Salisbury Cathedral commissions new Tenebrae setting
THE choir of Salisbury Cathedral will sing nine newly commissioned pieces, in the form of three Nocturnes, by the composer Piers Kennedy, during Tenebrae for the Wednesday of Holy Week. Mr Kennedy, whose music has been performed by the choirs of Westminster Abbey and the cathedrals of Worcester, Wells, and Truro, said: “The especially stark darkness of the Tenebrae service with its three Nocturnes of three movements holds a pleasingly apposite resonance with the shining Nine Lessons and Carols service, instigated by King’s College Cambridge; I fancy my composition as something of a dark twin to that other tradition.” Tenebrae is traditionally the hours of matins and lauds, sung in darkness the previous evening, while candles, arranged on a triangular candlestick, are gradually extinguished.
Lincoln priest convicted of drink-driving resigns
A PRIEST in the diocese of Lincoln, the Revd Sion Hughes Carew, has resigned as Vicar of All Saints’, Lincoln, and Priest-in-Charge of St Mary-le-Wigford, Lincoln, months after being convicted of a drink-driving offence in an incident when he crashed the car of the Bishop of Lincoln, the Rt Revd Stephen Conway (News, 28 November, 2025). In a letter to parishioners, Fr Hughes Carew said how “deeply sorry” he was, and wrote: “Many of you will know that, in the months leading up to that evening, I had been under a great deal of stress and struggling with depression. While this does not in any way excuse my actions, it does form part of the context within which they occurred.” Fr Hughes Carew previously worked for ten years in the Legal Office and in other capacities at Church House, Westminster. He was ordained priest in 2022.
King approves new Maundy Wands for Chapel Royal
THE King has approved the creation by the Worshipful Company of Turners of eight Maundy ecclesiastical wands for the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace. The wands would be used in the ceremony of the Royal Maundy and at weekly church services, the company said. The Turners, one of the oldest livery companies in the City of London, founded in the 12th century, is fund-raising for the commission.
Derbyshire church restoration project celebrated
A RESTORATION project at St John’s, Dronfield, was celebrated by a gathering of the local community, including the Mayor and the Chair of North East Derbyshire District Council, as well as representatives from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, local schools, Joined Up Heritage, Sheffield Hallam University, and local-history groups. Visitors viewed artwork created by schoolchildren and stained glass-inspired pieces made by a Scout group, and there was an audio tour for young people. The project was supported by a grant of £179,541 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which has helped to restore the church’s 13th-century glass and stonework. The coordinator of the project, Sue Murphy, said that it was “a powerful reminder that the church is here for the whole community, and that its heritage belongs to everyone”.
NGOs condemn further overseas aid cuts
AID agencies have condemned the Government’s decision last week to cut overseas aid by 40 per cent. Christian Aid’s UK Influencing Lead, Jennifer Larbie, said: “Today’s deep cuts to the aid budget are a political choice to boost the defence budget at President Trump’s behest — one that the world’s most vulnerable people will pay for with their lives and livelihoods.” CAFOD’s Director of Advocacy, Neil Thorns, said: “Peace and security in the world will be achieved through tackling poverty, reducing inequality and solving issues which cause destabilisation through diplomacy and dialogue, not through greater spending on defence. Today is not a good day for the UK’s global reputation, and it’s the wrong time for the Government to be breaking its manifesto pledge to be a global climate leader.”
Restraining order for parishioner after harassing priest
TRURO CROWN COURT last week imposed a restraining order on Kay Carpenter, a parishioner of St John the Baptist, Pendeen, in Cornwall, after she entered the home of the Priest-in-Charge, the Revd Karsten Wedgewood, in June 2024, when she had been told not to contact him or go to his house. The order bans her from any contact with him, going to his home, or going to any of the three churches in the Pendeen area, for the next seven years. Ms Carpenter was acquitted of obstructing and assaulting a clergyman/minister in discharge of duties in a place of worship/burial, as the prosecution had offered no evidence.
BSL version of children’s pilgrimage song released
BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE (BSL) and Makaton video versions of the song “The Pilgrim Way”, by Nick and Becky Drake, of Songs for School, were released to mark British Sign Language Week last week, organised by the British Deaf Association. Nick and Becky Drake said: “We want as many children as possible to be able to join in with “The Pilgrim Way”. Creating BSL and Makaton versions of the song is an important step in helping more schools and churches include everyone as they explore the idea of life as a pilgrimage, with Jesus walking beside them.” The song is one of the resources in the Faith in the North project. faithinthenorth.org
CAP and Community Money Advice join forces
CHRISTIANS AGAINST POVERTY (CAP) and Community Money Advice (CMA) this week announced that they will form the UK’s largest community-based debt-advice charity. The group, maintaining both the CAP and CMA identities, will offer free and regulated debt advice through a network of 380 centres hosted by churches and community organisations. The onsumer specialist Martin Lewis, the founder of moneysavingexpert.com, said: “Christians Against Poverty has long been a force for good in debt counselling — I get great feedback from people who’ve used it. . . I hope the scale and community reach of this combined charity will be a lifeline for many more people struggling with debt.”
