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.

My Photo
Name:
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

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

WELBY, ANGLICANS AND RELIGION A DIRE THREAT TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE– A CALL FOR ALL THOSE WHO KNEW TO RESIGN

Priests compiled a secret report as far back as 1982 that confirmed horrific attacks upon the young, were taking place at the hands of the vile evangelical, Anglican lay reader, and barrister Smythe. Eight other people were sent that report, which, with sinister direction, is marked ‘Strictly Confidential.’ All who knew chose not to bring him to justice and stop the abuse.

For decades this monstrous man, carried out his perverse violations, initially from his garden shed, inflicting so much damage, that blood poured from the beaten wounds. Then at Christian camps, in schools, in this country and then abroad, at least 115 lives were shattered by this evil manipulator who used the language of God and sin to manipulate and mangle victim after victim.

In 1992, one such adolescent was found unresponsive, at the bottom of a pool, at one of Smythe’s camps. In 2000 the Ruston report was passed to the Titus Trust, who ignored it for the next 14 years.

All those in high office in the Church of England, in the Iwerne Trust and the Titus Trust, in Scripture Union, in powerful evangelical circles and from Winchester College said nothing to the authorities and failed to stop him.

In 2013 another brave victim, from among the many, spoke out but police said they did not have enough evidence to continue an investigation, but the church did not disclose what they knew. Two very senior Anglicans had themselves been abused by Smythe, and they too remained silent.

Not until 2017, when more victims came forward, were the police able to relaunch their investigation. The Makin report then finally commissioned by the Church of England, was due to be published in 2019, but was suppressed for 5 years, much to the anger of victims. Published finally, Welby, ‘a former friend’ of Smythe wriggled and squirmed with his Lambeth minders and Anglican ghouls insistent he would stay in office, but the outrage at this shameful cover up and his collusion with it has driven him ignominiously from office.

Adults are dangerous, looking first to cover their backs, protect their positions, safeguard their jobs, advantage their institutions and in the process stand by as children are betrayed. Add God, religion and church to the mix and children are in the gravest peril. It must become a legal requirement to report safeguarding issues and those who don’t ought to be charged with a criminal offence. Reporting is not easy.

I know personally the cost of reporting and the obstacles faced. When I bravely, with the support of my family and my church, acted to stop an abuser from gaining another position of authority over children, I faced resistance from the authorities, the police, the courts and from the judiciary. I was arrested four times, spent 4 nights in police cells, was threatened with jail and branded a criminal for breaching a restraining order that wrongly sought to stop my public campaigning against the abuser.

Perversely, even the abuser, had the police interview me under caution. However, I have nothing to regret as ultimately, by breaching the restraining order, I was successful in having the abuser barred from his job and barred from having access to children in the future.

The Church of England, Welby, Anglican bishops and evangelical leaders, Scripture Union, those involved in the Titus Trust and Iwerne Trust ought to hang their heads in shame and all who knew, but chose not to report Smythe should take responsibility for their immoral silence and resign from whatever positions they hold.

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

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

THE JOY OF A HOME BAPTISM

 











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."


Wednesday, May 22, 2024

ARCHBISHOP JONATHAN AT CORRYMEELA

The ordination to the priesthood of Revd Adrian Friel at Corrymeela on a sun blessed day

 

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."

Monday, May 20, 2024

JUST PUBLISHED - AN INCLUSIVE BOOK OF INSPIRATIONAL WORDS FOR THROUGHOUT THE DAY

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D4JVWNJM/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.woQKeEIHPlHW7Qm_k5iFPg.k9pXAn9tJQzvy6x6IG0Tt_O2duQxGxpysC_DA767V9g&qid=1716208610&sr=1-1

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."




Monday, May 06, 2024

MAGICAL CHRISTENING IN GOD'S CATHEDRAL

 






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."


Saturday, February 17, 2024

ALEXEI NAVALNY and ALEXANDRA SKOCHILENKO – CHRISTS OF OUR TIME

Alexei Navalny -speaking out despite the risks, the threats, and the intimidation. Exposing and resisting corruption. Falsely accused numerous times. Poisoned with Novichok. His life saved in Germany, for him to return to Russia, only to be arrested at the airport and after a series of ‘sham’ trials, be sentenced to 28 years in prison, and now be murdered by the Russian State. Imprisoned too is Alexandra Skochilenko, an artist, sentenced to 7 years for attaching to a few shop labels, antiwar messages. Meanwhile, released, in some cases 17 years early, to fight in the war, are numerous men who have committed the most gross civilian murders. Killing appears not to disturb the Russian leader, who is now responsible for over half a million deaths. This ocean of blood is rising, drowning so many, destroying so much. Meanwhile, the leader of the Russian Church, Kyrill, has called Putin’s rule, ‘a miracle of God’, and has supported the invasion of Ukraine and described Ukrainian resistance as evil.

The Church has failed yet again miserably to uphold Christ’s message of love and goodness. Navalny and Skochilenko are the Christs of our time. Focus your prayers, your worship and your devotions on them, not the carpenter of bygone centuries, or the Church, that has betrayed Jesus’s legacy, for God in Christ lives today among us and we fail to recognise Christ at our peril, in the brave women and men, like Navalny and Skochilenko, through whom God’s light shines on and God’s truth prevails, over the corrupt leaders of church and state, and who have the means to lead us to peace, even from their prison cells, and even chillingly, from their graves. The forces of evil always seek to crucify and silence the Christ. Our hope and belief, is that Christ's voice can never be silenced.


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."


Wednesday, February 14, 2024

WHEN BOMBS NOT PRIESTS MARK CHRISTIAN FOREHEADS WITH ASH

 Priests ought not to burn Palm crosses this year grinding the ash into a paste for marking the faithful. There are no faithful. Just a world that finds us all complicit with the present distress and destruction. ‘All’ you complain, isn’t that a little harsh – not so. All of us, in minor or major ways, tolerate the rottenness that leads to carnage. In the apparently peaceful corridors of a church community, it may seem all smiles and sparkles, but look more deeply, and the rivalries, gossip, tensions, hatreds, interference, control, judgements, prejudices, indoctrination, authoritarianism, required social, cultural, and religious conformity make it just as much a toxic seed bed breeding division and conflict, as the bombing, invasion, and heartache that is rending God’s world. What brings peace, it seems, is not religion, but social order, fairness, equality, human rights, and economic stability. We rich Christians enjoy that peace, not as a fruit of our faith or moral choices, but as a consequence of our historical plundering, crimes and political gerrymandering, that gave us the resources to fast track the development of our nations at the expense of others. So, while we have ashes daubed sanctimoniously on our heads, the innocent are buried in the ash of the bombs that our complicity with the past and present, cause to be dropped. We have no excuse. We should keep our foreheads clean this Ash Wednesday, until all nations and all peoples have equal access to all the benefits we enjoy - statehood, security, home, clean water, food, health care, education, and human rights.


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."