Archbishop Jonathan Blake

The Most Reverend Jonathan Blake, Presiding Archbishop of the Open Episcopal Church B.A. (Hons), Dip. Pastoral Studies. Mobile: 07767 687711 www.bishopjonathanblake.com archbishopjonathanblake@gmail.com www.openepiscopalchurch.org The Church is a member of The International Council of Community churches and the World Council of Churches. Married and a proud Dad.

About Me

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Location: London, Kent, United Kingdom

Gassed Tehran, seized Kabul, helped Mother Teresa, funded TB hospital, priest 1981, went Auschwitz, wrote on Parliament, convicted, began 1st inter-faith NHS chapel, 12 yrs Anglican cleric/vicar - left, baptised 1000's in homes/Mt Snowdon/at circus, wedding underwater, wrote ‘For God’s Sake Don’t Go To Church’, nailed 95 Theses 2 Canterbury cathedral, arrested, co-founded the Society for Independent Ministry, consecrated a bishop, co-founded the Open Episcopal Church, did 1st gay wedding on morning TV, sued Associated Newspapers, co-consecrated 1st women bishops 4 England,Wales,Scotland, accommodated the homeless, posted Mass/took it 2 sex workers, elected Archbishop, arrested 4 climbing with sons,founded ‘When No One’s Watching',made ICV, did Jade Goody's wedding,invited 2 Downing St, wrote 'That Old Devil Called God Again', conviction 4 campaigning against child abuse quashed on appeal, convicted 4 successful blogging 2 stop paedophile. His Christmas Lights raising £79,000 4 Water in 4 Gambian villages. Published "The Tales of Henry the Lovable Hedgehog", the SAFE New Testament + Psalms + radical Book of Common Prayer, ordained priests for UK,US,Thailand,Spain,Ireland

Saturday, October 31, 2020

LET US STOP PRETENDING THAT THERE IS SUCH A THING AS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

President Macron is causing offence internationally by espousing the errant concept that the human species has a right to liberty of expression. Over the last years and this week we have been witness to the grotesque consequences that such a misguided and inaccurate myth has brought upon the innocent. Every person, family, community, society, culture, faith and nation sets limits on such a freedom. From the simple withholding of a negative comment about a person's look, hairstyle, clothing or figure, not to cause offence, to the laws that prevent outraging public decency, causing offence, blasphemy, defamation and treason. Our speaking, writing and acting are constrained continually by the boundaries of manners, propriety, expectation and requirement. It is wholly unsatisfactory that developed societies that have increasingly legislated to protect the privacy and reputation of the living, should stand by and condone the demeaning, mocking and insulting of historical figures, especially when immense public outrage and devastating consequences result. In building a peaceful world, it seems that communications can inadvertently or deliberately become weaponised to deadly and far reaching effect. We need to evolve a new way of approaching the concept of expression, whether it be by speech, writing or illustration, to ensure that it promotes respect, understanding, inclusion and social harmony. 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/world/french-interior-minister-says-country-is-at-war-and-predicts-more-attacks-after-nice-killings-lj0rvl02d

ARCHBISHOP JONATHAN BLAKE - MY LIFE - PART ONE
ARCHBISHOP JONATHAN BLAKE - MY LIFE - PART TWO
I AM PROUD OF MY WRITING, FOR JESUS’S SAKE, THAT HAS HAD ME FOUND INNOCENT IN HEAVEN, BUT TWICE A CRIMINAL ON THE EARTH. THE FIRST IN 1990 WHEN I WROTE A BIBLICAL TEXT ON THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT IN PEACEFUL PROTEST ABOUT THE BOMBING OF YOUNG IRAQI RECRUITS DURING THE FIRST GULF WAR. THE SECOND, IN 2016 WHEN I WROTE ON MY BLOG, TO ALERT THE PUBLIC ABOUT A PAEDOPHILE, AND WAS SUCCESSFUL IN FORCING THE AUTHORITIES TO STOP HIM HAVING ACCESS TO CHILDREN. THERE WAS ALMOST A THIRD! IN 1997, WHEN I WAS ARRESTED FOR NAILING MY PROPOSALS FOR REFORM OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND ON THE DOOR OF CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL. WORDS ARE POWERFUL MESSAGES THAT CHALLENGE  CORRUPTION, CONFRONT THE WICKED AND CREATE A BETTER WORLD. JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD AND HIS FOLLOWERS ARE CALLED  TO COMMUNICATE HIS WORDS,  IRRESPECTIVE OF THE COST.
"You brave, courageous and wonderful man. To stand up for the truth in the face of suppression and oppression is truly an act of a pure heart."

posted by Bishop Jonathan Blake | 2:53 PM | 0 comments

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

JOY OF JOYS - POPE FRANCIS ENDORSES SAME SEX CIVIL UNIONS

 When I first advertised my willingness to conduct same sex marriages in 1994, I could never have imagined that in my lifetime, same sex marriage would become legal and the Pope would declare "Homosexuals are children of God and have the right to be in a family. What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered." I am so thankful to have been witness to these immense social and religious reforms and privileged to have played my part in bringing them about.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8864193/Pope-Francis-endorses-sex-civil-unions-saying-Homosexuals-children-God.html

