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ByDave Hall

‘Bikers’ bench’ is fitting memorial to 59 Club founder

Motorcyclists who make an annual pilgrimage to Lincoln Cathedral can now witness the woodworking skills of CRE exhibitor Nicholas Hobbs.

Influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement, Nicholas has crafted a bench in memory of 59 Club founder Fr Graham Hullett. Positioned in the Lady Chapel, it provides the ideal spot for contemplation by motorcyclists in memory of Fr Hullett. Officially recognised by the Church of England, the 59 Club was formed in London during the 1960s, a period infamous for clashes between Mods and Rockers.

The club claimed a worldwide membership of more than 10,000. A rider himself, Fr Hullett wore his dog collar under his leathers and ostensibly ran the club without rules. Nevertheless, he gained respect by being a father figure to many, approachable and down to earth, offering them moral, occasionally financial support and attending court cases. He visited prisons and carried out the duties of a cleric ­­– marrying, christening offspring and burying those who perished in road accidents. 

He had a long-lasting influence amongst a large group of disaffected youngsters. In recognition, a number of early members clubbed together in 2005 to buy a Royal Enfield Bullett 500 for Fr Hullett – to get him back in the saddle and on the road again. Upon his death, Fr Hullett’s specially-painted bike was left to a member of the Spirit of 59 who subsequently offered the bike to auction to fund the permanent memorial bench at Lincoln.

Each December, on the anniversary of its dedication, motorcyclists travel to Lincoln Cathedral from around Britain, gathering in the Lady Chapel to remember the man as they sit on the bench and later meeting in a local pub to recall stories from an earlier era.

Nicholas, who studied creative design at Loughborough University, makes functional furniture to commissions.

‘I create work that will stand the test of daily use and the test of time,’ he said. ‘It was my great pleasure to be invited to make this memorial bench which, alongside the Pumfrey family bench, is available for use by pilgrims for reflection every day.’

Nicholas has created many memorable items including a blanket chest in selected, figured English oak which is in the permanent Arts & Crafts collection at Leicester City.

Churches and cathedrals regularly draw on Nicholas’ specialist skills to create striking, long-lasting items, blending a strong architectural design style with the exacting construction standards of the Arts & Crafts tradition. 

Click here for more information.

• Nicholas Hobbs will be exhibiting at CRE National 2021 (Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey, 12-14 Oct)

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ByDave Hall

High five for church wi-fi

When two of your premises are divided by a main road and the rectory is even further away, how do you link them up?

St Giles Church, Northampton called CRE exhibitor Midshire Business Systems who installed an easy-to-operate system that pumps wi-fi through all three sites.

The church runs various groups such as parent and toddler, blood donor (NHS) and English language lessons for the community, and members can access the system as well. Wi-Fi points were installed on the ceilings so that perfect signals were distributed around all three buildings. A VoIP (voice over internet protocol) telephone system allows the use of handsets in all three premises, linking them and enabling calls to be transferred between sites with a click of a button. All calls are also free of charge.

A wireless bridge transfers the broadband wirelessly over the road, eliminating the need for an extra analogue line and broadband, avoiding the problem of the church’s thick walls which make it difficult for a wireless signal to penetrate. 

‘We were delighted with the way Midshire installed a telephone system and broadband in both the main church and the parish office,’ said Helen Goff, the church’s officer administrator. ‘The work was carried out efficiently and professionally. After sales care, including any teething issues and trouble-shooting, has been equally met with efficiency, professionalism and a thoroughness in seeing a job through to the end.’

Social distancing has made it more important ever that a wi-fi solution is in place to avoid forcing people to crowd around in a tight area.

Martin Hill, senior salesman for Midshire, said: ‘Most churches I now deal with have a wi-fi solution. It is required for laptops, PCs, interactive screens, digital signage printers, card reading machines (donations), and mobiles etc – all equipment which we can supply.’

Click here for more information.

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ByDave Hall

Covid-19: young people learning to ‘value what they have’

More than one in three young people between the ages of 16 and 24 in the UK say they have learned to cope with adversity since the outbreak of Covid-19.

In a survey by the Prince’s Trust, 37 per cent said they have gained coping skills or emotional resilience. A consultation with 150 children and young people showed they felt they had learned new hobbies, picked up old ones, and appreciated time to reflect. They also said they had experienced gratitude.

Luton-based Youthscape’s centre for research has analysed a series of surveys by various organisations on young people and their experiences during Covid-19 – and have amalgamated the findings. Most young people in one survey of 13 to 24-year-olds said they enjoyed spending more time with their parents – but had begun to worry more about their parents and family. A Barnardo’s survey of eight to 24-year-olds found an increase in issues related to mental health and wellbeing. The top feelings expressed by the youngsters were boredom (51 per cent), worry (28 per cent) and feeling trapped (26 per cent).

