Notable and Quotable (I)

Posted by Kendall Harmon

“We used to go to church expecting very little and came away with nothing. This has now changed to expecting nothing and coming away with even less …. [W]hat we want are services taken with a conviction and a passion for Christ.”

–An unidentified middle-aged couple speaking of church life in Britain


Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Anglican Provinces • Church of England (CoE) • * Christian Life / Church Life • Parish Ministry • * Culture-Watch • Religion & Culture • * International News & Commentary • England / UK

4 Comments
Posted October 31, 2009 at 1:33 pm [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Terry Tee wrote:

Kendall, there is something peculiar about this item.  First of all, did you notice it was originally published in 2005?  Secondly, no one I know has ever heard of the Ecumenical Research Committee.  Thirdly, outside this report I could not find any trace of a Lord Bromley Betchworth in Who’s Who or thepeerage.com - in fact the name looks suspiciously like one that is made up.  Is there an element of spoof here?

October 31, 6:05 pm | [comment link]
2. Kendall Harmon wrote:

I am well aware of the date, as it was posted originally on the old blog.  I did not take it as a spoof and if it is such I would like to be persuaded that it is.  Thanks for the heads up.

October 31, 6:20 pm | [comment link]
3. Pageantmaster [KJS to Coventry] wrote:

Well it is not all doom and gloom here, not at all.  Here is fantastic news of the first church plant outside of London by Holy Trinity, Brompton Road at the request of the Bishop of Chichester in St Peter’s, Brighton [an enormous church known as the unofficial cathdral] being brought back to service after refurbishment for the community of Brighton, under the leadership of Archie Coates and his wife and a team from HTB.    It ticks all the boxes mentioned in the article: believing and caring shepherds, solid teaching, a worshipping community, a prophetic church and defense of the faith.

[Maybe one day HTB will announce their first American church plant?  Now that would be something to look forward to!]

As they prepare to meet for their first Sunday service today I hope that all will join me in praying for them and the people of Brighton, and for God’s work there.
http://www.htb.org.uk/brighton
http://stpetersbrighton.org/

October 31, 8:27 pm | [comment link]
4. Just Passing By wrote:

Greetings.

FWIW, the quote by the “middle aged couple” is on page 23 of a report available at this site. The report is sponsored by the “Ecumenical Research Committee” (ERC), and seems to have some association with The Christian Party, about whom I know nothing.

The report itself contains no reference to anyone named “Bromley Betchworth”, whether peer or not, nor is there any reference to the quotation by that person (though the “middle aged couple” quotation is certainly there). The address of the ERC is listed as being in Betchworth, so I suspect it’s just a case of sloppy reporting (reporting a report of a report that cited ... well, you get the idea).

Hope that’s helpful.

regards,

JPB

November 1, 8:06 am | [comment link]
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