CAP warns of fear of turning on the heating
THE Government should use the forthcoming Budget to provide urgent support to ensure that households with energy arrears are not “terrified” of turning on the heating this winter, the charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has warned. Its chief executive, Stewart McCulloch, said: “Energy costs are one of our clients’ biggest fears, and this month’s price rise is another huge blow to people who already can’t afford their electricity and gas.” CAP recommends the introduction of an energy-support scheme to include writing off bills for households that have no prospect of paying off debts; reducing debt-deduction rates from benefits; and reviewing the rate of social security and the minimum wage.
Extend Listed Places of Worship scheme, urges NCT
THE chair of the National Churches Trust, Sir Philip Rutnam, has written to the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, urging the Government to extend the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which is due to expire on 31 March 2025. Under the terms of the scheme, established in 2001, VAT on eligible repairs or alterations costing more than £1000 to a listed place of worship can be reclaimed. In its letter to Ms Reeves, dated 4 October, the charity says that the cost of the scheme is “typically £25-40 million a year”. “But its strategic significance goes far beyond this — I would urge the Government to renew the scheme for a further three years as a consequence.” Sir Philip wrote a letter to The Times this week, which he posted on X. The Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, replied: “I agree, and will continue to press this point in Westminster.”
Vicar sentenced for child-sex offences
THE Vicar of All Saints’, Stoneycroft, in Liverpool diocese, the Revd Andrew James Howard Leatherbarrow, who is 56, has been given a 12-month suspended prison sentence and 30 days of rehabilitation, at Liverpool Crown Court, on Monday, after he pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child (News, 6 September). He was charged for the offences last year. Mr Leatherbarrow, of Saints Close, Old Swan, Liverpool, was suspended after his arrest in February 2023. On Wednesday, a diocesan spokesperson said that Mr Leatherbarrow would be “subject to an internal disciplinary from the Church of England which is likely to conclude quite swiftly. He has already resigned from his post at All Saints’ Church, Stoneycroft, and no longer resides at the vicarage.” The Bishop of Liverpool, Dr John Perumbalath, welcomed the sentence and confirmed that he would be accepting Mr Leatherbarrow’s resignation.
Bill for women Lords Spiritual unamended
THE Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill has been waved through its Committee and Report Stage with no amendments tabled. Its Third Reading was on Tuesday. The Bill will extend rules that ensure that vacant seats on the Bishops’ Bench are filled by women bishops if an eligible female diocesan bishop is available (News, 2 August). There are exceptions for the five sees — Canterbury, York, London, Durham, and Winchester — that carry an automatic entitlement to a seat in the Lords. In accordance with the Bishoprics Act of 1878, the remaining 21 seats would usually be filled on the basis of seniority, the length of tenure. Six women bishops have been enabled to sit in the Lords since the 2015 Act came into force (News, 23 January 2015). The original legislation is due to expire in May 2025; the proposed extension is to May 2030.
Show-and-tell bomb scare at St Paul’s, Withington
A SHOW-AND-TELL coffee morning at St Paul’s, Withington, in Manchester, on Wednesday of last week, became the scene of a bomb scare, after a visitor brought in explosive devices believed to be shells from the First World War. Organisers called the local fire station for advice, police bomb-disposal experts were brought in, and traffic was diverted around a 25-metre cordon around the church. One of the church’s curates, the Revd Cate Allison, told the BBC that the situation had been “handled safely” — the devices were taken away and destroyed in a controlled environment. The Bishop of Manchester, Dr David Walker, posted on X: “Fortunately, bomb disposal does not fall under Clergy duties, but Cate showed how speaking calmly into a tense situation, and thanking the experts who dealt with the issue does.”
Route to family reunion for child refugees ‘prohibitive’
THE sustained interest in the Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill “should tell us something: that the current route to family reunion is unduly restrictive and prohibitive”, the Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Pete Wilcox, said during its Second Reading in the House of Lords, last Friday. Government data showed that there were more than 7000 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the care of local authorities in the UK in 2023, of whom 141 were in his diocese. “Despite the best efforts of dedicated professionals and public agencies, the care system is simply not the right place to house children, least of all children seeking asylum. It is deeply regrettable that so many are in care when they have family members only too willing to come and look after them — if the family reunion routes only made that possible.” He concluded: “Of course borders need to be managed. The strains on host communities are real, and we should not minimise or overlook them. Resources are needed to help host communities and incomers to live with dignity side by side and integrate well. However, the reality is that families can be separated on their journeys to safety, and we strengthen communities when we strengthen families.” The Bill, from Lib-Dem peer Baroness Hamwee, moves to Committee Stage.
Lake District solar-panel appeal dismissed
THE Planning Inspectorate has dismissed an appeal to install 28 solar panels on the roof of St Anne’s, Ings, despite a faculty granted this year by the Consistory Court of the diocese of Carlisle (News, 7 June). St Anne’s is a Grade II* listed Georgian church built in 1743. Last November, the Lake District National Park Authority, the local planning authority, had refused planning consent. Normally, this would make the pursuit of a faculty redundant; but the petitioners, two churchwardens and a PCC member, intended to appeal. This appeal was rejected. A report from the Local Democracy Reporting Service this week acknowledged the intention to improve the “long-term financial and environmental sustainability” of the church but “identified harm to the significance of this important listed building”.
Carlisle Cathedral marks Safeguarding Season
Correction: the Revd Dr Callan was elected as the new chair of Church Together in England by CTE members represented on its Enabling Group, not, as we incorrectly stated in a news in brief last week, by the trustees. We apologise for the error.