War Cry 6 May

WAR CRY

What is The Salvation Army?

The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity seeking to share the good news of Jesus and nurture committed followers of him. We also serve people without discrimination, care for creation and seek justice and reconciliation. We offer practical support and services in more than 700 centres throughout the UK. Go to salvationarmy.org.uk/find-a-church to find your nearest centre.

What is the War Cry?

The Salvation Army first published a newspaper called the War Cry in London in December 1879, and we have continued to appear every week since then. Our name refers to our battle for people’s hearts and souls as we promote the positive impact of the Christian faith and The Salvation Army’s fight for greater social justice.

WAR CRY

Issue No 7626

Editor: Andrew Stone, Major

Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow

Production Editor: Ivan Radford

Assistant Editor: Sarah Olowofoyeku

Staff Writer: Emily Bright

Staff Writer: Claire Brine

Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk

Graphic Designer: Rodney Kingston

Graphic Designer: Mark Knight

Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk

The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN

Tel: 0845 634 0101

Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@satcol.org

Founder: William Booth

General: Brian Peddle

Territorial Commander: Commissioner Anthony Cotterill

Editor-in-Chief: Major Julian Watchorn

SATURDAY 6 May 2023 will go down in history as the date when the eyes of much of the world watched the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Whatever an individual’s view of monarchy may be, the first crowning of a king in Westminster Abbey for 86 years is a milestone in the life of this King and the country. It will be particularly significant for those people who will be attending the ceremony, such as canons’ verger Andrew Campbell.

‘I’m looking forward to being at the coronation and to being a part of history,’ he says in this week’s War Cry. In the interview he also recounts the historical traditions of the day as well as describing the duties he usually carries out in his work.

It is noteworthy that the coronation takes place in a building dedicated to the worship of God, who is sometimes described by Christians as ‘the King of kings’. Yet within the Bible there are also instructions from one writer that Christians should pray for people in leadership.

‘You should pray for rulers and for all who have authority,’ he says. ‘Pray for these leaders so that we can live quiet and peaceful lives’ (1 Timothy 2:2 Easy-to-Read Version). It is, however, not just those who have a degree of power who should be prayed for. Before mentioning leaders, the writer says: ‘I ask that you pray for all people. Ask God to bless them and give them what they need’ (1 Timothy 2:1).

On a day such as today, many Christians will pray for the newly crowned King and Queen, asking God to help them successfully undertake their duties.

But it is good to be reminded that God does not only care for royalty or people in positions of power and influence. The love of the King of kings is available to everyone.

INFO INFO

Front-page picture: HUGO BURNAND

Time to give a helping hand

To mark the coronation, an initiative is encouraging people to volunteer in the community

WHILE many eyes today will be on screens showing the placing of crowns on heads, one initiative is calling on people across the nation to mark the occasion with their hands – and for them to make a difference through volunteering.

From Monday (8 May), various organisations across the country are joining in the Big Help Out to mark the coronation, giving members of the public the opportunity to volunteer in their communities. In the lead-up to the day, the initiative’s app has been pointing people in the right direction to lend a hand.

The app’s short quiz asks prospective volunteers where they are located,

whether they want to help out through participation in events or taking an action and the causes they would like to support – which include animal welfare; sports, art and culture; health and social care; and sustainability, heritage and environment. Once all the options have been completed, app users are shown the relevant opportunities.

generously make a positive difference to their communities and especially to the lives of the most vulnerable.’

Life can be meaningful through service

Other faith leaders have expressed their support for the Big Help Out and volunteering, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, who described the actions of volunteers of faith as ‘acts of love and service for our neighbour’.

More than six million people are expected to take part, putting their name down to engage in activities such as working in a charity shop, picking up litter, befriending older people or distributing charity leaflets.

The Salvation Army is participating in the campaign, which encourages people to try volunteering for the first time. The church and charity’s work, inspired by the faith of its founders, is supported by thousands of volunteers every day in its shops, food banks and drop-ins.

Commissioner Anthony Cotterill, the leader of The Salvation Army’s work across the country, said: ‘In every corner of the UK, volunteers with The Salvation Army

He said that, for Christians, such acts follow ‘the example of Jesus Christ, the King of all kings, who teaches us to love our neighbour’.

People all over the world who follow Jesus’ example have, for centuries, gone out of their way to help others and to show kindness, love and forgiveness to anyone – even people who don’t like them.

