. Within Chichester District there are 87 conservation areas including small villages such as such as Compton and Runcton through the towns such as Selsey and Midhurst up to the majority of Chichester City Centre. Conservation areas do not necessarily cover the whole settlement, normally it is only the historic core of a village, town or city which is designated.

Selsey Conservation Area
The Selsey Conservation area, covers the High Street up to and including the parish church. It has :

A linear conservation area based on the High Street
The street is straight with a few gentle bends creating attractive views;
A high concentration of listed cottages and houses in the northern part, which also retains a number of former barns and agricultural stores;
More commercial uses and a local shopping centre in the south;
Two listed churches: St Peter’s Church, dating to 1865, and the Methodist Church, dating to 1867;
18th century inns face each other: The Neptune and the Crown Public houses, both listed grade II;
Former Selsey Hall, a 1920s building with a well detailed front elevation facing the High Street;
An Arts and Crafts village school building with front and side gardens planted with a “seaside”theme;
Thatched, slated or handmade clay tiled roofs;Mixen stone, sandstone and red brick for the walls; beach fl ints (either whole or knapped)
and galletting (fl int chips) to the mortar joints;
Sandstone or beach fl int boundary walls make a major impact, sometimes containing pretty cottage gardens.

The council will try to ensure that all developments in the conservation area are done sensitively.

In a conservation area, the planning rules are tighter. New building and alterations to existing buildings have to be in keeping with the historic frontage of the area. Planning permission has to be granted for the lopping or felling of all trees over a cetain size, whether or not they have a tree preservation order (TPO) on them.

With certain exceptions anyone intending to fell or carry out work to a non-TPO tree in a Conservation Area must give us a minimum of six weeks' written notice before carrying out these works. The main purpose of this is to enable us to consider whether a tree should be subject to a TPO. The penalties for carrying out work to Conservation Area trees without giving six weeks' notice can be as much as £20,000 per tree.

More Information on Selsey Conservation area» • Tree Preservation FAQs »

Worshippers barred from churches.

2010-01-10T15:25:00.000Z

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have condemned the recent resurgence of police intimidation of Anglicans in Zimbabwe.

Church goers, including clergy and local bishops, have been barred from entering their churches and threatened with arrest and violence.

'We condemn unequivocally any move to deny people their basic right to worship. To prevent people from worshipping in their churches on Christmas Day - unable to receive the church's message of hope - is a further blow to civil liberties in Zimbabwe. Such unprovoked intimidation of worshippers by the police is completely unacceptable and indicative of the continued and persistent oppression by state instruments of those perceived to be in opposition.

More Information »

Australian War Hero Remembered

2010-01-10T15:16:00.007Z

The war memorial in Selsey is situated outside St Peters Church set into the perimeter wall. There are 57 men remembered from the Great war. One of them is Private Walter James Homer, 106, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. Private Homer was born in Selsey but emigrated to Australia aged 20. His parents were Charles and Ellen Homer, of West Street, Selsey.

Private Homer enlisted into the AIF on 16th February 1916 aged 22, his occupation given, was that of Station Hand and his address; 48 Melville Road, Hawthorn, Victoria.

His records describe him as being 5’ 10” tall, weighing 142 lbs and having blue eyes and brown hair. In June 1916 he set sail from Melbourne, Victoria, on board the HMAT A62 ‘Wandilla’ .

James was killed in action on 6th September 1918, aged 24 and is buried in Tincourt New British Cemetery (Plot X, Row D, Grave No. 10), France.

Selsey now remembers him on the it's war memorial. The erection of the Selsey war memorial was first proposed in 1919. It was suggested that the design should be based on the old destroyed Palm Cross that stood outside St Wilfrids cathedral. This suggestion was adopted in January 1920 by the parishioners.

The eighteen foot (5.5 metres) Memorial was unveiled on 15th May 1921 by the Duke of Richmond. As well as inscription of the fifty seven men from the Great War it also has forty from World War II and one from the Korean war.

Tincourt new British Cemetery

Information from Australian National Archive » • Roll of Honour »

Wassailers Revive Tradition

2009-12-24T11:54:00.000Z

In past Christmases the choir of St Peters Church used to visit local Selsey care homes and entertain the residents with a carol concert.

This year a choir made up of ex-St Peters choir members and friends, revived the tradition by singing in a Selsey care home. The choir, known as the Wassailers was under the direction of Beryl Rodd.

The Northern Lights

2009-11-24T11:44:00.002Z

New church hall for Fishbourne?

2009-11-14T14:17:00.001Z

Once a church service is over it is good to have a chat with friends over a cup of coffee in the church hall. If the church hall is a great distance from the church then it is not such an attractive proposition.

St Peter and St Mary's at Fishbourne have a church hall that is some distance from the church, with the added problem is that it is getting a little past it's sell by date!

Solution, sell the plot off for redevelopment and build a new church hall nearer the church.

More Information »

Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith.

2009-11-14T12:03:00.018Z

Rome has not published a full constitution for Anglicans wanting to become Catholics, but has published the norms.

Most commentators have said that the principle sticking points for Anglicans are contraception and transubstantiation (the changing of communion bread and wine into the blood and body of Christ).

The Vatican has said that it will accept married male Anglican priests to be ordained as Catholic priests although will preclude married Anglican bishops to becoming Catholic bishops.

The norms specifically exclude Anglican clergy who may have been previously ordained as Catholic Priests or who are in irregular marriage situations. It will be interesting to see how they deal with those married Anglican priests who are family men and probably have been practising some sort of contraception!

Complementary Norms for the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus

Jurisdiction of the Holy See

Article 1
Each Ordinariate is subject to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It maintains close relations with the other Roman Dicasteries in accordance with their competence.

Relations with Episcopal Conferences and Diocesan Bishops

Article 2

§1. The Ordinary follows the directives of the national Episcopal Conference insofar as this is consistent with the norms contained in the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus.

§2. The Ordinary is a member of the respective Episcopal Conference.

Article 3

The Ordinary, in the exercise of this office, must maintain close ties of communion with the Bishop of the Diocese in which the Ordinariate is present in order to coordinate its pastoral activity with the pastoral program of the Diocese.

The Ordinary

Article 4.

§1. The Ordinary may be a bishop or a presbyter appointed by the Roman Pontiff ad nutum Sanctae Sedis, based on a terna presented by the Governing Council. Canons 383-388, 392-394, and 396-398 of the Code of Canon Law apply to him.

§2. The Ordinary has the faculty to incardinate in the Ordinariate former Anglican ministers who have entered into full communion with the Catholic Church, as well as candidates belonging to the Ordinariate and promoted to Holy Orders by him.

§3. Having first consulted with the Episcopal Conference and obtained the consent of the Governing Council and the approval of the Holy See, the Ordinary can erect as needed territorial deaneries supervised by a delegate of the Ordinary covering the faithful of multiple personal parishes.

The Faithful of the Ordinariate

Article 5

§1. The lay faithful originally of the Anglican tradition who wish to belong to the Ordinariate, after having made their Profession of Faith and received the Sacraments of Initiation, with due regard for Canon 845, are to be entered in the apposite register of the Ordinariate. Those baptized previously as Catholics outside the Ordinariate are not ordinarily eligible for membership, unless they are members of a family belonging to the Ordinariate.

§2. Lay faithful and members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, when they collaborate in pastoral or charitable activities, whether diocesan or parochial, are subject to the Diocesan Bishop or to the pastor of the place; in which case the power of the Diocesan Bishop or pastor is exercised jointly with that of the Ordinary and the pastor of the Ordinariate.

The Clergy

Article 6

§1. In order to admit candidates to Holy Orders the Ordinary must obtain the consent of the Governing Council. In consideration of Anglican ecclesial tradition and practice, the Ordinary may present to the Holy Father a request for the admission of married men to the presbyterate in the Ordinariate, after a process of discernment based on objective criteria and the needs of the Ordinariate. These objective criteria are determined by the Ordinary in consultation with the local Episcopal Conference and must be approved by the Holy See.

§2. Those who have been previously ordained in the Catholic Church and subsequently have become Anglicans, may not exercise sacred ministry in the Ordinariate. Anglican clergy who are in irregular marriage situations may not be accepted for Holy Orders in the Ordinariate.

§3. Presbyters incardinated in the Ordinariate receive the necessary faculties from the Ordinary.

Article 7

§1 The Ordinary must ensure that adequate remuneration be provided to the clergy incardinated in the Ordinariate, and must provide for their needs in the event of sickness, disability, and old age.

§2. The Ordinary will enter into discussion with the Episcopal Conference about resources and funds which might be made available for the care of the clergy of the Ordinariate.

§3. When necessary, priests, with the permission of the Ordinary, may engage in a secular profession compatible with the exercise of priestly ministry (cf. CIC, can. 286).

Article 8

§1. The presbyters, while constituting the presbyterate of the Ordinariate, are eligible for membership in the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese in which they exercise pastoral care of the faithful of the Ordinariate (cf. CIC, can. 498, §2).

§2. Priests and Deacons incardinated in the Ordinariate may be members of the Pastoral Council of the Diocese in which they exercise their ministry, in accordance with the manner determined by the Diocesan Bishop (cf. CIC, can. 512, §1).

Article 9

§1. The clerics incardinated in the Ordinariate should be available to assist the Diocese in which they have a domicile or quasi-domicile, where it is deemed suitable for the pastoral care of the faithful. In such cases they are subject to the Diocesan Bishop in respect to that which pertains to the pastoral charge or office they receive.

§2. Where and when it is deemed suitable, clergy incardinated in a Diocese or in an Institute of Consecrated Life or a Society of Apostolic Life, with the written consent of their respective Diocesan Bishop or their Superior, can collaborate in the pastoral care of the Ordinariate. In such case they are subject to the Ordinary in respect to that which pertains to the pastoral charge or office they receive.

§3. In the cases treated in the preceding paragraphs there should be a written agreement between the Ordinary and the Diocesan Bishop or the Superior of the Institute of Consecrated Life or the Moderator of the Society of Apostolic Life, in which the terms of collaboration and all that pertains to the means of support are clearly established.

Article 10.

§1. Formation of the clergy of the Ordinariate should accomplish two objectives: 1) joint formation with diocesan seminarians in accordance with local circumstances; 2) formation, in full harmony with Catholic tradition, in those aspects of the Anglican patrimony that are of particular value.

§2. Candidates for priestly ordination will receive their theological formation with other seminarians at a seminary or a theological faculty in conformity with an agreement concluded between the Ordinary and, respectively, the Diocesan Bishop or Bishops concerned. Candidates may receive other aspects of priestly formation at a seminary program or house of formation established, with the consent of the Governing Council, expressly for the purpose of transmitting Anglican patrimony.

§3. The Ordinariate must have its own Program of Priestly Formation, approved by the Holy See; each house of formation should draw up its own rule, approved by the Ordinary (cf. CIC, can. 242, §1).

§4. The Ordinary may accept as seminarians only those faithful who belong to a personal parish of the Ordinariate or who were previously Anglican and have established full communion with the Catholic Church.

§5. The Ordinariate sees to the continuing formation of its clergy, through their participation in local programs provided by the Episcopal Conference and the Diocesan Bishop.

Former Anglican Bishops

Article 11

§1. A married former Anglican Bishop is eligible to be appointed Ordinary. In such a case he is to be ordained a priest in the Catholic Church and then exercises pastoral and sacramental ministry within the Ordinariate with full jurisdictional authority.

§2. A former Anglican Bishop who belongs to the Ordinariate may be called upon to assist the Ordinary in the administration of the Ordinariate.

§3. A former Anglican Bishop who belongs to the Ordinariate may be invited to participate in the meetings of the Bishops’ Conference of the respective territory, with the equivalent status of a retired bishop.

§4. A former Anglican Bishop who belongs to the Ordinariate and who has not been ordained as a bishop in the Catholic Church, may request permission from the Holy See to use the insignia of the episcopal office.

The Governing Council

Article 12

§1. The Governing Council, in accord with Statutes which the Ordinary must approve, will have the rights and responsibilities accorded by the Code of Canon Law to the College of Consultors and the Presbyteral Council.

§2. In addition to these responsibilities, the Ordinary needs the consent of the Governing Council to:

a. admit a candidate to Holy Orders;

b. erect or suppress a personal parish;

c. erect or suppress a house of formation;

d. approve a program of formation.

§3. The Ordinary also consults the Governing Council:

a. concerning the pastoral activities of the Ordinariate and the principles governing the formation of clergy.

§4. The Governing Council has a deliberative vote:

a. when choosing a terna of names to submit to the Holy See for the appointment of the Ordinary;

b. when proposing changes to the Complementary Norms of the Ordinariate to present to the Holy See;

c. when formulating the Statutes of the Governing Council, the Statutes of the Pastoral Council, and the Rule for houses of formation.

§ 5. The Governing Council is composed according to the Statutes of the Council. Half of the membership is elected by the priests of the Ordinariate.

