Is Mark Rylands the humblest bishop in the Church of England?
The Rt Rev'd Mark Rylands is presently Bishop of Shrewsbury. He is well-known to readers of this blog for being a thoughtful and intelligent advocate for UK secession from the…
Mission
Justin Welby tweets the sermon of the year
Sometimes Twitter is like trying to bound infinite space in a nutshell. You can fiddle with words, abbreviate and cut commas, but still it lacks art, and if not art, then heart. You can chirp all day, if you want.…
There is only one way for Christians to respond to ‘Punish a Muslim Day’
Punish a Muslim Day apparently falls on 3rd April this year. No idea what day it was last year: it isn't clear if it's governed by the phases of the…
How does a crucified stormtrooper glorify God?
There is a crucified stormtrooper hanging on the wall of St Stephen Walbrook church in the City of London, forming part of a 'Stations of the Cross' exhibition. The parish…
RIP Billy Graham – evangelical fundamentalist and ecumenical universalist
The Rev'd Dr Billy Graham is dead. The evangelist to the world is now more alive to God then he has ever been, and tributes are pouring forth from the…
Advertising Standards Authority probes billboards declaring ‘The Messiah has come’
Billboards have been popping up around London declaring 'The Messiah has come'. According to Harry Farley in Christian Today, these have attracted a number of objections, and the Advertising Standards…
Priest to chain herself to a tree in protest against HS2
The Rev'd Anne Stevens, Vicar of St Pancras, is to chain herself to a tree near Euston Station in protest against HS2. Or, rather, she is going to allow herself…
Bishop of Liverpool slams ‘so-called Evangelicals’, and so condemns himself
The term 'Evangelical' as applied to Christians has a long and well-chronicled heritage. In 1525, William Tyndale explained in his Doctrinal Treatises (p8): "Evangelion (that which we call the gospel)…
Advent-cum-Mawlid: church holds joint birthday celebration for Mohammed and Jesus
Mawlid (or Milad) is the Islamic festival commemorating the birthday of Mohammed. The only thing it has in common with Christmas is that it isn't actually the day the celebrated…
The General Synod of the Church of England puts same-sex relations over youth evangelism
There is perhaps nothing more challenging in mission than the proclamation of the gospel to those who have never heard it, in a foreign land, in an unfamiliar culture, in…
Is the Church of England doing religion without the Holy Spirit?
Much has been written about the Holy Spirit, or the Holy Ghost, or the Paraclete; the third person (hypostasis) of the Trinity. In fact, so much has been written over…
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…
Reformation 500: Archbishop of Canterbury preaches Eeyore and Tigger
The Archbishop of Canterbury's sermon to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in Westminster Abbey positively bounced with Reformation glee: Through the Reformation we learned that we are saved…
Church of England school headteacher brands Crossteach educational charity ‘extremist’
Dan Turvey B.Ed (Hons) NPQH is headteacher of St John's Church of England Primary School in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. "Christian values are at the heart of all we do…
Las Vegas shooting: Anglican Primates complain about having to pray together
As news of the appalling Las Vegas shooting reached the cloisters of Canterbury Cathedral, where gathered the eminent Primates of the Worldwide Anglican Communion (well, most of them) to continue…
Bishop Gavin Ashenden – if only the Church of England had so consecrated
It sounds good, doesn't it? Bishop Gavin Ashenden. Say it slower. Bish-op Gav-in Ash-en-den. The Rev'd Dr Gavin Ashenden has been consecrated bishop – The Rt Rev'd Dr Gavin Ashenden.…
Mawer, Percy, and the See of Sheffield: what if Conservative politicians had supported Philip North?
Sir Philip Mawer's report on the circumstances surrounding the nomination of Bishop Philip North to the See of Sheffield makes interesting reading, in particular what it means for the 'mutual…
Why is the Church of England hosting a Satanic Fashion Show?
This is the altar of the parish church of St Andrew Holborn. It is desecrated with all manner of demonic symbolism, being the backdrop for what was widely publicised as…
How the Church of England is helping the homeless
It's #GoodNewsFriday, so here's a bit about what the Church of England is doing for the homeless: Laudable. Of course, more could always be done. Like opening up the nation's…
Hurricane Harvey and the $50m mega-church pastor who wouldn’t shelter flood victims
Texan mega-church pastor Joel Osteen is reputedly worth $50million. That's his personal wealth. He leads a church of some 16,000 (ie a 'mega-church') which gathers in the Lakewood Church, Houston,…