Although it can sometimes seem as if the rich and famous people of this world are the most noteworthy, Jesus taught his followers that their lives could be meaningful through service, saying: ‘If you want to be extraordinary – love your enemies! Do good without restraint! Lend with abandon!’ (Luke 6:35 The Voice).

It’s no mean feat. But those who decide to put their trust in Jesus don’t have to try to follow his lead in their own strength. He is ready to show anyone his love, which can transform their lives, and give them the power to help them live like him.

Today we can all decide to try our hand at faith and then make a difference in the world for good.

Feature by Sarah Olowofoyeku

A Salvation Army volunteer preparing a parcel at a food bank

LIBRARY PICTURE POSED BY MODEL

Church bells ring out

Interview by Claire Brine

‘AS a church bellringer, you are often unseen – but you can certainly be heard,’ says the Rev Max Drinkwater, vicar of St Mary’s Church in Haverhill and an experienced bellringer. ‘When you’re entering a church building through a back door, then climbing the tower to spend the next few hours ringing the bells in an enclosed space, it’s easy to forget that you’re making a sound that can be heard across the community. But people often say that they appreciate hearing the sound of church bells, which have been used to mark significant occasions in the life of our country for centuries.’

At the end of last year, the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers launched a national campaign urging individuals to take up bellringing before the King’s coronation, so that every church in the UK which has bells in its tower could make a distinctive contribution to the weekend’s celebrations.

‘There are about 6,000 towers across the UK, and an average church has six to eight bells,’ explains Max. ‘So if we want to ensure that every bell is rung for the coronation, we are going to need about 35,000 ringers. It should be doable. We have attracted some new recruits, and a lot of churches have bands of ringers who are used to moving from one tower to another.’

Since the launch of Ring for the King, Max’s church has welcomed four new bellringers. A number of former bellringers

also made contact, expressing their interest in picking up the skill again. Ahead of each bellringer lies a golden opportunity to make history – but preparing to perform for the coronation has entailed a big commitment.

‘Bellringing takes three or four months to learn, so individuals don’t get to see a return straightaway,’ says Max. ‘It takes a good few weeks for someone to learn how to handle the bell by themselves, and only then can they start ringing with other people. Although it takes a lot of dedication initially in terms of time, those who stick with it usually find it a wonderful hobby, and it provides a great social circle.’

Bells mark significant occasions

as a baby,’ he says. ‘Apparently, I sat in the corner while my mum was ringing and I called out instructions like a conductor. But I first caught hold of a rope and was taught how to ring when I was 11. You don’t need a huge amount of strength for bellringing, as it is more about technique. So, as long as children are tall enough to reach the ropes, they’re able to learn.’

When Max left home for university, he sought out a church with a bellringing band, keen to improve his skills. He explains why the hobby he found in childhood continues to appeal in his adult years.

Max began bellringing as a child, after having grown up watching his mother work the ropes. Today he is part of the band of ringers at his own church, as well as ringing with some other church bands.

‘My first experience of bellringing was

‘You’re always learning new things,’ he says. ‘There’s also a unique mix of physical and mental discipline to it. You’ve got to handle the bell properly and learn how to pull it in time. But to make it sound like music, you have to learn how to change the order in which the bells are rung, and that’s achieved by memorising

The Rev MAX DRINKWATER will be joining bellringers across the country in marking the King’s coronation today (Saturday 6 May). He explains why bellringing is an important part of church history and how it can help individuals to deepen their faith

Max Drinkwater

for the coronation

certain patterns and then recalling them. It’s a style of ringing called “change ringing”, and it was developed hundreds of years ago, after the Reformation.

for everyone, though it tended to be agricultural labourers who did it the most, as the bells were so heavy back then.’

As the centuries passed and churches developed new fittings for their bells, more and more people became interested in learning the skill.

‘Before the 16th century, bells were used exclusively as a call to worship. But after the Reformation, the Church of England began using bells to mark other occasions. Bellringing became an activity Turn to page 6 f

‘Today people come to it from all sorts of backgrounds,’ says Max. ‘And we

welcome all ages. Some see ringing as an act of devotion and will be at church every Sunday, ringing the bells for the service. Others see it just as a hobby. But I think everyone who does it – whether they have a faith or not – appreciates the fact

From page 5

that bellringing is an important part of the spiritual life of a church.’

