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Southwell & Nottingham: In celebrating the bicentenary of her most beloved novel, Jane Austen has been remembered at Southwell Minster. There were readings from Pride and Prejudice as well as songs from Austen’s own piano book as a way to pay tribute to the classic. Many of Austen’s novels are known worldwide and have been turned into Oscar-nominated and winning films. The family fun event took place on 25 January as part of its Friday Lunchtime series. For a full listing of future lunchtime events, log on to their website: .www.southwellminister.org.uk. Salisbury: To begin the Week of Prayer, a delegation from the French Roman Catholic Diocese of Évreux has been visiting the diocese. Some of their stops included Wootton Bassett, Tedworth House, St James’ church, Avebury Stones, and the Kennet & Avon Canal Museum. The delegation also met the Bishop of Salisbury at Salisbury Cathedral since the two dioceses have been linked since 1987. Last Sunday they attended a service in Holy Cross, Ramsbury, with the Bishop of Ramsbury and later met with the Bishop of Sherborne, Dr Graham Kings. During this time of prayer, Dr Kings said: “In responding to the Olympics, we found this emphasis on mission provided a focus for our unity. Friendships amongst people of different denominations are crucial for organic growth. The diverse services of this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity are key to renewing these friendships in the context of worship.” Val Potter in Dorset remarked on the brilliance of churches coming together, stating: “We are all enriched by learning from our partner churches. God has given different insights to each of us so in our ecumenical relationships we not only learn more about our partners but more about our God. This is why we need each other for mission together.” Liverpool: A new hour-length tour ‘led’ by Catherine ‘Kitty’ Wilkinson will allow the public to learn more about the history of Liverpool. Kitty, Saint of the Slums, courageously opened the first public washhouse for the infected to boil their clothes, thus ending the cholera epidemic. Lucy Fiori will play the ‘Helper of the Poor’ in the tour. Fiori, an experienced performer in the Hope Street Physical Theatre Company, is ‘blessed’ to be leading the tours throughout the year. She stated about her drive to do these tours by saying: “I love the way the Cathedral was so progressive in honouring women from all classes and backgrounds. I wanted to play Kitty in particular because her story is so fascinating.” The first of four tours throughout the year will commence 31 January at 2pm. Cost is £5. Tours can be booked at the cathedral or online at: www.cathedralshop.com Southwark: After the Sunday morning service on 13 January, Southwark and St Magnus Cathedrals met for the annual blessing of the River Thames. The Bishop of Croydon, the Rt Rev Jonathan Clark threw a cross into the river as a symbol of prayer during this collaboration of the churches. Later that day, the Rev Dr Stephen Hance took the role of Diocesan Missioner and Canon Missioner by the Bishop of Southwark and the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral. The Bishop of Croydon stated: “The task of a Missioner is to recall us to that joy of sharing in Christ’s mission, God’s mission.” When speaking about Hance’s new role of watching over the entire Diocese of Southwark, he said, “We all need that call, and we need it at every level of Christian life.”