Roman Catholic priest imprisoned for
protests
A ROMAN Catholic priest who was fined £565 for his involvement
in anti-war protests has been sent to prison for 28 days for
refusing the pay the fines. Fr Martin Newell, a member of the
Passionist Order, told Westminster Magistrates' Court that he would
not pay the fines as an act of "conscientious objection". On Ash
Wednesday, Fr Newell wrote pacifist slogans in ash on the Ministry
of Defence's building in London, but was not arrested.
Airgun pellet teacher reinstated
A PHYSICS teacher at a Church of England academy who was sacked
after an experiment with an airgun went wrong has been re-hired.
Richard West, from St Peter's Collegiate School, Wolverhampton, was
fired for misconduct in January, after a pupil's leg was grazed by
a pellet from an airgun during an experiment (News, 7
February). Sixth-formers at the school campaigned for his
reinstatement, which has now been confirmed following a governors'
appeals committee meeting.
New Dean for Ripon Cathedral
THE new Dean of Ripon will be the Revd Canon John Dobson, it has
been announced. Canon Dobson (right) is currently Vicar of
Blackwell All Saints and Salutation, and Priest-in-Charge of
Coniscliffe, in the diocese of Durham. He was brought up near
Leeds, and studied theology at Durham University before training
for ministry at Ripon College, Cuddesdon.
Next Moderator stands down
THE man selected to be the next Moderator of the General
Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Revd Dr Angus Morrison, has
stood down after medical advice. In a statement, the Church said
that Dr Morrison was undergoing treatment for an unspecified
illness and could not give the position his full attention. He was
due to take up the annual post in May (News, 8 November). A new
Moderator-Designate will be announced next month.
York's new Archdeacon for Generous Giving
THE Archbishop of York has announced the identity of York
Minster's Archdeacon for Generous Giving and Stewardship. The post
has been given to the Archdeacon of the East Riding, the Ven. David
Butterfield, and he will also become a Residentiary Canon of York
Minster. The job primarily involves supporting churches across the
diocese in their financial giving.
Requiem for the hungry at Southwell
A SERVICE in memory of those who have died because of hunger or
cold this year will be held at Southwell Minster next week. During
the service on 24 March, prayers will be offered for the End Hunger
Fast campaign and a collection taken for churches tackling the
problem of food poverty.
Junior champ: Omkaar Divekar, the winner of this year's Prayer
Book Society's Cranmer Award for juniors. Omkaar, in Year 9 at the
Judd School in Tonbridge, Kent, won his section of the competition
by reciting from memory sections of the Book of Common Prayer. He
was representing the Rochester branch of the Society at the
competition on 6 March
