13 Jan 2023
Local matters. Local news matters massively, says Peter Crumpler, associate minister at St Paul’s Church in Fleetville.
What happens on our doorsteps and in our streets and communities impacts us more than most events taking place nationally or across the world.
St Albans’ churches and other faith groups know this. Many of the area’s churches have been rooted in their parishes or local areas for many decades – or even centuries. Many are among the most active voluntary groups in the city.
They have shared in the joys and sorrows of local people through events, changes and developments that have impacted them down through the years.
Through wars and disease, through the arrival of the railway, through the growth of the city and its changing outlook, people of faith have played an important role in the city’s story.
And not forgetting that our city is named after Saint Alban, honoured as Britain’s first saint. He was executed under Roman rule in the third
century after he protected a Christian priest from persecution.
His grave quickly became a place of pilgrimage and led to the origins of St Albans Cathedral.
Just how news spread of Alban’s sacrifice is unclear. Word of mouth would have been a powerful tool. Many people from across the country visited the key Roman city of Verulamium, so the word would have gone out swiftly.
Today, news travels at hyper-fast speed, with social media often outstripping established news sources. Unreliable, inaccurate reports can span the world, before experienced journalists are able to question and challenge what is being said.
So I welcome the arrival of the St Albans Times on the local scene. The more reporting of news that matters to local people, the better for our community. The more a range of local views is expressed and discussed, the greater opportunity for dialogue and understanding.
In past times, parish magazines produced by local churches were vital channels of information for their communities. Some churches still publish these – often to a high standard – but many have ceased publication.
Yet churches and other faith groups remain committed to the importance of local people being kept informed of what’s happening in their community.
This helps their response to the needs of the area – from running and supporting food banks, to providing ‘warm spaces’ for people feeling the pinch in today’s cost of living crisis, or
hosting social groups for all ages. From providing debt counselling advice to backing the city’s homeless shelters. Local matters and local news matters massively if communities are to live well together – and understand the decisions being taken on their behalf.
In churches, we pray for our local MPs and councillors, and all those who work, with integrity, for the common good. It can be a challenging calling. But it’s also important that those in power can be questioned about their decisions and called to explain their actions on our behalf. Speaking truth to power is part of the Christian calling.
So, a warm, heartfelt, welcome to the St Albans Times. May it grow and flourish and play an
important role in building up community life, keeping us all informed, and speaking truth to power.
