Tag Archives: Living Oasis

News Roundup: Baker Academic move to SPCK | Hodder titles now available from IVP | Letchworth Christian Bookshop hold Bible Reading Marathon | Living Oasis Phase 2 Openings Delayed | and more…


Baker Academic move to SPCK

AS ANNOUNCED IN DECMBER LAST YEAR following their acquisition of 200 titles from Hendrickson, Baker have now moved their range of academic titles (Baker Academic and Brazos Press) from Lion Hudson to SPCK. Commenting on the move, Dwight Baker, President of Baker Publishing Group, said:

While Lion Hudson has been doing an excellent job in selling these titles into the trade, Baker felt the need to move their Academic titles to a firm that has had a long history of publishing and selling to the academy in the United Kingdom.  The purchase of over 200 academic titles from Hendrickson Publishers this past October was the tipping point for this decision.

Baker’s other imprints, including Bethany House, Revell, Baker Books and Chosen, remain with Lion Hudson whilst Alban Books continue to represent all other Hendrickson lines to the UK.


Hodder titles now available from IVP

Hodder titles now available from IVP

Hodder titles now available from IVP

IVP HAVE ADDED Hodder Faith to their distributed titles list, bringing NIV Bibles and top selling authors such as Tim Keller and Philip Yancey into their portfolio. The announcement was made in the March edition of their monthly e-Bookmark trade newsletter, with further details in a separate trade announcement (pdf, 2.6MB).

Adding the NIV to their list alongside the full range of the ESV from Crossway as well as the NRSV, Good News Bible and range of Greek/Hebrew texts already available via HarperCollins Religious and Bible Society respectively makes IVP an increasingly important player in UK Bible distribution.

The full range of ESV and Crossway titles are also available from STL (pdf, 3.1MB) with 90 day payment terms and higher discounts on initial orders.


The Comet 24: Letchworth bookshop celebrate The Bible with reading marathon

The Comet 24: Letchworth bookshop celebrate The Bible with reading marathon

Letchworth Christian Bookshop hold Bible Reading Marathon

THIS SATURDAY, 9th April, sees Letchworth Christian Bookshopwinners of STL’s Golden Ticket in October last year — launch a Bible reading marathon as part of its celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible.

The project, which runs for two weeks with readings by volunteers in 15 minute slots during shop opening hours, has already made local headlines in The Comet (pictured).

Full details are available on a dedicated website, www.wordaloud.webeden.co.uk. Anyone wishing to take part is invited to check the schedule posted via Google Docs then contact the shop to book a slot.


Living Oasis Phase 2 Openings Delayed

LIVING OASIS LEEDS have apologised on facebook and in a letter posted at Network Leeds (4th April 2011) for the further delay to opening at their new location, advising prospective customers to contact the Harrogate store. Previously billed at Network Leeds as “the first Living Oasis shop to realise the full vision the Nationwide Christian Trust had when taking over 19 former Wesley Owen stores in early 2010″, the new Leeds store was originally expected to open by late January/early February this year but has run into financial difficulties.

A series of prayer meetings is being held, next meeting 14th April 2011, with a fundraising meal scheduled for 6th May 2011. The actual opening date for the new store remains unknown.

The new Liverpool store — originally expected to open within “a couple of months” of the old store’s closure (facebook announcement 29/12/2010) — appears to be facing similar difficulties with no updates to their facebook page since 22nd March when a series of weekly prayer meetings was announced. As of the date of this report, no indication of when the store will open has been given.


Unicorn Tree Books flood claim declined

CITY OF LINCOLN COUNCIL SOLICITORS, Hill Dickinson, have declined the flood claims submitted by Unicorn Tree Books and other retailers based in Lincoln Central Market following damage caused when the duty caretaker was unable to find the stop cock after a pipe burst during harsh weather in November last year (reported here 02/12/2010).

In a letter dated 25 March 2011 claiming to have “fully investigated the matter” Hill Dickinson state that “our client’s duty to maintain is one of reasonableness” and conclude that “the incident was caused solely by the extreme temperatures experienced at the time” — a conclusion that completely disregards the Council’s failure to follow its own published advice to householders who may be concerned about the possibility of burst pipes in their homes:

Preventing frozen and burst pipes

  • Make sure you know where your stop tap is and that it is working.

