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        <title>Christian Today | Church</title>
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                <title><![CDATA[Lichfield Cathedral stone gifted to ancient Essex chapel in symbol of shared faith and heritage]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/lichfield-cathedral-stone-gifted-to-ancient-essex-chapel-in-symbol-of-shared-faith-and-heritage</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/lichfield-cathedral-stone-gifted-to-ancient-essex-chapel-in-symbol-of-shared-faith-and-heritage</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/89/98978.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Canon Chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral, the Revd Canon Dr Gregory Platten; the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave; The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani and Dean of Chelmsford, the Very Revd Dr Jessica Martin]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Diocese of Chelmsford) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Canon Chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral, the Revd Canon Dr Gregory Platten; the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave; The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani and Dean of Chelmsford, the Very Revd Dr Jessica Martin ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 10:33:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Lichfield and Chelmsford have spiritual links going back over a thousand years.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Two Church leaders from the Diocese of Chelmsford have received the gift of a stone from one of the spires of Lichfield Cathedral as a "lasting symbol of faith and shared heritage". 
The Bishop of Chelmsford, Guli Francis-Dehqani, and the Dean of Chelmsford, Jessica Martin, travelled to Lichfield to collect the stone last Friday after they were commissioned with the special task at the end of the 2025 Bradwell Pilgrimage.
The stone will be placed at the altar of St Peter-on-the-Wall at Bradwell-on-Sea, in Essex, to recognise the historic connections between the Dioceses of Lichfield and Chelmsford.
Those connections go back to some of the earliest days of Christianity in Britain. In the seventh century St Cedd, following his studies at Lindisfarne, became a missionary bishop to the Midlands, and later to the East Saxons - from which the term Essex is derived.
St Cedd is believed to have built St Peter's Chapel in around 654 AD. His brother St Chad, who also studied at Lindisfarne, became the Bishop of Lichfield.
St Peter’s Chapel, which remains a place of worship to this day, is already home to stones connecting it with Britain’s Christian heritage, including from Iona, Lindisfarne and Lastingham. The stone from Lichfield will continue that pattern and add to the theme of this year’s Bradwell pilgrimage – “Living Stones”.
The Bishop of Lichfield, Michael Ipgrave, together with Canon Chancellor Gregory Platten, presented the Chelmsford leaders with the stone.
The next step will be for the stone to be consecrated during this year’s pilgrimage, and after that to be placed within the altar at St Peter’s.
Bishop Francis-Dehqani said, “We were warmly welcomed at Lichfield Cathedral, and it was wonderful to celebrate the bond between our two dioceses.
"The story we share - of Cedd and Chad - is not merely part of our history, but a living faith that continues to unite and inspire us.
"This stone stands as a powerful symbol of that story: of faith, mission and our shared heritage. I am delighted that it will be placed within the altar at St Peter’s Chapel in Bradwell-on-Sea and I look forward to celebrating its new home at this year’s Bradwell Pilgrimage.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Methodists 'unable to achieve' goal of Net Zero by 2030]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/methodists-unable-to-achieve-goal-of-net-zero-by-2030</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/methodists-unable-to-achieve-goal-of-net-zero-by-2030</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Methodist Conference]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: The Methodist Church in Britain) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 09:31:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A Church report said much progress had been made, but that ultimately the 2030 target is unachievable.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A report submitted to the Methodist Conference on its environmental plans has recommended abandoning the target of reaching Net Zero by 2030, arguing that sustained progress is more valuable than unrealistic goals.
The report followed an update on the Church’s progress towards attaining its goal at its annual assembly. The update stated that while Methodist churches up and down the country have made some progress towards achieving Net Zero, some have experienced difficulty in forming effective strategies.
The Connexional Council, which is responsible for actioning decisions by The Methodist Conference, advised with regret the abandonment of the 2030 target. Retaining the target placed the Church at risk of "undermining credibility" and opening itself to accusations of “greenwashing”, it said. 
Instead of a fixed target, the council recommended a "more flexible" approach that emphasised ongoing and sustainable progress to carbon reduction. This approach, it was argued, would be more honest and sustainable, even if it appeared to be a step backwards in the short term.
Dr Hamish Leese, Director of Environmental Engagement at the Methodist Church, said, “In 2021 the Methodist Conference agreed and affirmed that the global climate emergency is a crisis for God’s creation and a fundamental injustice.
"It is, therefore, not only a practical issue but a deeply spiritual one, which is inextricably linked to discipleship and God’s mission which we are called to join. At the same Conference, an aspirational target was agreed for the Church to aim to become net zero by 2030. 
“In the years since 2021 a great deal of work has been undertaken by churches, circuits and districts all across the Connexion, and I want to say a big congratulations to all those who have made progress.
"We have seen churches all over the country making environmental concerns part of their worship and teaching life and reduce the amount of energy they are using, as well as sourcing it from renewable sources.
"Many churches have added solar panels or heat pumps, and many more have taken the first steps that will enable them to travel further on their sustainability journey. Over 1,300 Methodist churches in Great Britain are now registered with Eco Church, and this number is growing all the time. "
Leese added that much of the progress would not have happened without the 2030 target. Nevertheless, Leese conceded that Net Zero by 2030 was not going to happen.
“The target was an aspirational one precisely because we knew the scale of the challenge in achieving it, and it is one which the Church has not had the capacity to achieve," he said.
"To retain a target we know we are unable to achieve would undermine our credibility on this incredibly important issue and would open us to accusations of ‘greenwashing’."
He said the decision to move away from a time-bound target was "in no way an indication that these issues are any less important to the Church".
"Climate change is inherently and inescapably an issue of mission, discipleship  and justice," he said. 
"Indeed, this proposed change is a recognition that an issue of this importance requires a realistic and practical approach which moves beyond an aspirational target which is out of reach.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Evangelicals announce month of prayer as Church of England debates same-sex relationships]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/evangelicals-announce-month-of-prayer-as-church-of-england-debates-same-sex-relationships</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/evangelicals-announce-month-of-prayer-as-church-of-england-debates-same-sex-relationships</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/79/97920.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Church of England General Synod - York]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Church of England) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 08:29:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Evangelicals fear a Private Member's Motion will be used to move the Church away from scriptural teachings on sexuality.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) has called for July to be a month of prayer for the spiritual health of the nation and the Church of England the thorny subject of same-sex relationships returns to its General Synod.