The Pastoral Council

Article 13

§1. The Pastoral Council, constituted by the Ordinary, offers advice regarding the pastoral activity of the Ordinariate.

§2. The Pastoral Council, whose president is the Ordinary, is governed by Statutes approved by the Ordinary.

The Personal Parishes

Article 14

§1. The pastor may be assisted in the pastoral care of the parish by a parochial vicar, appointed by the Ordinary; a pastoral council and a finance council must be established in the parish.

§2. If there is no vicar, in the event of absence, incapacity, or death of the pastor, the pastor of the territorial parish in which the church of the personal parish is located can exercise his faculties as pastor so as to supply what is needed.

§3. For the pastoral care of the faithful who live within the boundaries of a Diocese in which no personal parish has been erected, the Ordinary, having heard the opinion of the local Diocesan Bishop, can make provisions for quasi-parishes (cf. CIC, can. 516, §1).

The Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI, at the Audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect, approved these Complementary Norms for the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus, adopted in the Ordinary Session of the Congregation, and ordered their publication.

Rome, from the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, November 4, 2009, the Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo.

William Cardinal Levada
Prefect

Luis F. Ladaria, S.I.
Titular Archbishop of Thibica
Secretary
© 2009 -Vatican City

Water found on the Moon.

2009-11-14T10:13:00.001Z

NASA have revealed at a press conference that preliminary analysis of data from their Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, indicates that water exists in a permanently shadowed lunar crater.

"We are ecstatic," said Anthony Colaprete, LCROSS project scientist and principal investigator at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California.

The LCROSS spacecraft and a companion rocket stage made twin impacts in crater Cabeus near the Moon's south pole on the 9th. Oct A plume of debris traveled at a high angle beyond the rim of Cabeus and into sunlight, while an additional curtain of debris was ejected more laterally.

Since the twin impacts, the NASA team, have been analysing the vast of data that the spacecraft has sent back.

More Information »

The Vatican Publishes the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus

2009-11-09T19:58:00.000Z

The Holy See has now published the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus, which will provide for Personal Ordinariates for Anglicans entering into full communion with the Catholic Church.

It is now decision time for the conservative Anglo-Catholics who have been seeking an accommodation with Rome. They have pushed at a door that is now open to them, will they go through, or will they retreat back to the Church of England?

Forward in Faith the organisation that represents the conservative Anglo-Catholics has certainly welcomed the news and accept that their 'bluff has been called'.

It is true to say that everyone has been surprised at the scope of the Vaticans proposal. Initial analysis infers that they are prepared to take on married priests including Bishops, and alllow them to keep their episcopal office.

Vatican Statement » • Forward in Faiths Reaction »

Church welcomes new Child Safeguarding Initiative

2009-10-27T14:55:00.000Z

Churches have welcomed the first phase of the governments new enhanced child safeguarding scheme, known as Vetting and Barring Scheme(VBS).

All those who work with children will have to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) from November 2010.

The scheme has been opposed by children’s authors, who believe it will poison relationships between children and adults. Philip Pullman, who regularly visits schools, has called it “outrageous, demeaning, and insulting. The scheme is supplemental to the existing Criminal Record Bureau(CRB) checks rather than providing an integrated system.

The VBS for England, Wales and Northern Ireland was a recommendation of the inquiry into the murders of two schoolgirls by school caretaker Ian Huntley in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002.

The VBS scheme defines certain activities as “regulated”, and impose sanctions for non-compliance If Parish Churches have already been sticking to the Church of England rules then the transition should not be too difficult to implement. The PCC already has to appoint a children's coordinator as well as a child advocate. In law the PCC are jointly responsible for child protection with the incumbent and should discuss and adopt a child protection policy each year. The Revd Pearl Luxon, joint Safeguarding Adviser for the Church of England and the Methodist Church, said that there had been a “complete overreaction” in many of the news reports. Although the legislation was complex, there was not much difference between this scheme and the current CRB disclosures already required from those working with children and vulnerable adults.

Church Times Article » • Government Information »

Statement from Rome about allowing Anglican clergy full communion with the Catholic Church

2009-10-20T16:30:00.030+01:00

In August '09 the Beacon reported that the See of Rome was in talks with conservative Anglicans with the aim of allowing some sort of corporate union.

The Vatican website has now published a statement saying how it will deal with any Anglican clergy who wish to embrace Rome, but keep their Anglican traditions.

Pope Benedict XVI has approved, within the Apostolic Constitution, a canonical structure that provides for Personal Ordinariates, which will allow former Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of distinctive Anglican spiritual patrimony.

The statement indicates that Rome is looking to set up a special section for Anglican clergy and run the organisation somewhat like they currently do the military chaplaincy.

"Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said: "Those Anglicans who have approached the Holy See have made clear their desire for full, visible unity in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. At the same time, they have told us of the importance of their Anglican traditions of spirituality and worship for their faith journey."

"These Personal Ordinariates will be formed, as needed, in consultation with local Conferences of Bishops, and their structure will be similar in some ways to that of the Military Ordinariates which have been established in most countries to provide pastoral care for the members of the armed forces and their dependents throughout the world. "
Vatican Statement 20.10.09

In a joint statement issued today the Archbishop of Westminster and the Archbishop of Canterbury have said:

"(The).. announcement of the Apostolic Constitution is a response by Pope Benedict XVI to a number of requests over the past few years to the Holy See from groups of Anglicans who wish to enter into full visible communion with the Roman Catholic Church, and are willing to declare that they share a common Catholic faith and accept the Petrine ministry as willed by Christ for his Church."
Archbishops of Canterbury & Westminster. 20.10.09

There is also a letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury to “the Bishops of the Church of England, and the members of the Primates Meeting of the Anglican Communion”.

Damian Thompson of the Daily Telegraph reports that a source in Rome had said that Lambeth Palace and elements in the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity were “implacably opposed” to Pope Benedict XVI’s dramatic new arrangements for Anglicans. The source also reports speculation that Archbishop Rowan Williams put pressure on Vatican ecumenists to stop the Apostolic Constitution being issued.

The Bishop of Chichester made the kenote speech to the Forward in Faith Assembly:

Bishop of Chichester's Speech mp3 »

Vatican Statement » • Archbishops Joint Statement »
Archbishops Letter » • FiF UK's Response » • Daily Telegraph Blog »

John Harrington banned for smutty puns!

2009-10-09T13:18:00.007+01:00

Did you know that John Harington (sometimes spelt Harrington) was banned after publishing a book of smutty poems and stories?