One 13-year-old boy said: ‘It has made me realise that the future is more unpredictable than I thought. I don’t know what will go on in the future, so I am going to value what I have now.’

One of a number of studies on young people and Covid-19 showed an increase in anxiety – and that anxiety rose the older the children got. Among those struggling were older teenagers, girls, those from black or minority ethnic backgrounds, those not in education, employment, or training and some already struggling with poor mental health.

Lucie Shuker, director of research at CRE exhibitor Youthscape, said: ‘We know the virus has heavily impacted young people’s mental health. All have experienced loss over this time, whether time with family and friends, education or normal teenage experience. But some who were already vulnerable have had a particularly rough time with increased anxiety, loneliness and depression.’

The local youth work team at Youthscape have developed a resource in response, for use with young people in schools.

‘It’s called Thrive and can be used by teachers, school visitors and churches to help teenagers process their return to school and develop resilience and mental wellbeing in these few weeks and months,’ said Lucie. It features four short films with teaching from Dr Kate Middleton and stories from some amazing students, ten creative activities suitable for self-guided or classroom work ready to be delivered by teaching staff with printable activity sheets.

Click here for more information

• Youthscape are exhibiting at CRE National 2021 (12-14 Oct 2021)

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ByDave Hall

Pandemic sparks transformation of parish magazine

In the year of ‘more tech, vicar?’ live streaming has become essential for church services and even the humble church magazine has been digitally transformed.

According to a recent poll by CRE exhibitor parishpump.co.uk, who supply graphics and editorial material to nearly 1800 church publications, many magazines have coped surprisingly well during lockdown. 

In March, the Church of England warned against paper delivery of magazines because of Covid-19. ‘For this reason, parishes are encouraged to look to digital communication…’ said the notice. In response, Parish Pump subscribers report that a quarter of parish magazines ceased publication but around two-thirds went digital or are now producing both printed and digital versions.

Anne Coomes, Parish Pump’s editor, said: ‘It is great news that so many have gone digital – we warmly welcome it. Far from stopping your church magazine production during this crisis, we think it is critical to keep it going. People all over the country are now more isolated from their local church family than they have ever been in their lives.  A church magazine can help keep them in touch with each other.

‘In fact, we hope that many of the churches who at first decided to simply stop their magazines will now reconsider, and at least try the digital option for a few months. Of the hundreds of church magazine editors to have gone digital, many are attracting new readers at this time.’

Click here for more information.

• Parish Pump will be exhibiting at CRE South West 2021 (Westpoint, Exeter, 17-18 Mar) and CRE National 2021 (Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey, 12-14 Oct)

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ByDave Hall

Retired but not redundant: unearth your new role

When Dave Carlos stopped working he was determined not to come to a grinding halt – and those experiences form the backcloth to his CRE At Home 2020 online seminar Retired but not Redundant.

Now available to view on the CRE YouTube channel, the seminar will be helpful to those considering imminent retirement and others who have retired but are finding it unfulfilling. It also provides useful advice for churches wanting to help mobilise members who are in similar situations.

‘Retirement is not what is used to be,’ said Dave, now 68. ‘People develop skills and expertise over the years, and it can be helpful to identify areas in which their retirement can be personally rewarding and of great use to church and community.’

With a lifetime of interest in computers – in the early 1980s he was editor of Home Computing Weekly – Dave started his own PR company, advising producers of computer games, before moving to Christian charities Agapé UK and then Care for the Family.

His talks on cyber security have been welcomed by many organisations and he has also teamed up with Lancashire Police, helping to train new officers. On top of all this, he is a leader in his local church and helps run a computer clinic, along with other computer enthusiasts! They meet regularly in a local pub, inviting anyone with a problem computer, or who has difficulties with an application, to pop in and allow them to sort it out.

‘This gives me the opportunity to gently give a Christian prod to those I am helping and also to those working with me,’ he said.

The key to knowing what to do when retiring, he maintains, is not just about the person’s skills and interests, but prayer.

‘The individual must pray about his or her circumstances,’ he said, ‘and local church leaders should certainly pray for those they know who are about to retire.’

Retirement is not simply about finding something to do that is fulfilling, he points out, but to becoming involved in something which provides opportunities for evangelism and simply helping others. The seminar is a valuable aid, reflecting Dave’s personal experience, and provides many helpful tips for those approaching ‘the great change’. It is one of more than 20 seminars available on CRE TV in the week beginning Mon 12 Oct 2020 – when CRE National 2020 should have taken place but for Covid-19. The seminars will remain available for months to come.

Click here to watch Retired but not Redundant by CRE’s Dave Carlos, part of CRE At Home 2020.

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ByDave Hall

Printer ink: costing you more than Dom Pérignon?

When Gestetner closed its offices and made one man redundant it did churches a great big favour.