CEEC is inviting Christians and churches all over the country to join in prayer, with prayer pointers and Bible verses provided as a focus each day.
A significant motivation for the month of prayer is the July meeting of the Church of England's parliamentary body, the General Synod. Of particular concern to the evangelical wing of the Church is a Private Member's Motion brought by Professor Helen King.
The proposed motion states: “That this Synod affirm that there are no fundamental objections to being in a committed, faithful, intimate same-sex relationship, and that such a relationship can be entirely compatible with Christian discipleship.”
CEEC said the motion was a “cleverly worded” attempt at garnering support for a change in the Church’s position on sexual ethics, while not demanding an explicit repudiation of long-standing doctrine.
Rev John Dunnett, National Director, of CEEC, warned, “While it might be viewed by some as committing General Synod to ‘nothing in particular’, this motion shows that the revisionists will find new and different ways to continually push their agenda – away from Scripture, away from our Church’s doctrine and towards liberal change – even when the House of Bishops is not doing so. And were the motion to find support it could be seen as paving the way for further change.”
Dunnett said that the month of prayer, called PRAYjuly, is intended at least in part to help the Church renew its faith and witness.
“We want to pray and give thanks for the continued opportunities for the evangelisation of our nation that we see every day," he said.
"We want to encourage evangelicals across the country to join together in praying for the Church of England's faithfulness and its witness to the gospel. We want to pray for many more people to come to faith in Jesus Christ.
"Of course, the Church of England rightly always needs our prayer, but our national month of prayer in July will inevitably have some focus on the General Synod as it once again debates the divisive topic of marriage and sexual ethics”
More details about PRAYjuly can be found here.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Catholic Church reiterates apology and commitment to safeguarding after bishop charged with rape]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/catholic-church-reiterates-apology-and-commitment-to-safeguarding-after-bishop-charged-with-rape</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/catholic-church-reiterates-apology-and-commitment-to-safeguarding-after-bishop-charged-with-rape</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/89/98973.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[David Oakley, Bishop of Northampton]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ David Oakley, Bishop of Northampton ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 07:52:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Church said the charges are “deeply distressing”.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Catholic Church in England and Wales has once again offered an apology to the victims of abuse in the Church, following the news that a bishop has been charged with the rape of a minor.
David Oakley, the Catholic Bishop of Northampton, was charged with two counts of rape that allegedly took place between February 2000 and February 2001.
Following the news a joint statement was released by Archbishop Richard Moth, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and Vice-President, Archbishop Bernard Longley.
The statement acknowledged that the charges are “deeply distressing” for all concerned and could “reawaken painful memories for many people”. In recognition the archbishops reiterated their “unreserved apology to those who have been hurt by abuse in the Catholic Church in England and Wales”.
The Catholic Church in England and Wales first offered an apology for the child abuse scandal in April 2010, with then Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols issuing a statement that said, “We express our heartfelt apology and deep sorrow to those who have suffered abuse, those who have felt ignored, disbelieved or betrayed. We ask their pardon, and the pardon of God for these terrible deeds done in our midst. There can be no excuses.”
As well as reiterating their apology, the Bishops' Conference also reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding and the prevention of abuse.
“The Catholic Church in England and Wales maintains a zero-tolerance policy for abuse in the Church and in wider society, and we are cooperating fully with the statutory authorities," the statement said.
It added, “We are committed to continual review and development, assisted by the independent auditing work of the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency, so that all our communities are places of safety and sanctuary for all.”
In a separate statement, the Diocese of Northampton urged anyone with safeguarding concerns to report them to the diocesan safeguarding team or to the police.
The diocesan safeguarding Team can be contacted on 01604 723514  or via email: safeguarding@northamptondiocese.org.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Archbishop of Canterbury: Palestinian Christians facing 'existential crisis']]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/archbishop-of-canterbury-palestinian-christians-facing-existential-crisis</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/archbishop-of-canterbury-palestinian-christians-facing-existential-crisis</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, Layan Nasir]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Lambeth Palace) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Archbishop Sarah with Palestinian Christian Layan Nasir at her home in Berzeit. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 07:36:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Archbishop of Canterbury supports a two-state solution.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Following her five-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the Archbishop of Canterbury has warned that Palestinian Christians in the West Bank face an “existential challenge” that the wider Church must act to address.
In a pastoral letter co-signed by Hosam E Naoum, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, Mullally spoke of the geopolitical realities of the region and the severe impact they have on everyone, regardless of their background.
“In Israel, the simultaneous fighting of many conflicts at one time, and the deep-seated aftermath of the horrifying atrocities of 7 October, have created a state of intense sensitivity to potential danger that has transformed society and politics," it reads.
As a result of this “intense sensitivity”, Christians in the West Bank face increasingly stringent restrictions on work and travel. As well as official security measures, some Christian communities have faced violent attacks from Israeli settlers, including Taybeh, which has been described as the only Christian town in the West Bank.
While Israeli authorities have condemned the settler attacks, no one has been brought to justice, leading some local Christians to criticise a culture of impunity among the settlers.
In her letter, Mullally said that Israel was annexing the West Bank “in all but name”.
“In the West Bank, unchecked settler violence, forced displacement, systemic discrimination, and expanding checkpoints have left the Palestinian population impoverished, desperate and powerless to enact change," it reads.
Mullally also noted the “profound suffering in Gaza” and called upon the international community to do all it can to rebuild the territory.
Referring to an advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in 2024, Mullally called upon Anglicans to lobby politicians “to take all necessary measures to establish a credible path towards ending the occupation” and to pave the way for a two-state solution that enables “Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, dignity and security”.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Church of England urges ‘a healthy sense of patriotism’ as Synod prepares to debate national unity]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/church-of-england-urges-a-healthy-sense-of-patriotism-as-synod-prepares-to-debate-national-unity</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/church-of-england-urges-a-healthy-sense-of-patriotism-as-synod-prepares-to-debate-national-unity</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/89/98972.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Manchester Cathedral]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:24:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A new Church of England paper calling on Christians to help heal growing divisions sees an increasingly important role in modelling “a healthy sense of patriotism” while resisting both nationalism and political polarisation.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A new Church of England paper calling on Christians to help heal growing divisions sees an increasingly important role in modelling “a healthy sense of patriotism” while resisting both nationalism and political polarisation.
