Those were the Days, or were they?

 

Ann-Marie writes:  

We rather take for granted our Parish Magazines or information sheets whether in print or online.

Their roots go back to Victorian times when the first Parish magazine was launched by the Vicar of St Andrew’s, Derby in January 1859. From Derby the Reverend John Erskine Clarke went to Battersea where he started a school, a hospital and three churches. They are still there.

 

This was the time that the ‘ Penny Dreadful’ began to circulate and these sensational horror magazines were particularly targeted at the young. They caused near hysteria in the country and became a cause celebre. “Something had to be done” was the cry. Reverend Clarke felt children were being compromised by this cheap literature and decided to publish a weekly magazine also for one penny, called ‘The Children’s Prize. ‘

 

It was influenced by the Sunday School movement and used as their prizes to encourage the children. It was very moral in nature but as well as Bible stories included poems and articles about  nature, travel and sports. It was directed at both boys and girls.

 

When he was up at Oxford this clergyman rowed for the University when it won the Gold Plate at Henley - so he was  a man of many talents! Clarke later published the long-lived Chatterbox magazine.

  

Our Reverend John Erskine Clarke has much to be remembered for not least the importance of keeping congregations informed through Parish news. He was recognised for his contribution to Church life by being made a Canon of Winchester and a Prebendary of Lichfield where he was originally ordained.

 

Thank you to all at All Saints for keeping us in touch with each other.  

 

A prayer for the media

God, who spoke the world into being and communicates with us still today;

We pray for writers, producers, broadcasters and journalists, and all who work in the media.

May they be a voice for the powerless, a challenge to the powerful; bringers of knowledge and clarity to an uncertain and confused world.

Help them to reach for the highest professional standards, especially when budgets are stretched, time is tight, and competition increasing.

May they resist the temptation to follow the consensus, jump to easy conclusions, pander to prejudice or cut corners.

Help us, who read, watch, listen and contribute to the media, to play our part by being wise and discerning, so that truth and beauty will be the hallmarks of our media.

We offer these prayers in the Name of the One who brought the Good News, declared himself as the Truth, and gave himself for a world in need, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen