FEBRUARY 1 2022 – CHICHESTER 2022 – THE REBUILDING BRIDGES-BELL SOCIETY CONFERENCE

George Bell House [before October 2015]

This Notice has appeared in a window at 4 Canon Lane, Chichester [aka George Bell House] – Saturday February 6 2022

PRESS RELEASE – FEBRUARY 3 2022

CHICHESTER 2022 – THE REBUILDING BRIDGES-BELL SOCIETY CONFERENCE

Vicars’ Hall, Chichester – 1^st February 2022

Lively and useful discussions were a feature of the Conference. They included a motion, agreed by the attendees, requesting the Bishop and Dean of Chichester to clarify the position of the Cathedral, in relation to the multi-faceted restoration of Bishop George Bell’s reputation.

This clarification is earnestly and anxiously awaited, subsequent to the withdrawal by Archbishop Justine Welby of his original statement – about a ‘significant cloud’ remaining over Bishop Bell – with an apology for his mistake.

The uncertainty surrounding this vitally important aspect of Cathedral and Church of England history, is hugely damaging to the morale of many faithful Christians, not just those living locally.

You already should have received a copy of the detailed Agenda for yesterday’ Conference. In case not, attached is an updated copy.

We were especially pleased to see Jonathan, the Earl of Cork and Orrery and Lady Cork and other members of the Cathedral community who have close connections with its day-to-day running. These also included Jeremy Mudford, one of our key speakers, who, after his own, read a Statement from Christopher Hoare.

Bishop Nicholas Reade, former Bishop of Blackburn and Archdeacon of Lewes and Hastings read the Opening Prayer, and his Statement was also read out.

Other Statements (there were nine) included another key one from the brother-in-law of Bishop Reade – David Jasper, FRSE, Professor Emeritus of Literature and Theology at the University of Glasgow.

An audio visual recording of the Conference proceedings was made, and the resultant, edited film will go on YouTube very shortly.

For more information, contact Sandra Saer: sandramhsaer@gmail.com tel. 01903 884968

THE BELL SOCIETY CONFERENCE

1^st February 2022

9.30 am – 1 pm

AGENDA

Chair’s Welcome – Sandra Saer (SS)

Opening Prayer – Bishop Nicholas Reade

STATEMENTS

1. Bishop Nicholas Reade,
2. Jeremy Mudford, Guide for 22 years at Chichester Cathedral,

and Head Doorkeeper for 19 years, and

3. Christopher Hoare – both read by JM
4. Martin Sewell, General Synod – read by SS
5. Revd Canon Professor David Jasper, Professor Emeritus of Literature and Theology at the University of Glasgow – read by SS

MESSAGES – read by SS, from:

1. Richard Harries, Lord Harries of Pentregarth
2. Frank Field, Lord Field of Birkenhead
3. Daniel Hodson, Chairman, Chichester Cathedral Roof Appeal
4. Charles Moore
5. Revd Peter Mullen

30-minute break – 11-11.30 am

STATEMENTS

6. Terry Martin, using screen to illustrate
7. Revd Dr Alan Gadd – read by SS
8. Geoffrey Boys
9. Vasantha Gnanadoss – read by SS
10. Ruth Hildebrandt Grayson (for Barnabas Fund) – read by SS

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

CHAIR’S FINAL REMARKS

1^st February 2022

9.30 am – 1 pm

AGENDA

Chair’s Welcome – Sandra Saer

Sandra Saer as Chair at Church House Westminster [with Lord Carey] – 2018

Opening Prayer – Bishop Nicholas Reade

Bishop Nicholas Reade in 2014

Photo: Wiki Commons

STATEMENTS

1. Bishop Nicholas Reade, read by him
2. Jeremy Mudford, Guide for 22 years at Chichester Cathedral, and Head Doorkeeper for 19 years, and
3. Christopher Hoare – both read by Jeremy Mudford
4. Martin Sewell, General Synod – read by Chair

Martin Sewell

1. Revd Dr Professor David Jasper – read by Chair

Reverend Canon Professor David Jasper

MESSAGES – read by Chair, from:

