Church

Church of England paves way for first women bishops
The legislative process to allow women as bishops looks set to conclude this year after a vote by the Church of England's parliamentary body today.

Church urges men to take stand against gender-based violence
Church of England General Synod hears of "devastating" violence against women and girls.

Women bishops legislation dominates Church of England General Synod
The Church of England General Synod gets underway today and the main focus of business will be drafts to legislation allowing women to be bishops.

Pilgrim Progress this Lent
Church of England focusing on discipleship this Lent

Liverpool Cathedral in Lego
A model of Liverpool Cathedral made entirely out of Lego has gone on display to the public.

Pope Francis appoints new Bishop of Paisley
Fr John Keenan has today been appointed as the new Bishop of Paisley, filling a position that has been vacant for over a year.

Jane Hedges to be first female Dean of Norwich
The nomination of Venerable Jane Barbara Hedges as Dean of Norwich Cathedral was today confirmed by the Queen.

A vicarage for the 21st century
The church has invested in building a modern environmentally friendly vicarage as a base for a newly appointed priest to serve residents in a Suffolk town.

Pope's motorbike sells for record breaking £200,000
Pope Francis' Harley-Davidson sold for a whopping £200,200 at a sale in Bonhams, Paris on 6 February as part of Les Grandes Marques du Monde sale at the Grand Palais.

Evangelicals seek reassurances from Church of Scotland over religious observance
A group of evangelicals in the Church of Scotland has released a statement following the latter's proposal to change the name of Religious Observance in schools to Time for Reflection. It says the Church must be committed to sharing the gospel, but must do so sensitively within an inter-faith context.

Sunderland Minster takes part in marriage vows world record attempt
Couples will be reaffirming their wedding vows at Sunderland Minster this Saturday.

Vatican must 'remove' all suspected child abusers, says UN
The UN's Committee on the Rights of the Child has been scathing in its criticism of the Holy See over its handling of child abuse by clergy

New Bishop of Leeds announced
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has named the Right Reverend Nick Baines as the first Bishop of Leeds.

Bishops of Portsmouth and Peterborough enter House of Lords
The Anglican Bishops of Portsmouth and Peterborough are becoming the latest members of the House of Lords this week.

Catholic day of prayer for human trafficking
Catholics in the UK and US are being invited to observe an official day of prayer for survivors and victims of human trafficking on 8 February, which is the Feast Day of St Bakhita

Lukewarm response to Archbishops' statement on care for homosexuals
Conservative Anglicans have responded with caution to a statement from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York on pastoral care for homosexuals.