Great to hear from Sir @robertbuckland.bsky.social on the unique role of #MajorChurches as living witnesses to faith at the very heart of public life, responding down the generations to enduring human needs for meaning, belonging, community and hope.

Enjoy my latest @telegraph.co.uk article-this time remembering my quixotic 1995 by-election campaign in Islwyn. The result was much more predictable than the ups and downs of being a by-election candidate. thoughts are with the admirable and excellent Michael Winstanley @conservatives.bsky.social

Very pleased to have been a keynote speaker at the Major Churches Network event at St John’s Church, Iffley Road. The Network is chaired by Canon Hilary Barber, of Halifax Minster , one of our 323 Major Parish Churches. These Churches stand at the heart of the mission of @churchofengland.org

It’s out! Today is Publication Day of THE GENERALS, complied by @iaindale. Delighted to have written the chapter on Allenby. Links below: Amazon www.amazon.co.uk/Generals-69-... Waterstones www.waterstones.com/book/the-gen... Politicos.co.uk (signed copies) www.politicos.co.uk/products/the...

Very pleased to visit Society Without Abuse SWA in their Commercial Road HQ- talking with Chair of trustees Nicky Alberry and trustee Angus Macpherson and CEO Kate Rowland about their prevention and education work aimed at reducing the number of incidents and victims.

Loved the Queen Elizabeth II exhibition at the King’s Gallery Buckingham Palace - her Coronation gown is breathtaking. Each outfit was so carefully chosen- wonderful Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies designs #kingsgallery

Always a delight to visit the Wallace Collection. Many different wonders to see but I particularly love Poussin’s A Dance To The Music of Time and Gainsborough’s Mrs Robinson aka Perdita. If you haven’t been then do it now! It’s the sort of place that you visit many times in order to fully enjoy

A welcome return yesterday to @newcollegeoxf.bsky.social chapel for Cantata Vespers. The excellent choir and JS Bach cantatas were superb! The El Greco is splendid.

Enjoyed a visit to @stpaulswesthackney.bsky.social recently to see energy reduction projects & to chair a meeting of the Church Commissioners Net Zero Programme Board. Its roof is now host to a solar array & the church & community facilities are making a difference @churchofengland.org

An excellent breakfast discussion with @JUSTICE at FieldFisher this week on the Rule of Law in an age of technological change-with my old colleague in government Andy Hood from FieldFisher. Expertly chaired by Marina Boterashvili from Quinn Emmanuel. Talking access to justice, AI, tech & ethics.

Read my latest @telegraph.co.uk article on the Senedd elections. My joy at Labour’s final demise has been replaced by deep anxiety about a separatist Welsh Government that will use the apparatus of bureaucracy to pursue its folly and a new opposition built on fear and division with no answers

Delighted to take part in a conversation with my old colleague former Treasury Solicitor Sir Jonathan Jones at the Young Public Lawyers’ Group Spring Seminar at linklatersllp last night. Thanks to Louis Biggs, Alex Fawke and the Group for a stimulating and enjoyable evening.

Some lovely pics of Chester Cathedral - the sandstone is rich and dark. A bit of a headache for the stonemasons but a beautiful stone. Shots from high up above the High Altar, the top of the main tower towards the Belfry and a view from the medieval choir stalls @churofengland.org

Very pleased to have been a panellist at the SEND Matters event at Parliament yesterday. The highlights were the stories of success and progress told by the children and young people in the room, despite the huge obstacles they face. Reforms will fail if rushed and there no local specialist support.

Please read my interview with Politics Home about the government’s Special Educational Needs reforms #sen- my hopes for the future and my concerns that aspects of the changes will make things worse: please paste this link www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Pleased to be back at Arsenal for a crucial @plnews.bsky.social league match against Newcastle United today. 1-0 to Gunners but it was a rather tense affair. Nails well and truly bitten! #arsenalvnewcastleunited #premierleague

🎙️‘What are we going to leave next?’ In our 3rd podcast episode, former Justice Secretary @robertbuckland.bsky.social warns that leaving the European Convention on Human Rights would harm the UK's global standing. 🎧📺 Watch or listen in full here: justice.org.uk/news/judges-...