The report, "Promoting Unity in Our Nation", has been drafted by the Bishops’ Working Group and will be discussed by members of the Church of England's General Synod when it meets in York from July 10 to 14. 
Chaired by the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow, the working group examines the causes of social fragmentation and sets out the Church's role in fostering stronger communities at a time of “acute” divisions.
The report identifies five priorities for the Church: practising humility, encouraging an inclusive form of English patriotism, recognising the dignity of every person, building relationships across social and cultural divides, and forming active citizens equipped to contribute to public life. 
It says churches should be places where people from different backgrounds encounter one another, learn civic responsibility, and develop the skills needed to participate constructively in society.
Among the practical suggestions are encouraging churches to host community celebrations, strengthen relationships with people of different faiths, support civic participation, and create opportunities for meaningful encounters across social divisions. 
“Parish churches can play a very significant role in hosting community celebrations. And there is no reason why these celebrations should not focus on pride in our nation — as long as this is done in a way which includes everybody, is honest about our history, and does not seek to be triumphalist,” the report reads.
The report calls for an honest reckoning with the Church’s own history, including its links to the transatlantic slave trade and more recent safeguarding failures, arguing that humility must underpin its public witness.
It points to widening wealth inequality, the decline of traditional civic institutions and community organisations, increasingly fractured media consumption, and the demonisation of minority groups as key factors driving social division. 
It also cites research linking financial insecurity with people feeling “like a stranger in my own country.”
Despite this, the report argues there are reasons for optimism. It cites research suggesting large majorities of people believe English identity should be open to people of every ethnic background, support expressions of national pride that clearly reject prejudice, and view the St George’s flag as a symbol shared by people of all ethnicities and faiths.
“While some churches have been reluctant to fly the St George's flag in the current climate, others have taken the opportunity to explain why the flag can still be a sign of unity,” the report says. 
“Appropriate explanation and interpretation can draw on St George's background and martyrdom, as well as highlighting the importance of symbols and rituals in uniting people. As the established church, we should model a healthy sense of patriotism.”
It concludes that there is a “substantial and largely silent majority” seeking a more inclusive understanding of English identity, with the Church “uniquely placed” to help give it a voice. The Church, it says, has a role to play in telling a “healthier” national story that involves “honesty” and “not glossing over the wrongdoing and injustice carried out in the nation’s name or within its bounds, but also celebrating our nation’s achievements and progress”. 
“Second, it would be particular without being exclusive: cherishing what is characteristic about England and its people, without assuming uniqueness or drawing hard lines around who truly belongs. 
“Third, it would be oriented toward the common good rather than collective self-interest: it would ask not only what the nation can achieve for those within its borders, but what responsibilities it bears toward the wider world,” it reads. 
The bishops’ report also cautions against confusing the nation with the Kingdom of God and says the Church must maintain a “critical distance”. 
“Perhaps the most important point to note is the danger of conflating our understandings of nation, church and kingdom,” it says. 
“The kingdom of God is our ultimate horizon, and both the church and the nation stand under its judgement and promise. To identify the kingdom with the church is to fall into triumphalism. To identify the kingdom with the nation is to baptise national interest as divine will. To identify the church with the nation, after the manner of the high Christendom settlement of the sixteenth century, is to deprive the church of the critical distance from which it must speak.”
Elsewhere it recommends that Christians should not withdraw from public life but instead work for the common good, peace and reconciliation.
The report comes against the backdrop of growing public dissatisfaction with Britain's institutions. 
Citing polling by More in Common, it notes that the word most commonly used by respondents to describe Britain was “broken,” followed by “divided,” “struggling” and “mess.” It also found that 87% of Britons had “little to no faith in politicians.” 
The paper is accompanied by a theological address delivered to the College of Bishops in January 2025 by Oxford theology professor Luke Bretherton, which provides much of the theological framework underpinning the report.
Professor Bretherton argued that Christians should reject both narratives that portray Britain as wholly shameful and those that present it as uniquely glorious.
“All political communities are contingent and fallen. None are innocent,” he told the bishops, drawing on St Augustine's City of God. 
Instead, he said, Christians should tell “a Christian story” in which Britain is “neither innocent nor uniquely evil” but “a fallen political community in which God has nonetheless been at work.”
He warned that national identity becomes distorted when either political ideology seeks to claim ultimate authority. Rather than promoting either patriotic triumphalism or national self-condemnation, he argued that the Church should tell “a story of grace and disgrace” that acknowledges both achievements worthy of gratitude and wrongs requiring “repentance and repair.”
Professor Bretherton similarly argued that political communities should not be defined primarily by ethnicity, race or culture. Instead, he proposed understanding Britain as “a demos: a people assembled in this land from many places, crafting through politics a shared arena of just and generous common life through which can be realised moral goods.”
Concluding his address, Professor Bretherton urged bishops to avoid speaking of “national identity” or “English values,” instead encouraging language centred on shared responsibility.
“Speak instead of duties of care and shared goods. England is a civic not a cultural or religious project, one to which all may contribute, and for which all bear responsibility,” he said. “That is the story the Church is called to tell - truthfully, penitentially, hopefully, and lovingly - in the light of Christ.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Church in Wales threatens legal action over attempt to secularise faith school]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/church-in-wales-threatens-legal-action-over-attempt-to-secularise-faith-school</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/church-in-wales-threatens-legal-action-over-attempt-to-secularise-faith-school</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Cilgerran Voluntary Controlled Primary School]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Church in Wales) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Cilgerran Voluntary Controlled Primary School. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 08:34:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A consultation found 97% of respondents opposed plans to strip the school of its status.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Church in Wales is threatening legal action against Pembrokeshire County Council if it persists with a plan to remove church status from Cilgerran Voluntary Controlled Primary School.