Harington invented an indoor water closet for Queen Elizabeth I in 1596, but then published a book with tasteless puns about his own invention and invariably was banned from court. The toilet then dropped into obscurity for nearly 200 years.

The belief that Thomas Crapper invented the first patented flushing water closet is untrue. The first patent for the flushing water closet was actually issued to Alexander Cummings, a London watchmaker, in 1775

The American slang for toilet, "john", is derived from the name John Harington,.

More Information »

Hallelujah Chorus Nuns

2009-10-09T12:02:00.002+01:00

Devastation in Asia

2009-10-07T09:27:00.001+01:00

The Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) has launched a media appeal for public funds to help those affected by the earthquakes and typhoons that struck last week.
The appeals will be delivered on the BBC by Christine Bleakley from The One Show and on ITV, Sky, Channel 4, Channel Five and other commercial broadcasters by Myleene Klass.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed or injured but millions also live in the areas immediately affected where homes have been destroyed, crops swept away and vital services wiped out.

Despite appalling conditions, aid agencies responses are now well underway in Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam but remain seriously under funded.

Launching the Appeal, Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Chief Executive Brendan Gormley said:
“The nature of these disasters vividly recalls the horrors of 2004 Tsunami. Millions have seen the world they know ripped apart around them.

DEC member agencies are already responding despite the appalling conditions on the ground but we urgently need the public’s help to fund their work.

More Information »

Do you Gift Aid donations to your Church?

2009-10-04T21:08:00.003+01:00

In the UK Gift Aid is an easy way to increase donations to your church by nearly a third at no cost to the giver. All you have to do is ask the giver for permission to reclaim the tax they have paid to HM Revenue & Customs.

This can be achieved by the provision, in church, of gift aid envelopes with the relevant information printed on them. Members of the congregation who give regularly, alternatively, can fill in a simple form.

Each year, charities raise over half a billion in Gift Aid tax relief. Although it has been in operation for several years now some churches still do not take advantage of the scheme.

More Information »

Local 13th Century Church to Close

2009-09-23T15:55:00.008+01:00

The 13th century parish church of Saint Giles, Merston is to close. The church is a Grade I listed building.

The problems are said to be largely twofold:

The ceiling needs urgent repairs and it is deemed too expensive for the parish to pay for them.
There seems to be no one in the parish prepared to take on the day to day running of the church.

Services will be held in the old schoolroom for the forseeable future.

More Information »

Archbishop of Canterbury : Bonus bankers still have not repented

2009-09-20T17:39:00.015+01:00

The Archbishop of Canterbury has said that he fears that financiers feel no "repentance" for the excesses which led to the economic collapse. The Archbishop was talking on an edition of BBC2's Newsnight to mark the anniversary of the collapse of the Lehman Brothers bank.

Dr Williams said that "There hasn't been a feeling of closure about what happened last year." We haven’t heard people saying, "Well, actually we got it wrong, and the whole fundamental principle on which we worked was unreal, was empty."

The Archbishop said he would have liked to have seen the Government cap bonuses in the City, as this is “one of the things that feeds what I call the diffused resentment that people are somehow getting away with a culture in which the connection between the worth of what you do and the reward you get again becomes more obscure”.

Read More »

SPCK Update

2009-09-01T08:23:00.007+01:00

In June The Beacon reported on the demise of the former SPCK Bookshops, it seems that the one in Chichester is now closed.

In October 2006 the former SPCK Bookshops and their associated websites were entrusted by SPCK to the Saint Stephen the Great Charitable Trust (SSG), under the control of Messrs Philip and Mark Brewer.

They have systematically closed the bookshop chain down, only the Durham branch now remains open.

An online petition to the Bishop of Chichester had been set up to try and prevent the closure of the Chichester branch but it seems to no avail.

For more information and to sign the petition please:
Click Here »

Goodluck James!

2009-09-01T07:56:00.005+01:00

James Roriston, who has become a familiar face as relief organist, at churches around the Manhood Peninsular this summer, has been offered and accepted a teaching post at a school in Yorkshire. He will be joining them in September.

James, the former popular Director of Music at St Peters, Selsey will be missed.

So it's goodbye and goodluck James thanks for all the hard work.

St Wilfrid Hero or Villain?

2009-08-22T17:06:00.011+01:00

2009 marks the 1300th anniversary of the death of St Wilfrid. He died in 709AD although some modern scholars tell us that it could have been 710AD

Amongst other things Wilfrid was responsible for bringing Christianity to Selsey. However he had somewhat of a turbulent career, the historian Alice Drayton Greenwood in her History of the People of England described Wilfrid as arrogant, as he was a priest who did not care who he upset to get his own
way.

In 708 the Venerable Bede was accused of heresy in front of Wilfrid, who at the time was his master and Wilfrid did nothing to support Bede. Although it was obvious that Bede deeply disliked Wilfrid, his overriding respect for the church, rather inhibited his reporting of Wilfrid. (The Venerable Bede, was a priest, and is recognised as this countries first historian, with his version of history still being used as a source even today by scholars).

In Selsey we remember Wilfrid as our founder although when he left he gave large tracts of lands to the Bishops of Canterbury, St Thomas a Becket in Pagham still has the Archbisop of Canterbury as patron, this action did not impress the Selsey locals of the time.

So perhaps despite his faults we should remember Wilfrid for the good he did? He was a Benedictine monk,a reformer, tireless missionary and church builder who rebuilt the Minster at York, he founded Abbeys at Hexham, Ripon and Oundle plus of course converted the South Saxons to Christianity, and founded an Abbey and cathedral in Selsey (both now gone).

For more information on St Wilfrid check out the Wilfrid 1300 website
More Information»

For more information on the early church in Selsey check out the Diocese of the South Saxons
More Information»

County Court Judgments(CCJs)

2009-08-17T18:03:00.005+01:00

Around 2500 CCJs are registered every day in England & Wales and with the majority, they are granted automatically, as the defendant did not attend court. Many people are confused by the whole process and do not understand the complicated paper work they are sent.

Others just hope the problem will go away and ignore the warnings they receive. Once a CCJ is declared it remains on a credit file for six years and can be very damaging.

More information »

We possibly all know people and organisations who have had CCJ's awarded against them even local churches may fall foul!

By the time a court summons is received it is likely that the debt collection process has been going on for many months and that dozens of letters have been sent. It is important to remember that creditors do not want to take people to court (when their legal costs are considered it is often not a cost effective approach) but if a debtor refuses to co-operate or reply to their letters they feel they have no other option and need to make a stand.

