The Holy Scriptures....

In a recent conversation with Bishop Andrew I was outlining my concern about the disposable nature of reproducing the Holy Scriptures on Sunday Mass Sheets. For some time now I have been rather concerned that in so doing we are permitting our folk to "throw away" Holy Scripture.

Bishop Andrew went on to outline his view that in many ways we have regressed in our knowledge of Scripture and of how to find our way around the Bible. He opined that whereas the Roman Catholics had moved from hearing the Scriptures in Latin to being able to read them in English in the Sunday Missal our folk have regressed from knowing their way around a Bible to having disposable sheets provided for them.

The issue was: how do we remedy this situation and at the same time have a good translation for our folk to read from. The NIV (Nearly Inspired Version) and the NRSV (Not the RSV) which have come into use in many CofE parishes are not acceptable. The latter is so bad as to have been rebelled against here within two weeks of us using it - so we started using the 1966 Jerusalem even though we have to put up the "Happitudes" and Temple "Police" and the like.

As many now know Bishop Andrew has taken to giving hardback copies of the RSV 2nd Catholic Edition to those he Confirms and this has been widely appreciated. It is a really good translation and is, mercifully, free of the PC language of the NRSV. The Bishop has an arrangement through Family Publications so that he can order these in bulk at £10 each (a saving of around £12.50 on the publishers RRP). Through his good offices we had the opportunity to purchase additional copies at the same price, but the Bishop wondered if we could afford to go further and provide copies for everyone at Mass. Isn't this rather Protest-ant - some of you may be thinking? Hardly, as the Bible does belong to THE CHURCH and not just the movements that have emerged since the Reformation.

We discussed this at the PCC Meeting and it was decided that as we have an Educational Fund which receives a significant benefaction each year we could afford to do this. Furthermore we could also buy copies of the large print Lectionary Edition of the same version for use by our Lectors at Mass, as they are at Pusey House and a few other places. Both the Bibles and the Lectionary Editions are handsomely bound as can be seen above.

So as from the 1st January AD 2009 St Mary and St Giles will be using a very good translation of the Scriptures and, in Bishop Andrew's words, "be an experimental Parish" in seeking to improve the Scriptural knowledge of our people.

We have also encouraged or folk to buy their own copies for use at home and will be giving copies each year to all children in their final year at our CofE Aided Junior School. In cases of hardship the PCC wishes to reduce the cost even further and one person was so taken with this idea that a donation has been made to help the PCC so do.

The Bishop is also encouraging us to look at a range of liturgical music as well and with the appointment of our new Organist and Choirmaster this is something I am keen to do.