For many, the sound of church bells echoing over the hills is an uplifting experience, evoking feelings of nostalgia and resurrecting childhood memories. Max believes the sound appeals to people of all faiths and none.

life, such as the birth of a new baby or a marriage.

Bells create space for God to speak

‘The sound of church bells can travel across an entire community, so I think that when people hear it, there’s a sense in which they feel “at home”,’ he says. ‘Bells can also evoke feelings of warmth and celebration as people have used them to mark important occasions in their

‘At St Mary’s, we ring the bells every Sunday as part of our worship. So, for me, bellringing is always an act of devotion. Sometimes, when we dedicate our bellringing to a significant event, such as the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, it becomes a form of contemplative prayer. It’s about creating a space for God to speak.’

Bells are mentioned several times in the Bible.

‘There’s a passage which says that bells were sewn on the garments of priests,’ explains Max. ‘When the priests walked along, people could be alerted to

the fact that they were in the presence of God. I think bells still have that power to make us aware of God’s presence today.’

As well as hoping that people will enjoy the church bells this weekend, Max hopes that the coronation ceremony will give them the opportunity to reflect on the importance of faith – not just in their own lives, but also for the country as a whole.

‘The coronation is a religious service,’ he says. ‘So it’s a great opportunity for Christians to witness to their faith. Here is our new King, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and he has spoken publicly about his faith being important to him. For me, the fact that he has this deep faith which gets him through life is a big part of the celebration.’

Max will be ringing for the coronation

Abbey times

Interview by Andrew Stone

AT 11 o’clock this morning, in a church in central London, King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be crowned in a ceremony full of pomp and glory. Westminster Abbey has been the venue for nearly all the coronations that have taken place in England for the past 957 years. However, the history of the abbey goes back even further, as Andrew Campbell, the abbey’s canons’ verger explains.

‘In the 960s, St Dunstan founded a monastery at a place called Thorney Island, which was literally an island of thorns in the middle of the Thames,’ he says. ‘Many people don’t realise that where the abbey now stands used to be marshland. The original buildings were built there because the land was cheap to buy.

‘In the 1040s, the king known as Edward the Confessor completed moving the capital city from Winchester to London. As part of that process, he built the Palace of Westminster, which we know now as the Houses of Parliament. He also built an abbey on the site, which at the time was probably the largest church in the country.

‘The church was completed at the end of 1065 and Edward died at the beginning of 1066. That, of course, was the year of the Battle of Hastings, which saw William the Conqueror become king. In order to affirm that he was the rightful king of England, William was crowned in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066, sat on the tomb of Edward the Confessor.’

That began the tradition of England’s, and later Britain’s, monarchs being crowned in the abbey, in the exact same spot as William I – although

Turn to page 8 f

Andrew Campbell

Canons’ verger ANDREW CAMPBELL looks back at the history of the centuries-old building that will host the coronation and reflects on why it still has a relevant part to play today in the life of the nation

From page 7

a shrine was built for Edward the Confessor’s remains when Henry III rebuilt the abbey in the 13th century.

It was Henry III’s successor, Edward I, who ordered the construction of the Coronation Chair that has remained in the abbey ever since.

Andrew explains how, as well as the place of the coronation being steeped in tradition and history, the origins of the events of the day date back centuries.

‘A set of instructions were written in the

14th century, detailing everything that was done when one of Richard II’s queens was crowned. We still have those instructions today, and so they will be used as a reference, as they have been for every coronation since.

‘They outline who should be there, where things should go, the ingredients

for the special oil of anointing that was used. The instructions won’t be strictly followed but will be used as a guide in the way they have for the past 700 years.’

Andrew has learnt much of the history of Westminster Abbey during the seven years he has worked there as a verger.

‘The word “verger” comes from the Latin virga, which means “stick”,’ he says. ‘Historically, monks would employ someone to walk in front of them, carrying a stick, with the purpose of clearing people out

Westminster Abbey

of the way. Ceremonially, that role has continued through the centuries and that is where our role gets its name from.’

Although there may have been the odd occasion when a gentle nudge to a member of the public has been needed as Andrew has led a procession through the abbey, the role of verger today entails far more than just carrying a ceremonial stick.

‘In most cathedrals, the vergers do everything,’ he says. ‘They are security, cleaners and furniture movers as well as making sure that everything is in place for each service. However, there are more people working at the abbey than at other cathedrals, so we focus on the liturgical element of the role. The clergy prepare the services and give us notes of what they require and we make sure that it’s ready for them.’

