British millionaire buys, then donates religious paintings
A self-effacing multi-millionaire, Jonathan Ruffer, has become a cultural icon here after buying a series of 17th century religious paintings from the Anglican Church for 15 million pounds and then giving them back so they can remain on public display. Painted by Francisco de Zurbaran, a contemporary of Velazquez and El Greco, the representations of the Biblical patriarch Jacob and his sons have been kept at Auckland Castle at Durham since 1756 when they were bought by Bishop Richard Trevor for just under 150 pounds. Earlier this year, the Church Commissioners proposed to sell the Zurbarans at public auction in the hope of using the money to fund Church ministry in poorer parts of England. Thousands of people in the north east of England signed a petition asking that the paintings remain at the castle and supported a campaign organized by Helen Goodman, Labour MP for Bishop Auckland, to keep them in Britain. Praise: God for the generosity of Mr Ruffer. (2Cor.9:11)
British millionaire buys, then donates religious paintings
A self-effacing multi-millionaire, Jonathan Ruffer, has become a cultural icon here after buying a series of 17th century religious paintings from the Anglican Church for 15 million pounds and then giving them back so they can remain on public display. Painted by Francisco de Zurbaran, a contemporary of Velazquez and El Greco, the representations of the Biblical patriarch Jacob and his sons have been kept at Auckland Castle at Durham since 1756 when they were bought by Bishop Richard Trevor for just under 150 pounds. Earlier this year, the Church Commissioners proposed to sell the Zurbarans at public auction in the hope of using the money to fund Church ministry in poorer parts of England. Thousands of people in the north east of England signed a petition asking that the paintings remain at the castle and supported a campaign organized by Helen Goodman, Labour MP for Bishop Auckland, to keep them in Britain. Praise: God for the generosity of Mr Ruffer. (2Cor.9:11)
No plans to change prayers in House of Lords
Suggestions to make prayers in the House of Lords more inclusive were given a lukewarm response this week. Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked peers to consider ‘widening the scope of House of Lords prayers into devotions encompassing faiths that are represented in the House’. He suggested a minute of silence and reflection in addition to the prayers out of consideration for the diversity of faiths and denominations in the House of Lords and wider society. The proposal was met with opposition from the Chairman of Committees, Lord Brabazon of Tara, who said there were no plans to change the prayers. He noted that the practice of prayer in the House of Lords went back to the 1500s and that change might be ‘premature’ (See Prayer Alert 07-2011) Praise: God for the recognition that prayer would remain at the heart of our Parliament. (Mk.12:17) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/no.plans.to.change.prayers.in.house.of.lords/27767.htm
No plans to change prayers in House of Lords
Suggestions to make prayers in the House of Lords more inclusive were given a lukewarm response this week. Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked peers to consider ‘widening the scope of House of Lords prayers into devotions encompassing faiths that are represented in the House’. He suggested a minute of silence and reflection in addition to the prayers out of consideration for the diversity of faiths and denominations in the House of Lords and wider society. The proposal was met with opposition from the Chairman of Committees, Lord Brabazon of Tara, who said there were no plans to change the prayers. He noted that the practice of prayer in the House of Lords went back to the 1500s and that change might be ‘premature’ (See Prayer Alert 07-2011) Praise: God for the recognition that prayer would remain at the heart of our Parliament. (Mk.12:17) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/no.plans.to.change.prayers.in.house.of.lords/27767.htm