1. Richard Harries, Lord Harries of Pentregarth
2. Frank Field, Lord Field of Birkenhead
3. Daniel Hodson, Chairman, Chichester Cathedral Roof Appeal
4. Revd Peter Mullen

30-minute break – 11-11.30 am

STATEMENTS

6. Terry Martin, using screen to illustrate
7. Revd Dr Alan Gadd – read by Chair
8. Geoffrey Boys
9. Vasantha Gnanadoss – read by Chair
10. Ruth Hildebrandt Grayson (for Barnabas Fund)

Revd Alan Gadd and Vasantha Gnanadoss

RWS Photography

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

CHAIR’S FINAL REMARKS

St. Richard’s Walk – Chichester Cathedral

RWS Photography

Arundel-Bell Screen – Chichester Cathedral

RWS Photography

JANUARY 27 2022 – “NO SMOKE, NO FIRE, NO CLOUD”

“No doubt there will be people who are going to think there is no smoke without fire. I can do nothing about that except to say such an attitude would be wrong”

Judge David Clarke [in the case of David Jones – ‘No Smoke, No Fire’]

May 10 2019 – ‘The Dean’s Bonfire’ – Chichester Cathedral – 2001

ARUNDEL-BELL SCREEN – CHICHESTER CATHEDRAL

JANUARY 20 2022 – “REBUILDING BRIDGES EVENT / FIRST ANNUAL LECTURE IN MEMORY OF BISHOP BELL / ARCHBISHOP TO MAKE VISIT TO CITY” – CHICHESTER OBSERVER

REBUILDING BRIDGES

https://richardwsymonds.wordpress.com/2022/01/07/january-6-2022-george-bell-events-to-come-will-cathedral-take-notice-chichester-observer-letters/

Bishop Bell painting by William Coldstream [currently in storage at Pallant House Chichester]

Chichester Observer – 20/01/2022

JANUARY 6 2022 – “GEORGE BELL EVENTS TO COME / WILL CATHEDRAL TAKE NOTICE” – CHICHESTER OBSERVER – LETTERS

JANUARY 1 2022 – “A REFLECTION ON BISHOP GEORGE BELL” BY THE REVEREND CANON PROFESSOR DAVID JASPER [FOR ‘REBUILDING BRIDGES’ – CHICHESTER, FEBRUARY 1 2022]

Photo: Daily Record

“A REFLECTION ON BISHOP GEORGE BELL” BY THE REVEREND CANON PROFESSOR DAVID JASPER

[FOR ‘REBUILDING BRIDGES‘ – CHICHESTER, FEBRUARY 1 2022]

JANUARY 1 2022 – TUTU-MANDELA BRIDGE-BUILDERS WANTED

JANUARY 1 2022 – TUTU-MANDELA BRIDGE-BUILDERS WANTED

COMMENTS – ALLAN SHEATH + RICHARD W. SYMONDS – THINKING ANGLICANS – CALLING FOR “A BRAVE TUTUFICATION” OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND

AS – Interestingly, in a letter to today’s Times of London, Mark Oakley calls for “a brave Tutufication of the Church” with reference to the Church of England. As I understand it, his is a plea for our bishops to have the courage to be more authentically themselves, rather than refusing to break ranks from whatever the official line might be.

RWS – Thank you to TA for your excellent New Year’s Day tribute to Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu, and to Allan Sheath for drawing attention to Mark Oakley’s Times letter. In 2022AD and beyond, we desperately need ‘Tutu-Mandela Bridge-Builders’ – as a critical pre-condition not only for the survival and well-being of the Church, but also for the survival and well-being of Humanity.

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/desmond-tutu-visionary-activist-who-cut-through-all

REBUILDING BRIDGES

TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSIONS

JANUARY 1 2022 – “A REFLECTION ON BISHOP GEORGE BELL” BY THE REVEREND CANON PROFESSOR DAVID JASPER [FOR ‘REBUILDING BRIDGES’ – CHICHESTER, FEBRUARY 1 2022]