"We gain a vivid sense of the diversity of the Anglican world, with often moving personal stories." 📚Philip Welsh considers the #Lent books chosen by the Archbishops of #Canterbury and #Wales #books #Lentbooks

"This is the moment that reveals what our #faith is really made of. The light of Christmas has not disappeared, but it no longer gathers us effortlessly." The Hopeful Ordinand contemplates #faith in the month of February

"The three authors have charted a refreshingly distinctive way through Lent, one that will certainly appeal to admirers of Lewis, Tolkien, and other Inklings." 📚 Hugh Wybrew enjoys a #Lent book drawing on classic fantasy fiction #Lentbooks #Inklings #CSLewis #JRRTolkien

✉️Among the letters this week: strategic funding for Soul Survivor; safeguarding training; and Living in Love and Faith #LLF

The creation of the diocese of Cyprus & the Gulf 50 years ago was commemorated with thanksgiving services last weekend, celebrating an “ecumenical milieu” that presented an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding with other traditions.

Take a look at our photo stories of the week 📸 📷 Archbishop of Canterbury at Sandringham 📷 Steel City Choristers celebrate fifth anniversity 📷 Luxmuralis light show at Truro, And more ⬇️

"Seeking some solace and escape from this public psychodrama, I opened The Rambler at random, and dipped into issue number 68 from 10 November 1750. . ." #PoetsCorner @malcolmguite.bsky.social finds common sense from #SamuelJohnson for this social-media age

"When debating structures, procedures, and legal processes, it is important to confront our fears" Disagreements are not only about scripture and doctrine: #psychology plays a significant part, says John Prysor-Jones

"It encourages us to receive our finitude as part of God’s good intention, not seeing it as a flaw or failure." 📚 Andrew Davison reviews 'You’re Only Human: How your limits reflect God’s design and why that’s good news' by Kelly M. Kapic #Lentbooks

"Recent reports suggest that this dangerous gift is in the hands of a growing number of people." Read this week's Leader ⬇️ #Bible

Five per cent of the people in #Scotland attended church on #Christmas Day, a new survey suggests

Striking sayings or writings from the past week. Readers’ contributions welcome #quotes #quotesoftheweek

"For him, the glory of God was not in vague abstractions, but in each unique particular, especially when they did not fit neat categories" 📚 Richard Harries reads daily reflections on poems by #GerardManleyHopkins #Lentbooks #books #bookreviews #poetry

"Many people have paid tribute to his creativity, courage, and determination in helping to provide facilitated spaces where community and faith leaders could come together in honesty and openness to challenge." #Obituaries #interfaith

"As that belief in progress has wavered during the past decade, this is perhaps the moment for faith to step in again" Christian thinkers offer a resource as the world navigates geopolitical tensions, says @chinemcdonald.bsky.social #UN #multilateralism

Almost £10 million was given last year towards parish share through the Ephesian Fund, set up to enable individuals and PCCs to restrict their giving to other churches “that are holding on to the biblical and Anglican position on sexual ethics”, the Church of England #Evangelical Council reports.

“The message is clear: faith is permitted only when it submits. Churches are being told to replace crosses with national flags, sermons are monitored, and pastors are forced to preach loyalty to the Party before God.” #China #humanrights #religiousfreedom

A new theological education institution, St Martha’s College, has been established by the diocese of Guildford in the hope of training more men and women for both lay and ordained ministry in the region. #theologicaltraining #ministry

Our cartoon this week is from Naked Pastor - find it in the latest issue of the Church Times, out now! 👇 Jesus eats with the black sheep #churchcartoons #churchumour #cartoon #church

"Variety is the spice of life, so the saying goes, and 2026 brings a nicely diverse set of Lenten volumes to choose from." Peter McGeary reviews publishers’ #Lent offerings #books #Lentbooks #bookreviews

The Christian community in #Bangladesh, which numbers about 500,000 people, and makes up less than one per cent of the population, says that it is facing growing insecurity amid political uncertainty after the ousting of the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

"In the world of politics, things are more complex. Loyalty is a virtue, but to whom or what?" Recent events in are akin to, and different from, #TheTraitors, says Paul Vallely #AndyBurnham #Labour #Conservatives #ReformUK

Church of England #schools are “calm and hopeful anchors” for children in their communities, the #Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, told C of E school leaders at the National Society’s annual conference last Friday.

The #ArchbishopofYork made “some mistakes” in his handling of the case of David Tudor, but has “no case to answer in respect of which a disciplinary tribunal should be requested to adjudicate”, the President of Tribunals, Sir Stephen Males, has concluded.

'Architecture shapes participation' - Timothy Goode. Wonderful to have an extract of Breaking, not Broken in @churchtimes.bsky.social today. Get 20% off RRP via Church House Bookshop this week if you follow the link in the article/use code in the print edition: www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...

The Church is the one institution still trusted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (#DRC) and standing “at the heart of every village and community”, the Bishop of Goma, the Rt Revd Martin Gordon, has said.

