William Ames was an English Puritan minister, philosopher and controversialist. He spent much of his time in the Netherlands. He is noted in the controversy between the Calvinists and the Arminians. ( See notes on both of them) He studied at Christ’s College, Cambridge 1598 -BA and 1601 MA. He was chosen for a fellowship in Christ’s College but it was given instead to Valentine Carey. Similar rebuffs followed and he ended up in the Netherlands. On 7th of May 1622 he was installed at Franeker and stayed for 12 years. He was made rector in 1626. His works were known over Europe and collected at Amsterdam in 5 volumes. In 1633 he caught a cold from a flood which flooded his house and died.

Alcuin, also known as Ealhwine, Alhwin or Alchoin was a scholar, poet and teacher from York, Northumbria. He became the student of Archbishop Ecgbert. He was a court chancellor in Aachen. At the invitation of Charlemagne he became a leading scholar and teacher at the Carolingian court in France. H e graduated to become a teacher during the 750s. He became the head at York school (now St.Peter’s) where he revived trivium (grammar/rhetoric/logic) and quadrivium disciplines and wrote a codex on the trivium. He became a deacon but was never ordained. In 781 he was sent to Rome by King Elfwald. On his way home he met Charlemagne. who persuaded him to join his court. He joined an illustrious group of scholars. He later wrote the Lord was calling me to the service of King Charles. He became master of the Palace School of Charlemagne. He taught Charlemagne (782-790), his sons Pepin and Louis as well as young men sent to be educated at court and young clerics attached to the palace. He brought with him his assistants from York and revolutionised the educational standards of the school. It became known as the school of Master Albinus (Alcuin’s nickname) In 790 he returned to York for a short time. He failed to influence King AEtheired so he returned to the Carolingian court. He never went back to York , In 796, now in his 60’s, he hoped to retire from court instead Marmoutier Abbey was put into his care by Charlemagne - who could call on him for advice. Alcuin encouraged the monks there to use beautiful Carolingian minuscule script. Carolingian minuscule - using a mixture of upper and lower-case letters - was perfected and restored to purity of the form. by Alcuin. He stayed at the abbey until his death on 19th May 804. According to Einhard’s* Life of Charlemagne* he was considered among the most important intellectual architects of the Carolingian Renaissance. Source Wikipedia

Alan of Lille was a French theologian and poet. He is sometimes called Alanus de Montepessulano. He was born in Lille sometime before 1128. His exact date of his death is also unclear - research suggests between 14 April 1202 and 5 April 1203. Although he was widely known during his lifetime there is not a great deal known about his personal life. He had a very widespread reputation during his lifetime and his knowledge caused him to be called Doctor Universalis. As a theologian he was opposed to scholasticism in the second half of the 12th century. He claimed in order to understand religious truth and to know God,the wise must believe in faith. His philosophy was a mixture of Aristotelian logic and Neoplatonic philosophy. The is a long list of works attributed to him (See List of known works) but there are several Alains so it is uncertain how many of the works listed are actually his. Notable works actually written by him include*The Plaint of Nature, Anticlaudiamus and the Art of Preaching. Source Wikipedia

Albert of Cologne ( known under 3 names) was a German Dominican friar, philosopher, scientist and bishop. An encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary convinced him to enter Holy Orders. In 1223 or 1229 and he became a member of the Dominican Order. He lectured in Cologne, Regensburg, Freiburg, Strasburg and Hildesheim. He became a full time professor at th e University of Paris holding the seat of the Chair of Theology at the college of St. James. Thomas Aquinas was one of his students. In 1254 he was made provincial of the Dominican Order and fulfilled the duties of the office with great care and efficiency. In 1258 he sorted out the* der Grofie Schied*- the big verdict- to sort out the conflict between the citizens of Cologne and the archbishop. In 1260 Pope Alexander IV made him bishop of Rogensburg. To enhance his reputation for humility, and in accord with the dictates of the his Order, he refused to ride a horse, he walked his huge diocese on foot. In 1263 Pope Urban IV asked him to preach the eighth Crusade in German speaking countries. He became known as a mediator between conflicting parties. He founded Cologne University, German’s oldest university. In 1274 he grieved when his former student Thomas Aquinas died. In 1278 he became ill and died on 15th November 1280. He was possibly 87 when he died. During his life time he studied many different subjects. For the breadth of his achievements he was bestowed the name Doctor Universalis. His knowledge of natural science was considerable for the age and remarkably accurate. In 1899 his writing were collected and went to 38 volumes. Scholars have referred to Albert as the greatest German philosopher and theologian of the Middle Ages. In 1931 the Catholic Church distinguished him as one of the 37 Doctors of the Church ). Source Wikipedia

