This Historic English Cathedral Just Installed a Slide in the Middle of the Church

From The U.K.-

A 900-year-old cathedral in England has installed a 50-foot fun slide in its nave, causing considerable controversy.

Norwich Cathedral dates back to 1145 and is one of the largest cathedrals in the UK. It's known for its impressive stained glass work and “medieval roof bosses,” believed to be the largest display in the world. But there’s just one problem when visiting: You can’t get close enough to tell how fantastic it is.

For 10 days, a 55-foot slide, which is called a “Helter Skelter” in the U.K., will allow visitors to see the crowning features of the cathedral from a different viewpoint. The slide has a viewing platform about 40 feet off the ground so visitors can get closer to the 69-foot ceiling before sliding down.

More here-

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/historic-english-cathedral-just-installed-154809082.html

Will the monarchy and Church of England be 'dismantled' when Prince Charles becomes king?

From International Business Times-

The relationship between the church and state when Prince Charles ascends the throne is being hotly debated. When the heir to the throne, 68, eventually becomes king, he will be the Supreme Governor of the Church of England just like every other British monarch since Henry VIII's break with Rome in 1534.

But his accession is set to raise a ''particularly opportune moment'' on the possibility of disestablishing the Church of England, according to a new report by the National Secular Society (NSS).

The 'Separating Church and State: The Case for Disestablishment' document claims that Prince Charles will antagonise the non-Anglican majority of the UK population if he retains a coronation oath. This would overtly commit him to uphold the tenets of the Anglican faith.

The NSS has recommended a ''gradual dismantling, rather than securing a single clean break'' of the Church of England – a decision that will likely anger royalists and Anglican believers.

More here-

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/will-monarchy-church-england-be-dismantled-when-prince-charles-becomes-king-1651198

Archbishop of Canterbury backs cross-party Brexit commission to 'draw poison' out of negotiations

From The Telegraph-

The Archbishop of Canterbury has urged Theresa May to set up a cross-party commission to advise her on Brexit to “draw much of the poison” from negotiations.

The Rt Rev Justin Welby said talks over the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union will be “fierce”, that differences in what should be aimed for “divide our politicians and our society” and that a hung Parliament will almost inevitably bring about an “understandable temptation for every difference to become a vote of confidence”.

But he warned that it would be a “disaster” if the UK’s negotiators went into bat against the “united determination of the EU” without having the “confidence” that they have the full backing of Britain.

More here-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/25/archbishop-canterbury-backs-cross-party-brexit-commission-draw/

Would Jesus be a gentrifier? How Christianity is embracing urban renewal

From The Guardian-

In the 1990s, the Bristol neighbourhood of Stokes Croft was a hub of unchecked creativity. The vast Victorian façades, many of which had been abandoned to the elements, were a ready-made canvas for street artists such as Banksy and Robert Del Naja (also known as 3D), who became household names. Sound systems piled into squats while the police turned a blind eye, fostering global stars such as Tricky and Massive Attack.

Two decades on, and Stokes Croft is increasingly home to artisan coffee shops, burger bars and craft ale pubs that signify urban modernity. The graffiti, once a marker of lawlessness, is now consigned to council-sanctioned tourist sites.

More here-

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/mar/07/spiritual-gentrification-christianity-regeneration-game-stokes-croft-bristol

Welby condemns media reaction to Brexit ruling

From The Church Times-

THE Archbishop of Canterbury has said that he was “horrified” by the abuse directed at three High Court judges on social media last week, after they ruled that the Prime Minister must take Article 50, which would begin the process of leaving the European Union, to a parliamentary vote.

Theresa May had argued that MPs did not need to vote on the legislation, given the majority result of the referendum on membership of the EU in June (News, 1 July 2016). But the panel of judges unanimously agreed with campaigners that the move would be unconstitutional. The Government is appealing against the decision in the Supreme Court.

The judges were subject to abuse and “trolling” on social media, after making the front page of national newspapers last Friday. The headline on the front page of The Daily Telegraph read: “The judges versus the people”; the Daily Mail chose “Enemies of the people”.

More here-

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2016/11-november/news/uk/welby-condemns-media-reaction-to-brexit-ruling

Decline of religion in Britain ‘comes to a halt’ – major study suggests

From The Telegraph-

It is more than 130 years since Nietzsche declared that “God is dead”, and forecasts of the demise of organised religion in the UK and elsewhere have been a regular fixture ever since.

