Church of England in Parliament

Honoured and pleased to have come to Canterbury Cathedral this morning to hear the historic announcement of Rt Rev Dame Sarah Mullally as the 106th @archbishopofcanterbury.org

A photo of Marsha with quotes from her statement. Read on Marsha's website

I warmly welcome this historic appointment of Dame Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury and the first women to be appointed to this role.

Read my statement in full: marshadecordova.laboursites.org/2025/10/03/m...

I'm so delighted that Bishop Sarah has been appointed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. Please join me in praying for Sarah.

Announcement of Next Archbishop of Canterbury Watch Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, who will be the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, make their first address at Canterbury Cathedral. May God...

Today Bishop Sarah Mullally, nominated as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, made her first address at Canterbury Cathedral.

Watch the address at cofe.io/106thArchbishopAddress.

"So please do pray for us today, wherever you are, as we debate these important matters with wisdom and with compassion."

Today, The Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft reads Psalm 121 as the House of Lords begins the debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

Assisted suicide law would make this a country that says ‘some lives are not worth living' – Bishop of London | The Church of England Legalising assisted suicide in England and Wales would irrevocably “change society” , the Bishop of London has warned the House of Lords.

"If passed, this Bill will signal that we are a society that believes that some lives are not worth living."

Yesterday, the Bishop of London, along with other bishops, shared her concerns about the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in the House of Lords.

Read more: cofe.io/AssistedSuicide.

Screen showing the introduction of the Bishop of Coventry and her supporters, the Bishops of London and Sheffield

Left to right: the Bishops of Sheffield, Coventry and London in the Bishops' robing room before the introduction.

The Bishop of Coventry in the House of Lords chamber listening to her writ of summons from His Majesty being read out by the Reading Clerk.

The Bishop of Coventry shaking hands with the Lord Speaker before taking her seat on the Bishops' Benches.

Some pictures from the introduction to the House of Lords yesterday of @bishopsophie.bsky.social

Church of England bishops take the fight to Reform over refugees The Bishop of Oxford says the next Archbishop of Canterbury should discuss politics ‘courageously’ and urges Nigel Farage’s party to exercise compassion

“I think we have a responsibility to speak out...to offer a perspective on behalf of the poor both in the United Kingdom & globally. And we’re not going to cease from doing that any time soon.”

Bishop of Oxford: www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...

The Bishop of Leeds, Right Reverend Nick Baines, speaking in the House of Lords

The Bishop of Sheffield, Right Reverend Pete Wilcox, speaking in the House of Lords

Parliament returns today from the summer recess. On duty this week in the House of Lords are the Bishop of Leeds (Mon/Tues) and the Bishop of Sheffield @bishoppete.bsky.social (Wed-Fri). They will be reading prayers at the start of each sitting day and taking part in the business of the House.

An open letter to Nigel Farage - Bishop Steven's Blog Bishop Steven writes an open letter in response to Nigel Farage MP's immigration policy which was launched in Oxford this week.

blogs.oxford.anglican.org/an-open-lett...

UK's top bishop says Nigel Farage's deportation plan 'isn't the British way' The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, told The Mirror it has long been the British way to meet those asking for help with 'compassion and understanding' as he said Nigel Farage's plans are 'beneat...

"It is the Christian way to meet those asking for help with compassion and understanding, and it has long been the British way to give shelter where we can to those escaping violence and conflict abroad. It should remain that way.”

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Palestinian statehood – comment from Church of England bishops | The Church of England Archbishop of York, together with the Bishops of Southwark, Gloucester, Chelmsford and Norwich, respond to the Prime Minister’s announcement on the possibility of recognising a Palestinian state.

Palestinian statehood – Church of England bishops

@archbishopofyork.org & Bishops of Southwark, Gloucester, Chelmsford & @bishopnorwich.bsky.social respond to the Prime Minister’s announcement on the possibility of recognising a Palestinian state.

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

Church Of England - Parliamentary and Policy Researcher

The @archbishopofyork.org and Bishop of London are recruiting for a Parliamentary and Policy Researcher, based in the CofE parliamentary team in London. More details and how to apply: www.cofepathways.org/members/modu... Closing date a week on Friday.

YouTube video by Diocese of Norwich (Church of England) Bishop of Norwich asks question about Israel/Iran civilian casualties in House of Lords 19 06 25

I joined many members of the House of Lords yesterday, urging Israel and Iran to draw back from war, and also asked the Government minister how Britain was working to ensure international and humanitarian laws to prevent civilian casualties were followed:
youtu.be/9dgMGLLmblQ

I am deeply disappointed that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has passed its third reading. We must assist people to live not to die.

'An unsafe and unworkable bill' - Bishop Sarah urges MPs to say no to assisted suicide | The Church of England 'This is not not about progressives v conservatives or atheism v religion - but the kind of society we want to live in'

'An unsafe and unworkable bill' - Bishop Sarah urges MPs to say no to assisted suicide today. www.churchofengland.org/media/press-...