John Alcock was born in Beverley, Yorkshire.and educated at Cambridge University. His greatest achievement was the building of Jesus College, Cambridge which he established on the site of the former Convent of St. Radegund. He made a rapid rise in both the church and the state. 1461 he was made dean of St. Stephen’s Chapel , Westminster. 1462 was made Master of the Rolls. 1470 he was sent as ambassador to the Crown Court of Castile. 1472 8th January, nominated to see at Rochester 15th March, consecrated Bishop of Rochester 1476 15th July, transferred to see of Worcester 1486 6th October, moved to see at Ely H e was the first president of the Council of the Marches in Wales from 1473-1500. H e was Lord Chancellor twice in 1475 and 1485/7. On 7th November 1485 he opened King Henry VII’s Parliament. He was also tutor to Edward V. John was one of the leading pre-Reformation divines. He was a a man of deep learning and had great proficiency restoring many churches and colleges as an architect. Source Wikipedia

Richard Allen was a minister, writer and one of USA’s most active and influential black leaders. He taught himself to read and write. He founded the African Methodist Episcopal church (AME) - the first Black denomination in the USA. He opened the first AME church in Philadelphia in 1794 and in 1816 he was elected their first bishop. He was born into slavery. His family were sold to Stokley Sturgis who had a plantation. Having financial problems Sturgis later sold his mother and two younger siblings,keeping him and his older brother and sister. The three attended the local Methodist Society. The Revd. Freeborn Garrettson came to preach in Delaware in 1775.He preached at Sturgis’s plantation and convinced him that slavery was wrong, This resulted in him giving Richard the chance to buy his freedom. Aged 17 he joined the Methodists Society and began to evangelize which angered the slave owners . In 1780 he bought his freedom having done extra work for Sturgis. He changed his name from Negro Allen to Richard Allen. With his future Flora they establish a church (1787-1799). They married in 1790. In 1800 he met Sarah Bass who became his second wife after Flora, died in 1801 after a long illness. They moved to Philadelphia, married and had 6 children. Sarah was highly active and became in the AME Church the* Founding Mother.* December 1784 he went to the Christmas Conference of the Episcopal Church in North America. Along with harry Hosier they were the only 2 black attendees. In 1786 he became a preacher at St. George’s Methodist Episcopal church but was restricted to the early morning services. Along with Absalom Jones he resented the white leaders segregation of blacks for worship and prayer. They decided to leave St. George’s to create an independent, self-reliant worship for African Americans. 1787 Allen and Jones led the Black members out. They formed the Free African Society (F.A.S.). ( White ministers had to consecrate the bread and wine.) In 1793, during the yellow fever epidemic, Allen and Jones, helped to organize free blacks as essential workers. Allen caught yellow fever and nearly died. 1794 he founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) and opened his first church. 1799 ordained as first Black Methodist minister in recognition of.his leadership and preaching (The Blacks still had to negotiate with the white leadership). 1816 he proposed the uniting of the 5 African-American Congregations. The first fully independent Black denomination was created -the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E,). Richard was elected as their first bishop. From 1797 until his death in 1831 Richard and Sarah operated a station in the City of Brotherly Love on the Underground Railroad for fugitive slaves. Richard died in 1831 having firmly established a separate Black Methodist denomination. The A.M.E. is the oldest and largest formal institution in Black America. Source Wikipedia