And there are plenty of services to keep Westminster’s team of vergers busy. There are four services every day during the week, three on Saturdays and five on Sundays. Some take place while the abbey is open to tourists and Andrew says that, while most of the visitors are drawn to the building because of its historical significance, others go there for spiritual reasons.

‘People do come to the abbey to take part in a service or to say a prayer, regardless of the other people around them. Personally, I do sometimes find it hard to worship there because of all that is happening around me, but the services can have their moments and I have felt connected to God.

‘The morning services at the abbey, before we open to visitors, can be very meaningful. You can feel there is something special happening.’

A lunchtime service is held every day among the general visitors, which Andrew says can make it ‘hectic’, but he explains: ‘The idea is to expose the visitors to what the abbey does – we are a Christian church and this is what we do.’

The most memorable service held in recent times at Westminster Abbey was the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II last September. Andrew was there when it took place.

‘The Queen’s funeral was the most surreal experience – it’s difficult to explain,’ he says. ‘I don’t think it sank in what I had been involved in until after it was over. There was so much to concentrate on. My role was to oversee the internal sound for the abbey.

‘There was quite intense pressure, but significant services are what we do at the abbey. As a national church, it’s one of the things that we’re here for. But the difference with the funeral was that it was the service for the longest-reigning monarch this country has ever had and it was watched round the world by billions of people.’

Now the world’s focus will be back on the abbey as King Charles III and Queen Camilla are crowned. The building has

The 13th-century Coronation Chair has been used at every coronation since 1308

been closed to visitors for almost two weeks as preparations have been going on. And, despite all the hard work – and the early start Andrew has today – he knows it will be another memorable occasion.

‘I’m looking forward to being at the coronation and to being a part of history. It will be something to tell my family about in the years to come,’ he reflects.

‘There’s going to be a role for all the vergers during the day, which is good

because it wouldn’t be fair if only some of us took part. We’ll all have the pressure to make sure that everything goes right, but that’s why there have been so many rehearsals.’

But it is not only the big events that Andrew works hard for.

‘I’ve always believed that if I am doing a job, I should be doing it to the utmost of my ability,’ he says. ‘I especially need to make sure that I do what I’m meant to do when someone is relying on me. At the abbey, my work means that I am enabling people to come and worship, pray and move on in their journey of faith.’

The Queen’s funeral was a surreal experience

ANDREW CAMPBELL

CROWNING GLORY

IAN BRADLEY

Interview by Emily Bright

OD save the King. It may still feel strange to hear people saying that after seven decades of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, but the phrase will come up often when the coronation of King Charles III takes place. And God will have a central role within the ceremony.

‘We know that both Charles and Camilla will be anointed with oil, because the oil has already been blessed in Jerusalem,’ says Ian Bradley, who has written a book on the history of kingship and coronations, God Save the King: The Sacred Nature of the Monarchy. ‘The anointing will be the most sacred moment of the coronation and won’t be televised.

‘The oil was taken from olives in the garden of the monastery on the Mount of Olives where Prince Philip’s mother was buried. She was a Greek Orthodox nun, and he was brought up in the Greek Orthodox Church. This choice of oil is in recognition of and in tribute to both Prince Philip and his mother.

‘Early on in the ceremony, before the anointing or the crowning, the King has

Author

reveals the rich history that will shape today’s coronation ceremony and highlights how the event can bring people together

Ian Bradley

to make three oaths, two of which are about governing with justice and mercy and ensuring that the country is governed in an orderly way and according to the rule of law. The other oath is about maintaining the Church of England.’

Appropriately for the King, who is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Scripture will play a key role in the ceremony. Handel’s ‘Zadok the Priest’, based on the anointing of Solomon in the Bible’s First Book of Kings, was written for King George II’s coronation in 1727 and has been played at every coronation since. Andrew Lloyd Webber has also been commissioned to set one of the songs from the Bible, Psalm 98, to music. The psalm speaks of rejoicing in God’s righteousness, love, faithfulness and justice.

As Ian explains, there’s a strong link between the Psalms and coronation services which goes back to the ancient Israelites.

‘The Psalms are associated with King David, and many of them are royal psalms which we think were used at coronations or inaugurations of Israelite kings,’ he says. ‘They’ve always had a key role in British coronations.