Nigel Page went on to launch Apple Office Equipment, specialising in reducing the cost of printing for churches and charities. Now, 27 years later, his company leads the way in auditing the way photocopiers are being used and suggesting cheaper and more efficient alternatives.

‘Some printing devices are expensive to run,’ he said. ‘Our audit makes sure organisations are not paying above the odds for ink, toner, or the use of a particular machine. A national newspaper recently pointed out that printing ink can be more expensive than Dom Pérignon champagne. That is perfectly true. We recommend the best machine for the setting and the most efficient way of using it. We often find churches and charities have the printer set at colour when it is totally unnecessary. There are ways to ensure the machine only prints in black unless a code is put in to allow the user to switch to colour.’

With a fully-trained team of technicians available to deliver a high quality of friendly service – suitably protected in these days of Covid-19 – Nigel’s promise is that all their machines have been through extensive testing before delivery, to ensure that they reach the customer at a high standard. And he can also offer various purchasing and leasing options including the company’s Apple Rental Agreement.

‘We have no tie-ins, no contracts, no hidden costs – just honest ethical trading with friendly advice and expert help,’ he said. ‘We will miss CRE at Sandown Park. We love meeting old customers and making new friends. It’s a great meeting place for those looking for a better way to do everything.’

Click here for more information.

• Apple Office Equipment will be exhibiting at CRE South West 2021 (Westpoint, Exeter, 17-18 Mar) and CRE National 2021 (Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey, 12-14 Oct)

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ByDave Hall

The green, green grass for homeless people

In 1999, Pastor Pete Cunningham, his son Andrew and Vicki Woodley, already housing the homeless in their church building in Southport, put their hands in their pockets and purchased two flats in Southport to give homeless people somewhere to live.

The first recipients of Green Pastures were a single mum and her child. Two decades later, there are now hundreds of people housed by the charity at any one time and thousands more have benefitted over the years.

In 2003, a chaplain from North Staffordshire found out about the work and asked the charity to buy a property in Stoke-on-Trent – so his team could take ex-offenders from the prison gate to house and care for them.

‘Taking a step of faith, we bought a property for someone else,’ recalled Pete. ‘The results were amazing! As we provided more housing, the re-offending rate reduced. Now we partner with dozens of other churches across the UK and house more than 1100 people. Many of our partners look after ex-offenders and a good percentage stay out of prison and become good citizens. Many go on to have faith in Jesus Christ. This is our modus operandi – saving souls. Our properties and staff work to that end.’

For those who cannot work with homeless people direct, it is possible to invest in the work – with the funds working ethically. Investors are paid up to five per cent and with the money Green Pastures buy property for local churches and provide all the paperwork, expertise and ongoing support to operate a successful supported housing project. 

The enormous changes in towns and individual lives can be seen everywhere. Residents of The Greenhouse Project in Plymouth have experienced the faith of the support workers in their Green Pastures home. One resident said: ‘When I met the guys at The Greenhouse and saw how they love Jesus and the way that they were living for God, that appealed to me, and that helped me get back into recovery and faith.’

For more information click here.

• Green Pastures will be exhibiting at CRE South West 2021 (Westpoint, Exeter, 17-18 Mar) and CRE National 2021 (Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey, 12-14 Oct)

CRE At Home

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ByDave Hall

Lockdown spurs outbreak of ‘weird-free’ evangelism

Lockdown could have inhibited Christian witness – instead it has spurred many churches to take a fresh look at sharing their faith.

Recent research by the Evangelical Alliance, under the title ‘Changing Church: Responding to the Lockdown Crisis’, confirms a significant increase in people who are looking for spiritual answers from the Bible, prayer and their local church. 

And Living & Telling from Agapé UK has been welcomed as an engaging way to conquer our faith-sharing fears, with any group or church now able to run the course in their own homes.

One member said: ‘We had a great time together. With Zoom we were able to break off in pairs which worked really well for me. From the security of my own home I felt I could be more honest and vulnerable with the person I was paired with. The course content really makes you stop and think about how you can share your faith in Jesus without being weird.’

Agapé Europe had to halt applications after more than 100 students from 22 countries registered for their launch of Living & Telling some weeks ago and three countries are currently translating of all the resources.

Gavin Calver, chief executive officer of the Evangelical Alliance, said: ‘Living and Telling is a simple, practical and powerful tool to help us all start sharing our faith more effectively. I wholeheartedly encourage every Christian to get involved.’

Tim Moyler, of Agapé UK, said: ‘If you are a Christian, and find yourself reticent to talk about your faith (or even if you are ready and raring to go), Living & Telling is for you. We believe that helping people discover Jesus can be done by all kinds of Christians, so this course is suitable for everyone.’

Click here for more information.

• Agapé UK will be exhibiting at CRE South West (17-18 March 2021
Westpoint, Exeter)

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Our next exhibitions

CRE South West 2021 – 17-18 March 2021
Westpoint, Exeter

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