Information from CAB» Government Information »

Mystery Worshipper gives good review to local Churches

2009-08-07T08:08:00.008+01:00

The Ship of Fools Mystery Worshipper, has been active in our area (West Sussex, England) and has given good reviews to St Mary's Sidlesham, St Peter & Mary Fishbourne and St Marys Funtington.

When the Mystery Worshipper visited St Mary's Sidlesham, the Mystery Worshipper reported that they had been greeted with enthusiasm.
Read More »

In Fishbourne the Mystery Worshipper, described the congregation as a 'friendly bunch'and enjoyed the thoughtful sermon.
Read More »

The service at Funtington was evensong and they had the St Richards Singers as guest choir. The Mystery Worshipper said that the music was 'fantastic'!
Read More »

It's good to see our local churches doing so well in these reviews. Mind you it seems rather like waiting for buses, you wait for ever, then three turn up! Looking at the Ship of Fools website, there have not been any reviews in our area since 2002, when the Mystery Worshipper reviewed Petworth URC. Let's hope that now they have found us, they stick around a bit!

Ship Of Fools »

Does your Priest steal from the collection box?

2009-08-05T15:39:00.013+01:00

Does your priest steal from the church? "No of course not!" you may reply, but it is not so unusual as you might think. In the 13th century Alfonso of Castille was complaining about theiving priests in a poem:

"In the city of Hita in the kingdom of Toledo, there was a priest who spoke fine words, but was really an evil thief.
In his church there was a large silver cross. He stole it, scraped off the silver, and gave the metal to a woman of his.
The next day, he showed the cross to the people. He wept and cursed the one who had stolen the silver. He asked God to avenge the deed and to strike the person blind. He made everyone say the Our Father.
When they had recited it, the Virgin blinded him. No medicine from Montpellier could help him.
In addition, she made his nose grow so big that it covered his mouth and stretched out to his ears.
He could not eat or drink unless he lifted that enormous nose. A thousand times a day he wished that he were dead.
The Virgin disfigured him so that people who saw him would avoid doing wrong. "
From the Cantigas de Santa Maria of Alfonso X (1221-1284)

More recently a RC Priest in Ipswich was charged with stealing £90000 from his church.
Read More »

Another priest was caught stealing from the collection plate to fund his lavish lifestyle, that included paying for male strippers.
Read More »

Still not is all doom and gloom, a junkie gave up his thieving ways and became a priest
Read More »

A priest is a person that one would automatically trust and for the most part they are men of god in the true sense but a small percentage seem to be in it for their own ends!

Does your priest steal from the collection box?

Forward in Faith 'in talks with Vatican' ?

2009-08-03T21:06:00.006+01:00

According to Damian Thompson of the Daily Telegraph, a well-connected Rome source reports that Forward in Faith is talking to the Vatican about corporate union. It claims that Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna is meeting with Bishop John Broadhurst of Fulham at the suggestion of the Holy Father. The Cardinal has become well known for his increasingly important role as the focus of Christian unity.

Forward in Faith are an umbrella group for the conservative Anglo-Catholics in the C of E. They are against women Bishops and Priests.

The Parish of St Peter, Selsey has signed up to Forward in Faiths A and B resolutions:

Resolution A - That this parochial church council would not accept a woman as the minister who presides at or celebrates the Holy Communion or pronounces the Absolution in the Parish.”

Resolution B - “That this parochial church council would not accept a woman as the incumbent or priest-in-charge of the benefice or as a team vicar for the benefice.”

St Peters has not signed up to Resolution C as yet:

Resolution C (Petition under Act of Synod) -“That the Parochial Church Council of xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx hereby resolves to petition the Lord Bishop of zzzzzzzzz to the effect that appropriate episcopal duties in the parish of yyyyyyyyyyyyyy should be carried out in accordance with the Episcopal Ministry Act of Synod 1993.”

Forward in Faith also state that you need to be absolutely certain that these motions are presented at a PCC meeting which has fulfilled the legal requirements, e.g. one month’s written notice of the motions to be debated. Notices of motions passed, with majorities, should be sent to:

The Diocesan Bishop

The Area Bishop

The Archdeacon

The Registrar

The Rural Dean

The Lay Chairman

Daily Telegraph » • Forward in Faith » • Bishop John Broadhurst »
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn » • FIF International »

Post the Host

2009-08-03T20:40:00.005+01:00

How about this for busy people who don't have time to go to church for the Eucharist?

Archbishop Jonathan Blake, a former Anglican priest who is now a bishop of the Open Episcopal Church, provides a service aimed at people who either cannot attend Eucharist, through age or ill-health, or those who have drifted away from church. He consecrates the wafer and mails it to communicants.

Although the pre-consecrated wafer is free, there will be a charge for postage and packing. Receiving one host costs £2; receiving 500 costs £10.

Money for Selsey

2009-08-03T10:02:00.001+01:00

Community Cashback is a new government run scheme in England and Wales which gives local people a say in how £4million of recovered criminal assets (for example confiscated cash or property) should be spent in their communities.

The Selsey East Beach scheme has been identified as an area that needs help in Sussex. For more information and to support the bid for £95,000 please
Click Here »

Broken Minister?

2009-08-01T23:11:00.002+01:00

Picture from ASBO Jesus »

The Choir

2009-07-27T12:11:00.011+01:00

In the 19th Century the Rev. CHARLES G. FINNEY wrote and lectured on the revivals of religion. He talked about the desire of ministers and some leading individuals to bring about an improvement in the cultivation of music, by forming choirs of singers.

However it was thought that great evils were coming to the churches, because the singers were seated by themselves, and cultivated music, and learned new tunes that the old people could not sing. It did not use to be so when they were young, and they would not tolerate such new lights and novelties in the church.

Finney also highlights the problems of introducing various instruments to accompany the singers When the bass viol was first introduced, it made a great commotion. People insisted they might just as well have a fiddle in the house of God. "Why, it is a fiddle, it is made just like a fiddle, only a little larger, and who can worship where there is a fiddle?

The organ did not fair any better And there are many churches now who would not tolerate an organ. They would not be half so much excited to be told that sinners are going to hell, as to be told that there is going to be an organ in the meeting house. Read More »

The BBC's 'Last Choir Standing' and other TV programmes about choirs has played a major affect on the resurgence of interest in singing generally and those expressing an interest in choirs. Read More »

According to Vicky Frost singing in a choir is now perceived as being cool and is a pastime second only to sport.Read More »

Has the C of E devalued Christianity?

2009-07-24T15:00:00.003+01:00

The Church of England has announced that it will be providing new style combi weddings and baptism services, for couples with children born out of wedlock.

