Church of England Newspaper suspends publication
The Church of England Newspaper’s Editor, Andrew Carey, has announced that there will be no further published editions of the CEN until further notice. Instead, a weekly newsletter (by email?) will be sent out “for the foreseeable future” –
“In 1828, a group of young evangelical clergy set up a newspaper called The Record. One of its earliest subscribers and supporters was a young John Henry Newman. The Newspaper formed what became known as the ‘Recordite’ faction in the C of E opposing Tractarianism. It was in the 1950s that the Record merged with The Church of England Family Newspaper to become CEN. …”
Has Living in Love and Faith come to an end? An open letter to the Archbishop of York
At Psephizo, Ian Paul writes to the Archbishop of York:
“Dear Stephen
I read with interest your address to York Diocesan Synod on 5th July, and one word leapt out for me: ‘final’. Near the end of your address, you comment:
The Living in Love and Faith process is not yet complete. Some final proposals will be brought to the February 2026 meeting of the General Synod.
If that is the case, I am and countless others (on all sides of this debate) will be delighted. This has been a disastrous and divisive process since 2017; I wonder whether you realise how damaging it has been, and whether you will ever publicly acknowledge that. It sprang out of Justin’s spontaneous and ill-conceived phrase ‘radical new Christian inclusion rooted in scripture and Christian theology’ which was both incoherent (how can this be new if it’s rooted in existing theology?) and immediately open to misinterpretation …”
– Read it here.
Image: Ian Paul speaks at last year’s Church of England General Synod.
Mass, indulgences and relics at Canterbury Cathedral
“Nearly 500 years after the English Reformation, Canterbury Cathedral, the mother church of the Protestant Church of England, will be given over to a Roman Catholic Mass, celebrated by the pope’s own representative in the country in honor of the martyr Thomas Becket, who died in the cathedral in 1170.
…the Mass will award those in attendance a plenary indulgence … celebrated by Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia, apostolic nuncio to the United Kingdom …
And while the only relics left at the cathedral are some bloodstains of Becket’s, the Roman Catholic parish of St. Thomas, also in Canterbury, has acquired a relic — a bone of Becket’s, which will be taken to the cathedral for the Mass.”
– At Religion News Service, Catherine Pepinster previews the Roman Mass to be held in Canterbury Cathedral tonight, Australian time.
Alternative Anglican Ordinations: seven South African deacons
Law and Religion UK introduces a guest post on recent events in London:
“Seven lay ministers from dioceses across the Church of England were ordained in May 2025 by a visiting Anglican bishop from South Africa.
In this guest post, Andrew Atherstone provides the first report of this event, based on interviews with several of the leading participants.
‘On Wednesday 21 May 2025, the Archbishop of York received notification from the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa (REACH SA) of their plans to ordain “missionary clergy” for ministry in England.
“A group of churches from various Church of England dioceses”, declared Bishop Martin Morrison from Gauteng, “have approached us with a request: that we consider ordaining a number of emerging leaders, all of whom are appropriately selected and theologically trained.” Following the commendation of the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF) in December 2023 by the Church of England’s House of Bishops, these young leaders found themselves unable “in good conscience” to pursue ordination through the normal channels, and their congregations were deeply concerned that “no clear or lasting pastoral provision has yet been made”, especially in terms of “legal and permanent structural protections or future ministry pathways”.
Therefore, Bishop Morrison explained to the Archbishop, REACH SA had decided to accede to their request for ordination. He emphasised: “This decision has been made with the aim of sustaining and advancing faithful Anglican evangelical witness and to ensure we do not lose a generation of gifted gospel workers to ordained ministry.”
Morrison’s letter was copied to the Bishop of London (in the absence of an Archbishop of Canterbury) and to the Bishop of Leicester (lead bishop of the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) project until his sudden resignation in early June). …’ ”
– Read the full report here. (Paragraph breaks added for clarity.)
Church of England responds to House of Commons votes
“There have been two instances this week of votes in the House of Commons on issues where members have been free to vote in line with their personal opinions. The Church of England has issued press releases in each case.
First, a change to the law on abortion was approved …
Second, MPs in the House of Commons voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, with 314 votes in favour and 291 against, a majority of 23.”
– from Thinking Anglicans. Not a good time for the not-yet-born, the old, or the very ill in England.
Bishop of Leicester steps down as lead on Living in Love and Faith
“The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, has announced that he is stepping down as lead bishop for the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process.
On Facebook on Friday afternoon, he wrote that he was doing so ‘with a very heavy heart’. He was ‘hugely grateful to the staff team that I have worked with over the last 18 months and similarly the Working Group members who have given hours of their time to seek an agreed way forward in the Church of England on matters of sexuality, relationships, and marriage. I hope it may yet be possible to reach such an agreement, but I don’t think that can happen under my leadership.’…”
Image from an October 2024 (now deleted) video by Bishop Snow.
75 Years of Church Society
In the latest Church Society podcast with Ros Clarke:
“Church Society is celebrating 75 years since its formation from the Church Association and the National Church League in 1950.
In this episode of the podcast, we hear from Andrew Atherstone, Gerald Bray and Lee Gatiss about the history of Church Society before 1950, in the past 75 years, and into the present day.”
– Listen here. 35 minutes.
