Monthly Archive April 2021

Empty stage leaves entertainment industry ‘in meltdown’

Artistes and performers from the West End and across the UK have created a special video helping us pray for the arts and entertainment industry.

‘After the devastating effect that Covid-19 has had on our industry, the weekend of the BAFTA Awards (April 11) presented us with a welcome reminder that we need prayer more than ever!” said Chris Gidney, director of Christians in Entertainment. ‘As a commercial producer, writer and performer myself, I know how pressurised working in the business can be at the best of times but this year’s pandemic has caused huge destruction on people’s health, careers and creativeness – and we are still not sure when it will all get back to some sort of “normal”. 

‘Some commentators in the media have suggested the entertainment business is in meltdown. This may be over dramatic but the crisis has certainly enabled people to see that showbiz is not all glitz and glamour and millionaire celebrities.’

The short video – created by Christians in Entertainment, Theatre Chaplaincy UK, the Arts Centre Group (celebrating 50 years in 2021) and The Catholic Association for Performing Arts – features performers, artists and creators presenting a prayer which can be watched here.

Our next exhibitions

The secret is neat and discreet

Looking to enter the age of streaming in a traditional place of worship? ICS Furniture may have the perfect and subtle answer.

St Paul’s, Slough, is located just north of the town centre and was built more than 100 years ago. Of traditional high Anglican style, it is faced internally and externally with stunning red brick and stone columns.

‘By creating a new main entrance in the south wall of the side chapel, the chapel and chancel has become a new foyer and hub for the building,’ explained Martha Clancy, market development manager at ICS. ‘The nave remains as the worship space with a new dais and seating. This creates more usable space and a better organised building.’

Designed by fellow CRE exhibitors JBKS Architects of Oxfordshire, the traditional church pews were replaced with the ICON 40 chairs (main picture) from ICS Furniture. The chair answered the need to create a more usable space. The intentional mixture of chairs with cross carvings and plain backs adds a further style dimension to the project.

And ICS also designed and crafted a discreet, eye-friendly sound desk (pictured above) to house the equipment required during services and events –a much-needed resource in this new age of services streamed live on the Internet.

ICS Furniture and JBKS Architects are exhibiting at CRE National (12-14 October 2021, Sandown Park, Surrey)

Our next exhibitions

Pray through May for young people in search of hope

A new poll has found a rise in spiritual openness among young people during the pandemic.

The survey, conducted by Savanta ComRes and commissioned by YourNeighbour, found that more than two in five 18 to 34-year-olds in the UK have prayed more often since the start of the pandemic and that one in three have read the Bible more often. The study involved 2,065 respondents and was conducted as part of the YourNeighbour Give Hope campaign running throughout Lent. 

Dr Russell Rook, the co-founder of YourNeighbour, told Premier Radio: ‘Two in five young people have been praying more, 31 per cent have looked in the Bible to see if there’s some useful advice and guidance there. More than one in four have tried out church online. Maybe they wouldn’t have gone to the church at the end of the road but felt they could do it on their laptop, phone or iPad.’

In May, Youth for Christ are hosting a month of prayer for young people, called Pray Through May. 

‘The month will be constructed around a prompt word that changes each day and forms the basis for asking the Holy Spirit to guide us in prayer,’ said Bethan Lawler, YFC’s national prayer coordinator. ‘You will also receive a short, helpful devotional and video for further inspiration.’

National Prayer Day, an online event on the 30 April from 10am to 2pm, will kickstart the initiative with several contributors, including many from YFC’s local centres, along with Mike Andrea from 24-7 Prayer and Canon J. John.

Click here to find out more about YFC’s Pray Through May.

Our next exhibitions