Johann or Johannes Agricola (originally Schneider, than Schnitter) was a German Protestant Reformer during the Protestant Reformation. He was born at Eisleben where he is sometimes called M agister Islebius. He studied at Wittenberg where he gained the friendship of Martin Luther. Together, in 1519 they attended the great assembly of German divines at Leipzig where he acted as recording secretary. After some time in Wittenberg he went in Frankfurt in 1525 to establish the Protestant mode of worship. Within a month he was called to Eisleben where he taught at St. Andrew’s school and preached in the Nicolai church until 1526… In 1536 he was recalled to Wittenberg and initially welcomed by Luther. Back in 1526 they had controversial disagreement over the binding obligation of the law on Christians- this broke out more violently then before. He was unable to appease the Adiaphoristic controversy. (See * Controversyand note from Britannica) He wrote an attack shortly after Luther had given him shelter when he was fleeing persecution. Luther had nothing further to do with him. He escaped to Berlin where Joachim II, Elector of Brandenburg, appointed him court preacher and general superintendent. He held both posts until his death 30 years later. His career there was one of great activity and influence. He died during an epidemic of plague on 22nd September 1566. He wrote a number of theological works (See Writings) Sources Wikipedia Britannica

George Abbot was an English divine who was Archbishop of Canterbury form 1611-1633. He was a translator of the King James Version of the Bible. He also served as the fourth chancellor of the University of Dublin from 1612-1633. He was a conscientious prelate , though narrow in view and often harsh towards both separatists and roman catholics. He wrote a large number of works and was one of the translators of the 1611 King James version of the Bible. George accidently shot a gamekeeper in 1621. A commission met to consider whether he was fit for the primacy- King James exercised his vote in his favour. Gustavus Paine notes that George was both translator of the 1611 Bible and the only Archbishop Canterbury to kill a human being. He was born and buried in Guildford. His legacy there is a hospital, a secondary school, a pub and a statue in the High Street. Source Wikipedia

Pierre Abelard, born Pierre ie Pellet, was a French scholastic, philosopher, leading logician, poet, composer and musician of the 12th century. He is considered a forerunner of Rousseau, Kent and Spinoza. He is sometimes credited as a chief forerunner of modern empiricism. He is considered to be the most significant forerunner also of the modern self-reflective autobiography - The History of my Calamities -his publicly distributed letter. In history and popular culture he is best known for his passionate and tragic love affair with his brilliant student and eventual wife, Heloise d’Argenteuil. They had a son, Astrolabe, before he was castrated by her uncle Fulbert’s men. In shame he embraced the monastic life. Afterwards both went into monasteries. In Catholic theology he is best known for his development of the concept of limbo, and his introduction of the moral influence theory on Atonement. He wrote a number of books and modern editions and translations of his work are available. (See List) Pierre is considered one of the founders of the secular university and pre-Renaissance secular philosophical thought. Sources Wikipedia Britannica

Denis was a French Catholic who served as Archbishop of Paris (1840-8). He was killed by a ‘stray’ bullet during the June Days uprising in Paris. On June 23rd 1848 a large segment of the citizens of Paris rioted because the French government had decided to close the National Workshops it had recently created. Paris was facing starvation. Denis, as archbishop, was begged by Frederic Ozanam to intervene to stop the bloodshed. He mounted the barricades bearing a green branch as a sign of peace. He was lead to believe his personal involvement peace might be restored between the military and the insurgents As he began to speak there was an exchange of fire arms - a ‘stray’ bullet hit Denis which would prove fatal. He was taken to his palace where he died on 27th June. A public funeral was held on 7th July. The crowd following the cortege was estimated at 200,000. His cause for canonization has commenced and he is venerated as a Servant of God within the Catholic Church. Source wikipedia

Aelred of Rievaulx was an English Cistercian monk, abbot from 1147 until his death (20 years later) . He best known as a writer. Both Anglicans and Catholics regard him as a saint. His early education was probably at the cathedral school in Durham. From about the age of 14 he spent time at the court of King David I of Scotland in Roxburgh, rising to the rank of echonomus (steward or master of the Household)… He left the court aged 24, in 1134, to enter the Cistercian abbey of Rievaylx in Yorkshire. He was the son of Eilaf, a priest, so he was forbidden, when he became an adult, by the 1095 Council of Claremont, ordination as a priest so he became a monk. ( This was done in part to prevent the inheritance of benefices.) In 1142 he travelled to Rome. On his return he became novice master at Rievaulx. In 1143 appointed abbot of the new Ravesby Abbey. 1147 elected abbot of Rievaulx, a position he held until his death in 1167. All of Aelred’s works have appeared in translation, most in English and French. ( See Writings) David Knowles, a historian of monasticism in England , describes him, for efforts in writing and administration, as the St. Bernard of the North, a singularly attractive character, no other English monk of the twelfth century so lingers in the memory.

