The Church of England’s House of Bishops met in York this week, and following the meeting issued a press release, which is copied below. The agenda of the meeting, but not the papers, is available online.
House of Bishops meeting May 2026
21/05/2026
The House of Bishops met in person from 19th to 21st May in York.
The House spent time discussing the Church of England’s Faith and Order Commission’s (FAOC) theological response to the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals.
Produced by the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith, and Order (IASCUFO), the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals make recommendations for updating the description and Instruments of the Anglican Communion.
The House commended FAOC’s response to the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals. The FAOC paper and an introductory reflection from the House of Bishops will be published in due course.
On the first proposal of the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals, regarding the description of the Anglican Communion, the House believed that FAOC’s language – which would continue to emphasise the significance of eucharistic communion – would be the basis for further reflection in this area.
On the second proposal, which considers the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury among the primates, the House supported FAOC’s judgment that an open dialogue process among the Primates that does not presume any specific outcome would be welcome.
The House received an update from the Bishops’ Working Group on ‘Promoting Unity in our Nation’. The group, chaired by Bishop Martyn Snow, has been convened to help equip the Church to understand and respond to political and social polarisation in our country. It is working on resources to support parishes wanting to respond to division pastorally, practically and theologically, as well as equipping church leaders to participate constructively in the national debate.
The Bishops agreed on the importance of this work and were keen to encourage local churches to offer spaces to listen, to be courageous in speaking truth to power and naming injustice, as well as actively seeking opportunities for community cohesion.
The House reflected on trends in Church of England attendance between and across dioceses in the light of five consecutive years of growth. The House welcomed the increased church attendance and paid tribute to the clergy, laity and volunteers across the country offering people a warm welcome and encouraging their faith.
The Bishops unanimously endorsed Hope for All Creation, produced by FAOC, as its teaching document on understanding and responding to the climate and environmental crises, drawing from the faith, life and worship of the Church. The document is expected to be published before the July Synod.
The House discussed the start of work on a review of the definition of safeguarding, to examine whether the Church’s structures and processes are established in a way that can best ensure everyone it comes into contact with is kept safe from harm.
Bishops heard an update on the evolution of the population of stipendiary and self-supporting clergy. They discussed ongoing work on clergy wellbeing and deployment as well as the significant work which is currently being undertaken to support the renewal of ministerial vocations across the church.
The House discussed ongoing research work nearing its conclusion on trust and trustworthiness in the Church of England alongside a separate item on strengthening accountability for Bishops and clergy. Bishop Debbie Sellin, the new Lead Bishop for Accountability, will be taking this work forward.
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86 CommentsThe Prime Minister’s Office has this morning announced that the next Bishop of Brizworth is to the Ven Alex Hughes, currently Archdeacon of Cambridge. Further information os on the Peterborough diocesan website.
The King has approved the nomination of the Venerable Dr Alexander James Hughes, MA, MPhil, to the Suffragan See of Brixworth, in the Diocese of Peterborough.
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 8 May 2026
The King has approved the nomination of the Venerable Dr Alexander James Hughes, Archdeacon of Cambridge, in the Diocese of Ely, to the Suffragan See of Brixworth, in the Diocese of Peterborough, in succession to the Right Reverend John Holbrook MA, following his retirement.
Alex was educated at Greyfriars Hall, Oxford and St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge and trained for ministry at Westcott House, Cambridge. He served his title at Holy Trinity, Headington Quarry, in the Diocese of Oxford, and was ordained priest in 2001. He was appointed Chaplain to the Bishop of Portsmouth in 2003.
From 2008, Alex served as Priest in charge and Vicar at St Luke & St Peter, Southsea, and was appointed to his current role of Archdeacon of Cambridge, in the Diocese of Ely, in 2014.
He was born in Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands, though grew up on the south coast of England. His hobbies include riding his Triumph Bonneville motorcycle and running half-marathons.
7 Comments
5 May press release: Independent audit report of the National Safeguarding Team
The first independent audit of the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team (NST) has been published today.
The audit was carried out by the INEQE Safeguarding Group and commissioned by the Archbishops’ Council, following a recommendation from the National Director of Safeguarding. It assesses the work of the NST against the National Safeguarding Standards.
The report highlights areas of good practice as well as identifying 66 recommendations for further improvement. Some of these relate to the wider Church’s safeguarding structures, while others are specific to the NST….
You can read the full report here. It’s 142 pages long, and most of the 66 detailed recommendations relate specifically to the way the NST is currently organised (although that structure is not explained) and to the way it carries out its work.
There is a report in the Church Times: NST audit makes recommendations to expand Church’s national safeguarding capacity
…The audit has been conducted in parallel with work to establish, with the General Synod‘s backing, a new independent safeguarding authority into which the NST’s functions will be subsumed (News, 24 April). This evolution is one that INEQE “fully supports”, the audit says.
“The primary function of this new governance body must be to hold those operationally responsible for the delivery of safeguarding to account.”
Against this backdrop, a number of the audit’s recommendations are designed to deliver “immediate improvements as an interim measure under current structures”. These include a restructure to establish a secretariat, including a compliance unit; a “specialist safeguarding legal advisor to navigate the Church’s complex safeguarding landscape”; and an expanded data analysis, research, and evaluation unit (DARE). “Victim and survivor participation and engagement” would become a “dedicated service area”.
No costing or calculations on staffing are included…
See earlier TA article about the plans for the new independent safeguarding authority.