Anglican Communion participants in choice of next Archbishop of Canterbury announced
“The Archbishop in Jerusalem, Dr Hosam Naoum, is to be one of the five representatives of the global Anglican Communion who help to decide the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
The names of the Communion representatives were announced on Tuesday morning, along with those selected from among the central members elected by the General Synod for a five-year term.
Previously, the Canterbury Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) has had only one representative of the Anglican Communion…”
– Church Times reports on the latest in the search for a new Archbishop of Canterbury.
See also:
‘Omnishambles’ May Delay Canterbury Selection – The Living Church.
Alternative Spiritual Oversight – An Invitation – CEEC
From the Church of England Evangelical Council.
And a reminder to pray for our brothers and sisters in England who are seeking to stand for the faith ‘once for all delivered to the saints’.
Bishop Martyn Snow responds to “What kind of future awaits the faithful?”
“I am grateful to Anglican Futures for reviewing my booklet, ‘Can we Imagine a Future Together? Intercultural Lessons for Living in Love and Faith’. The review is thoughtful and constructive, and they are kind enough to offer words of personal encouragement to me – I have indeed spent many hours on Living in Love and Faith (LLF) and heard much pain and anger!
And yet the opening analysis is that the booklet ‘offers little hope’ for faithful Anglicans.
Unsurprisingly, I take issue with this … Obviously, it all depends on what you regard as a good outcome to the LLF process! …”
– Anglican Futures has published this response by Bishop Martyn Snow to their review of his booklet ‘Can we Imagine a Future Together?’.
Bishop Snow is the lead bishop for the ‘Living and Love and Faith’ process in the Church of England. Doubtless, there will be responses to Bishop Snow’s response.
Image: Bishop Snow at the 2024 Church of England General Synod.
Concerns raised over ‘poor process’ and ‘lack of transparency’ around appointment of new Archbishop of Canterbury
“The process by which the next Archbishop of Canterbury will be appointed has been criticised at points as being ‘confusing’ and ‘lacking in transparency’, proper process and clarity, according to one academic.
Revd Dr Andrew Goddard, a member of the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), has raised major questions and real concerns about the process by which the new archbishop will be appointed. …”
– from The Church of England Evangelical Council.
Church of England General Synod summary — Church Society Podcast
Confused about what happened at the Church of England’s General Synod meeting this month?
From Church Society: “In this double-length episode of the podcast, Michael Hayden and Ros Clarke discuss the February 2025 meeting of General Synod, what happened, what didn’t, and the differences watching online and in person.”
– Listen here.
Living in Love and Faith — A way forward which holds us together?
Anglican Futures has been providing daily summaries of the General Synod of the Church of England, meeting in London. From Day 4 (Thursday):
“Next was the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) update, led by Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow. He asked Synod to imagine a future together,
‘One church, with all our differences, or are we resigned to going our separate ways, mirroring society, where each person chooses their own truth?’
This is an extraordinary claim – a total reversal of reality. Surely, it is because some are choosing their own truth, rather than remaining under God’s truth, as revealed by the Apostles, that there is a need for separation?
He continued,
‘What we are offering is a possible way forward which holds us together, and it starts in the imagination, not the detail…’”
– Read it here.
Image from an October 2024 (now deleted) video by Bishop Snow.
Conservative bishops can ban same-sex blessings in their dioceses – they need to start doing this
“The Church of England’s turmoil over same-sex marriage continues.
With the resignation in November of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, the latest development in the long-running saga is another delay by the bishops in bringing in standalone services to bless same-sex couples – services that will closely resemble same-sex weddings.
How did we get here?…”
– Writing in Christian Today, Dr Will Jones, a trustee of Anglican Mainstream, argues that conservative Church of England bishops have been poorly advised by some to believe that they can’t stop same-sex blessings in their dioceses.
Image: Bishop of York Stephen Cottrell, speaking at the Church of England’s General Synod this week.
Kristie Higgs wins as Court of Appeal rules dismissal for free speech is illegal
Here’s a Press Release from Christian Concern in the UK –
“In a seminal judgment for Christian freedom and free speech, the Court of Appeal has reversed a ruling which defended the dismissal of Kristie Higgs from Farmor’s School in Gloucestershire for raising concern on Facebook about extreme sex education and transgender ideology being taught in her son’s Church of England primary school.
The groundbreaking decision, handed down this morning by Lord Justice Underhill, Lord Justice Bean and Lady Justice Falk, re-examines and re-shapes England’s law on religious discrimination. (see legal analysis in notes to editors.)
The dramatic six-year legal battle has been supported by the Christian Legal Centre from the beginning. Mrs Higgs, 48, was represented in court by barrister, Mr Richard O’Dair.
The ruling confirms that the Equality Act protects traditional Christian beliefs on social issues, such as opposition to the ideas of transgenderism and ‘gender-fluidity’ and opposition to same-sex marriage.
The authoritative judgment re-shapes the law on freedom of religion in the workplace. For the first time in employment law, the judgment has effectively established a legal presumption that any dismissal for an expression or manifestation of Christian faith is illegal. …”
– Read it all at Christian Concern.
See also:
Kristie Higgs wins as Court of Appeal rules dismissal for free speech is illegal – Christian Concern.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…