‘The Old Testament is full of allusions to kingship and kings. The sense is that the king is God’s representative on Earth and rules, as it were, on behalf of

God, and is the agent whereby God’s values of justice, righteousness and mercy are transmitted to the people. The coronation service is closely based on the inauguration of the kings of Israel, as described in the Old Testament.’

But Ian says that in the New Testament, the story of Jesus’ life ‘redefines kingship’. He explains: ‘Jesus’ kingship is about humility and service. Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah, which means the “anointed one”, and God’s Son. When he comes into Jerusalem, people expect him to come in as a king in triumph, riding on a great stallion. But he comes in on a donkey in humility, knowing that he is actually riding to his death on a cross.’

According to Ian, the UK is now the only country that holds a religious coronation service. He shares his thoughts on why such coronations have survived in Britain.

‘Perhaps partly it reflects our love of pageantry and pomp, and the central role that religion still plays in the life of the monarch,’ he says.

‘When we see our monarchs, they are quite often going to church. And they still obviously have a key role in things like the service of Remembrance and the Commonwealth Day service. Our monarchy has been very closely bound with the Church.’

Ian adds that the King has also spoken about his strong personal faith.

‘Charles made clear statements at the beginning of his reign about his own faith and his strong commitment to the Church of England, which, he said, made him prioritise love and reaching out to others.

‘We know he’s very interested in the Orthodox Church and that he has gone on retreat at the monastery in Mount Athos. Coronation day, 6 May, is actually when many in the Orthodox Church celebrate St George, the patron saint of England and several other countries.’

In this new era, Ian sees the monarch’s role as not only to be a ‘defender of the faith’, but also to span divides within communities.

‘If the monarchy has a role, it is to be this kind of fount of unity and possibly to bring us together,’ he says. ‘It tries to stand for something which is beyond politics, which is beyond all our divisions, and to embody something which is perhaps more spiritual and sacred, such as deeply held values, to which we can all subscribe, of justice, mercy, tolerance and forgiveness.’

l God Save the King: The Sacred Nature of the Monarchy

is published by Darton, Longman and Todd

King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, is escorted through the Palace of Westminster ahead of the state opening of parliament

Jesus’ kingship is about humility and service

Prayerlink

YOUR prayers are requested for Ann, who is struggling with her physical and mental health.

The War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the first names of individuals and details of their circumstances, for publication. Send your Prayerlink requests to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk or to War Cry, 101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN. Mark your correspondence ‘Confidential’.

jBecoming a Christian

There is no set formula to becoming a Christian, but many people have found saying this prayer to be a helpful first step to a relationship with God

Lord Jesus Christ, I am truly sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong.

Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free.

Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Holy Spirit. Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me for ever.

Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen

Prom and

Every

Interview by Philip Halcrow

‘WE’RE taking lots of well-loved pieces of national music,’ says conductor Michael Andrews, ‘and – on this day of national celebration – are rededicating them to the King of kings.’

Every year at the Royal Albert Hall, Michael’s All Souls Orchestra puts on a concert that he describes as ‘inspired by the Last Night of the Proms, but with a Christian twist’. He says that the annual Prom Praise showcases ‘a fusion of styles of worship that exist in the Church today’ and presents ‘the great hymns of the past alongside wonderful classical overtures and anthems’.

This year, the event has been given an additional twist and has been relabelled as the Coronation Prom.

‘The date for this year’s concert was already in the diary,’ says Michael, ‘when suddenly we discovered that the King was going to be crowned on the same day. It led to a bit of a frenzy in the music office, because we thought we may need to cancel. But, after about 24 hours, we came to the conclusion that actually it was a wonderful opportunity.’

The orchestra has been taking opportunities

Extract from Why Jesus? by Nicky Gumbel published by Alpha International, 2011. Used by kind permission of Alpha International

Guests in 2019, the Kingdom Choir are returning for this year’s concert

Some of the music has been used at coronations through the ages

Michael Andrews

year All Souls Orchestra puts on a Prom Praise concert. This year, as conductor MICHAEL ANDREWS explains, the event has been given a regal reshuffle

JESS ROBBINGS

to carry out its musical ministry since 1972, when it was formed at the central London church of All Souls Langham Place.

‘At first the orchestra was a small number of musicians from within the church family,’ says Michael, who took up the role of senior music minister for the church in 2019, ‘but over time it became a much larger ensemble to the point where our founder, Noël Tredinnick, began to host annual concerts at the Barbican and then the Southbank Centre. Not long after that Prom Praise was born, which is an annual celebration of hymns, choral music, orchestral overtures and contemporary worship music, intended to highlight the diversity of music that we can use in worshipping God.