The Church said the plan represents a threat to church education in the county, which is also the birthplace of Wales’ patron saint, David. Additionally, the Church noted that 97 per cent of responses to the consultation on the proposal opposed the plan.
The Church argued that removing church status from the school in such a manner was discrimination against faith schooling. 
In response, the Church has said it will not make the school grounds available to a subsequent secular school. This would effectively mean that a school has been closed down, rather than changing the nature of an existing school.
The Church suggested that the council has a poor record when it comes to supporting faith schools, pointing to the case of Manorbier Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School which the council decided to close earlier this month. Students numbers had been declining since a fire damaged the school in 2022, with remaining students using temporary accommodation for much of their education.
Despite apparently receiving promises from the council that the school would be rebuilt, nothing was done and the school has declined to the point where closure is seen as the only viable option.
A spokesperson for the Church in Wales said, “Pembrokeshire County Council’s behaviour in the case of Manorbier VC School has been utterly unconscionable. The Council has presided over a catalogue of delay, incompetence and broken promises resulting in the literal destruction of a thriving school which has served its community for more than 150 years. 
“Taken together with the gratuitous attack on the church status of Ysgol Cilgerran, this amounts to a targeted assault on the inclusive Christian education which Church in Wales schools have provided to their communities for generations.
“That the council should be pursuing this potentially discriminatory action against Church schools in the county which is the cradle of Christianity in Wales, and which takes pride in being the birthplace and shrine of our nation’s Patron Saint, is a bitter irony.  We are not prepared to allow it to happen and we look to the county’s elected representatives to halt this destructive course of action.” 
The council has been approached for comment.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Lottery gives £1.4m towards repair of unique church spire]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/lottery-gives-14m-towards-repair-of-unique-church-spire</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/lottery-gives-14m-towards-repair-of-unique-church-spire</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/89/98963.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[St Dubricius Church spire.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: St Dubricius Church Parochial Church Council and Freeline Gfx) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ St Dubricius Church spire. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 08:25:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Legend says the spire has its unusual features because of the intervention of angry giants.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The National Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded £1.4m to a 13th century church with a unique timber-framed, truncated spire.
St Dubricius Church in Porlock is a Grade I listed church and its famous spire is clad in oak shingles. However, it has been nearly a century since the shingles were replaced, meaning that the 13th century timbers are at increased risk of water damage.
Already the church needs to deal with rotting wooden beams and damaged bell shutters. The lottery grant has been awarded to help fund the £1.7 million project “Porlock InSpired”, a plan to repair the building and, over three years, to host a range of events for the local community.
As well as installing new oak shingles, the plan is to repair the internal timber structure and to re-slate parts of the church roof. As well as preserving the old, modernisation efforts will also be made, with a new heating system set to be installed along with solar panels.
As part of the project, young people, including students from the local St Dubricius School, will be given opportunities to join creative and historical projects.
Rev Ann Gibbs, Rector of St Dubricius Church said, “There are many theories about why the spire has its unusual shape - some more fanciful than others. The most likely explanation is that it was damaged during the Great Storm of 1703 and capped rather than rebuilt.
“Other ideas range from angry giants and distracted builders to fairies or a simple lack of funds. Whatever the truth, this spire is extraordinarily rare and deeply tied to Porlock’s identity. We must ensure it survives for the next hundred years and beyond.”
Rev Gibbs stressed the importance of such projects for rural communities and thanked all who had contributed to Porlock InSpired: “This project simply wouldn’t have been possible without the community or National Lottery players.”
While it is hoped that the repair work will be completed at some point next year, the broader community activities as part of Porlock InSpired are set to last for three years.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[The challenge the Church of England faces over transgenderism]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/the-challenge-the-church-of-england-faces-over-transgenderism</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/the-challenge-the-church-of-england-faces-over-transgenderism</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Martin Davie]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[transgender]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 09:37:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[There is a reality that the Church of England has to face up to but so far it has failed to do this.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
In April last year the UK Supreme Court ruled in favour of an appeal by the campaign group For Women Scotland against a decision by the Scottish Government to count transgender women as women for the purposes of increasing women’s representation on public boards in Scotland. 
For Women Scotland objected to this decision on the grounds that in the Equality Act 2010 the term ‘sex’ means biological sex and therefore a transgender woman should not be counted as a woman for this purpose. The Supreme Court’s judgment on the matter agreed with the argument put forward by For Woman Scotland. 
As the official summary of their judgment explains, ‘the terms ‘man’, ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 refer to ‘biological sex’. The consequence of this judgment is that in all cases to which the provisions of the Act apply to men and women, it means biological males and biological females. Consequently, transgender men and transgender women cannot be regarded as men and women for these purposes. 
The law is now clear on this matter and both individuals and organisations will need to have regard to this reality in their application of the Act. That is why the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the body that oversees its application and implementation, gave guidance on the application of the Supreme Court's decision in May this year. 
The Church of England will have to take account of the Supreme Court’s decision and the EHRC guidance because it is subject to the law of the United Kingdom. However, it is also subject to the law of God, and therefore it must also accept the reality of what God’s law says about what it means to be male or female. 
If we ask where we can discover what God’s law says about this matter, the answer is that it can be found in two places. The first is what is known as the ‘law of nature’, that is to say, the revelation of God’s will given by the kind of world that God has created. The second is the revelation of God’s will given to us in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. 
God’s law as revealed to us in nature tells us that part of what God has willed to create is a dimorphic pattern of human sexuality in which people are either male or female depending on the way in which their bodies are configured for the purposes of sexual reproduction. 
As the American Catholic writer Christopher Tollefsen notes in his article Sex Identity: 
“Our identity as animal organisms is the foundation of our existence as selves. But fundamental to our existence as this animal is our sex. We are male or female organisms in virtue of having a root capacity for reproductive function, even when that capacity is immature or damaged. In human beings, as is the case with many other organisms, that function is one to be performed jointly with another human being; unlike the digestive function, no individual human being suffices for its performance.
“Accordingly, reproductive function in human beings is distributed across the two sexes, which are identified by their having the root capacity for one or the other of the two general structural and behavioural patterns involved in human reproduction. In male humans, this capacity is constituted by the structures necessary for the production of male gametes and the performance of the male sex act, insemination. In females, the capacity is constituted by the structures necessary for the production of oocytes and the performance of the female sex act, the reception of semen in a manner disposed to conception.”
