Category Archives: George Bell House
‘RESTORE BELL HOUSE NAME’ – CHICHESTER OBSERVER LETTERS – MARCH 3 2022
Dear Editor
Bishop of Chichester Dr. Martin Warner states [‘Faith Matters’, Observer, Feb 24]:
“We’ve been badly hit by Storm Eunice followed by Storm Franklin. The impact of these storms is immense”
The impact of ‘Storm Bell’ will also be immense, unless George Bell House is properly restored at 4 Canon Lane – before the Archbishop’s visit to this Cathedral City.
Yours sincerely
Richard W. Symonds
The Bell Society
FEBRUARY 6 2022 – RESTORING 4 CANON LANE BACK TO GEORGE BELL HOUSE IN CHICHESTER – PART 1
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This Notice has appeared in a window at 4 Canon Lane, Chichester [aka George Bell House] – Saturday February 6 2022
George Bell House, 4 Canon Lane
Chichester Cathedral
St Richard’s Walk
NOVEMBER 29 2021 – 4 CANON LANE CHICHESTER [AKA GEORGE BELL HOUSE]
George Bell House [before 2015]
Photo with permission [Ref: OY20430914]
NOVEMBER 26 2021 – “HEALING CAN NOW TAKE PLACE IN A SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS, RECONCILIATION AND BRIDGE-BUILDING” – THE BELL SOCIETY
“HEALING CAN NOW TAKE PLACE IN A SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS, RECONCILIATION AND BRIDGE-BUILDING“
‘4 Canon Lane was called George Bell House but then was renamed’ – Chichester Observer – November 25 2021
“Supporters express delight and hopes for further changes”
Supporters of Bishop Bell have expressed delight at the Archbishop’s statement about Bishop Bell.
Marilyn Billingham said that his remaining family, and many who still hold his memory in the highest regard, were please and hoped that he will now be fondly remembered.
She said: “It is with great thankfulness that we hear that The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby publicly withdraw his claim that there is ‘a cloud over Bishop Bell’s name’, following the isolated and unsubstantiated claim of child sexual abuse and affirm that ‘Bishop George Bell was and remains one of the most courageous, distinguished Anglican bishops of the last century’. George Bell was the Bishop of Chichester from 1929-1958; a matter of great pride to the people of the city”.
She said she hoped a previous decision to remove his name from a city building [4 Canon Lane – Ed] would now be reversed.
“As Archbishop Welby looks forward to the placing of a statue to Bishop Bell by the famous west door of Canterbury Cathedral, perhaps the Dean and Chapter and the current Bishop of Chichester [Dr Martin Warner – Ed] could also publicly celebrate.
“First steps could be to replace the dedication plaque commemorating the naming of 4 Canon Lane as George Bell House by Archbishop Rowan Williams in 2008, seeking to reverse all other decisions made to airbrush Bishop Bell from the memory of the diocese and to commission a fitting memorial in Chichester for the revered bishop”.
Richard W. Symonds from The Bell Society added: “The process of healing can now take place in a spirit of forgiveness, reconciliation and bridge-building – starting with the re-naming of 4 Canon Lane Chichester back to George Bell House”.
[RWS Note – 26/11/2021 – Updated 29/11/2021 – An event is planned for Tuesday February 1 2022 at George Bell House, 4 Canon Lane, Chichester. Other related planned events include one at Westminster on February 3 2022 and another in Chichester on February 4 2022. More details to follow…]
FURTHER INFORMATION
Virtue Online – “ARCHBISHOP WELBY’S STATEMENT SAYS THERE IS NO ‘SIGNIFICANT CLOUD’ OVER BISHOP BELL”
NOVEMBER 18 2021 – “BELL’S NAME WAS REMOVED FROM A KEY BUILDING IN CHICHESTER, AND THE ARCHBISHOP’S STATEMENT COULD SPARK REQUESTS FOR ITS REINSTATEMENT” – KELLY BROWN – CHICHESTER OBSERVER
June 6 2019 – ‘Welcome to George Bell House’ – Pictured left – Chichester’s Professor Peter Billingham [1953-2020]. Pictured right – Sheffield’s Reverend James Grayson
George Bell House, Chichester [before 2015]
4 Canon Lane, Chichester [after 2015]
NOVEMBER 18 2021 – “NO NATION, NO CHURCH, NO INDIVIDUAL IS GUILTLESS WITHOUT REPENTANCE, AND WITHOUT FORGIVENESS THERE CAN BE NO REGENERATION” – BISHOP GEORGE BELL [1883-1958]
George Bell House [before 2015]
PERSONAL STATEMENT FROM ARCHBISHOP JUSTIN WELBY ON BISHOP GEORGE BELL
REVEREND NICK FLINT – FACEBOOK
“It is also brave. Justin Welby is taking personal responsibility for the injustice done to the man he himself describes as “one of the most courageous, distinguished Anglican bishops of the last century”. It is a big admission”
Charles Moore
WEST SUSSEX GAZETTE / CHICHESTER OBSERVER / RYE OBSERVER / LITTLEHAMPTON GAZETTE / WEST SUSSEX COUNTY TIMES
“Bell’s name was removed from a key building in Chichester and the Archbishop’s statement could spark requests for its reinstatement….
“In response, the current Bishop of Chichester Dr Martin Warner said: “I greatly welcome Archbishop Justin Welby’s statement on Bishop George Bell. It is both humble and courageous, reminding us that these virtues, evident in George Bell himself, do still surface in the Church of England of our own time“
Kelly Brown
“IS IT SOMETIMES GOOD TO CHANGE ONE’S MIND? A QUESTION AT GENERAL SYNOD” – ‘SURVIVING CHURCH’
MARCH 3 2021 – FROM THE ARCHIVES [OCTOBER 27 2017] – CAMPAIGN FOR THE RESTORATION OF GEORGE BELL HOUSE IN CHICHESTER [AND THE PORTRAIT IN STORAGE WITHIN THE CATHEDRAL LIBRARY]
George Bell House [before October 2015]
Photo with permission [Ref: OY20430914]
This Portrait is in storage within the Cathedral Library [September 9 2017] – No Public Access [except on Heritage Open Days eg September 9 2017]
The Plaque reads:
“Bishop Bell has a worldwide reputation for his tireless work for international reconciliation, the arts, education, and church unity. The House that bears his name provides a place where work in these areas can continue and prosper. The generosity of an Anglican Order, the Community of the Servants of the Cross (CSC) has enabled the purchase of the House. Canon Peter Kefford (Treasurer of Chichester Cathedral 2003-2009) was the prime initiator in establishing George Bell House as a centre for Education, Vocation and Reconciliation”
Photograph: Howard Coster, 1953. It is the last portrait photograph of Bishop Bell.
This entry was posted in Bishop George Bell, George Bell House, Injustice, Justice and tagged 4 Canon Lane, 4 Canon Lane – Formerly George Bell House, Anglican Order, Canon Peter Kefford, Chichester Cathedral, Chichester Cathedral Library, Community of the Servants of the Cross, George Bell Bishop of Chichester, George Bell House, Howard Coster, Portrait of Bishop Bell, The Community of the Servants of the Cross [CSC], The Portrait on .
MARCH 3 2021 – VIEW FROM GEORGE BELL HOUSE IN CHICHESTER
Photo source: Tripadvisor
“I feel that yet another of ####### #######’ approaches to the # & # such as this, will be counterproductive – as most of his efforts have been” ~ ‘D’
The Bell Society 