Missionary fights ‘Godless town’ claims
Tuesday 27th January 2009, 1:00PM GMT.
Four years ago Telford was branded one of Britain’s most Godless towns.
But a pioneer missionary has been attempting to encourage more Telford residents to get in touch with their Christian side. And tomorrow, a radio documentary will reveal how successful he has been.
The 30-minute radio documentary, called Telford, the Most Godless Town in Britain, will chart Mark Berry’s challenge to encourage more people to tap into their spirituality on behalf of the Diocese of Lichfield.
Jolyon Jenkins trailed the Church of England missionary on several occasions over a six-month period and the results will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 11am.
A national newspaper labelled Telford as the most Godless town in Britain when it emerged in 2005 the town had one of the lowest church attendances per head of the population, with less than one per cent of people attending an Anglican church on Sundays.
The Diocese appointed Mr Berry to the newly-created post of Pioneer Leader to young adults in the Telford area in 2005.
The former youth worker, who lives in Telford with his wife Louisa and four-year-old son Nathan, has initiated a number of projects under the Safe Space banner, including forging links between AFC Telford United and local methodist churches.
Mr Berry said he had taken issue with the title of the documentary because he believed church attendance did not accurately reflect the number of Christians in Telford
“It’s absolute nonsense,” he said.
“The number of people attending church does not make a place more or less Godless. God doesn’t live in churches.
“Hopefully the documentary will reflect the work we are doing. My role is not to get more people into church, but to engage with people in the 20s and 30s and serve the community.”
Mr Berry, who has also been approached to feature in the Channel 4 series Christianity: A History, said he had done a five-hour interview with the presenter who had also shadowed him at a number of events and visited projects with him.
“I am looking forward to hearing what he has made of it,” he said.
By Jo Cunningham
- What’s your opinion? Do you think Telford is a godless place? Give your comments in the box below
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Has Mr Berry not got anything better to do?
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most of the people in Telford can’t even spell God nevermind get to church
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Surely if Telford is the most Godless place in Britain then that is a cause for celebration. Less people who believe in a fairy tale, and thus have a stronger grip on reality is a good thing.
As someone once said “With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.”
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Something to be proud of – Telford is Britain’s most enlightened town!
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We can do without these radical preachers.
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He’s quiet welcome to come to the goat sacrifice I’m holding in the woods at Dawley over the weekend.
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what a waste of time priting this story……….. its quite obvious really, people now realize that religion really is a load of made up fairy tales and we really did come from anti matter (the big bang). telford probably is godless… but shrewsbury is even worse and better for it.
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It seems silly to tag any town in such a way.
we are not all that churchgoing as a country ,these days. Pubs and football are, for good or ill, more popular cheers Alex
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What’s disappointing is that the tone of the article and, one assumes, the R4 programme, interprets ‘godlessness’ in a negative way. I think it’s something to be celebrated.
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Beryl, what a negative thing to say. we take it you go bashing the bible regularly then
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Chav’s on a donkey. Now I like to see that?
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I have been on both sides of the religious fence.
22 – 23 years ago I was a born again Christian & started asking just what I was believing & preaching to others & couldn’t find any reasonable answers. I am now an atheist & It would take something pretty spectacular to change my mind now.
I am proud that my home town don’t all blindly follow some invisible deity.
The whole story is nearly as pointless as Beryls post [message 2].
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IF MR BERRY NEEDS SOMETHING TO DO CAN HE HAVE A WORD UPSTAIRS ABOUT THE TELFORD PLAYERS TO GET THEM BACK TO WINNING WAYS.
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Who cares? Is Shrewsbury devoid of Easter Bunny devotees? Do the fair folk of Ludlow have no faith in the Tooth Fairy? So what if Oswestry residents don’t swallow the story of Santa.
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Why do religeous people feel the need to convert others to their faiths? I can’t ever remember an Athiest trying to convince someone to denounce their faith.
Leave people alone. If they want God, they are perfecly capapble to learn more themselves.
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The Church was asked to comment over the development of the Town Park. a high profile member was all for it because the church was going to directly benefit.
They are supposed to represent their flock, not seek its own betterment. It is reasons such as this people do not bother with the church.
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congratulation`s telford at last you have given up on god and religion it`s only myth`s and superstition`s a real menace
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I have to agree with all the earlier posters. Where’s the voice of rational secularism as a balance to all this touchy feelly goody goody religious nonsense in the article? Clearly most Telford people don’t want C of E christianity. Religion has been at the root of more wars and conflicts throughout world history than anything else I can think of – and it still is. Religion has a very sinister history and Mr Berry merely represents its ‘socially acceptable’ although clearly very insiduous side.
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The reason that people think Telford is Godless, is because most religious people in Telford are immigrants
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I’m with those who wish to debunk religious myths.
The fact that Telford has left this superstitious clap-trap behind is something to celebrate and to be proud of.