There are a variety of other physical and psychological differences between men and women, but these are all characteristics of human beings who are fundamentally differentiated in terms of their sex by the fact that their bodies are ordered towards the performance of different roles in sexual reproduction and in the nurture of children once they have been born. 
The binary view of sex which I have just outlined has been challenged in recent years on the basis of the existence of what are popularly known as intersex conditions, that is conditions where people’s biology differs in some way from what is the biological norm for men and women. However, this challenge is mistaken. If someone was genuinely intersex, they would have a body which was hermaphrodite in the sense of being able to produce both ova and sperm, and which could thus take on both the male and female roles in sexual reproduction. However, there does not seem to be any evidence that anyone fits into this category. 
As Abigail Favele notes in her book The Genesis of Gender,  there are very rare cases in which ‘an individual can develop both ovarian and testicular tissue, but even in this case, he or she will produce one gamete or the other, not both.’ As she goes on to write: ‘There is no direct evidence in the literature of a hermaphroditic human being, someone able to produce both small and large gametes.’
The fact that God willed to create a dimorphic pattern of human sexuality is also revealed to us in the Old Testament which teaches us that: ‘God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them’ (Genesis 1:27). It is further revealed to us in the New Testament where Jesus declares ‘he who made them from the beginning made them male and female’ (Matthew 19:4). 
We know that the males and females referred to in these passages are those who have the biological characteristics of males and females which we noted previously for the simple reason that in Genesis 1:28 God tells his male and female creatures to ‘be fruitful and multiply’ and throughout Scripture from Genesis 4:1 onwards this command is fulfilled through sexual activity between men and women. In Scripture, as in nature, being male and female involves being designed with the capacity to play a particular role in reproduction though intercourse with a person of the opposite sex. 
What all this means is that there is a reality that the Church of England has to face up to, which is that according to the law on human sexual identity established by God at creation, human beings exist in two sexes, male and female, and that people’s existence as male and female is determined by their biology.  
Unfortunately, the Church of England has decided not to recognise this reality in two ways. 
First, the only official theological statement ever issued by the Church of England with regard to the issue of transgender identity (which was then called transsexualism) is a memorandum issued by the House of Bishops in 2003 which runs as follows: 
“The House recognised that there was a range of views within the Church on transsexualism and accepted that (as matters stood at present) both the positions set out below could properly be held: a) some Christians concluded on the basis of Scripture and Christian anthropology, that concepts such as ‘gender reassignment’ or ‘sex change’ were really a fiction. Hormone treatment or surgery might change physical appearance, but they could not change the fundamental God-given reality of ‘male and female He created them’. b) others, by contrast, whilst recognising that medical opinion was not unanimous, were persuaded that there were individuals whose conviction that they were ‘trapped in the wrong body’ was so profound and persistent that medical intervention, which might include psychiatric, hormone, and surgical elements, was legitimate and that the result could properly be termed a change of sex or gender.”
The problem with this memorandum is that it was never explained at the time, and has never been explained since, what it means for someone to be trapped in the wrong body or to change their sex. 
In Christian anthropology a person exists as a body and soul united together and their sex is determined by their body. Their soul is the soul of the person who is either male or female depending on the configuration of their body. In the words of Carl Trueman: “There is no ‘I’ behind or before the body. There is no ‘us’ that exists (logically, let alone chronologically) independently of our flesh and that is then randomly assigned to the bodies we have.”
For someone to say they have the wrong body thus involves saying ‘I should not be me.’ However, in Christian thought there are no human beings who should not exist, since each and every one of us has been created by God as the specific individual that we are (see Psalm 139: 13-16).
It is also impossible for someone to change their sex because no one can change their fundamental biology. Even someone who undergoes hormone treatment or surgery to change their sexual appearance is still biologically a member of the sex with which they were born and therefore still either a man or a woman depending on that sex. 
The theological approach listed as option (b) in the House of Bishops’ memorandum is one that therefore cannot be ‘properly held’ because it is based on a denial of reality.
Secondly, in terms of its practice, the Church of England allows the use of liturgy to mark people’s gender transition, and both the marriage and ordination of people in their transgender identities. This matters because liturgy is meant to be a declaration of truth, a declaration of how things are or should be. In the three cases just mentioned, however, what is declared is not truth but a lie. It is a denial of reality that involves declaring solemnly and deliberately before God and the world that someone is a member of one sex whereas in fact God has created them as a member of another.
What the Church of England needs to do is to avoid the twofold denial of reality outlined above. What it needs to do instead is engage in a form of pastoral care that involves explaining theologically to people struggling with their sexual identity why they need to live according to their God-given biological sex and then journeying with them as they seek to do this.
Pastoral care may also involve advising the persons concerned to seek appropriate psychiatric help as and when necessary to help deal with any unresolved psychiatric issues which either lie behind their struggles with their sexual identity or arise from it. 
In addition, in the case of people who have gone through gender transition and have a family life in their assumed identity, pastoral care will also need to involve helping to address the relationship issues which will arise because of their return to their true identity. 
It is easy to outline these aspects of pastoral care for transgender people in writing. Putting them into practice will, of course, be immensely more difficult. As the Evangelical Alliance report on transsexuality correctly notes:  
“The pathway of growth, sanctification and change can be expected to be slow and painful. Struggle and relapse can be anticipated. The desire to live as a member of the other sex may never go away in this life, even if it lessens or can be controlled, and the psychological, emotional and practical issues involved in giving up a legal public identity as a member of one sex and reverting to another sex will be immense and will take time to resolve. Those who have undergone sex reassignment surgery may have to learn to live with the fact that some aspects of what have happened to them are irreversible and that they will have mutilated bodies for the rest of their lives …
"Supporting people through this range of difficulties will be a major challenge for a minister and for a congregation. What it will mean in practice is a long-term commitment to praying for and loving, listening to and assisting the person concerned in any way necessary. It will also mean continuing to love and support them even if progress is slow and relapses occur, trusting that God is in the process and has the capacity to bring about the result that he desires even if this takes years. As Walt Heyer reminds us in A Transgender’s Faith: ‘…we must never give up on people, no matter how many times they fail or how long recovery takes. We must never underestimate the healing power of prayer and love in  the hands of the Lord. We must never give up hope.’”
