Communion

Queen reminds General Synod of its essential mission

November 17, 2021
Archbishop Cranmer
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The 11th General Synod of the Church of England was opened yesterday, and the Supreme Governor was absent for the first time since Synod was created more than 50 years ago. Absent in body, that is, but certainly not in…

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Former archbishops split on assisted suicide, and there’s no Anglican via media

September 13, 2021
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In the red corner is George, Lord Carey of Clifton, Archbishop of Canterbury 1991-2002. He favours the legalisation of assisted suicide (or assisted dying, if you prefer) because "there is…

CDM PTSD: the trauma, stress and disorder of the Clergy Discipline Measure

May 28, 2021
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The Clergy Discipline Measure (2003, amended by the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016) is a Measure passed by the General Synod of the Church of England for the maintenance…

From Lament To Action: the report of the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce

April 23, 2021
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The Archbishops' Anti-Racism Taskforce have published their report 'From Lament to Action', which proposes a raft of changes designed to bring about a change of culture in the life of…

Lockdown UK: only in Scotland is public worship prohibited (except for the rich)

January 6, 2021
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Epiphany 2021. The Wise Men have arrived in the guise of SAGE – the wisest of the wise. If we follow the star of science and heed their advice, coronavirus…

The Supper at Emmaus

April 26, 2020
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Today’s Gospel reading gives me the opportunity to share with you one of my favourite paintings, that of The Supper at Emmaus, by the Italian Renaissance genius Caravaggio. It hangs…

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The Human Touch

March 30, 2020
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This is the eighth contribution to His Grace’s emergency team ministry during the coronavirus pestilence. The author is a Christian and key-worker, who has had a busy week. Were…

How to view enforced withdrawal from life

March 18, 2020
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For the first time since 1208, the Church in England has ceased all public worship. Church doors are closed for communion, and the gathering together of the faithful to worship…

Catholic Herald stokes sectarianism with ‘Heretic of the Week’

January 6, 2019
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The Catholic Herald runs a column called 'Heretic of the Week'. It hasn't been running for many weeks, which is probably why it isn't that widely known, but a recent…

Scrupulous for Christ: saving the Church from the doctrine of the infallibles

November 1, 2018
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Ever since Jesus cried 'Woe' to the scribes and Pharisees, his disciples have been calling out the two-faced hypocrites and judiciously discerning whitewashed tombs – those who look all meek…

Rainbow Church, LGBT Eucharist and intolerable utterances

September 21, 2018
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This picture has not been photoshopped: it is the altar of Reading Minster draped in the rainbow flag for this year's Gay Pride festival, in order to convey to the…

The Church of England should welcome Methodists into the fold of the historic episcopacy

February 8, 2018
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This is a guest post by the Rev'd Marcus Walker, who was Deputy Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome until January 2018. He is to be Rector of the…

Reformation 500: we are all Protestants now

October 31, 2017
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‘Reformation’ is an awkward word; so, of course, is ‘Protestant’. Both terms convey a sense of theological unity or ecclesial uniformity wrapped in a righteous evangelical zeal, when, in fact,…

Anglican Communion News Service smears GAFCON and manipulates Archbishop of Canterbury

October 6, 2017
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You'd think, wouldn't you, that you could trust the news reports which emanate from the official Office of the Worldwide Anglican Communion. You'd hope, wouldn't you, that the Anglican Communion…

Filial Correction: laity who are more Catholic than the Pope

September 27, 2017
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The Pope of Rome hath erred. So, of course, hath the Pope of Alexandria, the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and we mustn't forget the Pope of the Christian Palmarian…

One in Christ? Why do liberal Christians abuse conservative Christians?

September 15, 2017
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The Most Rev'd Nicholas Okoh is the Archbishop of Abuja Province and Primate of the Church of Nigeria in the Anglican Communion. A glance at his biography establishes his fraught…

The two opposed expressions of Anglicanism

July 25, 2017
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There is a letter published in today's Telegraph signed by 23 conservative (/traditionalists/orthodox) Anglicans concerning the tensions in the Church over England (and wider Anglicanism) over same-sex marriage and other…

In defence of church pews: God save us from white plastic, stackable stainless steel and bright blue upholstery

April 2, 2017
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There is "no theological basis" for the retention of church pews, declared John Gallagher, Chancellor for the Diocese of Rochester, as he dismissed the view of conservationists who wanted to…

With the gift of a crozier, Pope Francis recognises and affirms the episcopal jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury

October 9, 2016
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You can read too much into a symbol, especially if it signifies a deep spiritual longing or portends some prophetic fulfilment. What to one person is just the rain, to…

“I always wonder where those who call themselves ‘Progressive’ are progressing to”

September 23, 2016
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Goodness! Well here in Barchester we are preparing for ‘World Peas Day’ and it promises to be a splendid, inclusive event! Mrs. Giblets (our cook) and I have been preparing…