“As this Diocese celebrates its centenary  I have chosen to support three causes which reflect my longing for peace on personal, local and global levels.

Just as the first Bishop of Birmingham, the Rt Rev Charles Gore, worked in partnership to tackle the problem of child alcoholism which blighted the city, I am keen to bring people together to rid this city of guns, gangs, drugs and knives – Bringing Hope to people and places ravaged by these problems.

I am also keen to support the Birmingham Children’s Hospital in their initiative to improve the health of children in Malawi – a country where child mortality levels are 40 times that of the UK. Malawi is our companion diocese and I am delighted that city medics have chosen to focus their compassion there.

My third cause is our own cathedral, St Philips in Colmore Row. This is the heart of our city and the focus for visitors as well as for Diocesan events. Making this building more accessible for worshippers and tourists is an important way of bringing a glimpse of God’s love and peace to thousands who pass through its doors.

The church cannot ignore the issues affecting this city, damaging hundreds of lives and bringing fear and violence to the streets. Bringing Hope aims both to equip churches to engage with the people affected by these issues as well as working in partnership with other agencies to harness the energy of the street into enterprise that is lawful and adds to the civic and economic prosperity of the region.

Plans are being drawn up to make St Philip’s Cathedral, in the centre of Birmingham, more welcoming and accessible to both worshippers and visitors alike. Recent research has shown that more people visit Anglican Cathedrals than Blackpool Pleasure Beach – it is important to make the most of each visit for education and spiritual refreshment.

The plans include the installation of new interactive plasma screens in the two galleries as well as touch-screens in the nave, linked with Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to enhance the educational value of the great Burne-Jones stained glass windows.

Medical staff at Birmingham Children’s Hospital aim to support the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre by assisting with training for paediatric staff. By developing a sustainable and long term link between the two hospitals a significant impact could be made on child health care provision.

Initially funds are needed for a doctor from Birmingham to map the educational needs of medics in Malawi. This would then be the basis for a sustainable training programme that involves partnership between the two hospitals, enriching both organisations and involving staff at all level.

Please help us offer people locally and globally a taste of God’s love, compassion  and peace in 2005. Send a donation or run a fundraising event. Cheques should be made payable to The Bishop of Birmingham's Charitable Trust.