Helping people to face the reality of their sexual identities is thus a major challenge for those in the Church of England. Nevertheless, for the reasons given here it is a challenge the Church of England needs to accept. Just as those in the UK (including those in the Church of England) have to accept and apply the reality of the  Supreme Court’s decision about people’s sexual identities under the Equality Act, so those in the Church of England also have to accept the reality of God’s prior decision about the sexual identities of the people he has made and act accordingly.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Church of England releases final report on Makin Review]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/church-of-england-releases-final-report-on-makin-review</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/church-of-england-releases-final-report-on-makin-review</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[St Pauls Cathedral, Church of England, Church, Christianity]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ There is "insufficient urgency and pace" to implement safeguarding improvements, the Charity Commission said. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 08:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Makin Review led to the resignation of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Church of England has published the final report on the recommendations of the Makin Review.
The Makin Review was first published in late 2024 and detailed the Church’s response to allegations of abuse against the late John Smyth.
Smyth died in 2018 and is believed to be responsible for abuse going back decades in both Britain and Africa. The Makin Review concluded that the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, had not taken sufficient action once he became aware of the allegations.
Welby stood down as a result and has admitted that he “personally failed to ensure … [that] the awful tragedy was energetically investigated”. Welby has also contested some of Makin’s findings, arguing that subsequent evidence confirmed that the allegations against Smyth had in fact been reported to the authorities and that the police had told the Church not to investigate further as doing so could harm their own enquiries.
The final report on the review says confirms that the Church will accept 24 of the 27 recommendations made by the Independent Lessons Learned Review in full and the remaining three will be accepted in part.
The report notes that the Church has made significant progress since the review. It has introduced mandatory Safeguarding Codes of Practice, imposed stronger disciplinary measures for clergy, introduced independent safeguarding audits, strengthened protections for whistleblowers and clarified the process of reporting safeguarding concerns to the statutory authorities.
Other areas are still said to be in progress, with more work needed when it comes to managing safeguarding in international contexts. The report also said the Church needed to offer a more consistent level of support to survivors of abuse.
The Rt Rev Robert Springett, lead Safeguarding Bishop for the Church of England, said in an introduction to the report, “This report is, first and foremost, about people – all who have experienced abuse within the Church of England. We write with humility, and with a complete and unreserved belief in those who have come forward.
“This report is clear that safeguarding must always take precedence over institutional loyalty. Ultimately, what is needed is culture change: deep, sustained, and reaching to every level of the Church, from its national structures to every parish.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Archbishop of Canterbury meets Palestinian Christian released from prison]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/archbishop-of-canterbury-meets-palestinian-christian-released-from-prison</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/archbishop-of-canterbury-meets-palestinian-christian-released-from-prison</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, Layan Nasir]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Lambeth Palace) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Archbishop Sarah with Palestinian Christian Layan Nasir at her home in Berzeit. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:58:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, has met with Layan Nasir, a 26-year-old Palestinian Christian recently released from prison, during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, has met with Layan Nasir, a 26-year-old Palestinian Christian recently released from prison, during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land. 
The meeting occurred in the Palestinian Christian town of Birzeit following Nasir's release from Israel’s Damon Prison in May, where she has faced multiple periods of administrative detention over the past five years.
The Archbishop's pilgrimage sought to foster understanding and dialogue among different faith communities in a region affected by prolonged conflict. Archbishop Mullally engaged with various church leaders and community representatives to discuss the challenges they face.
During the meeting with Nasir and her family, Archbishop Mullally offered prayers and listened to her experiences about her time in detention. 
“It was a great joy to meet with Layan Nasir in Birzeit today after her release from Israeli prison," the Archbishop said.  
"I’m grateful to Layan’s family for their hospitality in their home. I will pray for them, and for God’s blessing and healing for Layan after the terrible ordeal of her incarceration.
"I pray for the release of all people who have been unjustly imprisoned, here in Palestine and Israel and around the world.”
Earlier in her pilgrimage, Archbishop Mullally delivered a sermon at St Peter’s Church in Birzeit, addressing the challenges faced by Palestinian Christians and the broader community.
In her sermon, she told the congregation she would use her role as Archbishop to seek “the peace you desire and the freedom you deserve”.
Acknowledging that "faithfulness can be costly", Archbishop Mullally lamented that 2,000 years after the birth of Christ "you are now facing so many barriers to practising your faith and living freely".
She said: "I hope that, through my visit, you may also know that you are not forgotten by the wider Body of Christ. The Church is called to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep. The Church stands with you in your right to live in freedom and dignity."
She continued, “And your faithful, hopeful resistance is also visible as fathers and mothers navigate the web of checkpoints daily to provide an income for their family, or to get their children to school to provide for their future, or as you gather to break bread together week by week in this church. 
"All these acts of faithful resistance point to our hope in Jesus Christ and reflect your ongoing struggle for freedom and dignity.”
The pilgrimage underscores the Church of England's commitment to supporting peace efforts in the Middle East and comes at a critical time, with many Palestinians continuing to face hardships related to the ongoing conflict with Israel. ]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Church of England apologises for 'pain and trauma' from its role in historical adoption practices]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/church-of-england-apologises-for-pain-and-trauma-from-its-role-in-historical-adoption-practices</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/church-of-england-apologises-for-pain-and-trauma-from-its-role-in-historical-adoption-practices</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Church of England) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:36:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Church of England has apologised for its role in adoption practices involving unmarried women and girls during the post-War period, with the Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledging the "pain, trauma and stigma experienced - and still carried - by many people". ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Church of England has apologised for its role in adoption practices involving unmarried women and girls during the post-War period, with the Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledging the "pain, trauma and stigma experienced - and still carried - by many people". 
The apology coincides with the publication of a report examining the Church's involvement in these practices between 1949 and 1976 when an estimated 185,000 children born to unmarried mothers in England and Wales were adopted.
The report says that the period under review was characterised by "a culture of shame, stigma and secrecy" surrounding pregnancies outside of marriage. 