I have great concerns about threats to the safety of judges as a result of the government’s misconceived proposals to limit jury trials: www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...

Another 5k done - this time in 29 minutes! Getting slowly faster as I run round this wonderful village #runday #wroughton. Still in training for royalparkshalf which isn’t until October but it’s never too early to start!

A bright spring day for some more @conservatives.bsky.social campaigning with friends in #swindon - in Wroughton with Cllrs Matty Courtliff, Gayle Cook & Matthew Smith-a dedicated local team.Then over to Wanborough to support Cllrs Gary Sumner & Matt Hinton - similarly hardworking all year round

🎙️‘There are real fears they are becoming the target’ In next week’s episode of our podcast, @robertbuckland.bsky.social warns that a culture of personal attacks has left judges fearing for their safety. 🎧📺To subscribe & listen/watch previous episodes click here: linktr.ee/JUSTICEuk

Many thanks to old friends at Swindon Heritage Preservation for inviting me to speak at the reopening of the Cricketers Pub in the Railway Village, thanks to funding from Historic England, the previous Government, @heritagefunduk.bsky.social & local fundraising. Proud to have helped this project!

Very pleased to support fundraiser for @refugecharity.bsky.social at Chiseldon Sports & Social Club this weekend with Parish Councillor Matt Hinton - my friend & local resident Hetti Barkworth-Nanton is running the @londonmarathon.bsky.social - see this link: www.justgiving.com/page/hetti-b...

Lovely Easter Day service at ccccswindon this morning followed by a 5k in Wroughton. Done in 28.5 mins so getting ever quicker! No chocolate eggs…yet! #easter #5k #alleluliachristisrisen

Pleased to be able to help old friends who stuck by me through thick and thin in past elections. These outstanding @conservatives.bsky.social Cllrs for Swindon Borough & Parish elections 7th May are Barbara Parry, Kevin Parry, Carol Sydney-Smith, Keith Williams, Nandini Singh and Suresh Gattapur.

A striking and powerful Lucien Freud exhibition is currently running at the National Portrait Gallery - the truth is not avoided here. Here is one of his self-portraits, with portraits of restaurateur Jeremy King, David Hockney & the late Queen.

Terrific end to what’s been a great season of BBCFreeThinking. Proving again how academics can contribute to these baseline ethical questions. @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social with Lamorna Ash, @robertbuckland.bsky.social, @aaronreeves.bsky.social, Ceri Sullivan, Dan Taylor www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

There is so much to take in at St Mary’s Lydiard that several visits are necessary. You can see the St John Family Polyptych of 1615, with their family tree on the shutters.The stained glass is 17th century and survived the Civil War. A James I Royal Coat of Arms & 16th C wall painting of Christ.

A stimulating hour of panel discussion on the Free Thinking programme on BBC Radio 4 last night. Am much more used to the 8pm Any Questions slot so this was a real change-pleased to reflect on aspects of my time in politics and government and to discuss humility, pride and human imperfection

A welcome return to St Mary’s Lydiard for Palm Sunday-great to see Rev Clive Deverell and the team and to have a much closer look at the treasures that lie inside. Another post to come with some of the incredible features of this truly historic church @churchofengland.org @bristoldiocese.org

A joyful day at Canterbury Cathedral for the Enthronement of Most Rev & Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury - reflecting ancient and modern, the Anglican Communion and Canterbury Diocese as Sarah took her place on the Seat of Augustine @churchofengland.org

Some more shots of magnificent @Westminster abbey; the nave from the cloister, the Battle of Britain window at the eastern end of the Henry VII Chapel, an unusual view of the Sanctuary from the Diamond Jubilee gallery & a memorable invocation of our late Queen where she was crowned in 1953.