One can only wonder quite what is going on in the mind of someone who regards such gross negligence as “reasonable”…


Web Shops for Churches

Premier Church Insight: Endis Inspire Shop

Premier Church Insight: Endis Inspire Shop

PREMIER CHRISTIAN MEDIA, publishers of Christian Marketplace magazine, have joined forces with Endis in partnership with STL Distribution to deliver online shops direct to churches via a custom-branded, fully integrated web service. Orders, returns and refunds will all be processed by STL in Carlisle — identified only by their address on the demo shop Contact Us and Returns pages — backed up by a dedicated telephone support line.

Full details of the service may be found on the Premier Church InsightEndis Inspire Shop introductory page.

Reactions from retailers have ranged from a sense of outrage through concern about the implications for church bookstall services to cautious optimism at the possibility that the service could conceivably form the basis for a Christian version of Gardners’ Hive.

STL have emphasised that Endis are simply another trade customer and STL’s involvement with the scheme is solely order fulfilment. They are, however, currently investigating options to provide a comprehensive web solution for retailers: STL remain 100% committed to supporting and working with their retail partners, including amongst other initiatives the development of a Church Resources training programme designed to equip shop managers with the expertise needed and a sales kit that will enable them to pull local churches together and present new or existing product that will enhance church life.


Women in Christian Publishing Inaugural Event

WOMEN IN CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING, a new group created by the Publishers Association, held its inaugural event on 1st April 2011 with a visit to the Houses of Parliament hosted by the Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, who was appointed as Speaker’s Chaplain in June last year.

Those present included Victoria Beech (Beech Publishing/Christian Education) and Janet Evans (Dernier Publishing), who has published some photographs of the event on facebook:

Dernier Publishing > Facebook Photos > Women in Christian Publishing

Dernier Publishing's Facebook Photos: Women in Christian Publishing Inaugural Event

Living Oasis Harrow: Message to Churches: Please pray…

IN MY LAST REPORT I mentioned that local church leaders had been notified of the closure of Living Oasis Harrow by email. This is that message, now also posted on facebook:

We’re Closing

Dear Friends

It is with heartfelt regret that I need to inform you that the Harrow branch of Living Oasis is closing. Our last trading day will be Saturday 2nd April. Please find attached a poster to display on your Church noticeboard.

We believe that the Lord had a purpose and a vision for the shop and we have tried to take this forward but, unfortunately, the number of customers coming through the doors since the closure of Wesley Owen has halved and there is simply not enough trade for us to be able to continue.

I know of at least 13 Christian bookshops that have closed since the beginning of the year. The Harrow branch is the 8th Living Oasis shop to close. Please pray for the future of Christian bookshops and the ministry they provide and, also, for the staff here as we begin to seek the Lord for our futures and try to secure new jobs. Please also remember our loyal volunteers who have given their time and talents to support this work.

We are very thankful for the support you have given us during a difficult time.

Blessings

Pauline

Pauline Banks, Manager
Moira Hornik, Senior Sales Assistant

Living Oasis Crisis Continues: Farewell to Harrow and Southampton

ONLY TWO WEEKS after celebrating its first birthday, Living Oasis Harrow is closing down. The news emerged yesterday via facebook as staff and former staff posted status updates about becoming unemployed and expressing concern; local church leaders were notified by email. The branch ceases trading next weekend.

Living Oasis Locations as of 26 March 2011: only 12 stores will remain after next weekend

Living Oasis Locations as of 26 March 2011: only 12 stores will remain after next weekend

Living Oasis Southampton also appears to have closed down, having been quietly deleted from the official list of branches (screenshot opposite) which now shows only 13 stores, including Harrow, out of the original 20 (or 19, discounting Croydon)

No official public announcement appears to have been made about either branch by Nationwide Christian Trust, the company’s owners, and rather than respond to my enquiries, Andy Twilley has taken the interesting step of blocking me on facebook and has instructed staff not to speak to me and to restrict my access to their facebook pages. Comments I left on the Leeds and Liverpool pages requesting prayer for staff at the stores facing closure have been removed and I have been blocked from leaving further comments.

