Church of England
Why can’t Justin Welby praise a Tory?
Justin Welby is having a holiday and people are unhappy about it. He plans, in May, to take a three-month…
My fears for the future of my church have been realised
The only memorable argument I have ever heard in that tedious debate about whether Shakespeare was a Catholic came from…
Britain's choirs are facing oblivion
Britain’s choirs are facing oblivion. Yet they’re also terrified of returning. One story explains why. Picture this innocent choral-society scene…
This could have been a great opportunity for the Church
During these months of inertia, I confess to having on occasion made illicit trips to churches in the English countryside.…
Will churches open their doors as lockdown eases?
The grumbling of high church clergy should now lessen a bit. They were complaining, in some cases furiously, about the…
God’s honest truth? Homosexuality is hardly mentioned in the Bible
The Bible’s message on same-sex relationships is open to dispute
Can a church blessing tame my unruly dog?
The picture on the front of the Animal Blessing Service programme featured a dog, a cat, a rabbit, a goldfish,…
Dangly earrings, hugs and controversy: here comes the new Bishop of Dover
East Kent is bracing itself. Its Church of England clergy are enjoying their last quiet months before Rose Hudson-Wilkin arrives…
Justin Welby: Catholic or Protestant – who cares?
Justin Welby is working in Thomas Cranmer’s old study in Lambeth Palace, a room that looks as if it hasn’t…
The English clergy at their oddest – a compendium
As the wordy title of this book and the name of its author suggest, this is a faux-archaic, fogeyish journey…
The Church of England must be robust with its snowflake congregants
Sit the snowflakes down Sir: I was surprised to read Theo Hobson’s article about ‘snowflake’ Christians in the C of…
Why the sleepy old CoE is just a greedy, moneygrubbing property tycoon
Holy smoke! The sleepy old Church of England is a greedy, money-grubbing property tycoon. This month, it emerged that since…
Letters: No, the Church of England is not planning an evangelical takeover
A church for all people Sir: I enjoyed reading Ysenda Maxtone Graham’s account of debates in the Church of England…
Mission impossible? The C of E’s attempt to woo new members
If you work for the Church of England in any capacity, from Archbishop of Canterbury to parish flower-arranger, how do…
Is a Princess Meghan really such good news?
‘The thing is,’ said my friend, after the broadcast of the engagement interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, ‘you…
In praise of Advent
The first Sunday of Advent is 27 November this year. For those of us who prefer Advent services to Christmas…
The Archbishop of Canterbury and the shifting meaning of ‘illegitimate’
‘The Archbishop of Canterbury has discovered he is the illegitimate son of Sir Winston Churchill’s last private secretary,’ Charles Moore…
The price of a cathedral – and how deans pay it
Deans are facing tough decisions to keep their beautiful buildings in good order
What conservative gay Christians want
Conservative homosexual Christians want something more radical than marriage
What’s so dangerous about this book about the Church of England?
The decline of the Church of England has been one of the most astonishing trends in modern Britain. The pews…
The Lord’s Prayer is no more offensive than Jeremy Clarkson or deodorant
There was a time not so very long ago when the most common complaint about Christmas was that it had…
Letters: The Church of England should apologise for abuse accusations
The C of E should apologise Sir: Peter Hitchens’s article on the allegations against the late Bishop Bell is a…
The Church of England’s shameful betrayal of bishop George Bell
The Church of England has rushed to posthumously condemn one of the greatest men it has produced
Barometer: Where could Lewis Hamilton go and not wear a tie?
Ties that bind Lewis Hamilton was ejected from the royal box at Wimbledon for not wearing a tie. Some places…
God’s management consultants: the Church of England turns to bankers for salvation
Justin Welby wants the C of E to focus on growth – and he’s enlisting bankers to help