Adrian IV, originally Nicholas Breakspear, was born in Abbot’s Langley, Hertfordshire. he was educated in Franceand became ab Augustine monk and abbot in 1137. While on a trip to Rome he was retained in papal service and elevated to cardinal (c1150). He went on various diplomatic missions to Catalonia, Scandinavia and Sweden. He was appointed bishop of Alano around 1140. He became pope in 1154 on the death of Pope Anastasius IV. For unknown reasons, probably at the request of his predecessor, he was elected pope by the other cardinals. He was unable to complete his coronation service due to the state of politics in Rome. Afterwards he decisively restored the papal authority. He crowned Frederick I (Barbarossa) Holy Roman Emperor. They had a stormy relationship - it started badly and got progressively worse. His relationship with England seemed to have remained generally good. He showered St.Albans Abbey with privileges and granted Henry ll policies where he could. Sources Wikipedia *The Hodder & Stoughton Book of famous Christians * by Tony Castle

AElfric was an English abbot and student of AEthelwold of Winchester. He was a prolific writer in the Old English of hagiography, homilies, biblical commentaries and other genres. He wrote 2 sets of 40 homilies and then wrote 3 works to help students learn Latin - the Grammar, the Glossary and the Colloquy. A third set ,* Lives of Saints* dated from 996-7. AEthelwold asked him to translate from the Old Testament the beginning of Genesis from Latin into Old English. This was the very first time the Old Testament was translated into Old English. Rather than translate it verbatim he translated it by its meaning. In 1005 he moved to AEthelwold’s new monastery in Eynsham where he was the monastery’s first abbot. He died in 1010… He left careful instructions to future scribes to copy his work carefully. He did not want it marred by the introduction of unorthodox passages and scribal errors. AElfric was the most prolific writer in Old English.His main theme was God’s mercy. In 2022 a blue plaque was unveiled in Eynsham in recognition of his work. According to Claudio Leonardi he represented the highest pinnacle of Benedictine reform and Anglo-Saxon literature. Source Wikipedia

I have put together some information and some work sheets about St. George, the patron saint of England. The first sheet is a cover. The next two are information sheets followed by two large font sheets showing basic data. These are followed by two ‘gap’ pages which are differentiated. There is then a crossword which needs a picture answer followed by a word search. The next page is about St. George’s flag and the Union Jack. The last two pages are for the child’s diary - the first sheet gives ideas what to write about, the second is a clip art page for his ‘best’ copy. David Woodroffe, a professional illustrator, created the original art work. 6 extra pictures added by Super Coloring