Please Pray…

Please continue to pray for the staff affected by this turmoil as those who remain face continuing uncertainty whilst those whose stores have been closed or are closing face unemployment.

Please also pray for Andy Twilley, Ray George and all others at Nationwide Christian Trust as they seek the best way forward for the organisation.

Finally, please pray for me as I seek wisdom and grace both for my reporting and in my response to the information restrictions currently imposed by Living Oasis.

Looking Back: Living Oasis Harrow's facebook photos - shop opening

Looking Back: Living Oasis Harrow's facebook photos - shop opening

Living Oasis Update: Harrow celebrates 1st birthday and Watford finds new premises

Living Oasis Christian Bookshop Birthday Party

Living Oasis Christian Bookshop Birthday Party

MORE CONGRATULATIONS are in order, first of all to Living Oasis, Harrow, who celebrated their first birthday on Saturday 12th March with authors, guest speakers from London School of Theology, live music and much more — all backed up with homemade, fair trade cupcakes and tea & coffee.

Sadly I couldn’t be there myself, but if you made it, please leave a comment to tell us how it went — even better if you can supply some photos!

If Living Oasis Harrow is your local Christian bookshop, please use them — because if you don’t then we’ll lose them, and there’s been far too much of that over the last month!

Living Oasis Watford find new premises

Living Oasis Watford find new premises

Next up, congratulations to Living Oasis, Watford, who have at last managed to find new premises to move into. It’s sad news for That Burger which closed down next to Presence on the High Street, but great news for Living Oasis and for Watford’s Christian community.

Describing the move for Christian Gateway Watford, Jill, who works at the shop, writes:

We are so grateful to God for keeping us when other shops have sadly had to close due to lack of support. We desperately need Watford Christians to support the new shop. Steve Cardell has made this move possible and we are incredibly grateful to him.

The shop will continue to trade from Queen’s Road until 15th April: keep an eye on Christian Gateway Watford for news of the opening ceremony at the new site.

Please continue to pray:

News Roundup: Covenant Books, Preston, Reopens | J Marr Seafoods Sponsors Jacob’s Well | Living Oasis Prayer Line on facebook | Love Wins – or does it? | Small Publishers featured in STL Trade Emails


BBC News, Lancashire: Christian bookshop in Preston gets lifeline

BBC News, Lancashire: Christian bookshop in Preston gets lifeline

Covenant Books, Preston, Reopens

CONGRATULATIONS to all involved in the recent resurrection of Covenant Books, Preston!

The usual story of financial constraints ended with the shop’s closure on Christmas Eve last year, but the shop’s trustees have now agreed that the shop can reopen with volunteer help, subject to review after 6 months.

Describing the shop’s difficulties to BBC Lancashire, Annie Colbert, who founded and still runs the shop, explained the cashflow problems involved in having to stock up for Christmas as early as February but then having to pay for the stock in August, long before eventually selling the stock during the Christmas period. Suppliers, facing their own financial pressures, were largely unwilling or unable to wait until stock had sold through.


J Marr Seafoods Sponsors Jacob’s Well

Fish News: J Marr sponsors Jacob's Well

Fish News: J Marr sponsors Jacob's Well

CONGRATULATIONS to Jacob’s Well, Beverley, on receiving sponsorship from J Marr Seafoods for their next container’s shipping costs to Ghana:

J. Marr (Seafoods) has strong trading links with Africa and particularly Ghana where the Jacob’s Well Appeal is working with a Ghana-registered NGO called FREED. They have asked for help in sending medicines and equipment to the Upper North West part of the country; it is the poorest part of Ghana and subsequently sterilisers, dental equipment, anaesthetic equipment and many other useful items and medicines were sent. Books and sports equipment were also provided for local schools in the area.

Read the full story: J.Marr sponsors Jacob’s Well appeal


LivingOasis Prayerline

LivingOasis Prayerline

Living Oasis Prayer Line on facebook

LIVING OASIS have launched a new profile and page on facebook:

As I prepare this post, both are looking rather lonely with only 15 friends and 8 likes respectively, so head on over there, send your friend request and hit that like button: you know you want to!