But new figures from Britain’s longest-running and most important barometer of general public opinion suggest that reports of the imminent death of Christianity at least may have been greatly exaggerated.

As-yet unpublished findings from this year’s British Social Attitudes Survey (BSA), seen by the Sunday Telegraph, show decades of decline in religious affiliation appearing to level off.

The overall proportion of Britons who described themselves as Christian actually rose one percentage point in the last year from 42 per cent to 43 per cent.

More here-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/07/decline-of-religion-in-britain-comes-to-a-halt--major-study-sugg/

The Reformation offers a good lesson for Brexit

From The Telegraph-

One month on from the Brexit vote, and we’re doing fine. The fundamentals are unchanged: a strong economy, a cohesive society and, lest we forget, we haven’t actually left the EU yet. Despite this, some people still talk as though Britain detached itself from the Continent and sank into the ocean. They need to relax – open a beer and enjoy the sunshine. History suggests that ruptures in geopolitics can be the start of something beautiful.

Take the 16th-century Reformation. As a Catholic, I am duty-bound to say that Henry VIII’s divorce and the subsequent establishment of the Anglican Church was a disaster. The enormity of its changes – the abolition of the monasteries, sectarian conflict – dwarfs Brexit, implying that leaving the EU just isn’t the big deal that Remainers insist.

But the Reformation does have two characteristics that hold out hope for a brighter future in 2016: continuity and the unleashing of the English imagination.

More here-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/24/the-reformation-offers-a-good-lesson-for-brexit/

Church leaders seek to unite divided country

From The Church Times-

UNITY, hope, and generosity are the values needed to enable the country to emerge from the transition out of the EU “confident and successful”, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have said.

In a result that confounded last-minute expectations, 51.9 per cent of voters in the UK opted to leave the EU. The Archbishops joined other church leaders, many of whom had publicly expressed their intention to vote Remain, in calling for reconciliation.

“We must now unite in a common task to build a generous and forward-looking country, contributing to human flourishing around the world,” they said in a statement issued on Friday morning. “We must remain hospitable and compassionate, builders of bridges and not barriers.” [Full statement below].

People must support those from overseas who would now be feeling a “deep sense of insecurity” by offering “reassurance, by cherishing our wonderfully diverse society, and by affirming the unique contribution of each and every one”.

More here-

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2016/1-july/news/uk/church-leaders-seek-to-unite-divided-country

‘Britsburgh’ will celebrate Pittsburgh, British links

From Pittsburgh-

For six days this September, Pittsburgh is going to be transformed into “Britsburgh,” thanks to a group that wants to celebrate the many connections between Greater Pittsburgh and Great Britain.

The British-American Connections Pittsburgh, the former British-American Business Council, is hoping to make new connections, too, by offering Pittsburghers chances to eat British food, drink British beer and whisky, listen to British music and more.

As announced Thursday on its new website, bacpgh.com, the group plans to kick off Britsburgh, a “festival of Britain in Pittsburgh,” on Sept. 9, as Queen Elizabeth II overtakes Queen Victoria as Great Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. Festivities will run through Sept. 14, when the acclaimed Choir of Trinity College Cambridge is in town to perform at 5 p.m. at Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside (tickets are $25 and $40 via trinitycambridgepittsburgh.com).

More here-

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2015/07/17/Britsburgh-will-celebrate-Pittsburgh-British-links/stories/201507190020

C of E's pre-Election publication warns of lose-lose situations for many towns and cities

From The Church Times-

THE Prime Minister has issued a firm rebuttal of the picture of Britain painted by the Archbishop of Canterbury in which "many cities are left feeling abandoned and hopeless".

It is suggested by Archbishop Welby that entire regions of the country are trapped in an apparently inescapable economic downward spiral. He refers to "a tale of two cities", and argues that turning the tide will come only through a commitment to solidarity.

"The hard truth is that [many cities and towns where there is long-term decline] are in what appear to be lose-lose situations," he says. "Already in decline, the road towards recovery and growth is made even more difficult. . . As the south-east grows, many cities are left feeling abandoned and hopeless."

More here-

http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2015/16-january/news/uk/c-of-es-pre-election-publication-warns-of-lose-lose-situations-for-many-towns-and-cities