10 Uniquely Nicknamed Parliaments

1. Model Parliament 1295 (a model for later parliaments)
2. Good Parliament 1376 (due to the sincere efforts by its members to reform the government)
3. Bad Parliament 1377 (because it undid the work of the Good Parliament)
4. Blessed Parliament 1604-1610 (the view of Londoners at least)
5. Addled Parliament 1614 (it passed no bills)
6. Useless Parliament 1625 (it transacted no significant business)
7. Short Parliament Apr 1640 (it lasted only three weeks)
8. Barebone's (Little or Saints') Parliament 1653 (Praise-God Barebone, MP for the City of London)
9. Cavalier (Pensioner) Parliament 1661-1679 (overwhelmingly royalist and the longest ever)
10. Loyal Parliament 1685 (at the outset most MPs were loyal to the new king, James II)

(The terms Convention, Long, Oxford and Rump are used for more than one Parliament. Also note the Mad Parliament 1258, Montfort's Parliament 1264, Parliament of Whitebands 1321, the Wonderful Parliament 1386, the Merciless Parliament 1388, the Unlearned or Dnces Parliament 1404, the Fire and Faggot Parliament 1414, the Black Parliament 1523)

At the House of Commons

Last Thursday one of my deacons and I went down to the House of Commons and had a little tour of the place courtesy of our MP Mike Freer (Con). It was a clergy night so it was interesting to meet some of the local clergy and others, many in their dog collars. It was not an evening for politics, Mr Freer simply showed us around the place and explained some of the history and activity. A worthwhile evening.

Affinity Book Launch Westminster

Phil Swann, Graham Nicholls

Last Monday I attended a book launch at the House of Commons. We met in the Jubilee Room off Westminster Hall. The meeting was kindly facilitated by the MP for Lewisham East Janet Daby. The book is called Challenging Leaders and you can find more here. We were about twenty I guess and I knew a few but many were not known to me. We were given snacks and a presentaion, includinga section with Phil Swann from Llanelli who has conr=tributed to the book. Part of the idea is to set up a website where things can be taen further. Always nice to be at the centre of power.

Gwyl Dewi Sant

Yesterday was St David's Day, of course, and so like all Welsh people (you didn't?) we had cawl cennyn/leek soup and bakestones for tea. Owain, my youngest, also met the speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow who was involved this year in the annual St David's Day service in St Mary Undercroft. As usual, the London Welsh School took part, as did a male voice choir Eschoir. This time the children recited Ffrindiau bach a mawr and sang Dewi Sant.

Cromwell in the Sun

We know we are living in strange times when The Sun newspaper starts quoting Oliver Cromwell. (Don't ask how I know this please). That's what they have done today. Here is the speech. You can work out why they are quoting it. It was originally given at the dissolution of the Long Parliament in the House of Commons, 20 April 1653. It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonoured by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.
Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter'd your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?
Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil'd this sacred place, and turn'd the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress'd, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors. In the name of God, go!