Monthly Archive August 2021

ByDave Hall

Taste & See gets to the root of eating guilt

The lives of a lot of people in our churches are secretly ruled by food.

So says Professor Deborah Lycett (pictured below) of Taste & See, a unique blend of fact and faith helping to bring freedom to lives ruled by food, dieting and emotional eating. 

‘Many of us feel guilty and ashamed whenever we eat or step on the scales,’ said Deborah, who teaches in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Coventry University. ‘This unhappiness makes them want to eat more and they find themselves in an endless cycle of dieting, overeating and feeling miserable. But God wants to set them free! He wants them to taste and see that he is good and that food is good, too!’

Deborah Lycett
Professor Deborah Lycett

Designed with and for churches and developed out of research at the university, Taste & See is a 10-session audio-video, small-group programme that anyone can run! 

‘The programme is not about dieting but learning to eat in response to our body’s natural signals of hunger and fullness, rather than in response to our emotions and what we see or smell!’ said Deborah. ‘The Christian principles of love, acceptance and freedom with responsibility fit well with this and are included in the programme.’

Scientific evidence suggests that for many people, diets are unsustainable in the long-term and yo-yo dieting is associated with a sense of failure which impacts on quality of life. Evidence also suggests that programmes which help us to become spiritually healthy, as well as physically and emotionally healthy, may play an important role in helping with eating or weight problems.

‘Lots of the evidence so far comes from America,’ said Deborah. ‘We want to find out whether this type of programme could potentially be helpful to people in the UK.

• Taste & See are on stand E8 at CRE National 2021

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey

CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter

CRE News

Click here for CRE News

Your new 60-page products and services guide. Nothing beats reading it!

ByDave Hall

Former Archbishop to launch second instalment of memoirs at CRE National

In a memoir which pulls no punches, Rt Hon George Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury, reflects on nearly two decades of ministry post-retirement.

Lord Carey was the first former Archbishop of Canterbury to write an autobiography and has now written a second. The Truth Will Set You Free takes up the story from his retirement to the current day while revisiting key lessons learned throughout his life.

In the book, published by the Barnabas Fund, Carey reflects on aspects of leadership, overseas development, education and mission. He also writes honestly about how, in his 80s, the Bishop Peter Ball scandal came back to haunt him when his permission to officiate was suspended not once but twice.

He launches The Truth Will Set You Free at CRE National 2021 on Thu 14 Oct (11am, Daniel’s Bar) in an event open to all visitors to the exhibition.

• The Barnabas Fund are on stand C5 at CRE National 2021

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey

CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter

CRE News

Click here for CRE News

Your new 60-page products and services guide. Nothing beats reading it!

ByDave Hall

Bryn heads to CRE with God on his slide

A guitar maestro with a message has collaborated in lockdown with some of the world’s best musicians for his new album – and visitors to CRE National 2021 are invited to its launch (3pm, Thu 14 Oct).

Ready or Not will be released by Bryn Haworth on his own label, BMH Music. Quoting Martin Luther, Bryn said: ‘“If I knew the world would end tomorrow I would still plant new apple trees today.” God put us here to live life to the full in the light of his coming, and to care for his creation – let’s get ready!’ 

Over the years, the slide guitar specialist has appeared on bills with Led Zeppelin, Jefferson Airplane, Taj Mahal and others and recorded sessions with Chris de Burgh, Joan Armatrading, Cliff Richard and the late Gerry Rafferty amongst others. He has made numerous radio and TV appearances, including the Old Grey Whistle Test, as well as touring extensively with Traffic, Bad Company, Gallagher & Lyle and Fairport Convention.

In 1974 Bryn and his wife Sally became Christians and this powerful experience brought a strong gospel influence into his music. Between 1988 and 1992, Bryn was on staff at the Southwest London Vineyard Church developing worship teams and setting up a prison ministry.  He now spends 75 per cent of his time taking his music into prisons around the country, as well as performing concerts in a wide variety of venues.

• See Bryn Haworth in concert – 3pm Thu 14 Oct at CRE National 2021

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey

CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter

CRE News

Click here for CRE News

Your new 60-page products and services guide. Nothing beats reading it!

ByDave Hall

The West Country firm that’s cooking on gas

A brainwave years ago might well have earned Fuller’s Finer Furniture yet another coveted award. 