Living Oasis prayer line

Living Oasis prayer line

Neither the profile nor the page give any indication of who in the organisation is behind them or whether these particular facebook presences are intended for mutual support within the organisation, to garner prayer support from outside or to offer prayer support for others. It may well be all three: all are certainly needed and to be warmly welcomed.

Most, possibly all, Living Oasis stores now have their own facebook pages, with Leeds and Liverpool both using the new company logo but still reporting delays to opening as their “Phase Two” development and refurbishment works continue.


Love Wins – or does it?

HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE AN EVANGELICAL SCORCHED, it seems, and John Piper, the USA’s guardian of evangelical orthodoxy, evidently felt the heat rising in his veins as he learnt about a video promoting Rob Bell’s forthcoming book from Zondervan/HarperCollins, Love Wins. Rob’s offence: to dare to suggest that God’s love might actually win out in the end, that God’s grace might reach further than Christian tradition would have us believe. Search Google for John Piper Rob Bell Love Wins and you’ll soon begin to feel the heat yourself as the message that emerges seems to be, “See how these Christians love to hate one another.”

Whether or not you believe Universalism to be a valid evangelical take on truth, the evangelical take on truth is far from universal in the Christian church. Only you, gentle bookseller, can decide whether or not to stock a book that has been so roundly condemned and yet which seems to hold out such an awesome message of hope for humanity. Personally speaking, I’d go for it and welcome the dialogue. To help you decide, however, some wise words from Krish Kandiah, a review by Greg Boyd, a suggestion for further reading, the video itself and, last but not least, full details of the book, due later this month:

Love Wins

Love Wins
Rob Bell

9780007420735
Zondervan/HarperCollins, March 2011
£14.99

Available to order from STL Distribution


Small Publishers featured in STL Trade Emails

Worth A Look: St Mark's Press

Worth A Look: St Mark's Press

AND FINALLY FOR THIS ROUNDUP, congratulations to St Mark’s Press, featured in a new section of STL’s weekly trade email, “Worth a Look!”

The section, which showcases some lesser known publishers, has been added to give retailers more information about the range of publishers STL carries. This time around the feature highlights Today’s Issues and Christian Beliefs by Simon and Christopher Danes: the original edition published by Lion sold over 100,000 copies; this new edition has been completely revised and updated to tie in with GCSE Religious Studies requirements.

Previous Reports (most recent first)

Living Oasis: Ray George speaks to the Bookseller

Don’t want to comment here? Join the conversation on facebook instead
(or as well…).

IN A REPORT POSTED YESTERDAY by the Bookseller, Ray George has spoken briefly about the current state of play at Living Oasis, dismissing concerns that staff were given little notice of the closures:

The Bookseller: Five Living Oasis stores to close

Five Living Oasis stores to close

Ray George, chairman of trustees for Living Oasis and head of the Nationwide Christian Trust, said that managers of the affected bookshops were warned in October that if trade didn’t pick up he would have no choice but to close them.

“We said the shops had to sustain themselves to be safe from closure, staff were well aware of that,” he told The Bookseller. “The shops that were closed were losing £40-50,000 each a year and we just cannot afford to keep sustaining that, we had to make that decision.”

Hope that trade would pick up in the weeks before Christmas was not borne out, he added.

The closures bring the number of Living Oasis stores nationwide from 19 to 14, with George adding that further closures would depend on the result of “dialogue” between Living Oasis and church leaders in the coming weeks.

The statement adds to the uncertainty hanging over the remaining shops apart from Leeds and Liverpool, where “Phase Two” developments are in progress.

Please pray:

  • For staff who have lost their jobs
  • For staff at the remaining shops as they face an uncertain future
  • For the churches which Living Oasis hopes to engage in “dialogue”
  • For increased transparency and clearer communications both within Living Oasis and in the company’s external relations
  • For suppliers to the shops facing loss of business
  • For Andy Twilley and Ray George…

News Roundup: 3 for 2 on Commentaries at Eden | Christian Focus enters the Blogosphere | Easter with IVP | Living Oasis: Where is the humanity? | St Andrew Press now with NBM

GOT NEWS? If you have news you’d like to see included in the next News Roundup, please get in touch.


Eden.co.uk: 3 for 2 Bible Commentaries Offer

Eden Commentaries Offer

3 for 2 on Commentaries at Eden

AFTER REPORTING Wesley Owen’s 25% off all commentaries last time around, I feel almost morally obliged to give Eden’s latest offer a mention too: 3 for 2 on selected commentaries; but it’s a fantastic offer in and of its own right, and if you go there and make a purchase via this link, you’ll help raise funds to support this site as well.

If you’re an independent bookseller/retailer wondering how you can possibly compete with this sort of offer, my suggestion is get together with a few other independents and form a buyers’ group: you are stronger together, weaker apart; but the only way to turn that into a reality is by actively doing something about it. Discuss


Christian Focus enters the Blogosphere

LAUNCHED LAST MONTH and aptly named Christian Focus BookNotes, the new blog from Christian Focus is all about their books. It’s a blog worth watching:

Never a company to settle for half-measures, you’ll also find Christian Focus on facebooktwitter and, of course, YouTube. Go on, hit that facebook Like button: you know you want to!


IVP Easter Sale 2011

IVP Easter Sale 2011 (pdf download)

Easter with IVP

IF THERE’S ONE THING you can always rely on in the UK Christian book trade, it’s outstanding seasonal offers from IVP, and their latest Easter offering doesn’t disappoint.

The offer runs from 1st March to 30th April 2011: take any mix of 20 or more titles from a selection of Easter bestsellers and benefit from special trade prices set to allow you to offer your customers reduced prices (ranging from £2 to £8 off) whilst still retaining a standard trade margin. Full details available from the trade section of their website: pdf download.


Living Oasis: Where is the humanity?

THIS COMMENT, left late on Thursday evening by Mrs Diane Hellyer, seems to epitomise everything that’s gone wrong with Living Oasis:

I have been associated with the Christian book trade for over fifteen years and have worked as a volunteer in five different shops in that time, most recently in Sutton Living Oasis. From what I understand of the situation, it is totally shocking how this closure has been handled by the Chairman and the Trustees. That no HR support was offered and no face to face meeting arranged, but that staff were informed of the impending closure by telephone is surely a lack of care and an undervaluing of the staff, the company’s greatest resource. It may not have been commercially viable to maintain a Christian witness in the high street, but under any circumstances the manner of the closure could, and should, have given a clear Christian witness as to the value placed upon the individual.

For the record, I have already raised similar concerns directly with both Andy Twilley and Simon Hole, Nationwide Christian Trust’s Resource Manager, and have now forwarded this comment personally to Ray George himself. As yet I have received no reply…


Newcastle Cathedral Gift Shop Closure

Also on a sad note, the demise of Newcastle Cathedral’s gift shop. I’m told that the shop had just begun to extend its range of books but alas, financial constraints win out yet again. The closure does seem, however, to have been much better handled than the recent Living Oasis closures, with public tribute paid to the shop staff and volunteers. From the Dean’s February newsletter:

There is on the other hand a great deal of sadness over the closure of the Gift Shop. I would want to pay tribute to the staff and volunteers who over the years have shown enormous commitment to this enterprise, played an important part in welcoming visitors to the Cathedral and done their level best to make it work. However the sad fact is that the Shop has been losing money for many years and Chapter felt such a situation was no longer sustainable. The move to Mosley Street certainly did nothing to revive the Shop’s fortunes but was not the cause of its demise. Chapter is not ruling out re-opening a shop in the future. The issue is what, when and where? We will keep the situation under review and assess the feasibility of any new enterprise in the light of the success of the wider development programme. In the meanwhile there will be sale of stock and any shop furnishings that can’t be used will be “mothballed” . Some souvenirs and small items will continue to be sold in the cafe. Meanwhile there will be a party to celebrate the hard work of our shop volunteers and all that the shop has done on February 18th.


St Andrew Press now with Norwich Books & Music

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: if you’ve been used to ordering St Andrew Press (Church of Scotland) titles from Marston, those days are over. St Andrew Press is now part of the Hymns Ancient & Modern stable of church publishing houses and stock needs to be ordered from Norwich Books & Music.

Living Oasis: Aberdeen and Inverness closures acknowledged; Bedford, Belfast and Sutton closures confirmed

Don’t want to comment here? Join the conversation on facebook instead
(or as well…).

IN A BRIEF MESSAGE TO SUPPLIERS Ray George, Chairman of Trustees for Living Oasis and the head of Nationwide Christian Trust, has acknowledged the closure of the Aberdeen and Inverness stores and advised that Bedford, Belfast and Sutton will be closed during “the next few weeks.”

The message, dated yesterday, March 1st 2011, begins with the observation that recent trading “has not been easy” and indicates that this year got off to a bad start “with poor sales” before announcing the decision to implement closures. No mention is made of the situation with CLC in Inverness and no information is given about whether any provision, such as offering redeployment to other branches, has been made for bookshop staff.

Despite these closures, however, the message continues in an upbeat tone outlining the implementation of “Phase Two” developments beginning in Leeds and Liverpool:

We are committed wherever possible to open our Phase Two programme which is starting in Leeds and Liverpool. There are also discussions underway for implementing Phase Two in other cities around the country. Phase Two of our programme is showing sustainability and this is the right platform for us to build for the future.

The message concludes with a notice to suppliers that any goods ordered for the shops that have been closed or slated for closure “can no longer be delivered” and advises those with queries about this to contact Julie Jowett, National Sales Manager, “who will help you further.”

No further information about the nature of the “Phase Two” developments is offered and no indication of timescale is given. The message contains no request for prayer or other support, either for the organisation or for the staff of the closed/closing branches whose lives have been thrown into turmoil.

Living Oasis: Meltdown continues as Sutton branch announces closure: call for prayer on facebook

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(it’s mostly about hugs).

IN A BRIEF NOTE ON FACEBOOK, Living Oasis Sutton have announced their closure as of this weekend, Saturday 5th March:

I’m sad to announce that as of this Saturday 5th March, Living Oasis Sutton will be closing.
Thank you for your support and prayers over the last year and before hand.
Please pray for the staff team as we all look for new jobs and God’s directions. And also please pray for Sutton and the future of Christian bookshops, as more seem to be closing down all the time.
God bless,
Clarissa, Paul and the Sutton team

Living Oasis Sutton: Closing Down 5th March 2011

Living Oasis Sutton: Closing Down 5th March 2011

Following the recent closures of the Inverness and Aberdeen stores, this brings the number of branches lost by Living Oasis to three, and yet there has still been no official announcement from Nationwide Christian Trust, the company’s owners, about the current state of the company.

Julie Buesnel, of Christian Solutions, Jersey, has issued a call to prayer on Saturday:

As we hear the sad news that yet another Christian Bookshop Sutton Living Oasis will close it’s doors on Saturday. Please join me in an impromptu DAY OF PRAYER for all Christian Bookshops. Please can I ask you to try and understand where we are coming from and to stop buying Christian Books on the Internet. Let’s not just sit back and wait for another Bookshop to close it’s doors. We are more than a Bookshop. The internet cannot give a much needed HUG, or A LISTENING EAR or a MUCH NEEDED PRAYER. Please can I ask that you overlook that internet bargain and use your Local Christian Bookshops instead and support the very important work that we do in JESUS’ NAME.

Whilst the call to boycott online shopping is a contentious issue, the need for prayer and to support Christian retailers is undoubtedly urgent: please join in with this call for prayer wherever you are.

Thank you.

My thanks to Melanie Carroll for providing this information.

News Roundup: Bridge Books, Exeter, for sale | Christian Resources, Leicester, on the move | Durham Cathedral (Book)shop downsizing? | Living Oasis, Aberdeen, closing down

Don’t want to comment here? Join the conversation on facebook instead…

WE LIVE IN AN ERA OF CONTINUOUS CHANGE, it seems: some good, some hopeful, some odd, some sad. Not necessarily in that order: 

Bridge Books, Exeter, for sale

The Hopeful News: Bridge Books, Exeter, is for sale, advertised at businessesforsale.com: Christian Bookshop In Exeter For Sale. The business was launched in 2008 and was shortlisted for last year’s Christian Resources Together ‘Small Retailer of the Year’ award. I asked John Robertson, who owns the shop, about the sale. He replied:

Having reached my ‘sell by’ date (70+) we would be happy to ‘pass the baton’ to the next generation who can further develop this business and ministry. It’s always best to move on when things are going well – we’re still in growth, and would be happy to continue in a support role if that is appropriate alongside the new owner, who will need a sense of calling, vision and energy.

