Viewing all items in Resource Category: News

An extensive presentation on safeguarding in the Church of England was given by the lead safeguarding bishop, the Rt Revd Peter Hancock, Bishop of Bath & Wells, at the recent meeting of the General Synod. He said that while “the need for compassion and pastoral care is clear,” it is “action that will bring reform,...

The General Synod of the Church of England has voted overwhelmingly in support of a new deal to co-ordinate and improve the approach to the care and well-being of clergy. Members voted to adopt a covenant committing parishes, dioceses and the wider church as well as individual clergy to sharing responsibility for the welfare of...

Gambling rules in Northern Ireland could be brought into line with tighter standards in the rest of the UK, following an intervention by the Church of England. An amendment tabled in the House of Lords by the Bishop of St Albans, Alan Smith, opening the way for possible alignment in gambling regulation between Northern Ireland...

The General Synod has recently given its backing to further steps towards bringing the Church of England and the Methodist Church in Great Britain into communion with each other. Members voted in favour of starting work on drafting a series of texts including a formal declaration of a new relationship of communion between the two...

Call for churches to act as safe havens in hot spots for serious youth violence Bishop calls for churches to garden for mental health Church of England announces up to £155m investment in mission and ministry  Ecclesiastical Insurance launches Parish Pixels   Children with mental health issues turned away A guide to making our church...

Churches were encouraged to offer a place of sanctuary for young people as part of efforts to combat knife crime and serious youth violence, in a key debate held at the General Synod last month. The Revd. Canon Dr Rosemarie Mallett, a priest in Angell Town, south London, urged parishes to consider opening their doors...

The Church of England’s lead bishop on healthcare issues, James Newcome, has backed experts’ calls for churches to promote gardening for mental wellbeing. A recent conference at Lambeth Palace to explore the links between mental health and gardening saw a fresh call for churches to use their green space to offer ‘therapeutic gardening’. Green Health...

Up to £155 million of additional investment may be spent over the next three years by the Church of England.  The funds will aim to increase the number of people coming forward to train for the priesthood, support cathedrals, and help disadvantaged areas. These spending plans for 2020 to 2022 will help build on the...

– put your church in the picture and it could win £5,000! Budding photographers could be in with a chance of winning £5,000 as part of a new competition launched by the UK’s leading church insurer. Parish Pixels is a new national photography competition for Anglican Churches in England, Wales and Scotland, launched by Ecclesiastical...

Children and young people with mental health issues are being turned away from NHS services and up to 110,000 are missing out on treatment in a year, according to new figures by The Children’s Society. The report, ‘Finding Help – Children, Young People and Families Navigating the System’ is based on Freedom of Information responses...

How do you help those with disabilities to feel included in local church life?  With a reported 99 per cent of all churches having a disabled person in the congregation, it is not an idle question. Now the charity Livability has issued some guidelines for the best way to get started.  ‘Recognise this will be...

Churches and cathedrals will be able to bid for a share of a £100-million pot of National Lottery funding for large-scale heritage projects over the next three years.  And the grants are not just aimed at restoration schemes, but also ideas that benefit communities. The bids will need to demonstrate ‘real ambition to deliver positive...