Creator, Barry King from Amesbury has spent six and a half years building the West Front of the cathedral and has now taken his creation to be displayed at Salisbury’s Guild Hall, via Salisbury Cathedral to pose for a photo with the model in front of the real building.

Barry said it will “take another 15 years to complete” the model of the whole cathedral and he is hoping to break a world record of the biggest matchstick model ever made when he completes it.

Barry said he started the project as a way of “challenging himself” and to “create some artwork to be remembered for.”

So far Barry has spent 400 – 500 hours of work on the unlit matchstick creation on top of his full time job.

When finished it will measure 15ft by 9ft and it is expected to be made up of six million matchsticks.

 

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

Alfrery Líctor Cruz Canseco was in the pulpit of the Fraternidad Cristiana Church in the municipality of Tlalixtac de Cabrera on Sunday when he was shot at point-blank range.

According to Christian human rights organisation CSW, his attacker attempted to escape, but was prevented from doing so by members of the congregation and was handed over to the authorities.

Pastor Cruz Canseco is reported to have died from his injuries on the way to hospital.

The motive for the killing is unknown but follows a series of violent attacks against religious leaders in the country, including the disappearance of Pastor Aarón Méndez Ruiz on 3rd August.

CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said: “The fact that he was targeted while in the pulpit is particularly shocking. We also remain concerned for the wellbeing of Pastor Méndez Ruiz and urge the Mexican government to spare no effort in ensuring his safe return, investigating all of these crimes and prosecuting those responsible.”

The charity has called for the Mexican government to develop strategies to support all religious leaders who are under threat as “many criminal groups view church leaders and their influence as a threat to their power.”

Thomas added: “The government must recognise the role that religious leaders play, not only as leaders of their churches, but also as voices for peace, justice and integrity, and human…

Elder Li Yingqiang from Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC) in Sichuan was taken into custody on 9th December 2018 for “stirring up trouble and “running an illegal business”.

In a message sent via social media on Sunday, Li’s wife Zhang Xinyue said: “Thank you my friends, family, brothers and sisters! Thank you for walking with my family through different means in the past eight months. May God greatly bless you. I love you all!”

Although many previously detained members of ERCC have been released on bail over the past eight months, Pastor Wang Yi, Qin Derfu, and Gou Zhongshan still remain in custody with the authorities.

Pastor Wang’s wife was among those arrested in December for inciting subversion where she remained separated from her son for six months before being released in June.

ERCC has released an emergency statement regarding Pastor Wang Yi’s defence lawyers following concerns that the detained Pastor was being denied access to a fair legal team and being penalised for his Christian beliefs.

The statement said: “We have recently learned, through various channels, that Chengdu authorities intend to disregard the attorneys appointed by Pastor Wang Yi and his family members and to appoint and authorise other attorneys (including Christian attorneys) to defend him against his will.

It went on to say: “We strongly oppose the government’s actively or passively…

The Gaia exhibition opened Monday, with a giant globe installed in the cathedral.

The work is by Luke Jerram, the artist behind Museum of the Moon, which was installed at the Cathedral last year.

The seven metre diameter globe has been created using NASA imagery.

Jerram said: “I hope visitors to Gaia get to see the Earth as if from space; an incredibly beautiful and precious place. An ecosystem we urgently need to look after – our only home.

“Halfway through the Earth’s six mass extinction, we urgently need to wake up, and change our behaviour. We need to quickly make the changes necessary, to prevent run away Climate Change.”

Dean of Peterborough, the Very Rev Chris Dalliston added: “I’d like to invite anyone who comes to see it, to spend time reflecting on the beauty of the Earth and the wonderfully rich, but fragile, planet we inhabit.”

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

On Monday, Harry and Meghan posted a quote by the anti-apartheid and human rights activist on Instagram, urging their followers to overwhelm the world with “little bits” of good.

It read: “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

Harry and Meghan, who have been vocal on environmental issues, were criticised after reportedly taking four private jet journeys in 11 days.

 

Sir Elton John has condemned the perceived mistreatment of the royals.

He explained he had provided Harry and Meghan and their son Archie with a private flight to “maintain a high level of much-needed protection”.

He wrote on social media that he had made sure the flight was carbon neutral by making the “appropriate contribution” to a carbon footprint fund.

“I am deeply distressed by today’s distorted and malicious account in the press surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s private stay at my home in Nice last week,” he said.

File photo dated 14/7/2019 of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex embrace David Furnish and Elton John at the European Premiere of Disney’s The Lion King at the Odeon Leicester Square, London

 

“After a hectic year continuing their hard work and dedication to charity, David and I wanted the young family to have a private holiday inside the safety…