Vicar on Tory victory: “..the world just got harder & colder”
The Rev'd Caroline Beckett is the vicar at All Saints Church & St James Church in Brightlingsea, Essex. She serves her flock diligently and is clearly dedicated to mission. "Everyone…
Conservatives
General Synod: social and political diversity among Bishops
Quite a few interesting questions have been tabled for the imminent virtual General Synod of the Church of England, ranging from Bishops' Twitter usage (Qs 69-70) to Safeguarding abusage (Qs 17-29), but the most interesting episcopal answers relate to two…
Following CofE guidance for gender transition services, bishops weigh the possibility of political transition services
The Church of England has issued new guidance for parishes planning gender transition services to help transgender people mark their transition to their new identity. Since there is now no…
Bishop Nick Baines derides Brexit British hopelessness
There's a lot of anxiety about. The torch which once lit our path is being extinguished. Our institutions and communities are beset with moral problems, dilemmas and quandaries. Our politics…
The Rev’d Jonathan Aitken – being ordained is like ‘a new life’
Former Tory Cabinet minister, convicted perjurer and bankrupt the Rt Hon Jonathan Aitken MP is now the Rev'd Jonathan Aitken, deacon at St Matthews, Westminster, and chaplain to the Prison…
See how the (Acting) Bishop of London loves Tories
The (Acting) Bishop of London just loves Tories. It is seen in his sweet Twitter appreciation that Conservatives apprehend the loveliness of the moral excellency of divine things; the beauty…
Mandatory organ donation for Christians: a presumed opt-out for Muslims?
While the media obsess about the P45 prankster, the set falling to pieces or the plague of frogs in Theresa May's throat, you could be forgiven for missing that the…
Bishop of Manchester condemns ‘Hang the Tories’ left-wing hate
One effigy hanging beneath this bridge could be Boris, but it's hard to tell. They're both male – or dressed as men – so the Prime Minister isn't the target. Except…
Corbyn Monoxide: why does the Left get away with anti-Tory hate?
It's supposed to be a joke, of course, and we're all supposed to laugh. But imagine – just try to imagine – if these students had written such vile comments…
Bishop of Liverpool urges Christians to vote Conservative
It was a very, very subtle exhortation tweeted by the Rt Rev'd Paul Bayes, Bishop of Liverpool. So subtle, in fact, as to be (he would insist) a totally undetectable…
Same-sex marriage: what does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?
This is a guest post by the Rev'd Dr Gavin Ashenden, sometime Chaplain to the Queen. ___________________________ ‘Archbishop Cranmer’ has written a balanced and generous analysis of the House of…
Vicar says EU Leavers are all "a bit racist"
The Church of England is officially neutral on the matter of the EU referendum. By 'Church of England' here we mean the institution; not its pulpits and people. It…
A National Register of Faith Leaders? Government plans to vet all ministers of religion
There was an odd article in the Telegraph last week. Odd because the headline, photograph and content didn't quite cohere. Andrew Gilligan has apparently got hold of a leaked…
Compassionate Conservatism and Social Justice – bedfellows or bugbears?
Talk to most Labour supporters about 'compassionate conservatism', and they'll scoff at the very notion, as though the evil Tories had stolen the robe of Christ and were masquerading…
Jeremy Corbyn's path to power is more plausible than people think
Usually somewhere between three and 30 people avail themselves of the #Amen prayer facility at the bottom of this blog's Home Page. Since it was installed, the most believers…
Blukip: why doesn't the Right show a bit more love?
Can you imagine Norman Tebbit, Simon Heffer, Nigel Farage and Peter Hitchens indulging in a group hug? No? Too macho? Okay, let's feminise it. How about Margaret Thatcher, Ann…
Benjamin Netanyahu promises legitimacy, peace and security
The Archbishop of Canterbury made a pronouncement last year which was somewhat unusual in modern Anglican geo-political quibbling and hedging. The statement is still on the Lambeth Palace website,…
#PastoralLetter (2): Visions, dreams and nebulous notions of detachment
Having responded to the Preface of the Pastoral Letter from the House of Bishops "to the people and parishes of the Church of England for the General Election 2015",…
Without Christian vision the future of politics looks bleak
A couple of days ago my NASUWT magazine dropped through the letterbox and, as always, it makes for pretty depressing reading. If the contents are to be believed, most…
It's official: politicians can keep their promises
There's a powerful verse in the Book of Psalms that reads as follows: How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! (Ps 133:1) Christians have…