Lester Frank Sumrall was an American Pentecostal pastor and evangelist. He founded the Lester Sumrall Evangelistic Association ( Le SEA) and its Humanitarian arm LeSEA Global Feed the Hungry, World Harvest Radio international and World Bible College. His mother, Betty, prayed while he was still her womb, that he would be a preacher. Lester was born in New Orleans on 15th February. Aged 17 he was on his death bed suffering from tuberculosis when he received a vision. Suspended in midair to his right was a casket, to his left an open Bible. He heard a voice ask, Lester Sumrall, which of these will you choose tonight? He chose to preach the Gospel as long as he lived. When he woke up in the morning he was completely healed Following his recovery, aged 17, he began to preach. Aged 19 he found a church in Green forest, Arkansas he found a church and was ordained by the assemblies of God. He became a ‘brush arbor’ preacher on the backwoods of Florida, Tennessee and Arkansas. On 18th December, 1831 he had his second vision.At the same time In England Howard Carter was praying for a companion. Lester was to be his companion. In 1934 he began travelling abroad. He preached in Tahiti, New Zealand and Brisbane Australia where he established a church. He travelled with Howard throughout eastern Asia, Europe and South America. Together they forged new territory in the area of spiritual warfare as they cast out devils, won new converts and established churches and instructed people of God. In South America he heard about a pretty, young missionary, from Argentina. He met and married Louise Layman on 30th September 1944. They took the ‘unconventional’ route to honeymooning. They began a 50,000 mile missionary tour and life together that spanned 49 years. They had 3 children. In 1957 he founded the Lester Sumrall Evangelistic Association (LeSEA). Which gave birth to over 100 books and study guides, a quarterly magazine,. In 1963 Lester moved to South Bend Indiana, to pastor Christian Central Cathedral of Praise ( now Christian Centre Church). He also withdrew from the Assemblies of God denomination. In 1968 he began what would become World harvest Radio International. Between 1972-97 he acquired 11 television stations, a satellite ministry, 3 radio and 5 shortwave stations. Lester founded the World Harvest Bible College (now Indiana Christian University) and* World Harvest Magazine* In 1987 he founded the LeSEA Global Feed the Hungry, a humanitarian aid organization, to help desperately poor families. In 2018 LeSEA changed its name to Family Broadcasting Corporation (FBC Lester died on 28th April 1996 aged 83. He was one of the most colourful preachers of the 20th century. He began as a fiery young preacher during the depression. He left a legacy of what simple and determined faith in God can accomplish. * *This is just the beginning. There are greater blessings ahead! Sources used family Broadcasting Corporation WHBC Wikipedia

Margaret Emma Barber was born in Peasenhall, Suffolk. The family moved to Norwich in 1879. The family home was opposite St.Martins parish church which was intensely evangelical in the 1880-90s. must have had an influence on the Barber Family. During the course of her life she lived twice in China. On her first visit as a missionary she went as an Anglican. On her second visit she went as an independent missionary with informal ties to the Plymouth Brethren. She was an Anglican missionary sent out by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) to the city of Fuzhou, Fujian. There she taught in a the Tau Su Girls’ High School- founded by the Church of England for 7 years. She was regarded as an excellent missionary but her co-missionaries became jealous. They fabricated a serious charge against her and she was sent home to Great Britain. She was known for her faith and decided not to vindicate herself. Years later the chairman of CMS board became aware of the case. He persuaded her to tell the truth. She told him the whole story and was fully vindicated. While in England she came in contact with D.M. Panton, editor of the Christian magazine The Dawn. 1907 Margaret became a member of Surrey Chapel and was baptized by full Immersion. Margaret resigned from CMS. In 1909 with Miss Ballard, a Surrey Chapel member she returned to China, settling in Fuzhou. They rented a house in Pagoda . She stayed there until her death in 1930 of Crohn’s disease. She lived by faith. According to Chinese customs all bills had to be paid in full by the end of the year. With only 2 days remaining she found herself $120s short. On the last day of the year D.M. Panton, in London, through the British bank in Foochow, sent exactly $120s! Margaret lived with little travelling and no publicity. She was content to remain at home and pray. She helped those who sought her counsel. She, with others, regularly taught a Bible class at ‘white teeth rock’. There she had contact with Watchmen Nee while he was studying at Anglican Trinity College. Through their relationship Watchman Nee was greatly edified and perfected. If he had a problem or needed spiritual instruction he would go to her. She treated him as a young learner and frequently administered strict discipline. At that time over 60 young brothers and sisters received help but after awhile most stopped going to see her except Watchmen Nee. When Margaret died she left all her belongings - an old Bible and her notes - to Watchmen Nee. In the March 1930 issue of his periodical The Present Testimony he wrote She was one who was very deep in the Lord, and in my opinion, the kind of fellowship she had with the Lord and the kind of faithfulness she expressed to the Lord are rarely found on this earth. In 1972 Watchmen Lee was martyred for his faith. Sources used Living Stream Ministry Christian web sites Contending for the Faith American Society of Church History 1955 wikipedia

James Hudson Taylor was the founder of the interdenominational China Inland Mission. He dreamed as a child of going to China as a missionary. He fulfilled his dream but he had to set up his own mission to make it successful. He was frustrated the first time he went out because he had little support from the mission which sent him out. He did such a good job setting up his own mission for China that other faith missions followed his methods. His chief emphases were to identify with the local people by dressing 'native', direction to come from the mission field not home, efficient administration and wanting a deepening of Christian life in the home churches to encourage more to go into the mission field. He was happily married twice and both his wives Maria and Jane supported him in his endeavours to evangelise China. He spent 50 years as a missionary and went 11 times to China. Through a lifetime of ministry he fulfilled his calling.

