Church here to help, says bishop (From Gazette)

Church here to help, says bishop

8:42am Sunday 10th February 2008 in

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THE Bishop of Chelmsford missed out on pancake day this year.

His wife, Lydia, was out for the evening, and he got back late from a debate in the House of Lords.

But, speaking on Shrove Tuesday morning, he reveals the couple have a plan B. They will have pancakes on Ash Wednesday, instead.

The bishop believes in making sacrifices during Lent, and will be giving up drink till Easter, as he does every year.

But he can't see the harm in eating a few pancakes - as long as it's before lunch - on a day when earlier Christians would have put on sackcloth for a day of strict fasting.

It's a commonsense approach that is typical of the Rt Rev John Gladwin, or Bishop John, as he prefers to be known.

Take the current burning issue of binge drinking among the young.

The bishop is genuinely concerned that a "hard-drinking culture" is taking root in all sections of society.

But he suspects teenage and twenty-something revellers, blamed for turning town centres into no-go areas at night, are doing nothing different from the partying tearaways of previous generations.

"Youngsters are going to have to learn to grow up, aren't they?" he said.

"They are exploring the boundaries, learning to be adults. When I was a child, we had the teddy boys.

"I was in the North of England recently and the whole of York city centre was alive at night with young people, most of whom were not drunk, but there are some who have got no boundaries.

"We mustn't land this at the door of young people. We have a problem with alcohol as a society."

Social problems have always interested the bishop, who seriously contemplated a career in politics before opting to join the church.

Now, in his role as head of the Church of England in Essex, he wants to make sure the clergy under his control are using their influence to make a positive contribution to the societies they serve.

This is particularly true in Colchester - the county's fastest-expanding town.

The ongoing growth, he says, is an exciting opportunity, with the flood of new homes being accompanied by a new football stadium and art gallery, and a proposed research park.

But on new estates, where few residents know their neighbours and many have moved to the area from elsewhere, how can we make sure people are happy?

The church, says Bishop John, is up for the job of helping to look after them.

"Building community is what we need to be about," he said. "We have to think, how do we make people's lives human?

"Spiritual life is important, education, access to services and transport. The temptation for Government is to duck that question, but it is an important one.

"When I was young, I watched Harlow being built. There was a great concept, with plans for so many homes per acre, plus a church, shops, factories and schools.

"But the pressure was on to build more houses per acre, and in the end perhaps the original community concept got lost."

Clergy and church volunteers, under the direction of the Bishop of Colchester, the Rt Rev Christopher Morgan, have for years been actively trying to build community ties on new developments, by knocking on newly-erected front doors in areas like Mile End and the Hythe.

"It doesn't matter which church takes the lead," said Bishop John.

"The most important thing is to have people there who can carry forward ministry. We need to have someone there to represent the church."

The Church of England, or indeed any form of organised religion, will not be welcome in the lives of everyone who moves to Colchester.

And practical Bishop John is not in the business of forcing Christianity down people's throats.

If, however, they are after some guidance, or even just someone to talk to, his aim is to make sure the church is there for them.

l Hear more of Bishop John's views on the challenge of building communities by watching a video on our website.