Archbishop condemns atrocities in Pakistan
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, made a statement regarding the violence in Pakistan. Find the text of the statement here

Dr. John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, called on the Government to better support the armed forces by ensuring that the military covenant “is fully honoured not only in its strict operation but also in its spirit”  More here

The Church of England has launched a new web service for people taking a Staycation - holidaying from home instead of going away - during the recession. Staycations offer the opportunity to discover everything a local area has to offer, with cathedrals and local churches often at its centre, says a new Church of England website section at Staycations. More here

Archbishop of Canterbury visits Taizé
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, made a three day visit to the community of Taizé at the beginning of August. More here

Archbishop Leads Youth Group to Taizé
Dr. John Sentamu, Archbishop of York lead a group of forty young people aged 18-25 from York and Durham to the Ecumenical Community of Taizé in France. More here
 

Two church growth consultants are encouraging churches across the country to set up ‘Welcome Teams’ as part of a drive make Church more ‘sticky’ for those who drop in to special events or feel the urge to try out a Sunday morning service. More here

Bishop blesses compost toilet
Rural churches with no running water are improving their facilities with the installation of cost-effective compost toilets. The latest environmentally friendly toilet, installed in an isolated church in Devon, has been blessed by the Bishop of Crediton, the Rt Revd Bob Evens. More here

Historic Lincoln Church installs solar panels
St Denys Church, Sleaford has celebrated the installation of solar panels with a special service of dedication led by the Bishop of Lincoln Dr John Saxbee. More here

Lambeth Palace bees buzz for miles
Get a buzz out of caring for creation, said David Shreeve, the Church of England’s National Environment Adviser, after visiting Lambeth Palace’s 12 hives, whose bees help London grow greener. The bees pollinate plants and flowers across a seven mile radius in the capital with each hive providing around 60lbs of honey a year. Wax from one hive has even been used to make a small model of the Archbishop of Canterbury. More here

 

Tom Joy has been appointed as Director of Investments for the Church Commissioners to advise on the strategic development of their multi-asset investment portfolio in light of the increasing complexity of the financial markets. More here

College inspection report published
The Church of England has published the inspection report on the Oxford Partnership for Theological Education and Training (OPTET), the body that enables the ministerial training colleges in Oxford to co-ordinate their activity and to relate to the University of Oxford. More here

Archbishop of Canterbury awards Lambeth Degrees
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, awarded Lambeth Degrees to the Rt Revd John Hind and the Revd Canon Vincent Strudwick, in Lambeth Palace. More here

Archbishops to Launch Youth Trust
Dr. John Sentamu and Archbishop Desmond Tutu to jointly launch the Archbishop of York Youth Trust on 12 September 2009 at Bishopthorpe Palace, York. More here

Making disciples is primary task for new bishop
Shropshire’s newest bishop says England’s churches have an ‘urgent task of making new disciples’. The Revd Canon Mark Rylands, who has been named as the next Bishop of Shrewsbury, has described churches ‘demonstrating the good news of Jesus Christ in their communities’ and ‘sharing the faith naturally’ as ‘the number one priority’ and ‘the most important thing we have to do’ and urged Christians to set about the task urgently. More here

Top of the Podcasts
This month listen to Father Edward Lewis and Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin here