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Bishop protests about election law changes Bishop’s Bill to remove two-child limit on benefits clears House of Lords Church of England Cathedrals showed recovery in 2021  3rd – 11th June – communities count wildlife in ‘undisturbed’ churchyards Bishop of Durham responds to immigration proposals New foundation launched to help churches tackle housing crisis ** Editor: ...

A senior Church of England bishop has raised serious concerns about new election laws that he believes could adversely impact “the poorest and the most marginalised.” The Bishop of St Albans, Alan Smith, has spoken out against new regulations that mean voters will have to bring photo ID with them when they come to the...

Latest worshipping and visitor data collected from England’s 42 cathedrals and Westminster Abbey during 2021 shows attendance began to recover, despite ongoing Covid-19 measures. The data showed a weekly total of 15,800 people were reported at cathedral services in 2021. This is 22 per cent more than the equivalent figure from 2020, although still 58...

A Private Member’s Bill brought by the Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, to abolish the two-child limit on Universal Credit has recently completed its passage through the House of Lords. The Bill will now be considered in the House of Commons. The Bill would amend previous legislation which limits the number of children counted when...

Parishes across England and Wales are registered to participate in Churches Count on Nature, an annual scheme where people visit churchyards and record the plant and animal species they encounter. The biodiversity survey, supported by environmental charities A Rocha UK and Caring for God’s Acre, as well as the Church of England and the Church in Wales, will...

The Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, who speaks for the Church of England on refugees, has recently issued the following response to the Home Secretary’s statement on the Illegal Migration Bill. He said: “No one wants to see people risking their lives to reach safety, but we must ask is this Bill the right response...

The C of E has launched a new foundation to give practical advice and guidance to churches and dioceses hoping to help tackle the housing crisis in their communities. The Church Housing Foundation will promote collaboration between churches and dioceses and experts in a range of areas from community engagement around housing need to planning...

UK churches use lights and prayers to support Ukraine Prayers for God’s blessing for same-sex couples take step forward Archbishop of Canterbury’s recent speech in ‘Living in Love and Faith’ Cof E’s Social Impact Investment Programme to invest in Charity Bank Safeguarding diocesan data 2019-21 Archbishops’ Commission on Racial Justice releases Second Report Church House...

Cathedrals were floodlit in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, candles were lit, and services, prayer vigils and other events were recently held across the country in churches to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24th February. Many of the Church of England’s Cathedrals and churches held prayer vigils that...

The Church of England’s General Synod has recently welcomed proposals which would enable same-sex couples to come to church after a civil marriage or civil partnership to give thanks, dedicate their relationship to God and receive God’s blessing. Synod members also voted to “lament and repent” of the failure of the Church to welcome LGBTQI+...

“We are not divided but we disagree, and that is very painful. And I will use again the words close to those I used to the Bishops gathered at the Lambeth Conference on a very similar debate. “For some, to question the inherited teaching damages witness and is sinful: you point out that in many provinces across...

The Church of England’s Social Impact Investment Programme has recently made a £1.1m investment in Charity Bank, and will take a 3.6% stake in the bank. Charity Bank uses savers’ money to provide much-needed loans to UK charities and social enterprises working to drive positive social change – bringing benefits for people, communities, and the...