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Applications for grants to fund the conservation of special church objects such as stained glass, paintings, bells, organs and clocks in churches have been opened. They are part of an expanded £5 million scheme administered by the C of E. Parishes are invited to apply for such grants towards the conservation of their historical and cultural...

Contrary to recent reports following a question asked by a General Synod member, the Church of England is not banning ‘gluten-free’ wafers nor ‘non-alcoholic’ wine at Holy Communion. A spokesman for the C of E said that Anglican churches across the country “routinely offer ‘gluten-free’ bread or ‘non-alcoholic’ wine at Holy Communion.” He said: “Many professional ecclesiastical...

 The Archbishops’ Commission for Racial Justice (ACRJ) has published its sixth and final report. It was charged with monitoring, and supporting the implementation of the 47 recommendations of the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce. The report calls for the church to address the “gaping wound of racial injustice that afflicts it” and to “reach out and welcome all...

The future of the Abbey Church in Dunfermline is in danger. Originally founded as a priory by Queen Margaret in the 11th century, Dunfermline Abbey has been calledScotland’s equivalent of Westminster Abbey in London. It also contains the bones of King Robert the Bruce, which draws 40,000 visitors a year. But now the Abbey needs...

The first church to be consecrated after the disestablishment of the Church in Wales in 1920 has just celebrated its 100th anniversary. St Martin of Tours in Llay, near Wrexham, opened in 1925 as the village was being developed. It was built to serve miners at the new Llay Main Colliery and their families. It...

Bishop of Goma calls on Christians to pray for peace Top of the World Watch List for 2025 How do we find the next Archbishop of Canterbury? House of Bishops decides to ‘update’ Synod in July, but without any vote Comment on the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme announcement Hundreds of churches are part...

Amid the ongoing violent conflict between M23 rebels and Congolese forces in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC], Martin Gordon, the Bishop of Goma and Church Mission Society (CMS) mission partner, has shared ‘The Goma Call for Peace’. He urges the  international community to act immediately and decisively for peace in Eastern DRC. In...

Where in the world is it most dangerous to be a Christian? The answer is found in the recently published World Watch List. It is Open Doors’ annual ranking of the top 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. This year it is North Korea. Again. For North Korea has been Number One...

It is not a simple process. And now Stephen Knott, The Archbishops’ Secretary for Appointments, has written to members of General Synod to confirm expected timings for the process of nominating the next Archbishop of Canterbury. He writes: “The Canterbury Diocese ‘Vacancy in See’ process commenced in December and, late last year, it was announced...

The House of Bishops met recently to review updates from the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) working groups, presented by Bishop Martyn Snow. After considered reflection on the complexity of the proposed changes, the Bishops agreed that it was unlikely all elements of the proposals will be sufficiently developed in time for Synod to...

The Bishop of Bristol, Viv Faull, and the Bishop of Ramsbury, Andrew Rumsey, who are the Church of England’s joint lead bishops on church buildings, have welcomed the recent announcement of the 12-month extension to the Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme. They said: “We are pleased that this will bring temporary relief to many...

This past winter the Church of England has provided warm spaces for people struggling to pay energy bills. The C of E has been offering not just a refuge from the cold, but in many cases, food, activities and a chance to make friends and be part of a community. A total of 485 Church...