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Beryl,
If your cheap insult to the folk of Telford is typical of your Christian charity, then it says a lot more about you than it does about us ‘Godless’ folk.
I seem to remember a Biblical quote about specks and planks in eyes – perhaps you need to revisit your ‘Holy’ book?
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but weren’t the figures based just on Church of England attendence? What about the other churches in Telford? What about the Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints) who must be doing ok to build their new church at the head of the new Ironstone development and still have their former church in Wellington open? What about all the Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, etc? What about those with other faiths? Just quoting bums on seats in CoE churches certainly doesn’t give an accurate picture of ‘Godliness/Godlessness’ in Telford or elsewhere and in reality, I think that Mark has been misquoted and misrepresented.
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who cares what religion or aethesist you follow we are all equal and should respect each others politics, supitstions, habits and beleifs etc
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im with beryl folks………. come on lets be real because most surveys prove it, telford people are poor, uneducated, and have the most obese people living in 15 square mile radius.
says it all really.
oh and it does’nt matter if telford is full of asylum seekers they still count as telford folk.
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I am taking note of all you sceptics, and will take my retribution come judgement day.
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haha so funny all the jokes, knocking telford, chav’s, asylum seekers etc.
very original who would have guessed that people could be witty I see a lot of potential Harry Hill’s on this page.
I urge everyone who has posted funny comments on telford to pursue a career in comedy.
The nation is missing your humour and wit.
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hahahaha god has commented at last, hmmmm could of swore it was you talking to your reflection in boots window on pride hill why dont you read dan brown, angels and demons!
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i married and fathered a child, honest….. its all a big cover up by the vatican, i invented the first dole cue, bread and milk.
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God said:
“I am taking note of all you sceptics, and will take my retribution come judgement day.”
I’ve warned you before about threatening behaviour – no more computers for you!!
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Tin tong,
You use poor grammar such as ‘could of swore it was you…’ and have the gall to accuse Telford people of being poor and uneducated!
Such hypocrisy. Perhaps you’ve only ever been to Telford Town Centre? I meet many people in Telford with high levels of education and intelligence, partly because of the influx of high-tech jobs in the 1980s and 90s.
You’re obviously just mixing with the wrong type of people.
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I’m sorry it’s taken a while to get back to you, but you can’t expect me to be everywhere!
@29 Jesus of Hollinswood said:
“I’ve warned you before about threatening behaviour – no more computers for you!!”
I’m not listening – you’re no son of mine.
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# God said:
I’m sorry it’s taken a while to get back to you, but you can’t expect me to be everywhere!
@29 Jesus of Hollinswood said:
“I’ve warned you before about threatening behaviour – no more computers for you!!”
I’m not listening – you’re no son of mine.
…..it doesn’t come as a great surprise – I thought mum’s “immaculate conception” story was a bit lame and people have always said how much I reminded them of our old milkman….
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shame on the aethestics and darwinists who deny the lord you are probably socialist european union people no doubt you lot shame on you communists
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I occassionally go to Church, under protest. This is because my wife used to be the sunday school teacher there. She still goes now and agian to see old friends. I go too, so if asked; we would have belonged to the 1% who go.
I am an atheist.
My wife is now an atheist.
Her sister goes, she is a Christian, but her husband, who goes, is an atheist.
Her friend is a christian, last time we went (Christmas) her husband read the lesson. He is an atheist.
Point is, how many of the 1% Church goers are actually Christians?
Telford may well be even more Godless than we thought.
Good, I’m quite proud of the name “Godless Telford” – it is one of the very few good things I’ve ever heard said about it.
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yawn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Genesis 3:25:
Im counting my blessings,
Ive found true happiness
Cos Im getting richer, day by day
You can find me in the phone book,
Just call my toll free number
You can do it anyway you want
Just do it right away
There’ll be no doubt in your mind
Youll believe everything Im saying
If you wanna get closer to him
Get on your knees and start paying
Here endeth the lesson
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to god and jesus
perhaps you should go on jeremy kyle he does dna tests
would boost the belief issue cuz all the chavs and “others” would be defo watching !
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Peter said, and I just had to come in:-
” I meet many people in Telford with high levels of education and intelligence, partly because of the influx of high-tech jobs in the 1980s and 90s.”
Well, I thought the 80s/90s were a devastated wasteland after Thatcher Peter. Here we are, by your own admission, with highly intelligent workforces and high tech jobs which you previously had us believe were all consigned to the never,never land to make way for Maggies “service” jobs in banking and finance etc.
Telford was founded on the back of Maggies bright new future, I know, I was there and part of it albeit living in Shrewsbury and working in Wellington. Thanks for the admission but now what are you going to say about the disappearance of manufacturing industry under Clown and Darling – it’s disappearing by the minute.
About the only thing we can say about Telford is that it is a really “way out” place.
