The real presence of Christ in the community of the virtual Church
This morning I want to depart from our Lectionary readings to offer a text which inspired a first-class sermon which I once heard at Rochester Cathedral. A few years ago,…
The Human Touch
This is the eighth contribution to His Grace’s emergency team ministry during the coronavirus pestilence. The author is a Christian and key-worker, who has had a busy week. Were it not for lockdown, then next week I would be…
The Plague of Cyprian
This is the seventh contribution to His Grace’s emergency team ministry during the coronavirus pestilence. It comes from Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage and Father of the Church, from his work…
The end of freedom?
Last night the Prime Minister placed the UK in lockdown to help abate the spread of coronavirus. You should be staying at home unless you must travel for essential work,…
The Tower of Babel
This is the sixth contribution to His Grace’s emergency team ministry during the coronavirus pestilence. It comes from the Rev’d Robert Jackson, a sector chaplain. Over 3,000 years ago,…
Revealed, reclaimed, restored
This is the fifth contribution to His Grace’s emergency team ministry during the coronavirus pestilence. The author has a 30-year itinerant preaching and teaching ministry. He leads a large public…
“Death is a natural part of life” (Yoda)
The fourth contribution to His Grace’s emergency team ministry during the coronavirus pestilence comes from the Rev’d Ian Chidlow, Curate at St Mary’s Parish Church, Cheadle. Since Adam brought…
‘Lord, how would you have me spend this time?’
The third contribution to His Grace’s emergency team ministry during the coronavirus pestilence comes from Nick Barrett, a former teacher of Classics, Philosophy and Sociology, now working in the legal…
Screwtape: ‘The state’s desire is dressed up as “concern”…’
The second contribution to His Grace’s emergency team ministry during the coronavirus pestilence comes from someone who wishes to remain anonymous for professional reasons. Years ago, CS Lewis in…
How to view enforced withdrawal from life
For the first time since 1208, the Church in England has ceased all public worship. Church doors are closed for communion, and the gathering together of the faithful to worship…
Coronavirus pestilence: ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.’
This week on 21st March the Archbishop Cranmer blog shall be 14 years old. It seemed like a good moment to call it a day: to everything there is a…
Coronavirus: finding meaning in a global pandemic
In disasters, people lose loved ones, relatives and property. Above all, they lose faith – not so much religious faith, but faith in the belief that life has a certain…
Child sponsorship: giving children the power to choose their sponsor is nearer the kingdom of heaven
“It’s a new thing a missionary priest started last term. You send five bob to some nuns in Africa and they christen a baby and name her after you. I’ve…
Welby brings peace and reconciliation to South Sudan
South Sudan is a far of country of which we know little, and if we are honest, care less. Its story does occasionally appear on the the BBC News website,…
CofE to be carbon-neutral by 2030 – but at what cost?
No-one disputes the Christian imperative to care for the environment: the stewardship of creation is a matter of generational justice and moral responsibility. In the vast web of nature and…
Franklin Graham ban: Rees-Mogg defends freedom of religion
While the General Synod of the Church of England was repenting of its ‘white privilege’ and committing to ‘net zero’ carbon omissions by 2030, the Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP…
Safeguarding: the Church of England’s house is slowly being rebuilt
On 25th November 2015 the newly elected General Synod of the Church of England gathered to worship together with HM The Queen before she inaugurated the first sitting of its…
Kruger: we should not throw away the inheritance of our Christian culture
In his maiden speech on 29th January, a Conservative MP said something which even the Bishops in the House of Lords aren’t saying. Danny Kruger, the Member for Devizes, made…
The plot to oust Bishops from the House of Lords will fail
A bill to remove Church of England Bishops from the House of Lords is currently making its way through Parliament. The House of Lords (Removal of Bishops) Bill was introduced…
Candlemas: from the Presentation of Christ to ‘Radical Inclusion’
Today we mark a Church Feast which is known as either Candlemas or the Feast of the Presentation of Christ at the Temple. I doubt if any of us will…