So, anyone out there looking for a challenge? John’s contact details may be found at www.bridgebookshop.co.uk: do give him a shout if you’re interested.

Christian Resources, Leicester, on the move

The Good News: Christian Resources, Leicester’s former SPCK Bookshop which broke free from the Brewers back in 2007 under the late Revd Peter Hebden’s leadership, is relocating to St Martin’s House in Leicester’s Cathedral Square. I invited the shop staff to tell us all about it:

Christian Resources is on the Move!

Alison pushing Janette as Christian Resources, Leicester, prepares to move!

Alison pushing Janette as Christian Resources, Leicester, prepares to move!

March 1st will see us opening up our new shop in St Martin’s House next to Leicester Cathedral. This is a move that’s been long envisioned, initially by Rev Peter Hebden who managed the shop in the SPCK years and beyond, until his death in November 2009. The Diocese of Leicester, along with Peter’s widow Cynthia, have run with this vision and now it is becoming a reality.

Christian Resources exists to communicate the Christian Faith, and our aim is to supply the resources and requisites needed for ministry and mission. What better location for the shop than in St Martin’s House, a building dedicated to Hospitality, Outreach and Service.

The Christian Resources Team is Janette, Alison, Karen and Maggie. We’re all excited about the opportunities this move will provide, and look to strengthen our links with the Diocese, as well as serve Christians of all denominations throughout Leicestershire and beyond.

The Bishop Street shop will close at 12.30 on Saturday 19th February, and we open for business in our new home at 9am on Tuesday March 1st.

Opening hours: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday; 9.30am to 4.30pm, Saturdays.

Our new address is:

St Martin’s House
7 Peacock Lane
Leicester LE1 5PZ

and our new telephone number will be 0116 2615222.

Our email address is still enquiries [AT] christianresourcesleicester.com [email address split to resist spambots - Ed] Please do come in and make yourselves known. A warm welcome will await you.

On a personal note I have to say that I’m very much looking forward to dropping in next time I’m in Leicester. St Martin’s House was once the home of the Alderman Newton’s Boys School, which I attended more years ago than I care to remember… ah, the nostalgia… (short video over on the SPCK/SSG News Blog of Pete Hobson, Project Manager, talking about the redevelopment: Good News in Leicester as Cathedral Square Relocation Plans are Confirmed).

Durham Cathedral (Book)shop downsizing?

The Odd News: Perhaps not so odd, really, given the state of the Christian marketplace these days, but somewhere between hopeful and sad, I fear. Plans are afoot to relocate the shop as part of the Cathedral’s Development Plan and the relocation will, I’m told, lead to a downsizing alongside an apparently decreased emphasis on books. It seems that this once proud theological bookshop is destined to become little more than another Cathedral gift and souvenir shop.

Needless to say this ‘development’ not only has ramifications for the staffing requirements but will also leave Durham without a Christian bookshop, let alone a theological one. Join the conversation: Durham Cathedral Bookshop: One door closes…

Updated 8.30pm, 15/02/2010
Closure reportedly expected by the end of this week, 19/02/2011.

Living Oasis, Aberdeen, closing down

The Sad News: Hot on the tail of losing the Inverness branch to CLC, Living Oasis have now removed the Aberdeen branch from their list of branch locations. I’m told that the shop officially closes at the end of this month, although it may happen much faster given the Inverness experience. The news has emerged in typical Living Oasis fashion, from other sources, Living Oasis themselves being as reticent as ever about communications…

I invited Andy Twilley to offer a statement and he has advised me that “where there is specific news to go into the public domain, be assured, I am always very happy to comment as and when appropriate” and that he “may have a comment to make…. not least on the very exciting developments which are occurring with Living Oasis.” (Andy’s ellipsis).

Well, I tried. If anyone else manages to get any more helpful information from the company, please do let me know or leave a comment. In the meantime, please pray for the staff, not only in Aberdeen and Inverness but elsewhere as they face a period of increasing uncertainty and/or excitement…