commission4mission's new website

See a fantastic variety of artwork, of which the above is a sample, on our new website. The site is up and running with artist's profiles combined with information on: our commissions; the commissioning process; online sales; background information; events; and our charitable donations.

commission4mission has worked with freshSPRING to develop this website showcasing our work. 

The website also has all of our posts from this blog. In future, our posts will all appear on the website blog rather than this blog. As a result, if you wish to stay up-to-date with commission4mission's news please bookmark http://www.commission4mission.org/blogs/. 

New website for commission4mission

commission4mission has been working with freshSPRING to develop a website showcasing our work.

Our new website is now up and running with artist's profiles combined with information on: our commissions; the commissioning process; online sales; background information; events; and our charitable donations.

The website also has all of our posts from this blog. In future, our posts will all appear on the website blog rather than this blog. As a result, if you wish to stay up-to-date with commission4mission's news please bookmark http://www.commission4mission.org/blogs/.

commission4mission's Greenbelt market stall

Many thanks to everyone who contributed at short notice to our market stall at this year's Greenbelt Festival, in particular Barbara and Harvey Bradley and Jonathan Evens who staffed the stall for us. As well as sales of work and general publicity, the stall also generated new contacts and useful conversations about aspects of our work.

We showed a selection of original work from Hayley Bowen, Harvey Bradley, Ally Clarke, Elizabeth Duncan Meyer, Jonathan Evens, Mark Lewis, Caroline Richardson, Joy Rousell Stone, Henry Shelton and Peter Webb. This included cards, jewellery, meditations, notebooks, prints and t-shirts produced by our artists for sale, as well as information about our work on commissions, exhibitions, events and publications.

Fr. Stephen's anniversary gift

Fr Stephen Pugh, Parish Priest at St Margaret of Antioch Ilford, recently celebrated 25 years of ordained ministry and commission4mission received a commission to create a gift celebrating this occasion. The brief included reference to silver, the colour for 25th anniversaries, plus Stephen's love of France and his ministry itself. Henry Shelton rose to the challenge with the image above which was presented to Fr Stephen on Sunday 7th July.

St Margaret of Antioch recently received a special commendation from the Diocesan Advisory Committee in the Diocese of Chelmsford for their commissioning of a holy water stoup by Mark Lewis, which was also a commission4mission commission. commission4mission also gained a second such commendation for etched windows by Henry Shelton and Richard Paton at All Saints Hutton.  

Charitable donations - Rejuvenate Worldwide and St Francis Hospice

Each year commission4mission makes a donation to a chosen charity with the money donated having been raised through commissions and sales obtained in the preceding year. This year our committee members have asked that our annual donation - which amounts to £676 - be given to Rejuvenate Worldwide and St Francis Hospice.

Rejuvenate Worldwide is a non-denominational Christian charity working in the UK, Africa (Uganda) and other countries. Their vision is to give young people the opportunities to reach out to other across the world less fortunate than themselves. This vision is a pragmatic response linking the issues facing young people from deprived areas in the UK and people, mainly young people, in the developing world to help bring about hope and change in the lives of those we work with.

Saint Francis Hospice is a centre of excellence in the care of those with life limiting illnesses.  Their team of specialist consultants, doctors, nurses and health care assistants provide practical and emotional support for adults of all ages and give specialist bereavement support to family members from as young as 20 months. Their teams provide care in the home, inpatient care at the hospice, day care at our centre together with a full range of therapies and treatments.  This care extends beyond physical treatment of symptoms; we consider the emotional, psychological, spiritual and social needs of our patients, their families, children and carers.

Over the first four years of our existence we have been able to donate £5,612 to charities, with our earlier donations going to Haven House, Sightsavers International, Smile Train UK, and Safer Places.

25th Anniversary of ministry commission

A painting by Henry Shelton was commissioned by St Margaret's Ilford for presentation today to Fr. Stephen Pugh on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his ordination. St Margaret's had previously commissioned a holy water stoup from Mark Lewis through commission4mission. We are glad of the opportunity to have a continuing relationship with St Margaret's and to be part of the celebration of Fr. Stephen's ministry.

Annual Report 2012-13

Incarnation exhibition at Wimbledon Library Gallery

In 2012/13 commission4mission has made a significant contribution to the mission of the Church during the Olympic and Paralympic periods through our involvement in the ‘Run with the Fire’ project. We have also held a launch event in South London, exhibited at venues across London and collaborated with a wide range of visual and performing artists. Our committee has also prepared plans for commission4mission to have a greater online presence from 2013 onwards.

During 2012/13 commission4mission has:

• completed our ninth commission, heads of Christ and Mary Magdalene as painted wooden reliefs, by Peter Webb for Dagenham Park Church of England School;
• exhibited at All Saints West Ham, the Strand Gallery as part of the Pentecost Festival, All Saints Woodford Wells as part of the Barking Episcopal Area Arts Festival and at Wimbledon Library Gallery for a Christmas show entitled ‘Incarnation’ curated by Wendy McTernan;
• contributed to Run with the Fire, in partnership with CANA and Veritasse, which saw events run using the digital exhibition in Aldersbrook, California, Devonport, Harlow, Leicester, London, Sacramento, Streatham and Woodford;

Steve Scott performing at the Run with the Fire exhibition’s launch night

• organised art talks (by Jonathan Evens, Mark Lewis, Glenn Lowcock and Steve Scott), an art demonstration by Harvey Bradley, a Big Draw workshop led by Mark Lewis, Francesca Ross and Peter Webb, and performance evenings featuring Colin Burns, Tim Cunningham, Jonathan Evens, Jane Grell, Malcolm Guite, Alan Hitching, Jenny Houghton, Tamsin Kendrick and Steve Scott;
• published, through Seed Resources, a collection of images and meditations on the Passion of Christ by Jonathan Evens and Henry Shelton; 
• contributed articles by Jonathan Evens, Helen Gheorghui Gould and Steven Saxby to a special arts edition of franciscan magazine; 
• donated £668.46 to Safer Places, in support of their work with victims of domestic abuse, this being the charitable element from our third year of operation. 

We are very grateful to: all members for their support and involvement; all committee members (Harvey Bradley, Rev. Helen Gheorghiu Gould, Mark Lewis, Wendy McTernan, Henry Shelton and Peter Webb - Chair) for their direction and guidance; our Patron, Bishop David, for his ideas and interest; and Ranjit Solomon for his independent examination of our accounts.

Rev. Jonathan Evens, Secretary – June 2013