The company from Weston Super Mare is Bespoke Furniture Specialist of the Year 2020-2021, awarded by the South-West England Prestige Awards. The judges commended the ‘dedicated designers and manufacturers for providing a personal comprehensive and high-quality service.’ But Paul Fuller, who founded the firm in 1985, had no idea which company nominated him for the award. 

‘They didn’t even tell us at the award ceremony!’ he said. ‘A clue might be that they specifically praised our gas height adjustable Canterbury and York lectern.’

The design for that came when the company saw inherent problems in adjustable lecterns.

‘Taking out a peg and raising a lectern before putting the peg back into a different hole – it’s a nuisance during a live presentation,’ explained Paul. ‘We realised the office seats we were sitting on were gas powered by a lever and the pressure of your body in the seat. So we made a lectern in which the height is easily adjusted by pulling a small lever and pressing an elbow on the lectern until the appropriate height is reached.’

It has since joined other award-winning products including communion tables and fonts in cathedrals and churches of all denominations and all sizes.

The firm has also been nominated for a SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) award for best bespoke church specialist furniture.

• Fuller’s will be on stand B7 at CRE National 2021

Photo: Paul Fuller, founder of Fuller’s Finer Furniture

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey

CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter

CRE News

Click here for CRE News

Your new 60-page products and services guide. Nothing beats reading it!

ByDave Hall

Bagging a better future

Promise Bags is an Indian business giving holistic freedom to women trapped in caste-based discrimination, poverty and hopelessness. 

‘Our mission is to offer freedom to Dalit (or Untouchable) women trapped in 3000 years of a caste system in which they have been treated with less dignity than an animal,’ said founder and CEO Elisha Cowtapalli. The company currently provides employment for 12 women in a safe, loving and caring environment. The women create beautiful and high-quality leather and jute bags, handcrafted with heart and passion, samples of which will be on sale at CRE National 2021.

‘We produce 100 per cent genuine leather bags,’ said Elisha. ‘Each and every small detail is taken care of. Our dream is to employ 100 women by 2025.’ He brought a selection of Promise Bags to CRE National 2017 – and sold out! He will show this year’s visitors a variety of products suitable for individual, family, church or business needs.

Forty per cent of profits from sales go towards a not-for-profit education project with Dalit children, started 13 years ago (see www.lightkids.org).

• Promise Bags are on stand A54 at CRE National 2021

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey

CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter

CRE News

Click here for CRE News

Your new 60-page products and services guide. Nothing beats reading it!

ByDave Hall

Your church building: make light of changing demands

One day its mother and toddler groups, next day a full-blown music concert – gone are the days when churches were open for simple services twice a week.

For more than 40 years one CRE exhibitor has juggled with radical changes in lighting and power as they give churches old and new a complete overhaul.

Anthony J Smith (Gloucester) Ltd have a long-established reputation for designing and installing bespoke lighting solutions for church buildings throughout the country and have a highly-committed installation team with vast experience in some challenging environments.

‘The changes in church use over the years have meant electrical work often needs to meet completely new demands,’ said company director Che Colley. ‘Gone are the days when most churches met only twice a week. Now the lighting has to cater for a week packed with activity – mother and toddler groups, social gatherings, even concerts and theatrical productions.’

The transformation of the lighting system within the nave and chapels at Pershore Abbey in Worcestershire (pictured) has been a major exercise in giving one of the country’s oldest abbeys a brighter future. Initial discussions for phase one of the project started in 2017 between the fabric committee and the design team at Anthony Smith. Following several lighting demonstrations and meetings with the Abbey architect, an initial specification for the faculty application was produced and submitted to Worcester DAC. 

As the abbey is a Grade 1 listed building, the proposals were presented to delegates from Historic England, the Church Buildings Council and the DAC before final specification was approved. A new energy efficient LED lighting system was installed with many of the light fittings custom painted to blend into the fabric of the building. The new system is controlled via a scene setting system which allows the abbey to change lighting at the touch of a button for various services and performances. The system also enables the fine architectural and liturgical features to be highlighted, allowing visitors to view the interior of the building in all its glory, including the unique ploughshare vaulting.

‘We were delighted when the Priest in Charge, Reverend Claire Lording, said it had been a privilege to work with us,’ said Anthony Smith’s Che Colley. ‘We now look forward to adding the final touches to this magnificent building.’

• Anthony J Smith are on stand C6 at CRE National 2021

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey

CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter

CRE News

Click here for CRE News

Your new 60-page products and services guide. Nothing beats reading it!