Another @lego moment - this time, finishing the splendid Tudor Corner. This set has a pub, haberdashers, horologist (clock repairer) and a host of crazy characters. A gentle way to unwind and enjoy the intricacies of construction #lego

What a privilege last week to visit @westminsterabbey Library to see the first Welsh Bible of 1588, which has been on display at St David’s Cathedral but which is now back. Great to see Rt Rev Dorrien Davies, Bishop of St David’s, and the Library team for Communion and a visit to Henry VII Chapel

A dreamy Sunday in glorious Paris-Notre Dame Des Victoires, Place Des Victoires and a stroll to the Louvre, past the Centre Pompidou (never my favourite, frankly) and the Champs Elysee. The victories being celebrated are the defeat of the Huguenots at La Rochelle! This was a weekend to remember.

One of the great buildings of Western Christian civilisation, Notre Dame has seen triumph, defeat and fire and has now emerged lighter and brighter than has been seen for centuries. A symbol of France and of our shared heritage, this place of sacred grandeur continues to inspire.

What a delightful evening of music, prose and poetry as we celebrated St David’s Day at the Club for Act and Actors - lovely to see our President, Su Pollard, give us encouragement and support. It was a delight to sing more Novello, Mafanwy and Ar Hyd Y Nos to a full house! #stdavidsday 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🌼

At last! I got to the beguiling Church of Saint-Sulpice & enjoyed listening to a young people’s choir - the acoustics were a challenge but the setting oh so grand. The building of this, the largest church in the city, spans over 200 years from 1648 to 1870. It has the Great Organ, played by Widor!

Really looking forward to some wonderful music, poetry and prose in this year’s St David’s Day Concert at the Club for Acts and Actors at 7.30pm on Monday 2nd March with fellow Welsh musicians and star performers. It is going to be sublime! #saintdavidsday #dyddgwyldewi #wales #cymru

Another happy weekend with friends and family in #wroughton-lunch whitehartwroughton - one of the remaining great pubs in our village! #eastwiltshire

Back in wonderful @westminsterabbey.bsky.social Abbey for a very busy Ash Wednesday service as we embark upon #lent. A time to reflect and prepare for the wonder that is to come #easter #lentenseason #ashwednesday✝️ westminsterabbeychoir @churchofengland.org

Great to hear the work of the Church of England's Neurodiversity Working Group highlighted during #synod questions [Not just because I'm on it!] Find out more at www.churchofengland.org/resources/ba... #GeneralSynod

Great to be back out in #chiseldon on a cold but sunny day speaking to residents with our excellent @conservatives.bsky.social Cllrs Gary Sumner and Matt Hinton plus Cllr Gayle Cook & members of the #eastwiltshire team. Great to see some old friends and to celebrate my time as Chiseldon’s MP too!

Pleased to have received this letter from Lord Timpson, Minister of State for Justice about the valuable work done since I commissioned the Call For Evidence into Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System when I was SofS. Next steps must include more comprehensive screening for neurodivergence.

Find out what's happening today on the second day of General Synod. ⬇️ 📺 You can also tune in live to all the events this week at cofe.io/SynodLiveStream. #GeneralSynod

A lovely few hours @tate.bsky.social to see the Constable & Turner exhibition. Born within a few months of each other, both represent a contrast in careers & approaches, but left an incredible legacy of Enlightenment. Couldn’t resist posting Constable’s Salisbury Cathedral with cloud and rainbows

Third Church Estates Commissioner @robertbuckland.bsky.social highlights how parliamentarians are taking a very keen interest in the life & workings of our church as #synod considers the Clergy Conduct Measure as it comes back to us from the Ecclesiastical Committee #GeneralSynod

Facing the music at Twickenham for the @sixnations-rugby.bsky.social opener #englandvwales. A deeply depressing first half and only a few glimpses of sunlight for @walesrugbyunion.bsky.social It was so bad that @englandrugby.bsky.social fans were being kind to me 😬. Much to do for Welsh Rugby.

@robertbuckland.bsky.social on why he supports our efforts to defend the right to jury trial. As a former Crown Court judge and Lord Chancellor, he is clear: juries are not the cause of court delays. They are essential to fair justice. Donate now: crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-our-j...

A quick return to @stpaulscathedrallondon, this time for the Confirmation of Election of Rt Rev & Rt Hon Dame Sarah Sarah Mullally DBE as 106th Archbishop of Canterbury - wonderful to hear and see so many young people. Uplifting and inspiring @churchofengland.org