"Patriarchal ideas about female sexual purity and family identity are clear in the language often used about unmarried mothers at the time – ‘fallen’, ‘ruined’ – and in the labelling of their children as ‘bastards’," it reads.
"The shame of unplanned pregnancies among unmarried mothers was invariably borne by the woman involved, with the behaviour of men often ignored or excused, and there was little social expectation that fathers would have to address the consequences of their actions."
Some of the expectant mothers housed in the care homes were only teenagers. In some cases, they were admitted to homes far away from their families. 
The Church of England was significantly involved in caring for unmarried pregnant women through diocesan mother and baby homes, and two national bodies - the Moral Welfare Council (MWC) and, after 1958, the Board for Social Responsibility (BSR).
The report finds that although official guidance often stated that mothers should be supported to keep their children where possible, the wider culture and social systems surrounding the homes and pregnancies of unmarried women limited their choices in reality and increased the likelihood of adoption.
It describes "dehumanising" attitudes towards women and children in the Church's care, with a "reforming and ‘corrective’ nature to a number of the homes" and children being referred to as “raw material” for adoption agencies.
"Guidance for chaplains ministering in mother and baby homes similarly emphasised that the mother had a right to her child and that the child, too, had a right to their mother," the report reads.
"Any adoption therefore would need to be consensual – as set out in the Adoption Act 1949 – and not the result of undue pressure.
"Yet this sat alongside language which expressed dehumanising and dismissive attitudes, falling short of what would be expected towards anyone in the church’s care, not least people who were rendered especially vulnerable by their circumstances." 
It added, "In the adoption process itself, children were sometimes described in commodified terms, with the BSR and diocesan adoption societies citing the need for a central ‘clearing house’ where supply and demand could meet."
The report draws on testimonies from women who later felt unsupported and pressured, or in some cases separated from their babies against their will. 
Elsewhere, conditions in some homes were described as poor, with problems like overcrowding, poor heating and inadequate facilities. Some personal testimonies detailed how expectant mothers were expected to undertake manual tasks while resident in homes.
"These poor conditions remain an important part of the collective memory of women within the homes," it says. 
The report sets out the Church’s commitment to listening, learning and responding with honesty and compassion.
"The report is offered with a deep sense of sorrow for the reports of harsh treatment of mothers during this period, and with hope that it will be of service to the women and children whose lives were affected by what happened to them in mother and baby homes," it reads. 
Giving the apology on behalf of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, said: “We are profoundly sorry for the pain, trauma and stigma experienced - and still carried - by many people because of historical adoption practices in homes affiliated to the Church of England.
“We have heard first-hand the accounts of mothers who were separated from their babies in circumstances where they had very few meaningful choices.
“We know that many women and girls were at times made to carry out menial and manual work as a form of ‘correction’.  
“We also recognise where prejudice - including on the grounds of race and disability - shaped and defined experiences and outcomes.
“We are listening to the voices of people affected. They have told us about the pain, shame and indignity experienced both then and now.
“Today, we say to each of you: the shame you were made to feel was wrong. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Rather, we are deeply ashamed that this happened to people in the care of Christian communities." 
She went on to say that such failings "must never happen again".
“All of this took place in a society that often valued secrecy and respectability over compassion and care. The Church of England was part of that society and helped to sustain those attitudes. While homes were encouraged to keep mothers and babies together, this often did not happen," she continued. 
“For many mothers, children, fathers and wider families affected by these practices, the impact has been lifelong.
“These practices are in the past and must never happen again. We will not condone or repeat them. Our commitment now is to listen, to lament and to learn – to acknowledge this history and respond with openness, reflection and learning, and to ensure that this leads to change."
If you have been affected by this news or would like to speak to someone, the National PAC-UK Advice Line provides independent, confidential advice and information for people affected by adoption, special guardianship and other forms of permanent care and can be reached at family-action.org.uk/pac-uk or by calling 0300 1800 090. 
Safe Spaces provides a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused by someone in the Church, and is available at safespacesenglandandwales.org.ukor via its helpline on 0300 303 1056.
Alternatively, you may wish to contact the diocesan safeguarding team in your area or the National Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@churchofengland.org.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Catholic Church opposes reintroduction of assisted suicide bill]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/catholic-church-opposes-reintroduction-of-assisted-suicide-bill</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/catholic-church-opposes-reintroduction-of-assisted-suicide-bill</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[doctors, assisted suicide, assisted dying, euthanasia]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 08:55:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Labour MP Lauren Edwards has reintroduced the bill and has suggested the Parliament Act could be used to force the measure through.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Catholic Church in England and Wales has expressed its deep disappointment that a small group of MPs has reintroduced the controversial Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
The bill was originally introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, however it failed when it ran out of parliamentary time. A broad range of medical bodies, academics and charities said the bill was deeply flawed and did not have adequate safeguards against people being coerced into medically assisted suicide.
Despite this Labour MP Lauren Edwards has reintroduced the bill and has suggested the Parliament Act could be used to force the measure through.
The Act essentially allows the House of Commons to bypass the House of Lords if it passes the same piece of legislation in two consecutive sessions. It has only been used for this purpose seven times in over a hundred years.
Archbishop John Sherrington, who serves as Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said the Church opposed assisted suicide “in principle” and would be arguing against it.
“The recent debate about this Bill showed how many people found the proposed legislation, even if they accepted it in principle, to be flawed and full of unresolved matters," he said.
"The majority in the Commons reduced between readings, the Lords identified many shortcomings and bad legislation.”
Among the many concerns raised during the debate were fears that domestic abusers might coerce their partners into assisted suicide, that those with eating disorders and even military veterans falling on hard times might also be led to suicide.
Former Prime Minister Theresa May noted that legalising assisted suicide would create the bizarre situation of one arm of the government promoting a suicide prevention strategy, while another facilitates suicide.
Archbishop Sherrington said that these and other concerns remained “unresolved”.
“The Bill undermines freedom of conscience for medical professionals and care workers. It also requires care homes and hospices to participate in assisted suicide, threatening not only their future existence but also the wellbeing of their more vulnerable staff," he said. 
The Catholic Church has consistently warned that if religiously motivated care homes were required by law to provide assisted suicide, many would simply close down as such a requirement would conflict with their beliefs.
