Click here to download or print the Competition Entry Form (PDF)

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN GOSPORT / GOSPORT DISCOVERY CENTRE

Knowledge of the Bible seems to be vanishing fast in the UK. 

According to a recent survey by Durham University most of the general public can’t recall anything about the parable of the good Samaritan or the feeding of the 5,000.  Even Christians admit to difficulty in engaging with the Bible, with only a third of those who attend church committed to reading it regularly.

2011 celebrates the 400th anniversary of the printing of the King James Bible (KJB). 

This was commissioned by James 1 of England and V1 of Scotland with the aim of bringing together, not only his two kingdoms, but also his high church worshippers and his reform-minded Puritans.  He wanted a translation of the Bible that could be read aloud in every church; that would be available to rich and poor alike and one that would encourage people to learn to read for themselves. 

Thus six groups of six to eight scholars each were gathered together in Westminster, Oxford and Cambridge for the grave task of translating the Bibles in current use (the Bishops’ Bible, the Geneva Bible and William Tyndale’s translations) into the language of the day and when at last it was finished, the KJB was acclaimed to be the greatest work ever produced by committee!

Thereafter came a great surge in the number of people who learnt to read.  The beauty of its wording has influenced some of our greatest English writers and each of us echoes it whenever we use phrases such as “salt of the earth”, “my brother’s keeper”, or “the straight and narrow”.  

It is still loved and revered today, which is why, by the end of this year, it will be uploaded onto YouTube in its entirety, with contributions from readers such as Patricia Routledge, Boris Johnson and even Richard Dawkins.

We want to bring an awareness of the richness of the Bible back into the lives of the people of Gosport, so this summer Churches Together in Gosport is launching an Art Competition, to be shown throughout the summer holidays in The Discovery Centre. 

Whichever version of the Bible you are more familiar with we are asking people to use it as inspiration and to draw An Image of Hope.  You have plenty of choice!  There’s the birth of Jesus, the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, the Good Shepherd, Revelation’s vision of heaven,  the Prodigal Son, the whole of creation………….

Application forms will be available soon in schools, churches, youth groups, art clubs and the Discovery Centre and Caroline Dinenage MP will present prizes to the winning entries at a special reception in the Discovery Centre on July 22nd where all the entries will be displayed throughout the summer holidays.

So……………..Using the Bible for inspiration………….

       What would be your picture of hope?

                    What image would you create?

Diana Dow, Licensed Lay Minister, St. Mary’s Alverstoke

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