ARCHBISHOP JONATHAN BLAKE - MY LIFE - PART ONE
ARCHBISHOP JONATHAN BLAKE - MY LIFE - PART TWO
I AM PROUD OF MY WRITING, FOR JESUS’S SAKE, THAT HAS HAD ME FOUND INNOCENT IN HEAVEN, BUT TWICE A CRIMINAL ON THE EARTH. THE FIRST IN 1990 WHEN I WROTE A BIBLICAL TEXT ON THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT IN PEACEFUL PROTEST ABOUT THE BOMBING OF YOUNG IRAQI RECRUITS DURING THE FIRST GULF WAR. THE SECOND, IN 2016 WHEN I WROTE ON MY BLOG, TO ALERT THE PUBLIC ABOUT A PAEDOPHILE, AND WAS SUCCESSFUL IN FORCING THE AUTHORITIES TO STOP HIM HAVING ACCESS TO CHILDREN. THERE WAS ALMOST A THIRD! IN 1997, WHEN I WAS ARRESTED FOR NAILING MY PROPOSALS FOR REFORM OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND ON THE DOOR OF CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL. WORDS ARE POWERFUL MESSAGES THAT CHALLENGE  CORRUPTION, CONFRONT THE WICKED AND CREATE A BETTER WORLD. JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD AND HIS FOLLOWERS ARE CALLED  TO COMMUNICATE HIS WORDS,  IRRESPECTIVE OF THE COST.
"You brave, courageous and wonderful man. To stand up for the truth in the face of suppression and oppression is truly an act of a pure heart."




posted by Bishop Jonathan Blake | 4:30 PM | 0 comments

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

THE BENEFITS OF ICY WATERS

 I plunge into cold water every day, come sun, snow or ice and swim therein, after my morning 5 mile run. I have done so now for over 20 years! It is a mental discipline, requiring commitment and self control, but it is also exhilarating, enlivening, and a sensual overload that well prepares me for the day ahead. My tips for someone wanting to 'give it a go' are - to start in the summer at the water's hottest and allow your body to acclimatise gradually as the mercury descends - to excercise prior to swimming so that your core body temperature is raised - to wear a wetsuit cap hood hat in the coldest waters (and even a wetsuit jacket, if only at the start and wet suit gloves, if you suffer from cold hands and are susceptible to white finger) and not to overstay your welcome - leave the water before you become too cold!

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/cold-water-swimming-could-help-to-keep-dementia-at-bay-9gqfqskwh

ARCHBISHOP JONATHAN BLAKE - MY LIFE - PART ONE
ARCHBISHOP JONATHAN BLAKE - MY LIFE - PART TWO
I AM PROUD OF MY WRITING, FOR JESUS’S SAKE, THAT HAS HAD ME FOUND INNOCENT IN HEAVEN, BUT TWICE A CRIMINAL ON THE EARTH. THE FIRST IN 1990 WHEN I WROTE A BIBLICAL TEXT ON THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT IN PEACEFUL PROTEST ABOUT THE BOMBING OF YOUNG IRAQI RECRUITS DURING THE FIRST GULF WAR. THE SECOND, IN 2016 WHEN I WROTE ON MY BLOG, TO ALERT THE PUBLIC ABOUT A PAEDOPHILE, AND WAS SUCCESSFUL IN FORCING THE AUTHORITIES TO STOP HIM HAVING ACCESS TO CHILDREN. THERE WAS ALMOST A THIRD! IN 1997, WHEN I WAS ARRESTED FOR NAILING MY PROPOSALS FOR REFORM OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND ON THE DOOR OF CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL. WORDS ARE POWERFUL MESSAGES THAT CHALLENGE  CORRUPTION, CONFRONT THE WICKED AND CREATE A BETTER WORLD. JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD AND HIS FOLLOWERS ARE CALLED  TO COMMUNICATE HIS WORDS,  IRRESPECTIVE OF THE COST.
"You brave, courageous and wonderful man. To stand up for the truth in the face of suppression and oppression is truly an act of a pure heart."



posted by Bishop Jonathan Blake | 1:28 PM | 0 comments

Monday, October 19, 2020

THANK YOU LETTY McMASTER FOR YOUR INSPIRATIONAL, LOVING AND LIFE AFFIRMING CHOICES

Letty McMaster has made bold, unusual and radical choices, challenging what our world is becoming and the career paths of many educated and advantaged young people. It seems that she has managed to navigate her adult life away from the allurements of modernity and the superficiality of the Social Media age. Her achievements are remarkable and her commitment is uplifting, determined to play a significant part in helping heal a broken world and mend broken hearts. May Love bless, protect and assist her.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8852423/British-woman-26-takes-14-Tanzanian-children-volunteering-orphanage-gap-year.html

ARCHBISHOP JONATHAN BLAKE - MY LIFE - PART ONE
ARCHBISHOP JONATHAN BLAKE - MY LIFE - PART TWO
I AM PROUD OF MY WRITING, FOR JESUS’S SAKE, THAT HAS HAD ME FOUND INNOCENT IN HEAVEN, BUT TWICE A CRIMINAL ON THE EARTH. THE FIRST IN 1990 WHEN I WROTE A BIBLICAL TEXT ON THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT IN PEACEFUL PROTEST ABOUT THE BOMBING OF YOUNG IRAQI RECRUITS DURING THE FIRST GULF WAR. THE SECOND, IN 2016 WHEN I WROTE ON MY BLOG, TO ALERT THE PUBLIC ABOUT A PAEDOPHILE, AND WAS SUCCESSFUL IN FORCING THE AUTHORITIES TO STOP HIM HAVING ACCESS TO CHILDREN. THERE WAS ALMOST A THIRD! IN 1997, WHEN I WAS ARRESTED FOR NAILING MY PROPOSALS FOR REFORM OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND ON THE DOOR OF CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL. WORDS ARE POWERFUL MESSAGES THAT CHALLENGE  CORRUPTION, CONFRONT THE WICKED AND CREATE A BETTER WORLD. JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD AND HIS FOLLOWERS ARE CALLED  TO COMMUNICATE HIS WORDS,  IRRESPECTIVE OF THE COST.
"You brave, courageous and wonderful man. To stand up for the truth in the face of suppression and oppression is truly an act of a pure heart."


posted by Bishop Jonathan Blake | 1:03 PM | 0 comments