Many a true word said in jest Telford cyclist, yours at (6) is about the only truthful comment on this stream, I know Dawley well and I had my first goat curry at the Ketley Community Centre many years ago and as for sacrifices, if you know the place they take place all over Telford – and not only goats neither, I almost ended up on the altar myself in the late 70s but got out of town before the 666 incantation could be sung over me by the wicked witch of “Ketley Bonk”.
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I simply don’t know what’s wrong with you people – you start the industrial revolution and drag us all from being happy god-fearing peasants with interesting diseases and curses, witch-burning, slavery and general stoning and now you’ve abandoned The Almighty. Well, He has told me to assemble an army of Crusaders in Market Drayton.
You’ll not be laughing on Tuesday next!
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““The number of people attending church does not make a place more or less Godless. God doesn’t live in churches.”
Amen to that.
Telford has a lot of issues, but they tend to be localised to specific areas. In themselves they are no worse probably than the equivalent in Shrewsbury or any other busy town.
“most of the people in Telford can’t even spell God nevermind get to church”
As a university graduate who’s lived in Telford for many years I find the above ironic. Perhaps a few classes in punctuation/capitalisation/spelling should be considered before knocking the education levels of those around you…?
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Stuart,
Your assumptions about the high-tech jobs are incorrect.
There was, temporarily, in the 80s an influx of jobs – not all were new jobs – some transferred from elsewhere. These were based principally upon subsidies afforded to ‘start-up’ ventures in the New Town.
A number of these were large Japanese companies who made use of this subsidy in the relatively short term, employing workers where the subsidy was available, and where cheaper rates of pay were the norm. However, once the subsidy went, in many cases, so did the firms.
A significant number of other high tech jobs came with government computing, principally for the Inland Revenue. This brought both existing highly-skilled public servants to Telford, and resulted in the recruitment of many more well-qualified people typically from the broader West Midlands conurbation.
In the early days of this there was much success. However, your favourite Government decided to privatise the whole operation, and ultimately fragmented it. Costs have since risen massively, and large scale successful projects are fewer and further between, as companies rake in as much as they can and bicker amongst themselves.
It was a combination of circumstances locally that led to that growth, and it was very much against the tide of attacks nationally on traditional manufacturing industry elsewhere in the UK at that time. If any organisation should get credit for that ‘bright new future’ period, it’s the now-defunct TDC.
Back to the point I was making about Telford… many of those bright people settled in Telford and still live here, although sadly many now have to travel to find well-paid work. So my comments about Telford’s inhabitants stand.
If only Maggie had followed through the vision of one or two senior civil servants…
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Iv’e just had a goat curry and a pint Peter and I am not in a fit state to argue, even the wicked witch from Ketley Bonk could have her evil way with me at the moment and I could’nt put up a defence. I will go along with what you say – on this occasion.
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you non beleivers must be socialists you are certainly not going to heavan
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Instead of religion and spirituality let’s just focus on what we love best of all, materialism and how it feeds our debt ridden consumerist society.
Maybe if we focused a little more on what is within, than what is without, then we might see why a godless society is less of a society.
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Tom,
What an arrogant assumption to make. How judgemental of you to assume that because people don’t have a belief in imaginary friends that their only interests are materialistic.
I suggest you read Richard Dawkins excellent book ‘The God Delusion’ in which he explains how qualities such as altruism are part of the normal make-up of many animals, including humans, and are not driven by any spiritual mumbo-jumbo.
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@45 Peter,
I have just read Richard Dawkins ‘The God Delusion’ and I have come to realize I don’t actually exist.
But at least I can now ‘stop worrying and enjoy my life’.
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Peter,
I would never go so far as to say altruism as an attribute of humanity is there because of god. In fact I am not even a believer in god in the Christian sense.
What I will say is that people like Richard Dawkins who rule out god completely (atheists) are as stupid as those who take the bible literally. i.e. those who make absolutist statements even though they cannot possibly know the truth of a higher conciseness.
Just because we can see some things with our eyes, and our scientific instruments can detect many things hidden, it does not mean we can assume to rule out things metaphysical or spiritual just because they cannot be seen or proven by scientific methods.
So I would say to you, stop making assumptions and judgements about spiritual mumbo-jumbo and imaginary friends when neither you or I can say for certain if there is a god or not. If your choice is not to believe in “superstitious clap-trap” then so be it, but your a proud minority within the world.
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Peter,
I would never go so far as to say altruism as an attribute of humanity was because of god. In fact I am not even a believer in god in the Christian sense.
What I will say is that people like Richard Dawkins who rule out god completely (atheists) are as stupid as those who take the bible literally. i.e. those who make absolutist statements even though they cannot possibly know the truth of a higher conciseness.
Just because we can see some things with our eyes, and our scientific instruments can detect many things hidden, it does not mean we can assume to rule out things metaphysical or spiritual just because they cannot be proven by scientific methods.
So I would say to you, stop making assumptions and judgements about spiritual mumbo-jumbo and imaginary friends when neither you or I can say for certain if there is a god or not. If your choice is not to believe in “superstitious clap-trap” then so be it, but your a proud minority within the world.
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