Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

 and new working group to be established General Synod recently gave its backing to establishing working and consultative groups to continue work on same-sex relationships and marriage as the Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process came to a conclusion. LLF was originally set up in 2017 to explore the Church’s approach to identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage. It led to the introduction, following a key Synod vote in 2023, of public prayers of dedication,...

Alphege is the saint for anyone who refuses to let others suffer on their behalf. His is a tale of courage and self-sacrifice, with some details that are still poignant, even down 1000 years of history. Alphege began like many other leading churchmen of his time; born of a noble family, with a good education,...

The cross is a picture of violence, yet the key to peace; a picture of suffering, yet the key to healing; a picture of death, yet the key to life; a picture of utter weakness, yet the key to power; a picture of capital punishment, yet the key to mercy and forgiveness; a picture of...

 The cross is a picture of violence, yet the key to peace; a picture of suffering, yet the key to healing; a picture of death, yet the key to life; a picture of utter weakness, yet the key to power; a picture of capital punishment, yet the key to mercy and forgiveness; a picture of...

All in the month of April Remembering Francis Bacon Remembering the musical genius of Richard D’Oyley Carte What’s orange, sticky and worth preserving?  < National Parks Fortnight – 4th to 18th April International Day for Street Children – 12th April It’s National Pet Month International Jazz Day – 30th April National Gardening Week – 28th...

The General Synod has backed a call for the C of E to recommit to ending poverty. General Synod members voted to mark the 40th anniversary of the publication of the landmark report Faith in the City, and its impact on Christian social action, including the work of the Church Urban Fund. Churches must listen to...

– the man who proved there is a God Anselm is a good saint to remember next time someone asks you to prove that there is a God. His brilliant and original Proslogion, written 1077-8, sets out the ‘ontological’ proof for God’s existence. Nearly ten centuries later, it is still studied by theological students as...

The English have a patron saint who isn’t English, about whom next to nothing is known for sure, and who, just possibly, may not have existed at all. But that didn’t stop St George being patriotically invoked in many battles, notably at Agincourt and in the Crusades, and of course it is his cross that...

A history of our Easter chocolate Your Easter chocolate can be good for you Easter Story Biscuits What home gadgets do you regret buying? Our obesity is costing us millions Dawn chorus What does your child know about red squirrels?  ** Editor:  If you suspect a lot of people in your church love chocolate, this...

The General Synod recently backed a Diocesan Synod Motion from the Diocese of Worcester encouraging churches and cathedrals to explore ways of arranging flowers that are both beautiful and environmentally responsible. The Sustainable Church Flowers movement began as a grassroots initiative in the small rural parish of Harpley, Worcestershire, when volunteers started exploring how traditional...

It was: 400 years ago, on 9th April 1626 that Francis Bacon, philosopher and politician, died. He served as Attorney General of England and Wales (1613-17) and then Lord High Chancellor of England (1617-21). Known as the ‘Father of Empiricism’, as his works influenced the scientific revolution in Europe. 125 years ago, on 3rd April...

The General Synod recently voted to approve a new strategy designed to rebuild trust and deliver professional, independent safeguarding across the C of E. At the core of the reforms is the creation of a new national safeguarding charity. This organisation will operate independently of Church hierarchy, governed by a majority-independent Board. The charity’s lead...