Posted on by David Steers

Ministerial Old Students’ Association Harris Manchester College, Oxford

Faith and Freedom was founded by the Ministerial Old Students’ Assocation of Manchester (now Harris Manchester) College, Oxford in 1947. It is always good to attend the annual meetings along with the meeting of the Friends and Honorary Governors of the College.

Attending both meetings gives the chance to see many contributors and supporters of Faith and Freedom. Amongst the attenders were three contributors to the latest issue (Ann Peart, Mária Pap and Lehel Molnár) as well as some whose writings will appear in the next issue.

Rev Mária Pap and Rev Dr Lehel Molnár
Rev Dr Ann Peart

Amongst the attenders there was also some cross-over with those associated with the Unitarian Historical Society and the concluding Old Students’ Association annual service on Friday, 21st June conducted by Rev Robin Hanford included an address, ‘Keep alive a dream in the heart’ by Rev Peter Hewis, which will appear in the next issue of the journal.

Rev Jim Corrigall and Dr David Wykes
Alan Ruston in the College Chapel

Having been founded by MOSA, Faith and Freedom gives an annual report to the Association and it is also a good opportunity to keep that connection active.

Rev Frank Walker (a contributor to the forthcoming issue) with NIgel Clarke (‘Faith and Freedom’ Business Manager)
The Two Peters. Rev Peter Hewis and Rev Dr Peter Godfrey (Editor Emeritus)
Rev Robin Hanford of Hinckley who conducted the annual service in the College Chapel

To read more about the latest issue click here.

Posted on by David Steers

George Cross (1909 – 2011) and the Normandy Landings

George Cross was born in Toxteth, Liverpool and lived all his life there apart from the war years. As a young man he took part in the D-Day Landings on 6 June 1944, not returning there until 2009 at the age of 100.

As a young man George attended Hyslop Street Mission, later moving to Sefton Park Presbyterian Church where he was an elder and lay preacher. George developed lots of interests and became a published author, writing about Liverpool history, and late in life emerged as an accomplished artist with public exhibitions and a book of his paintings which commemorated Liverpool buildings, many of them long demolished, including Sefton Park Church (at the top of the page).

In this video we tell some of the story of his life, particularly in relation to the D-Day Landings in which he participated. He has the distinction of having a building named after him in Toxteth and is remembered by a great many people for the warmth of his character and his kindness.

Click on the video to see George’s story
‘seeing is believing: the Liverpool paintings of George Cross’

The video includes some film of George’s return to Normandy in 2009 as well as film of him at one of his exhibitions.

Liverpool Cathedral by George Cross
Posted on by David Steers

In support of Roy and Isabel

Roy and Isabel Kelly are dedicated members of Ballee Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church who, with their family, have served their Church, their local community and wider society with selfless devotion throughout their lives. They are now in a position where they need support. They write:

We are Roy & Isabel Kelly from Ardglass, County Down, Northern Ireland. It comes with great sadness that we as a family find ourselves in the position of asking for your financial support, due to a tragic incident which occurred at our family home. Unfortunately, our insurance had lapsed and there is no insurance to cover a significant liability that has arisen in respect of this incident.  On legal advice we cannot go into this in any more detail. There is a real possibility that we could lose our home as a consequence of this incident.

I have no hesitation in backing their appeal and would urge those who can to consider supporting them. Their GoFund Me Page can be found here: https://gofund.me/5c460308

Please also consider supporting their Afternoon Tea Fundraiser at Ballee Church Hall on Saturday, 29th June 2024 from 12 Noon to 2.30 pm.