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50 CommentsThe Church Times reports: Safeguarding body consults on new national organisation. Curiously, there is not (yet?) any Church of England official press release. Digging down into the Safeguarding section of the CofE website, I eventually found this page:
New Safeguarding Authority Design Consultation which in turn leads to these pages
As the first page explains:
In a joint message for the consultation, the Independent Executive Chair, Dame Christine Ryan, and the Deputy Lead Bishop for Safeguarding, Bishop Joanne Grenfell, write:
“Following General Synod’s overwhelming support for our strategic plans to rebuild trust and deliver professional, independent safeguarding across the Church, the work to translate that vision into a detailed, structured programme of change is well underway.
“At the heart of these reforms is the creation of a new national safeguarding organisation that will operate independently of Church hierarchy, governed by a majority-independent Board. This consultation seeks your views on the detailed design of this organisation, referred to in the consultation as the “Authority”.
“Whether you are a survivor, a parish volunteer, a safeguarding professional, a Church officer, or a member of the wider public, your perspective will help us refine these proposals. Your feedback and viewpoints are essential and will help ensure the proposals are robust, sustainable, and fit for purpose.”
And there is further information after that, and continuing on the second page.
I encourage all TA readers to study these proposals.
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145 CommentsFollowing the decision not to appoint an interim Bishop of Bangor, the Church in Wales has started the procedure to elect the next Bishop of Bangor. Details are in a notice published on the provincial website which is copied below. The vacancy is also advertised in the current issue of the Church Times (dated 10 April).
Vacancy in the See of Bangor
The Electoral College is reviewing expressions of interest and will meet from 16-18 June 2026 at Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno to elect the next Bishop of Bangor.
Documents relating to the vacancy are available here:
If you wish to be considered for this role, or wish to suggest a person for consideration, please contact the Secretary to the Electoral College by email at electoralcollege@churchinwales.org.uk.
The closing date for expressions of interest and suggestions is 12pm on Wednesday 29 April 2026.
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29 CommentsThe news item below was published on the website of the Diocese of Salisbury yesterday (10 April).
Rt Revd Karen Gorham announced as acting Bishop of Salisbury
The Rt Revd Karen Gorham, Bishop of Sherborne, is to be acting Bishop of Salisbury for a temporary period, it has been announced.
This follows the news that the Rt Revd Stephen Lake has voluntarily and temporarily stepped back as diocesan bishop while a financial audit of two funds is underway. He has also resigned from his role as Church Commissioner. A spokesperson from national Church, which is leading the process, confirmed that the financial audit is being undertaken following allegations of potential financial irregularities in relation to two separate funds, both of which relate to the office of the Bishop of Salisbury. These funds are separate from parish share and other funds controlled by the Diocesan Board of Finance.
Under Bishop’s Karen’s guidance and leadership, support to parishes and clergy will continue as normal. Contacts for DBF staff can be found here Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) staff – The Diocese of Salisbury and for the bishop’s office here link Bishop’s Offices – The Diocese of Salisbury.
The previous day the Church Times published Bishop of Salisbury steps back during audit and resigns as Commissioners’ trustee; this has more information than the diocesan statement.
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24 CommentsIn April 2025 Bible Society published a report, The Quiet Revival, based on YouGov polling, which claimed that church going in Britain had increased from 8% of the population to 12% between 2018 and 2024. The report was subject to criticism, for example by the Pew Research Center.
But now Bible Society has issued a statement to say that “Earlier this month YouGov informed Bible Society that the 2024 survey sample on which our report The Quiet Revival was based was faulty, and it can no longer be regarded as a reliable source of information about the spiritual landscape in Britain.” The original report has been taken down from Bible Society’s website, although the society appear to be very reluctant to accept that there might not have been a “Quiet Revival”.
There is also this report from YouGov: Conclusions of investigation into 2024 Bible Society study.
I can recommend the following comments and press report.
Tim Wyatt The Critical Friend I told you so
Jennifer Stirrup The Bible Society and Garbage In, Gospel Out: Why Data Due Diligence Can’t Be Outsourced.
James Macintyre Church Times Bible Society says its Quiet Revival report was based on a ‘faulty’ survey
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The Prime Minister’s Office issued the press release below this morning. There are more details on the Liverpool diocesan website.
The King has approved the nomination of The Very Reverend Simon Joseph Robinson, BA, to the Suffragan See of Warrington, in the Diocese of Liverpool.
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 27 March 2026
The King has approved the nomination of The Very Reverend Simon Joseph Robinson, BA Hons, Dean of Truro Cathedral and Rector of St. Mary’s Truro, to the Suffragan See of Warrington, in the Diocese of Liverpool, in succession to the Right Reverend Beverley Mason, BA, following her resignation.
Background
Simon was educated at Warwick University and trained for ministry on the Southern Theological Education and Training Scheme. He served his title at St. Peter’s, Freshford, St Mary’s, Limpley Stoke and St John’s, Hinton Charterhouse in the Diocese of Bath and Wells, and was ordained priest in 2013. Simon was appointed Vicar of the Parish of Minehead in 2015.
From 2022, Simon served as Interim Dean and Canon Missioner at Truro Cathedral and was appointed to his current roles of Dean of Truro Cathedral and Rector of St. Mary’s in 2024.
30 CommentsThe installation of Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury will take place in Canterbury Cathedral on Wednesday 25 March, starting at 3.00 pm. The service will be broadcast on BBC1 from 2:30pm, and live-streamed on YouTube. You can download the order of service to follow the proceedings.
Here are some previews.
The Church of England Watch the Installation of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, at Canterbury Cathedral
Diocese of Canterbury Installation of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury
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132 CommentsThe Very Revd Jonathan Greener, Dean of Exeter, has announced that he is to retire in July 2026. He has been the dean since 2017, and before that he was Dean of Wakefield from 2007 to 2017.
16 Comments