Daily Express Article» • Full Report »

Church of England Logo

2009-07-24T14:48:00.000+01:00

Swine flu triggers change to church ritual

2009-07-22T10:10:00.004+01:00

Fears about Swine Flu has spurred the Church of England to revive a rule drawn up more than 450 years ago when bubonic plague swept the land.

According to the FT, some Anglican churches have begun to allow “intinction” or dipping bread in communion wine rather than sharing the chalice, while others have stopped offering wine altogether. The practices are permitted under the 1547 Sacrament Act, introduced after the plague, which requires both bread and wine to be given “except necessity otherwise require”.

Read More »
Guidance from the Diocese of Chichester »
Medical Guidance »

What to do about a bad priest

2009-07-14T12:34:00.001+01:00

Question: “We had a good priest...In his place came another, who is a grief to the soul. In his serving the services, he is careless and hurried; when conversations occur, he talks only about trivial things; if he starts to talk about the things of God, then it is all with a kind of limitation and truncation of the strict truth. How is one to escape from such a temptation?”

Full Report »

Mary Sumner Day - 9th August 2009

2009-07-10T11:45:00.001+01:00

Mary Sumner founded Mothers’ Union in Old Alresford in 1876. Each year she is remembered in the Anglican Calendar on 9th August, which this year falls on a Sunday.

In 1885, Ernest Wilberforce, the first Bishop of Newcastle, was preparing to address churchgoing women in the Portsmouth Church Congress. Finding he had nothing relevant to say to churchwomen, he contacted Mary Sumner and asked her to speak to the conference in his stead. Although she was reluctant and beset by nervousness, she addressed the women passionately about the power of mothers to change the nation for the better. A number of the women present were encouraged to return to their parishes to set up similar women's meetings, and the Bishop of Winchester, who presided over the congress, declared that the Mothers' Union become a diocesan organisation

As a global movement of Anglican women, the Mothers' Union supports local churches with the prayers and activities of its branch members, as well as being a worldwide campaigning charity. Particularly concerned with the plight of women in the world, its projects include literacy and healthcare education and campaigning against violence against women and the trafficking of women. The Mothers' Union is part of Make Poverty History and the Jubilee Debt Coalition.

Of its 3.6 million, approximately 1.9 million Mothers' Union members are from Indian dioceses (from the formerly independent churchwomen's organisations of the Church of North India and the Church of South India, which affiliated with the Mothers' Union in 2001 and 2003 respectively). A further 1.3 million Mothers' Union members are in African dioceses, with the largest membership, 680,000, in Tanzania. Membership within the United Kingdom is around 100,000.

To mark Mary Sumner day this year, the Diocese of Winchester have made available to the Mothers’ Union some of the facilities at Old Alresford Place, the rectory in which the first meetings were held. In combination with the neighbouring church of St. Mary’s there will be a series of activities through the afternoon in which you can participate.

More Information »

Rector Sacks Choir!

2009-07-10T08:44:00.001+01:00

A rector dismissed his choir after differences with it's leader. The choir had been the pride of the church and was respected in the local community.

Full Report »

Worship groups old fashioned or what?

2009-07-09T20:49:00.005+01:00

In years gone by music in churches was provided by bands of musicians playing stringed and wind instruments. Over the years they have been largely replaced by organs, a wind keyboard instrument played by a single person. In Under the Greenwood Tree Thomas Hardy tells the story of how an organ replaced the band of musicians in one country church. Many churches are now replacing their organs with bands of musicians, these days we call them 'Worship Groups', old fashioned or what?

The Controversial Organ »

Alternative worship, is a cultural phenomenon, traced to the Nine O’Clock Service, which started at St Thomas, Crookes in Sheffield in the eighties. A group of young people who were dissatisfied with existing forms of worship and familiar with rave culture started to create services which were multimedia, used contemporary music forms, and had a wide range of styles from loud rock to quiet contemplation.
The Sheffield experiment ended in a cloud of controversy, however other worship groups flourished. Most use video, rely heavily on ritual and symbolism, and adopt an experiential approach to liturgy. Worshippers are not seen as passive consumers of pre-packaged predictability as is common in mainstream churches but rather as co-creative participants in an ongoing drama.

Read More »

Indeed, one characteristic of most alternative worship groups is that liturgy is collaboratively constructed. This is because liturgy is seen as an expression of community and of that community’s response to the love of God. Typically, members will get together to plan the next act of worship. The theme or topic will be decided or announced there is no reason why they should follow the lectionary.

People will then volunteer to develop worship for that session, probably because the theme speaks to them. This collaborative aspect of worship is perhaps the most significant different between alternative worship and traditional worship.

Read More »

Church Bloopers!

2009-07-08T11:08:00.012+01:00

The following bloopers have all appeared on church notice boards and publications:

Next weekend's Fasting & Prayer Conference in Whitby includes all meals.
Due to the Rector's illness, Wednesday's healing services will be discontinued until further notice.
On a church bulletin during the minister's illness: "God is good - Dr. Hargreaves is better."
Sunday morning sermon: 'Jesus Walks on the Water'
Sunday evening sermon: 'Searching for Jesus.'
Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community.
Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.
Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation .
For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice
Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.
The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and be prepared to sin!
The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door!
The school drama group will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church hall on Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours!'

Parochial Fees

2009-07-02T18:18:00.005+01:00

Parochial fees are the charges that the Church makes for the priests services, for providing such things as weddings, funerals, doing searches or providing, or moving, memorials etc.

The charges are laid down by law and issued each year.

Charges for 2009 »

At synod in 2008, introducing the debate, the Bishop of Ripon & Leeds, the Rt Revd John Packer, said that the Church of England had the unique privilege of providing pastoral services to any parishioner: “a gateway into the lives of millions, and opportunities for mission”.

Rev Trott said that the incumbent had the right to the fees however when someone else was taking the service it was contrary to the modern mindset. “Crem cowboys are well beyond the reach of canon law."

The Archdeacon of Newark, the Ven. Nigel Peyton (Southwell & Nottingham), said: “In an age of internet banking, cash and cheques in brown envelopes is not really ideal.” If the Church was to challenge the financial behaviour of others, it must ensure its own house was in order.

Full Report »

Vicar Arrested!

2009-07-01T22:03:00.005+01:00

A vicar is one of two men charged following an inquiry into allegations of "sham marriages".

A spokesman for the Chichester diocese said the vicar had been suspended from his duties pending the outcome of the investigation.

More Information »

Shine Jesus Shine!

2009-06-24T13:33:00.008+01:00

GRAHAM KENDRICK has been described as a ‘father of modern worship music’ whose songs are ‘crammed full of poetic, divine, biblical truth’ that have ‘sculpted a view of God that has impacted generations.’

