‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without even knowing it’ Hebrews 13.1The crisis in Ukraine has once again reminded us of the needs of the many people who are displaced across the world, unable to stay in their homes for fear of war, torture, famine, persecution or the lack of basic human rights.Through the Homes for Ukraine scheme there are many Ukrainians now living with host families across the diocese. Several parishes and areas have set up hubs for Ukrainians and hosts to meet and chat. There are very many more Ukrainians than we have homes for, so if you know of anyone who would consider being a host, please let us know diane.peters@cofeguildford.org.uk Refugees are not just coming from Ukraine - The Community Sponsorship programme welcomes refugees from refugee camps into the UK. Several families from a variety of nationalities have come into Surrey by this route. Sponsor groups take responsibility for the refugee family for two years, ensuring they have a home in an independent property and helping them to resettle here. It is great that a group from the Roman Catholic Refugee support group in Guildford have linked with the Mission Group in the Anglican parish of Shere, alongside the Refugee Support Adviser in the diocese to bring in a new refugee family. What a privilege to have these new families join us; do let us know if you would like more details of this scheme.The new Nationality and Borders Act is a source of concern for many of us, especially the outsourcing of people seeking asylum. Many bishops, including Bishop Andrew, have signed a letter of concern about these new plans.This diocese now has several bridging hotels for people seeking asylum. These can be places of great need and it is with gratitude that we welcome the good neighbourliness and support of local churches and voluntary groups.This year Refugee Tales are walking from Merstham to Winchester from July 2nd to 6th and will be walking through Guildford Diocese. Day 2 takes them from Dorking to Guildford with an evening event in Holy Trinity Church, Guildford with Prologue of the Time Traveller’s Tale by Shami Chakrabarti. Day 3 is going from Guildford to Farnham with an evening event at Farnham Maltings hosted by Niamh Cusack. https://www.refugeetales.org/the-walk-of-2022-1
A team of dedicated sports ambassadors in the diocese continue to make the important connection between community sport events and faith.Set up in 2018, the team headed by the Revd John McCabe, Rector of Byfleet, are working quietly behind the scenes using sport to connect with the wider community. And it’s been growing. The team all have sporting background, and two are in the Archbishop’s FC XI who defeated a team from the Times Newspaper at Meadowbank Stadium, Dorking Stadium recently..Now the Sports Ministry Team have a challenge for us all.On Saturday 17th September they want to empower local church communities to ‘staff up’ their local Park Run with all the volunteers needed to enable the community run to take place.Park Run is a national charity which stages over a thousand free five kilometre (3.2 miles) runs in open spaces and parks across the country every Saturday.John, a World Championship standard, Biathle and Triathle competitor, has been a regular volunteer at the Byfleet event. Once the runners and walkers have completed the course, personalised bar codes are scanned to record times. Each code has a name and so John has taken the opportunity, while scanning, of offering blessing to those taking part. “Each one is named,” he says. “So, I can say, ‘Mark a blessing upon you, a blessing on your day and a blessing on your running.’” Runners have told John they choose his lane for scanning because they like to receive the blessing.“This is something that we can do all over the country,” he says. “It’s really fun, and a privilege to bless people.”So, start pulling your church team together for September 17th.
Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell arrived at Holy Island off the coast of Northumbria today having walked St Cuthbert’s Way, setting off from Melrose last Monday. As he journeyed along the route he was praying for the renewal of God’s Church in the North. The week long pilgrimage ended with a celebration of the Eucharist in the parish church of St Mary’s, which stands on the site of the original monastery founded by Aidan. He said, “We all know that life is a journey. Faith can teach us that this journey can be a holy pilgrimage where we can encounter God and which leads ultimately to eternal life with him."This week I have been privileged to take some time out of my busy life to slow down, think and look at what is around me in this incredibly beautiful world that God has made and to enjoy journeying at a different pace. I think one of the reasons we go on pilgrimage is to learn how to be slow, to give space and time for thought and reflection, and walking the 62 miles of St Cuthbert’s Way has once again enabled me to do this. The scenery has been stunning, the weather kind, and the welcome and hospitality I’ve encountered has been warm and encouraging. I have been praying for the Church in the North that we may be holy, that people may see Jesus Christ within us as we reach out in love and service to our neighbours, sharing the good news that life with Jesus brings wholeness and peace.”Archbishop Stephen is a keen advocate of pilgrimages and has walked the Camino to Santiago de Compostela in Spain twice, as well as walking to places in England including Walsingham, Canterbury, Durham and York.
The Church Commissioners for England has learned from research it commissioned that Queen Anne’s Bounty, a predecessor fund of the Church Commissioners’ £10.1 billion endowment, had links with transatlantic chattel slavery. The Church Commissioners is deeply sorry for its predecessor fund’s links with transatlantic chattel slavery. In the 18th century, Queen Anne’s Bounty invested significant amounts of its funds in the South Sea Company, a company that traded in enslaved people. It also received numerous benefactions, many of which are likely to have come from individuals linked to, or who profited from, transatlantic chattel slavery or the plantation economy. The Church Commissioners in 2019 decided to conduct research into the source of its endowment fund to gain an improved understanding of its history. It worked with forensic accountants to review early ledgers and other original source documents from Queen Anne’s Bounty. That research is now complete, and a final report of the findings will be published later this year. The Church Commissioners is forming a group to consider the research and how to respond to these findings. Further information will be shared in due course. The Bishop of Birmingham, the Right Reverend David Urquhart, a member of the Church Commissioners Board and chair of the group that had oversight of the research, said: “The Church Commissioners is deeply sorry for its predecessor fund’s links with transatlantic chattel slavery. The Church Commissioners aims to be transparent about its history and we will use this knowledge to ensure we are at the forefront of responsible investment globally. Alongside this work to consider our past, we continue to lobby for change in the companies in which we invest today and call for those companies to champion human rights within their supply chains. Through our policy of advocating ‘respect for people’, we aim to create a fairer world today in which all of God’s children can flourish.” The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, who is also Chair of the Church Commissioners, said:“I am deeply sorry for the links with transatlantic chattel slavery that the Church Commissioners has identified. This abominable trade took men, women and children created in God’s image and stripped them of their dignity and freedom. The fact that some within the Church actively supported and profited from it is a source of shame. It is only by facing this painful reality that we can take steps towards genuine healing and reconciliation – the path that Jesus Christ calls us to walk. This is a moment for lament, repentance and restorative action. I pray for those affected by this news and hope that we may work together to discern a new way forward.”
