‘Socame Honorary Chaplain to the the war and retained do Association. ived the Distinguished Service in 1944 for his military achieve- = the armed services, chfield hits back at jobile mast protestors | spread the message = DIOCESE of Lichfield back at protestors eam- ing against a mobile be mast being installed ata Country Church, sribing them as a ‘baying avin Drake, Director of mminications for the Dio- >of Lichfield, says the pro- ors fears’ are based on snformation’ ound 60 demonstrators ekaded St Francis of Assist erch in ‘Friars Park, Gnesbury, on Sunday, jeer “churchgoers as they left service and calling for any ned mast to be relocated. Phe campaigners are also jecting to a phone mast at = King’s School in nearby Sverhampton. Mr Drake said the protestors re misinformed about the gus of both sites and the fects of phone masts on peo- ®s health, and that the Dio- se did not profit from the hoo!’s mast. He said: “There has been a pbile phone base station at be King’s School in Wolver- smpion for the past seven bars. All that is happening now is “the phone company wish replace this with a newer St! Meanwhile Mr Drake said ‘no formal application had ‘been made for a mast at the although the PCC have in principle for a mast to ‘installed on the tower. Hle said: “As it stands today, there is no application for a mast at St Francis of Assisi Church in Wednesbury. “Many of the protestors at the church today have asked ‘why local people have only just been told about the proposed mast, “The answer is simple — we areat the start ofa consultation process, not the end of it “No formal decision has ‘been made, because no application has been received. At that stage a formal public notice vill be displayed outside the church and local residents ‘will be invited to submit their views in writing. “We are at an early stage in the process in Wednesbury ‘and it is completely wrong for protestors to say the Church won't listen or that decisions have already been taken.” “Mr Drake condemned the behaviour of the protestors out- side St Francis’ Church, as churchgoers were targeted as they left the service. “The protestors claim they ‘ne was a vommanuo chapiain aunng _remempered.tisnop Wood “as & great ‘7 great interest in man of God with vision, energy and enthu- ae Surlag the war he also ministered in There will be arivate family funeral ¢r siete tere during the Blitz when he Bishop Wood and a memorial service is ras a curate at St Paul's, Portman Square. planned for the autumn, Simpsons enlisted to By Rachel Hovenden DOH! The Simpsons could soon be coming to a church near you! Cartoon favourites Homer, Bart, Lisa, Marge and Maggie | are part of a new book to encourage children to reflect | onthe big issues oflife. "The new resource from Church of England hits the shops this summer, and is entitled Micing it up with The Simpsons. Itis aimed at encouraging youns people to think about the Chistian message while watching scenes from the TV series, focexample when Lisa gives a Valentine's Card to the ‘uncool’ | boy inher clas. Meanvil im considening the esis oftemp- faton, youth workers are encouraged to leave a plate of Goughinuts with a ‘do not touch’ sign by them, inline with Homer's own obsession with doughnuts on the programme. Tm other sessions isues of selFimage are explored through the story of Lisa the Beauty Queen’ and Homer and Barney's felationship is looked at in a session on the importance of friendship, ‘Mixing it wp with The Simpsons is an attempt to aid youth _workers in making Christianity relevant and contemporary for today's young people. ‘Owen Smith, author of the book, believes The Simpsons is |. an unexpectedly rich resource for exploring Christian themes are concerned for children, yet and theological concepts. they were happy to act like a | baying mob booing and jeering. He said: “This incredibly popular animation engages with everyday issues, from gossip, fighting and sibling sivalry, ene ‘children and elderly | through to identity issues and ctizenship vovekioners as they left | “The book builds on this platform and teqses outa (Christian church this morning,” he said. message through activities and discussion”. ae fuviour is infolers- | The book is designed for use with 913:yearolds — 99 ax Bee eter ipate protestors | group tht is increasingly fashion-conscious, media savy 202 ‘will reflect on their actions.” orldly-wise — and for which youth workers often strugle to Mr Drake also pointed to a find quality material. recent case by the former | _ ‘The book vill be available from Christian ‘bookshops from event Ae Pichield which | the beginning of July, and the Church's network of diocesae Chancellor of ic the heath ) children's work advisers are being approached to commend Riso mobile masts to be'sci- | the publication for use in parishes. entifically unproven. | Seepage 10