For more than 30 years he has been at the forefront of Christian music in the UK having written and recorded hundreds of songs, many of which are well known around the world, including Shine Jesus Shine, Knowing You, The Servant King and Amazing Love.

Of course not everyone loves him. Oliver Letts famously critisized him in his Daily Mail column.

More Information »ASBO Jesus »

Is it right to accept the sacrament from a bad priest?

2009-06-18T20:02:00.003+01:00

Q. If I think that my priest has been doing wrong or has broken the law does it invalidate the sacrament??

A.The holiness of the priest has no bearing on the sanctity of a sacrament. In the strictest sense, the priest does not perform a sacrament: Christ, acting through the priest, performs the sacrament. Since Christ is the true minister of any sacrament, the holiness of any validly ordained priest has no bearing on the efficacy of said sacrament. Since it is ultimately Christ who acts and effects salvation through the ordained minister, the unworthiness of the latter does not prevent Christ from acting.

How bad is your Vicar?

2009-06-15T11:56:00.001+01:00

Problems at the SPCK

2009-06-05T16:56:00.008+01:00

In October 2006 the former SPCK Bookshops and their associated websites were entrusted by SPCK to the Saint Stephen the Great Charitable Trust (SSG), under the control of Messrs Philip and Mark Brewer. Unfortunately shops and staff alike suffered in the transition to new ownership, leading to staff departures, branch closures and uncertainty over opening times for those that remain.

The Chichester shop appears to have been reconstituted as an independent trading company but remains under the Brewers’ personal control.

On the 11th December 2008 a petition was sent to the Bishop and Diocese of Chichester, asking them to take urgent and decisive action to rescue the Chichester shop.

More information and petition details at the SPCKSSG Blogsite.
Read More » Church Times Article »

Bullying in Church

2009-06-05T09:41:00.016+01:00

According to the Director of Professional Standards in the Diocese of Melbourne 'A priest or church officer who uses his or her power to coerce, manipulate or bully an individual is every bit as abusive - albeit in a different way - as the vicar who uses his or her status to satisfy his or her sexual desires.' Read More »

Dr Ronald M Enroth says that Abusive leaders are self-centered and adversarial, rather than reconciling and restorative. Members not following rules established by the leadership (or threatening exposure of the manipulation and abuse) are often labeled "reprobates" or "dupes of Satan," and are dealt with harshly. Ostracism of former members and excommunication of dissenters are common. 'Read More »

For the individual involved, the very fact that the Church can often appear ineffective or uncaring at stamping out bullying, since cases are often not properly addressed or are left unresolved, can be personally destructive. In 2001 the House of Bishops (Church of England) stated that "All complaints of abuse, harassment and bullying are to be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated." Read More »

Priests accused of bullying are to be tried by new courts held in secrecy by the Church of England. Read More »

Bully Online tells us that sometimes it is difficult for the public at large to spot a bully, because of their Jekyll and Hyde nature - vile, vicious and vindictive in private, but innocent and charming in front of witnesses; no-one can (or wants to) believe this individual has a vindictive nature. They will often claim to be a victim themselves when challenged or confronted. Other symptoms may include:

misappropriation of budgets
financial irregularities and fiddling the books
fiddling expenses
falsifying time sheets
pilfering
stealing, diverting, skimming, or "losing" clients' money and investments
embezzlement
fraud
deception
..... Read More »

Ann Lee writing in the Church Times says "The Church must have public anti-bullying policies and procedures; senior staff must be seen to be open and accountable; and complaints must be investigated promptly. Doing nothing is functionally equivalent to condoning violent behaviour. Independent investigations must be conducted, appropriate support must be given to targets, and perpetrators must be subjected to appropriate discipline. Justice must be done and be seen to be done." Read More »

The complacency - complicity principle tells us that when someone is complacent long enough about a situation they become complicit to that situation.
The evidence, thus far, is that church authorities are reluctant to deal with abuse, harrassment and bullying within their ranks. Read More »

Of course once the bullying priest has finally left the parish, it is likely that a great deal of readjustment and healing needs to happen. For this reason, according to Richard Impey, reporting in the Church Times, an interim vicar should be appointed to help with the healing process. Read More »

A Psalm of David

O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?

Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
and speak the truth from their heart;

who do not slander with their tongue,
and do no evil to their friends,
nor take up a reproach against their neighbours;

in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
but who honour those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;

who do not lend money at interest,
and do not take a bribe against the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be moved.
He who does these things shall never be moved

Fall from Grace in Church

2009-06-05T08:59:00.000+01:00

New Website Launched

2009-05-27T10:06:00.003+01:00

A new historical website has been launched based in Selsey. It concentrates on the Saxon period between the end of the Roman era and the coming of the Normans. It also has other interesting historical facts about the existing Parish church and the war memorial.

More Information »

Diocese criticized over bullying incumbent

2009-05-26T17:07:00.001+01:00

Diocese were criticized over how they responded to complaints about an incumbent who perpetually lied and bullied.

Read Report in Full »

Rector closes Saint Peter's Website

2009-05-26T16:21:00.001+01:00

Fr J. Harrington, Rector of Selsey, closes down the Saint Peters Parish website.

More Information »

Three miles to church or more?

2009-05-26T14:33:00.000+01:00

Sock Puppet

2009-05-26T12:01:00.001+01:00

According to Britannica a 'Sock Puppet is a name or identity used online to deceive others and that is often used to direct praise or attention to oneself' A priest who used sock puppets to boost his reputation with the Diocese even though
he was unpopular with a large section of his congregation was eventually caught out.

Britannica » Read Full Report »

Should the Apostles Creed be said at Sunday Eucharist?

2009-05-26T12:00:00.000+01:00

"No lying knight or lying priest ever prospered in any age, but especially not in the dark ones. Men prospered then only in following an openly declared purpose, and preaching candidly beloved and trusted creeds." - John Ruskin

In 'Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, Notes to Orders for Morning and Evening Prayer on Sunday' States: 'An authorized confession and absolution, and the Apostles Creed or another Creed or authorised Affirmation of Faith, and a sermon must be included in Morning or Evening Prayer when it is the principle service on Sunday or Principal Holy Day, but may be omitted at other times'

Online Common Worshp » Church Times Article »

How Safe is Your Church?

