VAT and Listed buildings

The recent budget is proposing to remove the zero rating of VAT on alterations to listed buildings, this is going to cost some churches a lot of money, Wakefield cathedral is having to stump up another £200000 before their current work can proceed - enter the youtube above and Pamela Greener, the wife of the dean with a song - I posted this on facebook but if you don't know me there - here it is! For UK voters, there's a petition on the govenment website!
I kept expecting a hard-hatted chorus to enter from behind the singer....

Celebrating youth

..and not treating them as a problem. Rowan Williams' New year message.

Macclesfield's Hope Centre

Ribbon snipped, a photo by rajmarshall on Flickr.

Over the past few week's I've been doing some volunteer work at the ex-Wesley Owen bookshop in Macclesfield in preparation for its reopening as a cafe/bookshop resource centre for the town's churches. On Wednesday we had the official opening by the Mayor. There'll eventually be some coverage on the official website (which I need to do) - the site needs a revamp - or is that an init-vamp to make it a little more friendly and maintainable!

That Roman Offer

Nick Baines blogs powerfully on the subject:

The church exists for the sake of the world – not for the sake of the purity of the church.

I write as someone who, at times, has seriously considered the Roman option - though not for the reasons which many are now considering! (there, I bet that shocked some readers!)

very Breton

very Breton
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

This memorial in the churchyard of St Lawrence, Over Peover (in the grounds of Peover Hall) always seems very Breton to me. Looking at the base, it is in memory of one of the Mainwaring family and erected in the early 20th Century. If it wasn't in such an obscure spot it would, no doubt have had some crying Romish!

Well it may be more exciting than preparing tomorrow's talk

over the top
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

The local URC minister Marion Tugwood abseiled from the Church tower this morning to raise money. More pictures of the descent on my flickr pages - and on the church's website (in time)

Update - the official pictures are here

Sheesh!

I see that John MacKay of the Australian Creation Research is speaking locally on Tuesday. Unfortunately I've got another meeting that night, otherwise I'd go and ask pointed questions. Lots of useful information on him on the web - if this inspires anyone else to go and expose the charade. Bringing the Christian faith into disrepute ...<grumbles>

That moment of mystery

Another quote from Michael Hampson's Last Rites which rang true with me:

The charismatic movement in those early days had the silence and space to experience those truths which are too profound and too beautiful for words. It had wonder, reverence, anticipation, and a sense of an awesome God on the move into places yet unknown. It welcomed and celebrated some mystery. ... In the days of its folk-movement authenticity the charismatic movement had space for God to be the God of 'Love Unknown'. .. And while the language was individual.. the experience was of belonging: belonging to a movement that was sharing a new experience of God..it was a truly catholic spirituality lost and adrift. It was netted by protestant evangelicalism before it could find its way back home.

and alas for some evangelical Gradgrinds it is now just facts, [Bible] facts which are the only basis of worship.
Do also read Hampson on his agenda for the purging of the structure of the Church of England and his chapter on the nature of the financial crisis tells it how it is (especially now!).

Jenkin chapel

Jenkin chapel
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

I helped - in a minor way - with the harvest festival up at Jenkin Chapel - at the extreme end of the Chester diocese. My photos of the event are on my flickr pages, I spent most of the service locked up in the (very small!) sanctuary with the Bishop of Chester - not as terrifying as it might sound!

The Wii Generation

.. for today's pun

OTT Churches

Not sure how I got here but I was musing on churches that strike one as being different - sticking in the memory, I hope this isn't a call to ignore the diocesan architect! Ones that occur to me are:

• Middleham Church, with the Richard III connections and the stained glass of the strangulation of St Akelda, can't find a link...
  
• S.Maria della Vittoria Rome - principally for the Bernini!
  
• Santa Maria della Spina Pisa - ornate outside - have never seen the inside
  
• Birtles Church Macclesfield - somewhat closer to home - tiny place with lots of wooden carvings inside - can't find a web picture. I believe the carvings were brought back from Holland