Government Spending Review 2025 – Bishops respond | The Church of England Bishops respond to Chancellor's statement on the Comprehensive Spending Review 2025.

"We hope and pray that this promising spending review will go some way towards creating the conditions for the flourishing of individuals, communities and the whole country."

Bishops have responded to the Government Spending Review.

Read more at cofe.io/SpendingReview.

Bishop welcomes government plan to extend free school meals to half a million children Children’s Society describes announcement as a ‘practical, compassionate step’

The Government’s decision to extend free school meals to all children whose parents receive Universal Credit has been warmly welcomed by the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, and the Children’s Society

Bishop Rachel asked a follow-up question in House of Lords, to a question on humanitarian aid in Gaza

@churchstate.bsky.social @bishgloucester.bsky.social #gaza #israelpalestine

I was at Lambeth Palace this week for the first meeting of the Crown Nominations Commission for the Archbishop of Canterbury. We will meet at least twice more. Please pray for the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit in the process of discerning who God is calling to the See of Canterbury.

Tributes to Bishop Alan as he raises last question in House of Lords | The Church of England The Bishop of St Albans has used his last appearance after 12 years serving in the House of Lords to raise the welfare of pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai, currently imprisoned in a Hong Kong jail.

A voice for those seeking justice, freedom, or hope for a better society, Bishop Alan's been a leading example of how bishops in parliament can make a difference. A true legend of the Bench - I wish him a happy & peaceful retirement-he’s certainly earned it.
www.churchofengland.org/media/press-...

It's Ascension Day and Day 1 of Thy Kingdom Come.

Over the next 11 days I’ll be sharing reflections from this year’s Novena, based on The Lord’s Prayer.

Residents should not face unfair & unclear service charges on properties, from unscrupulous management agents.

I was pleased to meet with @rachelblakemp.bsky.social constituents on the Hyde Park Estate to hear about their experience & how the Church, as the landowner, can help.

Safeguarding was rightly raised again & I have & will continue to speak up for a fully independent safeguarding model.

The Church is moving towards this model & I will monitor developments, reporting back to the House.

The Church was deeply concerned that Palestinians were not able to freely worship during the Easter period. We need to see an end to Israeli occupation - & we need to see it now.

I was glad to answer urgent questions about the Church's work in #Gaza & the West Bank in recent Church Questions.

The Church is doing good work to encourage interfaith working, promoting harmony & unity in constituencies across the country.

Let's recap some of the topics at Church Questions this month 🧵

The Bishop of St Albans in the House of Lords

The Bishop of St Albans is retiring & we're going to miss him. Bookie-basher, FOBT-foe, human rights defender, Uygher's friend, rural champion, cladding campaigner, Sunday special keeper. He got Govt to outlaw hare-coursing, put mum's names on marriage certificates, & much more. Legend of the Bench.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans To ask His Majesty’s Government what recent steps they have taken towards securing the release of Jimmy Lai. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Lord Collins of Highbury) (Lab) My Lords, British national Jimmy Lai’s case is a priority for this Government. We continue to call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecution and release him. The Foreign Secretary committed in the House of Commons that Ministers would raise Jimmy Lai’s case with the Hong Kong and Chinese officials at every opportunity, and we have been doing so. Our diplomats have attended his trial and continue to press for consular access. I know the right reverend Prelate will be retiring at the end of the month. I express my gratitude and, I am sure, that of the whole House for all his work. Noble Lords: Hear, hear.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I am grateful for noble Lords’ kindness. I am glad to ask my last Question on the welfare of a British citizen whose only crime is to exercise freedoms that this House has long stood for: freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest. He is 77, has diabetes and is being held in solitary confinement, and the next stage of his trial is being delayed until August. This is shameful. I thank the Minister for what His Majesty’s Government are already doing, but I wonder what consideration is being given to introducing a legal right to consular access to all British citizens being held in detention, and what other discussions he and his colleagues have held with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to see whether it and other international parties can develop an integrated approach to seeking Jimmy Lai’s release.

The Bishop of St Albans has made his final appearance in the House of Lords today. Bishop Alan has been a vocal advocate for human rights in his 12 years in the Lords. So it was fitting his last question in the Chamber should be on the imprisonment of British citizen Jimmy Lai, in Hong Kong.

Bishop Rachel responds to the Independent Sentencing Review We are the Church of England community in and around Gloucestershire, committed to sharing the transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that people may know life in all its fullness

Bishop of Gloucester responds to report of the Independent Sentencing Review: "It’s evidence-led approach has concluded we need a radical shake-up of how we use prison & my hope & prayer is that the Government takes heed and implements the recommendations." gloucester.anglican.org/2025/bishop-...

Today (Monday 19 May), Bishop Rachel will propose an amendment to keep pre-sentence reports for pregnant women and primary carers lawful, during the House of Lords Committee stage of the Sentencing Guidelines Bill

READ MORE about the Bishop for Prisons role 👉 gloucester.anglican.org/support-serv...