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The Rt Rev. James Jones |
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Well, from Jerusalem's Via Dolorosa to Liverpool's own street of sadness as the shadow of Sean Mercer who murdered Rhys Jones shortens over the City in the rising light of the dignity of Rhys' parents. The media have of course descended like wolves on the fold with chariots of cameras and microphones to analyse every aspect of the community - trying to understand why a child could be killed by a teenager in broad daylight and how it might be prevented in the future. In this anatomy of a murder, here's another perspective.
When Rhys was taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital one of the team that ministered to the family was the Chaplain. When the community of Croxteth Park was absorbing the shock it was the vicar with the Catholic priest who worked with the City Council to lead the vigil.
It was the clergy with the Police Family Liaision Officers who supported the parents in their grief as they prepared for the funeral. When the children of Rhys' school needed comforting it was the neighbouring parish priest who's Chair of Governors together with the Headteacher, who came alongside them. When Everton Football Club, Rhys' own team, rallied to support the family it was the Anglican Chaplain who came to the fore.
Then when literally thousands came out onto the street to witness the child's coffin wend its way to the Anglican Cathedral it was the clergy who received the family and led the service that gave voice to the grief of a nation.
I couldn't help thinking of this tapestry of life when hearing that the debate had been reignited about the disestablishment of the Church of England. The tragic episode I have just described involved nine different Anglican priests in various parts of the community. They are there because the Church of England is the church for England. It's not economically viable to be in the deprived parts of the country but we're there in every community because we see ourselves, established in law, as the church for the whole nation of England.
We work ecumenically with other churches and other faiths but our friends recognise that the Church of England has a unique responsibility, and has not retreated from the hard places.
I fear that the moment we are disestablished that particular thread will begin to loosen and in time, bereft of that ethos, the Church of England will eventually retreat from the tough places to the leafy suburbs. Then we will find that it is not just the bank, the Post Office, the school, the pub and the G.P. that have disappeared from our rural and urban areas but our parish priests and our parish churches.
Those who pick at the threads of the tapestry of our heritage can have little idea how far they'll be pulling the rug from beneath the feet of communities that are sustained by the quiet and unassuming ways of the church for England.
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