‘Now the orchestra has grown so that many members come from churches across the UK – and indeed some people come from around the world to play with us, and we have a gathered choir made up of people from churches of different denominations.

‘We still serve the congregation of All Souls Langham Place in praise and worship, but we also put on concerts around the country and go

on mission trips overseas.’

Michael says the orchestra is ‘a mix of professional musicians, music students and passionate amateurs. It’s a totally varied group of people, but the thing that unites them is that they want to use their gifts in worship to praise God. The musicians value the fact that they can play Beethoven or Mozart or the latest worship song by Matt Redman, and it can all be used for God’s glory.’

Tonight’s concert – where the orchestra and choir will be joined by special guests including gospel outfit the Kingdom Choir and baroque soprano Joanne Lunn – will draw on various styles and various eras in presenting music with a monarchy-related motif.

‘We will be using some of the music that has been used in coronations down through the ages,’ says Michael. ‘We will be featuring William Walton’s “Orb and Sceptre”, and we will be playing “Zadok the Priest” by Handel, which has been sung at every coronation since 1727 and brings to life the moment in

the Bible when Zadok and Nathan the prophet anoint Solomon as king.

The evening of royal references is designed to help people in the hall – and the many more who will be able to watch a free live stream of the concert – explore something beyond the events that will have taken place across London at Westminster Abbey earlier in the day.

‘We want to unpack the music from the coronation and the Christian symbolism at the heart of the coronation,’ says Michael.

‘For instance, the King is given an orb, which represents the whole world. On top of it is the cross. The liturgy that goes alongside it explains that Jesus is the ruler of the world – and yet his symbol is a Roman instrument of torture. It seems odd. Why is the cross his symbol? It’s because Jesus’ kingship is marked by sacrifice, compassion for people and his desire to rescue the world from sin, evil and death.

‘So we will use the great hymn “Crown Him with Many Crowns” and the muchloved melody of Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance March No 1”, which was refashioned in his Coronation Ode in the early 20th century but we’ll be singing the hymn “Glory in the Highest” to it.

‘We have developed the whole concert to reflect that we’re talking about Jesus being the King of kings.’

The Prom Praise audience in the Albert Hall

They want to use their gifts in worship

Michael and the All Souls musicians at last year’s Prom Praise

WARREN SHENG

WARREN SHENG

PUZZLES

Quick CROSSWORD

SERVES 4

Blueberry and orange salmon

INGREDIENTS

450g new potatoes, halved if large

1 orange

1tbsp honey

150g blueberries

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/ Gas Mark 4. Place the potatoes in a roasting tin with the oil and some salt and pepper and cook for 30-40 minutes, until golden and cooked through.

4 x 125g salmon fillets

200g fresh or frozen peas

2tbsp crème fraiche

Pare the rind from the orange, leaving behind the white pith, and cut it into thin strips. Use a serrated knife to remove the white pith, then cut the orange into segments. Do this over a small pan to catch the segments and any juices.

Add the zest strips and honey to the pan, bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 3-4 minutes, until the zest has softened. Stir in the blueberries and simmer uncovered for a couple more minutes, until some have burst.

Place the salmon fillets in an ovenproof dish, spoon over half the blueberry sauce and cook alongside the potatoes for 15-20 minutes, until the fish just flakes and is beginning to caramelise.

Meanwhile bring a pan of water to the boil, add the peas and cook for 2-3 minutes, until tender. Drain, then stir in the crème fraiche and mint. Serve the salmon with the potatoes, peas and the remaining blueberry sauce.

SERVES 4

Strawberry jelly pots

INGREDIENTS

11.5g pack sugar free jelly, strawberry or raspberry flavour

200g strawberries, hulled and roughly chopped

100g natural yoghurt or milk

Handful

blueberries or raspberries

METHOD

Dissolve the jelly crystals in 285ml hot water from the kettle, stirring until completely dissolved. Leave to cool for 15 minutes.

Purée the strawberries in a blender or mash by hand. Mix with the yoghurt and stir into the cooled jelly. Pour into small lidded pots or jelly moulds. Drop a few berries into each pot before chilling until set.

PRAY FOR RULERS AND FOR ALL WHO HAVE AUTHORITY

1 Timothy 2:2 (Easy-to-Read Version)