Priests in poverty: College is ‘life-saver’ for Fr Barry
Poverty among clergy may not be as big a scandal it was in the 1890s but the College of St. Barnabas is still vital to people like Fr Barry Thorley.
The college was founded by former missionary Canon William Cooper who described himself as ‘a broken man’ from the physical hardships he endured during his ministry in the Australian outback and wilderness of Canada. Back in Britain, he came across other former missionaries and older clergy living in abject poverty and ill-health, most notably in the Brighton Workhouse, and he determined to do something to alleviate their suffering.
This year marks the 125th anniversary of the founding of the college and Fr Barry Thorley (pictured), a current resident, said: ‘St Barnabas has been a life-saver. I’m no good at trowelling sentiment but it’s hard to exaggerate how much this place means to me.’
Poverty among today’s clergy means the college is still fulfilling its original mission and no-one eligible is ever turned away for lack of means. There is, for example, no requirement that a prospective resident must be in receipt of a Church of England pension. Financially independent of the Church of England, and pre-dating Church of England Pensions Board Homes, the college has an absolute capacity of 63, of which 28 are nursing wing beds – for which there is constant demand.
‘Our independence means we have to actively raise funds to achieve our charitable aims and objectives and our 125th anniversary gives a great opportunity both to increase awareness of the college and bring in some cash,’ said Mike Herbert, head of fundraising. ‘A number of events are being planned throughout 2020 to mark this impressive milestone.’
Mike is leading by example and doing a 125km sponsored walk from Gravesend to Eastbourne at the end of March, while another member of the staff will cycle 125 miles along the Pilgrim’s Way later in the year.
‘The college does a great job helping vulnerable elderly people in need,’ he said. ‘Continuing demand means our help in needed as much now as in Cooper’s day.’
• The College of St. Barnabas is on stand D1 at CRE Midlands 2020
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Home soggy home: 100 set for cardboard ‘sleep out’
Around 100 people are set to spend a night out in a cardboard box – to raise funds for the work of Birmingham City Mission (BCM). The Sleepout will take place in BCM’s HQ car park in Birmingham on Fri 28 Feb.
‘We have all seen it on our streets – homelessness, addiction and loneliness,’ said BCM’s Hannah Noble. ‘Rough sleepers huddled in doorways, soggy cardboard boxes and discarded beer cans. It’s no surprise there has been a renewed focus on homelessness in our politics and media.’
On any given night there are currently up to 5,000 rough sleepers in England, according to Shelter’s latest statistics – double the number of 2010. Last year a 31-year-old homeless man, Kane Walker, died in an underpass in Birmingham’s city centre. His death put a national spotlight on the average life expectancy of homeless people in the UK – 45 years for men, 43 for women.
Since it began in 1966 Birmingham City Mission, an exhibitor at CRE Midlands, has sought to help the city’s homeless. Its care centre now provides food, activities and support to around 200 homeless and marginalised people each year, many struggling with addiction and mental health problems. For them, the centre is ‘trust, safe, support, friends, my family.’ Through building relationships, giving practical help and sharing the Christian message, the care centre offers hope and a chance for guests to move on in their lives.
‘Homelessness is real but there are solutions,’ said care centre manager Steve Bagnall. ‘Not every situation is solved, but overall there is more success than not and we value your prayers for our guests.’
A Sleepout information and registration form can be found here.
• Birmingham City Mission are on stand F21at CRE Midlands 2020
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Budget for blessing: keep your financial dreams afloat
More than £100,000-worth of consultancy packages will be available to churches and other not-for-profit organisations at CRE Midlands.
Action Planning, a leading multi-disciplinary consultancy serving the not-for-profit sector, is giving away the services to mark its 30th anniversary. Under the title Pearls of Wisdom, 56 separate consultancy packages are available, with an average market value of £2,000, ranging from governance reviews to board awaydays, income generation workshops to branding reviews and HR support to executive life coaching.
The services will be provided free of charge by 39 of Action Planning’s community of expert consultants.
‘Many not-for-profits are in a position where they would benefit hugely from outside support but don’t have the budget,’ said Action Planning chair David Saint, who will speak at CRE Midlands on Raising funds for capital projects in your church (12pm, Wed 4 Mar). ‘This is an opportunity to put budgetary considerations to one side and access expertise that could transform your organisation for good.
‘After 30 years of serving the not-for-profit sector, we wanted to do something to capture the imagination and delivered genuine value. We’ve been able to do this because of the structure of Action Planning. The community of expert consultants we’ve gathered together delivers breadth and depth of expertise.’
Pearls of Wisdom packages will be delivered throughout 2020 and eligible organisations will have until 16th March to apply. The offer is aimed at not-for-profit organisations with an annual income of at least £200,000 in the last financial year, and/or at least two full-time equivalent paid staff members in post. Full eligibility criteria, along with application instructions, can be found on the Pearls of Wisdom website.
• Action Planning are on stand P66 at CRE Midlands
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Post-Brexit: Andy pens worship song calling us to be reconciled
A song that encourages churches to build unity in post-Brexit Britain has been written and recorded by CRE contributor Andy Flannagan.
‘Reconciled highlights the need for repentance and intentional, bold relationship building with our neighbours,’ said Andy. ‘I hope it will be sung by many churches and be a useful tool as church leaders work out how to challenge their people to be prayerfully and politically involved in our nation.’
Andy, director of Christians in Politics, spoke on Brexit at CRE North in Manchester last March.
‘It is very easy to feel paralysed by both the complexity and toxicity of the issues surrounding it all,’ he said. ‘We may feel as if we are sliding towards chaos but we follow a God who since the dawn of time has brought order from chaos. It shouldn’t scare us. If you think we are in chaotic times, try living in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar!’
Order emerges from chaos through restored relationships, believes Andy.
‘The cross sits at the centre of history because it makes possible the reconciliation between us and God and between us and those who may not feel like “us” anymore,’ he said. ‘There is currently a real danger of a cultural divide becoming a chasm. We need to build relationships across divides.’
Reconciled can be heard on YouTube and the chord sheets and lyrics can be downloaded from andyflan.com
Pic © Virginia Lattul
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