Caroline Chisholm is a woman spent a great deal of her time trying to help others get on in life -especially other women. With her husband Archibald she spent time in both India and Australia. In India where she opened a school. In Australia she wanted to help emigrants settle successfully there- she set up the Female Immigration Home and also helped set up a safe route for the gold pioneers to follow. She also helped migrants wanting to go to Australia from the UK. It has been suggested that Charles Dickens, in his book Hard Times, wrote his character Mrs. Jellyby as a criticism of female activists like Caroline Chisholm.

Pentecost is the birthday of Christianity! This is the day man is given the special present Jesus promised his friends the* Holy Spirit.* Pentecost is when* tongues of fire* came down upon the disciples of Jesus. *Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire and they came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled .them The disciples now went onto the streets of Jerusalem. They were drunk with the spIrit not with wine. Peter stood up and gave his first sermon. Jesus Christ was risen he had defeated death. What he said could be understood by everyone in their own tongue, 3000 joined them that day. Men and women were ’ born again.’ The Holy Spirit gave birth Christianity that day. It is a time to celebrate. We celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas. At Pentecost we celebrate the birth of Christianity ** There is an information sheet on Pentecost and Whitsunday. This is when the disciples are given the gift of the Holy Spirit/Ghost. I have included some colourful pictures - art work in the form of flames representing the tongues of fire -would be a craft idea for the children I have created a sheet How many words can you find in _ _ _ _ _ so children can place words found in Pentecost of on the sheet. Their task is then to make up mini crosswords with clues.There are two sets of word lists - the original one I created and the much fuller one I found on Word maker. Sources used wikipedia The Bible Acts chapter 2 Church Dates for Children * Tony Batchelor

Saint Thomas Aquinas was recognized as the greatest theologian of his age. He was one of the most influential medieval thinkers of Scholasticism and the father of the Thomistic school of theology. Before he was born a holy hermit predicted to his mother that her son would enter the ‘Order of Friars Preachers’ and become a great learner and achieve unequaled sanctity. Aged 5 he was sent to the Abbey of Monte Cassino. Aged 13 the political climate forced him to return to Naples. He stayed 5 years at the Benedictine house. In about 1239 he went to the local university. In 1243 he secretly joined an order of Dominican monks, receiving the habit a year later. When his parents found out they were so annoyed at his betrayal they held him captive -kidnapped him- for a year in the fortress of San Giovanni at Rocca Secca. On his release in 1245 he returned to the order and stayed with them until 1252. Ordained in 1250 he then earned his doctorate in Theology. he was an exemplary scholar. On completing his education he devoted his time to travelling, writing, teaching, public speaking and preaching. Institutes yearned to benefit from the wisdom of ‘The Christian Apostle’. For his ‘Theology and Philosophy’ please read relevant paragraphs. He wrote nearly 60 known works. Handwritten copies were distributed to libraries across Europe! (Read ‘Major Works’) During the feast of Saint Nicholas in 1273 he had a mystical vision which made him think writing was unimportant. Father Reginald of Piperno urged him to write but he never wrote again. In 1274 Thomas decided to walk to the Second Council in Lyon, France. He fell ill on the way and stayed at the Cistercirn monastery of Fossanova in Italy .He died at the monastery on March 7th 1274. If the Lord wishes to take me away, it is better that I be found in a religious house than in the dwelling of a layperson. *Thomas provided the Roman church with reasoned statements of its interpretation of Christian faith. H. Dermot McDonald Thomas was canonized by Pope John XX11 in1323. Sources used Life, Philosophy & Theology- Biography Great Leaders of the Christian Faith Woodbridge contirbution by H. Dermot McDonald