The new Lambeth Palace Library (see photo) has welcomed new books on the environment following a donation.David Shreeve, who has previously been awarded an honourary Lambeth Degree for his work on the environment and worked for the Church of England for several years, gave a donation of almost 40 books. Graham Usher, the Bishop of Norwich and lead bishop for the environment, welcomed the donation. He said: “I am delighted that the Lambeth Palace Library wants to reflect within its collection the engagement of Anglicans with environmental issues, from the story of Anglican priest naturalists to those writing from the context of today’s climate and biodiversity crises.” Books accepted into the public library’s collection include the 1883 “Natural History of the Bible” by the ordained naturalist HB Tristram, and the 1893 “Teachings of Nature” by Hugh Macmillan.Giles Mandelbrote, librarian and archivist of Lambeth Palace Library said: “Lambeth Palace Library aims to document through its collections all the major challenges which have faced the Church in the past and in years to come. “We welcome these new books to the collection at a time when the library’s new building is raising its public profile and improving public access to its collections.”The books will be available to view and read from the reading room. More information on accessing the library’s collection is available online.Lambeth Palace library is open to the public.
Newly-appointed team vicar Fr Sam Rossiter-Peters was asked about the Christian faith by bakery worker Catherine after he went into Greggs for a sandwich following his first Sunday services as a Team Vicar.On his second visit just before Christmas, Catherine asked him about the possibility of being baptised.“She said ‘It is amazing you have come in because I want to ask you whether I can be baptised.“I have a close friend who was recently baptised and she sent me the video and it looked like a really moving experience.’ “Since their conversation, Catherine has joined a regular weekday morning Eucharist service at St John the Baptist Church, Barnet, north London, where Fr Sam is Team Vicar and was baptised there this month.Fr Sam said: “Catherine told me that she had felt for a long while that God was calling her – at the moment that she was thinking about all this, I happened to come into her shop – wearing my dog collar – and this felt like a sign to her.“Catherine is an inspirational person and she has had a huge impact on our morning Eucharist community. I was only licensed as Team Vicar at the church in November. Her story has really inspired my faith.”
The proposal would give the worldwide Anglican Communion a greater voice on the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) for the See of Canterbury. At present the entire Communion outside of England is represented by just one of the current 16 voting members, compared to six from the Diocese of Canterbury alone. The proposal would increase the Anglican Communion representatives to five while reducing the number of members from the Diocese to three. As at present, there would also be nine other members from the Church of England, including six elected by General Synod. The idea originated from the Diocese of Canterbury itself where the Diocesan Synod agreed a motion asking the Archbishops’ Council to consider decreasing the representation of the Diocese of Canterbury on future CNCs for the See of Canterbury. The consultation, which will include key partners from across the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, will run until March 31. Responses will be collated in the spring with an expectation of a final proposal being put to the General Synod for a vote in July. If approved it would change the Synod’s standing orders, which govern CNCs. The General Synod, as part of the consultation, will also debate the proposal within the consultation document at its next meeting next month.
Archbishop Justin Welby has visited Nansledan, the community development pioneered by HRH The Prince of Wales on Duchy of Cornwall land at Newquay in Cornwall, to look at examples of best practice in housing. This follows the publication last year of the landmark ‘Coming Home’ report on the housing crisis, commissioned by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. During his visit, the Archbishop saw Newquay Community Orchard, where he heard about their environmental education and social impact programmes, before touring Nansledan and The Hub, a Methodist community space for activities including a faith-based youth group. The Archbishop also visited Pras Trewolek, local Duchy-owned farmland which has been transformed into wildflower meadows and wetland areas now managed for biodiversity and for the local community to enjoy. In February 2021, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York published ‘Coming Home: Tackling the Housing Crisis Together’. The report urged the Church of England to lead by example, including delivering more truly affordable homes on its own land. The report called for a collective effort at all levels of society including Government, local authorities, landowners and property developers as well as the Church is needed to help tackle the housing crisis. It said good housing should be sustainable, safe, stable, sociable and satisfying. This work is now embedded within a team led by a new Bishop for Housing, the Bishop of Chelmsford Guli-Francis Dehqani, as part of the Church’s commitment to using its land well and building strong communities. Archbishop Justin Welby said: “It’s been wonderful to visit Nansledan today and see not just new housing, but homes that provide jobs, build strong community and work in harmony with the natural environment. I’m deeply impressed by the work the Duchy of Cornwall have achieved, their engagement with the local community and commitment to biodiversity.“The necessity of staying at home during the Covid-19 pandemic has shown us just how important our homes are to our lives. Where we live is so vital to our health, wellbeing, opportunities and flourishing. Following the publication of the ‘Coming Home: Tackling the Housing Crisis Together’ report last year, I hope the Church can be inspired by what’s been achieved at Nansledan - and use its land and resources to build homes that encourage neighbourliness, commitment to place and sustainable futures.“It is the poorest and most marginalised people who are suffering the burden of our housing crisis. That will only change if we take collective responsibility and action. My prayer is that together we reclaim the very purpose of housing – as the basis for community, and a foundation for human flourishing.’Nick Pollock, Head of Planning for the Duchy of Cornwall and executive team lead for the Archbishop’s initiatives on housing and community, said: “Nansledan is an example of how the Duchy of Cornwall is using its land to create a sustainable and inclusive community for social and environmental benefit. By embracing sustainable land stewardship, major landowners like the Duchy of Cornwall and the Church of England can play a vital role in delivering the vision outlined in the ‘Coming Home’ report.”Ben Murphy, Estate Director at the Duchy of Cornwall, added: “We were delighted to welcome Archbishop Justin and show him the strength of community at Nansledan and the role landowners can play in building mixed use, mixed income communities that meet local housing need, create jobs and help improve people’s quality of life and opportunities. We hope that what we are learning at Nansledan and at other Duchy of Cornwall developments can inform the housing debate in the UK and help create vibrant and inclusive communities.”