"In this brilliant and challenging course, the author shows in an imaginative way, the power of Christ’s resurrection and teaching, permeating each Sunday’s Lenten reading." 📚Lyle Dennen reviews 'Easter in Disguise: The 2026 #Lent Book' by Liz Dodd @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social #Lentbooks

The latest issue of the Church Times is out today 🗞️ On our front page 📸 the Archbishop of Canterbury with the King and Queen at Sandringham on Sunday, three days before the confirmation at St Paul’s Cathedral of her election - full story inside

Young people have been culturally conditioned to read the Bible for moral lessons— “abstract ‘shoulds’ that strip stories of their theological depth and emotional power” — a new study reports.

"As that belief in progress has wavered during the past decade, this is perhaps the moment for faith to step in again" Christian thinkers offer a resource as the world navigates geopolitical tensions, says @chinemcdonald.bsky.social #UN #multilateralism #Theos

Interfaith commission matters, Bishop says, ‘because we are living through a moment when global events are being felt deeply in local communities’ #interfaithDialogue #interfaith #churchnews #churchtimes

We live in frightening times, US Presiding Bishop Dr Sean Rowe says Resistance to #ICE is testing the Church, he warns in pastoral letter #USpresidingbishop #USEpiscopalChurch #churchnews #churchtimes

Now in its third year, Stewardship’s #Generosity survey explores Christian giving in the UK #giving #charitydonation #Stewardship #churchnews #churchtimes

#Podcasts Azariah France-Williams on Sacrosanct, The Guardian Investigates, Poetry Unbound in Conversation, and The Jefferson Fisher Podcast 🎧

#Travel Alison MacTier offers a round-up of places to meet God in the natural world #retreats #environment

"The saying goes that if you see only one place in Spain, make it Granada, and we soon discover why." #Travel Diana Bentley savours the history and religious culture of #Granada #Spain

Gerry Lynch reviews a programme on women pastoring predominantly Black churches, and a celebration of St Dwynwen’s Day — the feast of Wales’s patron of lovers 💕 #radioreview #heartandsoul #allthingsconsidered

"Apparently, some people are so obsessed with prolonging their life that they have been diagnosed with 'Longevity Fixation Syndrome'" 💉💊 The obsession with longevity raises some theological questions, says Richard Harries ✍️ #afterlife #diet #medicine

"As Europe reels at the audacity of President Trump’s claim for Greenland, and new tariffs are announced on UK goods, I am reminded of how often the current President of the United States has been informally diagnosed as a “narcissist,” writes Angela Tilby ✍️ #Trump #US #Europe #Greenland #tariffs

“'Why are we going on safari in Scotland?' my youngest daughter asks, as we roll off the ferry on the seventh largest island in Scotland — and perhaps its biggest wildlife secret" 🐿️🌳 #Travel: You don’t have to go to Africa to search out wildlife, Robin McKelvie reports ✍️ #Scotland #safari #Arran

Humanitarian organisations have appealed for continued support for #Ukraine, as #Russian missile and drone attacks — the heaviest in the four-year war — shut down schools and transport in #Kyiv and drove up to 600,000 people out of the city #churchnews

Election of first female #ArchbishopofCanterbury confirmed at St Paul’s Cathedral ‘Continue to be the person who exercises the gifts, wisdom, and experience that your life has given you,’ Archbishop of York tells the Most Revd Sarah Mullally #Archbishop106

"The themes of #Candlemas are the age-old ones of light conquering darkness; of patient hope in times of struggle and hardship; and of the moving aside of the old to make way for the new."

André Trocmé once said "We do not know what a Jew is. We only know men", when officials ordered him to reveal the Jews in his town Church leaders were among those who helped protect thousands of Jews, says John Jay ✍️ #churchnews #holocaustmemorialday

"At some point in their lives, perhaps in some stark, lightless January of their middle years, the question must occur to every poet: Why am I doing this? What is the point?" The question ‘Why write poetry?’ is a crucial one, says @malcolmguite.bsky.social ✍️ #poetry #poetscorner #MalcolmGuite

New Archbishop of Canterbury to move Synod motion on adult care Briefing paper sets out how Church can enable full participation of people who draw on care and support #churchnews #churchtimes

Holocaust education is getting harder amid rising #antisemitism, Lords are told. ‘Our words matter, and we can use words towards hostility or towards peace,’ #BishopofCoventry says in maiden speech #TheHolocaust #Holocaustmemorialday #churchnews

More than 120 young adults have joined a year-long placement scheme to experience ministry in the Church of England, its largest intake so far, Church House has announced #churchofengland #youthministry #churchnews #churchtimes

Working-class candidates continue to experience a “cultural loss” of identity when exploring a vocation to the priesthood, as well as both academic and financial barriers to training, a paper due to be debated by the #GeneralSynod next month says #class

"With no other itinerary in mind, but for a detour of Norway’s Lofoten Islands, I am free to stop at any church that arrests my eyes." #Travel Caroline Mills goes on a road-trip through #Sweden and #Norway, and finds churches in #Scandinavia a feast for the eyes