Martha Linden

‘The suffering in Sudan is almost unbearable' – Bishop of Leeds tells Lords in his final speech | The Church of England The situation in Sudan is “so dire that ‘urgent' does not do justice to the need for action,” the Bishop of Leeds, Nick Baines, has warned in his final speech in the House of Lords.

“The suffering in Sudan is almost unbearable...”

The Bishop of Leeds, who retires this weekend, highlighted the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan in his final speech in the House of Lords.

Read more at cofe.io/SudanSpeech.

VAT blow for Celtic saint's church | The Church of England Uncertainty over the future of the Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme could stall work at ancient church

Uncertainty over the future of the Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme could stall work at St Levan Church, near Lands' End.

Find out more at cofe.io/StLevanChurch.

"The majority said they felt such a deep burden."

Ahead of the examination of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by committee in the House of Lords, Rev Canon Jonathan Lloyd talks about his experience of working as a priest in Canada - where 'assisted dying' is legal.

Just landed back in Sudan.

Will spend a week here working to stop the atrocities, back peace effort, uphold UN charter, and push for our teams to get the access and funding they need to save lives across the battle lines.

Israeli police order C of E delegation to leave West Bank village after stand-off with armed settlers Archbishop of York’s pastoral visit to the south Hebron hills was cut short

The Archbishop of York was forced to cut short a visit to a family in the south Hebron hills on Saturday, after Israeli police ordered the Church of England delegation to leave the area. #WestBank #Israel #Palestine #ArchbishopofYork

It’s been a powerful and moving day, praying with and listening to our Palestinian Christian sisters and brothers in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Thank you Father Fadi for hosting us on day two of our pilgrimage of prayer and solidarity.

Getting lost and disorientated in the Barbican is a time honoured tradition. I've worked out a few routes after many years of visiting. Can be a bit stressful if you are meeting somebody else who is getting lost too.

From the car park to the altar: how a church transformed its access after a disability grant award | The Church of England Step-free access has been introduced from the car park to the altar for the first time at a parish first built in the 19th century, following a £50,000 grant from the Church of England disability project.

Step-free access has been introduced from the car park to the altar for the first time at a parish first built in the 19th century, following a £50,000 grant from the Church of England disability project.

Read more about the project at cofe.io/StepfreeChurch.

As criticism grows, is UAE ready to walk away from Sudan’s RSF militia? After mass killings in El Fasher and four years on from a coup, UAE now admits its Sudan policy has gone wrong

As criticism grows, is UAE ready to walk away from Sudan’s RSF militia?

Please remember especially in your prayers the LNER staff member who is in life-threatening condition in hospital, for his loved ones and those treating him.

Prayers in churches this Sunday, esp in Huntingdon, with all those affected by the distressing train attack last night. We pray for all injured and caught up in this.
Our prayers express love and commitment to living in God's ways of light & peace.
@dioceseofely.bsky.social @churchofengland.org

Railway Mission prayer email & thought for the week: This week, I reflect on the challenges of Christian leadership and invite us to pray for those who serve faithfully in miand nistry, often under quiet and unseen pressure. .... Also, We are thankful ...

Please see the Railway Mission’s prayer email and thought for the week. This also has the additional prayer request following the multiple stabbing on a train yesterday on the train at Huntingdon

mailchi.mp/dfa8c869f81d...

Lost grave of daughter of Black abolitionist Olaudah Equiano found by A-level student Fitzwilliam Museum has uncovered student’s work from 1977 that revealed Cambridgeshire location of child’s burial place

Fine article @theguardian.com today on our local church, St Andrew’s Chesterton, #Cambridge & recent finding of grave of Olaudah #Equiano’s daughter, Anna Maria Vassa, who died in 1797. Prof Victoria Avery, Fitzwilliam Museum, @camunivmuseums.bsky.social & Dr Philip Lockley, Vicar, are quoted.

As the names of loved ones who have died are read aloud, candles are lit on the altar, then #stbrideschoir sings Allegri's sublime "Miserere".

#allsouls #allsoulsservice

I'm presuming this is the New Statesman's contribution to the campaign against assisted suicide?

“A Death Sentence” – Aid Agencies Warn of Israel's Assault on Gaza City - Caritas On 12 September 2025, Caritas Internationalis, together with 44 other humanitarian and civil society organisations, signed a statement warning that Israel’s assault on Gaza City amounts to a death sen...

This creates obligations for all states, including EU countries:
prevent it, avoid complicity, uphold international law. Measures proposed by the Commission are a first step - they must be approved and enforced.