2009-05-26T11:57:00.001+01:00

Abuse takes many forms. How safe is your church?
Take the Church Abuse Survey and see how you do

Survey In Full » •
International Cultic Studies Association »

Director of Music at St Peters Resigns

2009-05-26T11:55:00.004+01:00

As the final notes of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue hung in the air, there was the briefest of pauses where time appeared to stand still, then muted applause and cheers broke out from the Vestry to be joined by members of the congregation who had remained in their pews to witness James’ parting piece of music. The appreciation was muted, not because of any lukewarm appreciation of James, but because Father John was performing the Ministry of Anointing and had requested that the departing congregation be mindful of this.

However, once outside the church, choir and congregation congratulating him, and wishing him the best for the future, swamped James. The choir made a small presentation to him and when he went for coffee, he was again greeted by rapturous applause.

It is sad that St Peter’s is losing such a young talent, but James felt that he needed to concentrate on his studies. However, we wish all the best to the new Musical Director, Fran Jones.

James first came to St Peter’s as a young man of 17 years who wanted to play the organ. Under the wing of Beryl Rodd,
he learnt the musical accompaniment to the Sunday Eucharist and came to play for the choir practices and Sunday services whenever he was home from school, and later university in York, and in the vacations. Over the years, choir and congregation have witnessed James’ improving musicianship and skill at the organ. Once he had graduated from the University of York and had a place to study for a Post Graduate Certificate in Education, he accepted the post of Musical Director and threw himself into the post by organising a concert in aid of the Selsey Lifeboat, inviting singers from Selsey and around to join the St Peter’s choir for a concert of a selection of Bach’s Orgelbüchlein and Fauré’s Requiem. It was a great success. His tenure finished with another concert organised by Sally Barker in the church, where this time we were witness to his skills at the piano. Anyone who was there (and the church was filled) will agree what a marvellous evening was enjoyed by all.

When does the agenda have to be distributed to PCC Members?

2009-05-26T11:52:00.001+01:00

Unless it is an emergency PCC meeting, then a notice of the meeting and the
agenda has to be delivered to each PCC member at least seven days before the meeting, according to Section 4 of the Church Representation Rules Appendix 2.

Also, The Chichester Diocese PCC Secretary's Handbook, states on page 5, that the Agenda should be distributed at least seven days before the meeting .

CRR Appendix 2 » Diocese Handbook»

Who is Entitled to see the PCC Minutes?

2009-05-26T11:47:00.002+01:00

Who is entitled by law to see the annual accounts and PCC minutes? Do those on the church electoral roll have a right to see them?

Appendix 2 of the Church Representation Rules provides that members of the PCC shall have access to the minutes (so, too, the Bishop, Archdeacon, and auditor or independent examiner). The only provision for church electoral-roll members is that they may have access to any post-1995 approved minutes, except one that is deemed confidential; therefore roll members do not have a right in law to see them, but a PCC (not the incumbant) can agree to let them do so.

According to the Diocese of Chichester PCC Secretary's Handbook page 10, 'anyone on the electoral roll may see the current year's minutes (i.e. for
meetings held since the last apcm) except for those deemed confidential.'

So what view do churches have on the distribution of PCC minutes? Some pin them to their notice boards, publish them in their magazine or on the internet.

Some churches allow non-PCC members to attend PCC meetings as observers, rather like council meetings.

Diocese Handbook » Church Times Article »

CRR Appendix 2 » Saint Georges PCC Minutes Archive »

Choir Letter at ADPCM

2009-05-26T11:32:00.002+01:00

Unauthorised Letter Purported to Have come from Choir

At the Annual Parochial Church Meeting held in the Saint Peters Church Hall on 26 April 2009, one of the items on the report was about the Saint Peters choir meeting with the Ven Douglas McKittrick, Archdeacon of Chichester. The meeting had been instigated after the choir had petitioned the Bishop of Chichester.

The purpose of the meeting was for the Archdeacon to mediate between the choir and Fr J. Harrington, Rector of Selsey in their dispute with him over the removal of Beryl Rodd from the choir. The meeting was attended by members of the choir, Fr John, James Roriston Director of Music and the Saint Peters Standing committee.

After the meeting the choir met to decide what if anything they proposed to do next.

The choir had posed the question, "Why has Beryl Rodd been removed from the choir?" the answer at the meeting with the Archdeacon being, because the Rector did not want her.

As incumbant the Rector is perfectly entitled to remove who he wants from the choir

The choir at their meeting decided to accept the Rectors absolute authority on these matters and wrote to the Archdeacon to let him know their decision.

As a courtesy, the choir copied the letter to the Rector, James, the PCC and other members of the congregation, who had expressed an interest.

Since the APCM, people have asked for the choirs side of the story and whether they can see the letter.

So here it is, the original letter was signed by ten members of the choir as of July 2008.

The congregation of Saint Peters are continuing witness to the fact that Beryl has not returned to the choir or congregation.

Read the Letter in Full »

Appointment of Churchwardens

2009-05-26T11:29:00.001+01:00

The parish has to hold an Annual Parochial Church Meeting before 30th April each year. The rules governing the appointment of Church Wardens are Churchwardens Measure 2001. Under them the incumbant does not have the power either to veto the nomination or appointment of a churchwarden. The rules are:

The churchwardens of a parish shall be chosen annually not later than the 30th April in each year.

Subject to the provisions of this Measure the churchwardens of a parish shall be elected by a meeting of the parishioners.

Candidates for election at the meeting must be nominated and seconded in writing by persons entitled to attend the meeting and each nomination paper must include a statement, signed by the person nominated, to the effect that that person is willing to serve as a churchwarden and is not disqualified under section 2(1), (2) or (3) above.

A nomination shall not be valid unless-
1. the nomination paper is received by the minister of the parish before the commencement of the meeting; and
2. in the case of a person who is not qualified by virtue of section 1(3)(a), (b) or (c) above, the bishop's permission was given under section 1(4) above before the nomination paper is received by the minister of the parish.

If it appears to the minister of the parish that the election of any particular person nominated might give rise to serious difficulties between the minister and that person in the carrying out of their respective functions the minister may, before the election is conducted, make a statement to the effect that only one churchwarden is to be elected by the meeting. In that event one churchwarden shall be appointed by the minister from among the persons nominated, the name of the person so appointed being announced before the election is conducted, and the other shall then be elected by the meeting.

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Safeguarding Children in Church

2009-05-26T11:27:00.000+01:00

Did you know that according to the Church of England a parish should appoint someone as children's coordinator as well as a child advocate? The PCC in law, are jointly responsible for child protection with the incumbant and should discuss and adopt a child protection policy each year. Anyone working with children in the parish should be checked by the Criminal Records Bureau even if they have a valid CRB certificate in place for another organisation.

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