Archbishop Sherrington concluded his statement with a plea for better palliative care.
“Recent debates have exposed the uneven provision of palliative care across the country," he said.
"Surely what is now needed to help the terminally ill is an improvement in compassionate, high-quality palliative care, and proper hospice funding.
"I urge a debate about priorities in healthcare funding, especially for those living with terminal illness. Finally, I call on all people of goodwill to join me in work and prayer to prevent this flawed bill from succeeding.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Irish bishops oppose attempts to widen abortion laws]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/irish-bishops-oppose-attempts-to-widen-abortion-laws</link>
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                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Archbishop Dermot Farrell and Archbishop Eamon Martin of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin, vice-president, and Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, president, of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 09:25:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[They have also called for more research to better understand the factors behind high rates of abortions in the first 12 years.]]></description>
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The Catholic Church in Ireland has come out in opposition to attempts to “widen the scope” of current abortion law in the country and said that more research is needed to determine the cause of early abortions.
Mary Lou McDonald, leader of Sinn Fein, which is the official opposition in Ireland, announced plans for a bill to remove the requirement of a three-day waiting period for women seeking an abortion in the early stages of theirpregnancy.
Over 90 per cent of abortions in Ireland occur during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
McDonald has framed her proposal as one that would remove barriers to healthcare.
By contrast, the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference said that rather than facilitating even more abortions, more work should be done to understand why women choose abortion and to help those who are undergoing a personal crisis.
Since 2019 more than 50,000 babies have been killed in abortion procedures in Ireland.
Comparing these figures to the 10,000 Irish Covid deaths, the bishops asked, “Why has this not provoked anything like the same kind of crisis response in the form of solidarity or outreach?”
Many women, the bishops said in a statement, face “crisis pregnancy” alone and largely unsupported.
“We can only imagine the loneliness, the emotional turmoil, the economic difficulties, the domestic violence or the addiction that may lie behind the choice of abortion," they said.
"The most natural thing in the world is for a mother to protect her child.  The sadness and regret that so often follow abortion can last for years.”
The bishops was critical of both the media and the state for their apparent lack of interest in seeking to understand why so many abortions take place in the first 12 weeks and the welfare of women who have them. 
The bishops said, “We acknowledge with gratitude those public representatives who have courageously affirmed the right to life of the unborn. Unfortunately, there some who seem determined at all costs to widen the scope of the present law.”
The statement was released ahead of the Catholic Church's annual Day for Life on 21 June.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Gloucester churches come together to bless River Avon amid pollution concerns]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/gloucester-churches-come-together-to-bless-river-avon-amid-pollution-concerns</link>
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                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Blessing the River Avon]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Diocese of Gloucester) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Blessing the River Avon ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 09:59:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[It is part of a broader campaign against river pollution as concerns remain about the amount of untreated sewage in the Avon. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Churches in the Diocese of Gloucester have taken the concept of praying for good health, but also taking one’s medicine, into a whole new realm.
On Sunday Tewkesbury Abbey and St Mary’s Magdalene, Twyning will be gathering to bless the River Avon as part of a broader campaign against river pollution.
The event will begin with a High Mass at Tewkesbury Abbey at 10:30am. After the Mass a procession will make its way down to the river where the blessing will be given in the presence of the High Sheriff and local elected representatives.
St Mary’s Magdalene will be organising a riverside stroll and a scavenger hunt before a blessing is held at St Chad’s Well.
The blessings are timed to coincide with The Great Big Green Week and are being supported by the Safe Avon Project which says that the amount of untreated sewage being released into the Avon by water company Severn Trent has been “increasing year on year”.
In 2025 Severn Trent recorded 546 sewage discharges into the Warwickshire Avon, lasting a total of 3,361 hours. The company says it is working to reduce storm overflow spills and is investing £160m towards improving river health.
Reflecting on the upcoming events, Rev Canon Nick Davies, Vicar of Tewkesbury, said, “In the Bible, water is the ‘stuff of life’ – a sacred gift that reflects God’s love for the world. From the first moments of Creation to the water used in baptism, it is central to God’s plan for a healthy, flourishing earth.
“This is why protecting our rivers is a matter of faith. Currently, our rivers are sick. By blessing the Avon, we are not just performing a ceremony; we are committing ourselves to stand up for nature. We cannot remain silent while a gift from God is treated as a waste pipe.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Iranian-born bishop stands in solidarity with Britain's Jews]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/iranian-born-bishop-stands-in-solidarity-with-britain-s-jews</link>
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                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani meets Jewish leaders]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Diocese of Chelmsford) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani meets Jewish leaders ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 08:36:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[2025 had the second highest number of antisemitic incidents on record.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Iranian-born Bishop of Chelmsford used a meeting with rabbis in east London as an opportunity to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.
In a joint statement with seven local Jewish leaders the Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani said she was “deeply troubled” by a rise in antisemitic incidents.
In April two Orthodox Jewish men were stabbed. Both men survived and the suspect, Essa Suleiman, is due to stand trial next year.
A number of arson and attempted arson attacks on Jewish property have also been reported this year, the most notable being the destruction of two Jewish ambulances in March.
It is believed that the increase in such anti-Jewish attacks is related to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East involving Israel, initially the campaign in Gaza and more recently the ongoing hostilities with Iran.
Francis-Dehqani, whose family fled Iran when she was 14, has described the war on Iran as “unjust and illegal”, however she has also made clear that the war is no excuse for attacks on regular Jews going about their business.
Her meeting with local rabbis was aimed at building relationships between the Christian and Jewish communities.
The joint statement said, “We are deeply troubled by the growing number of antisemitic incidents – including occasions where bystanders have not come to the aid of Jewish people under attack.
“We stand together in our shared commitment to raise awareness and tackle antisemitism in all its forms.”
The statement added that the basis for better Christian-Jewish relations stood on “our shared conviction that every person is made in the image of God and deserves dignity and respect”.
The Community Security Trust (CST), a Jewish organisation, said in its report for 2025 that there were 3,700 antisemitic incidents that year, the second highest it had ever recorded. 
Antisemitic incidents effectively doubled after the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, the CST said.]]></content:encoded>
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