Mission opportunity ham-strung by church’s ‘clunking fist’

A probationary minister who planned to offer communion in Trafalgar Square as part of a unique arts initiative was blocked by officials within his own church. Revd Kenneth Chalmers - see my post on 24th July - wanted to create ‘a sacred space’ on the square’s vacant fourth plinth as part of the ‘One and Other’ arts project. But Methodist Church headquarters intervened after complaints that a probationer was not authorised to conduct communion.

Instead, Mr Chalmers led a worship service while the superintendant minister of Methodist Central Hall stepped in to offer communion from the foot of the plinth. Revd Martin Turner was dismayed by the church ruling, saying that a ‘wonderful initiative’ had been hampered by ‘the great clunking first of the Methodism establishment’. Nevertheless, Mr Chalmers said he was elated by doing the ‘God thing’ in public in the historic tradition of Methodists like John Wesley and Lord Soper.

Source: Methodist Recorder (6/8)

Methodist minister offers spiritual nourishment from the fourth plinth

A Methodist minister will be offering visitors to Trafalgar Square a touch of midweek spirituality as he leads a worship service from the fourth plinth, alongside Nelson’s Column and the imposing facade of the National Gallery.

From 9-10am on Tuesday 28 July, Revd Ken Chalmers, from Castle Cary in Somerset, will offer spiritual reflections and worship to gathering friends, tourists and other visitors to the Square. Visitors will also will hear Bible readings and worship songs and share Holy Communion, administered from the base of the plinth by Revd Martin Turner.

Explaining why he chose to use his hour in this way, Ken said; “Art and symbolism have always been used to express the Christian faith and I want my hour on the plinth to focus on spiritual reflection. Many people have come to Trafalgar square to feed the pigeons, but perhaps we can offer our human visitors a bit of spiritual food for an hour this Tuesday.”

Those who can’t make it to Trafalgar Square needn’t miss out completely – they can join in by visiting www.oneandother.co.uk, to watch the plinth live.

Ken is one of 2,400 people who will appear on the fourth plinth between 6 July and 14October 2009, picked from more than 28,000 applicants for sculptor Anthony Gormley’s One and Other project. Gormley is asking the people of the UK to occupy the empty fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. Every hour, 24 hours a day, for 100 days without a break, a different person will make the plinth their own.

Source: Methodist news Service 24/07/09