Tynedale Community Bank Conference this Friday 10-12 Beaumont Hotel - local savings, local loans

This Friday, at the Beaumont Hotel in Hexham, the Tynedale Community Bank is hosting its update conference. This will bring together members and supporters to receive an update on the progress that has been made since the bank’s official launch in November last year. We already have a lot of deposits, and will be describing both our progress so far and our plans for more loans and support locally. If you want financial advice and a loan then come along. 

The bank has been a key project for many of us locally who want to take on pay day lenders, and provide local loans at a good rate. I wanted a bank that was based in my community of Northumberland, serving my community here in Northumberland and whose profits went back to the community of Northumberland.

Officially opened by the Archbishop of York in November, the picture six months on is very encouraging. My hands now off the tiller, the Tynedale Community Bank is pushing on and wants to update all those interested on what the bank can offer you, and how it can serve the community. Tynedale Community Bank has a clear mission to help those in need, and deliver safe and stable community banking through affordable loans and secure savings.

Please do come along, 10:00 am on Friday, to find out more and see how you can support the bank that is helping others across Northumberland.

More information is also available on the website at: http://www.princebishopscommunitybank.org.uk/tynedale

Brilliant interview with Justin Welby on faith, Islam, the Lords Prayer + his support for action against Isil

http://new.spectator.co.uk/2015/12/the-tide-is-turning-in-this-country-justin-welby-interviewed/
If you want to read his speech from 2 weeks ago in the House of Lords on why he supports the attack on Isil in Syria read here:
http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/5648/archbishop-of-canterburys-speech-on-syria

Women Bishops and Assisted Dying see the Synod, Parliament and 2 Archbishops debating

Justin Welby is the greatest churchman I have ever met, and an outstanding Archbishop of Canterbury. When you meet him you are genuinely moved. If any Churchman has an aura he has it.
He has two very large issues to confront over the next week: I am strongly behind him on one [women bishops] and against him on the second [assisted dying].

- on Monday the Church of England General Synod debates the thorny issue of Women Bishops, with a great prospect of success at last. I am in no doubt that the presence of female vicars has re galvanised the Anglican faith. I see it regularly both in the churches in Tynedale and daily in the House of Commons, where our vicar is female. The Rev Rose Hudson Wilkin has made a huge difference in parliament. My strong hope is that the Synod will change their view on women bishops.

- on Friday the House of Lords begins the debate on the Assisted Dying Bill. I am told there are over 100 speakers in their Lordships debate. This means they will debate through the night. Justin Welby has made his position clear in today's Times. I also have to acknowledge that this Bill is highly unlikely to succeed in parliament, until one of the political parties has the courage to back it. Single member or Private Member Bills rarely ever pass as they are blocked, are subject to lengthy filibuster or talked out.

However, Saturday's announcement by former Archbishop Carey is a true ground breaker: put simply, Carey has changed his mind. His views are in all the papers - he argues that it is not true Christianity to ignore agony and suffering. As he puts it:
"In strictly observing the sanctity of life the church could now actually be sanctioning anguish and pain, the very opposite of the Christian message of hope."
For those who oppose this Bill I would urge you to read it before coming to a judgement.
The BBC report is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28274531

My speeches and blogs on this issue are easily found: the House of Commons last debated this issue in March 2012: the debate moved me immensely. Read the speech of Paul Blomfield, who is a Sheffield Labour MP, and friend and colleague of mine: his is an amazing speech. Mine is here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2012-03-27a.1373.0&s=%28%28assisted+suicide%29%29+speaker%3A24962#g1432.1

Bishop Graham Usher's Consecration at St Pauls - a special and truly spiritual day

Northumberland came to St Pauls and helped consecrate their friend and canon as the new Bishop of Dudley. How does one start to describe the day? It began with a celebration of old friends and parishioners descending on to the bustling metropolis that surrounds St Pauls Cathedral. As I parked my bicycle, having cycled from the House of Commons, London thronged around this wonderful Cathedral, as the multitudes went to work. Inside was calm and wonder at Wren's masterpiece of architecture and design. And then began the procession: I have been to the state opening of parliament and other ceremonial occasions and this surpassed all I have seen. The list bears repeating - a virger, the crucifer and acolytes, ostiarius, the prolocutor and deputy prolocutor and registrar of the House of Canterbury, the Bishop Designate [Graham!], The Presenting Bishops, The College of Bishops, The Dean's Virger, The Chapter of St Pauls, A Virger, The Bishops of Winchester and London, The principal Registrar, Another Virger, The sub Deacon, the Deacon, The Primatial Cross of Canterbury, and finally the Archbishop of Canterbury. It was quite a procession!

   

They entered as we all sung "Praise my soul the King of Heaven". Two things struck me immediately. Firstly, Graham is much younger than most of his fellow Bishops. Secondly, the acoustics in St Pauls are breathtaking. After every verse the sound lingered on for at least a second, echoing softly around the hallowed space. I have never heard such a sound in a church before. 

This blog could not describe each and every event of the near 1 and 3/4 hour ceremony but certain highlights stood out:

- We were treated to a wonderful sermon by our own Reverend Canon Dr Dagmar Winter, of Kirkwhelpington and the villages around. Her clear strong voice and the wisdom of her words moved one and all - certainly I noted Archbishop Justin listening attentively.

- But what was most moving is the actual Ordination Prayer, where all the Bishops gather around their brother Bishop, called the Ordinand, and

"lay their hands on the head of the Ordinand as the Archbishop says: "Send down the Holy Spirit on your servant Graham for the office and work of a Bishop in your Church."" I had no idea that this was the process of Ordination and that all the other Bishops were so involved. It was very moving.

- Then followed a Communion that was a logisitical masterpiece, with multiple Communion Assistants fanning out around St Pauls, so that one could look around and see Communion being given at all points of the compass within the Cathedral. I was by chance asked to process up the main aisle and toom Communion from the Archbishop.

- And finally we observed the Archbishop's procession exit the Cathedral as we sung "Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord". Again the sound was incredible.

And then we were all outside. Dozens waited to greet, congratulate, and chat to the new Bishop who was smiling, and only mildly over awed by the magnitude of what had taken place.

    

There is a great moment in Shakespeare's Henry V when the king has to describe Agincourt, and his desire to share the moment with his comrades in arms: he replies - "God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour". All of us who were there on Tuesday March 25th 2014 shared this honour. We lost a Canon, as he went on to higher things. But we wished him well. If all of us could have laid our arms upon him - as the Bishops so memorably did - then we would all have done so. The Church and the people of Dudley and Worcestershire are wise in their choice, and lucky souls. We, in Northumberland, are lucky to have known this great and truly spiritual man.