Read the statement➡️ www.caritas.org/2025/09/a-de...

We stand with Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Jerusalem and other aid agencies: Israel’s assault on Gaza City amounts to a death sentence for over 1M Palestinians.

The ICJ confirms Palestinians in Gaza have a right to protection from genocide. ⬇️

Doctors protesting against the Leadbeater Bill outside the House of Lords today

Canada shows the slippery slope is real In parish ministry, Jonathan LLoyd has seen patients who felt pressured to end their lives

This was written in November, ahead of the Second Reading of the Leadbeater Bill but still pertinent today - a chilling account of 'assisted dying' in Canada. Free to access. www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...

Prayers for peace in Epping In response to the increasingly violent demonstrations and counter-demonstrations in Epping, the local United Reformed Church will open its doors to offer a place of peace, silence and prayer to those...

Churches Together are hosting prayers for peace in Epping on Sunday, 2pm. Coincides with a protest at an asyum hotel (which Tommy Robinson said he would attend, though he has since suggested he might not) + a stand up to racism demonstration, 2pm, on the premise he will
cte.org.uk/prayers-for-...

Press releases | The Church of England Latest news, updates and commentary from the Church of England.

The Director of Cathedral and Church Buildings, National Curch Insitutions, thanks the CMS Committee for highlighting the positive contributions of parish churches to local communities and pressing DCMS for the need of a long term funding.

www.churchofengland.org/media/press-...

A statement on the situation in Gaza.

Western allies condemn ‘horrifying’ civilian killings in Gaza Statement from UK, EU nations and others calling for end to war marks one of their toughest denunciations of Israel so far

Western allies condemn ‘horrifying’ civilian killings in Gaza https://on.ft.com/4m9ugpO

Nearly £30 million awarded to support parishes across four dioceses to share the Christian faith | The Church of England Nearly £30 million has been awarded for work to support parish revitalisations, new congregations, parish growth and mission to children and young people across four dioceses in the Church of England.

"This grant gives us the opportunity to build on some of the fabulous mission and ministry being done all around the diocese."

Nearly £30 million has been awarded for work to support parishes across four dioceses in the Church of England.

Read more at cofe.io/ParishFunding.

Israeli, US-backed Gaza aid group must end, say 130 charities The call from some of the world's top aid organisations and charities comes after reports of soldiers killing hundreds of of Palestinians at aid sites.

More than 130 charities & NGOs are calling for Israeli/US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to be shut down

Over 500 Palestinians have been killed while trying to get food since the GHF started operating in May, following Israel's 3 month blockade of Gaza
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Great news for Suffolk!

The email sent this afternoon by Dignity in Dying to their supporters. It says everything that's wrong with the movement behind the Terminally Ill Adults Bill - massive PR spends, polls, 'flooding social media'. This is not about winning, it's is a profound legal & societal change, which needs care.

‘Ticking timebomb’: sea acidity has reached critical levels, threatening entire ecosystems – study Ocean acidification has already crossed a crucial threshold for planetary health, scientists say in unexpected finding * More on this story: The scientists warning the world about ocean acidification – ‘evil twin’ of the climate crisis The world’s oceans are in worse health than realised, scientists have said today, as they warn that a key measurement shows we are “running out of time” to protect marine ecosystems. Ocean acidification, often called the “evil twin” of the climate crisis, is caused when carbon dioxide is rapidly absorbed by the ocean, where it reacts with water molecules leading to a fall in the pH level of the seawater. It damages coral reefs and other ocean habitats and, in extreme cases, can dissolve the shells of marine creatures. Continue reading...

‘Ticking timebomb’: sea acidity has reached critical levels, threatening entire ecosystems – study

Standing with Archbishop Hosam and our Palestinian Anglican sisters and brothers, I condemn yet another callous, reckless attack on the Anglican-run Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Despite our repeated requests, the Israeli Government has been unable to prove its claims that Al-Ahli Hospital has been used by Hamas. Instead this is part of a relentless and outrageous pattern of attacks on hospitals and healthcare facilities in Gaza. There is no justification for this under international humanitarian law. These bombings must stop. As the Church of England bishops said recently, this war of aggression must cease. Renewing that call, I join with our Anglican sisters and brothers in Palestine and Israel in crying out for justice, mercy and peace. Stephen Cottrell Archbishop of York

A statement following further bombing of the Anglican-run Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza today.

Doge cuts to USAid blamed for 300,000 deaths — most of them children

“The world’s richest man taking from its poorest and getting thanked for it”