November 2021

All over our county, hundreds of refugees – men, women, and children – have been placed in emergency hotel accommodation. Churches have a key role to play in helping them to resettle with financial support and schemes such as Welcome Churches.

Delegates from across the Diocese gathered for the first in-person event many had attended since before the pandemic. There was a sense of anticipation as they listened to inspirational keynote speakers, gifted pupils and brilliant school leaders tell their stories at the Church School Leaders’ Conference: ‘My Story, Our Story, God’s Story’.

We are pleased to announce that the Diocese has been successful in securing national Church of England funding to support our vision of Growing Disciples, reaching wider, connecting younger and nurturing deeper roots of faith. This Strategic Development Funding (SDF), amounting to £3.5m given over 5 years, will support our project, “Growing Younger and More Diverse”. It seeks to see a step change in children and families as well as youth ministry across the diocese.

Today, Allchurches Trust is launching the Afghan Evacuees Emergency Grants Programme which will support churches and Christian charities doing their bit in response to the Afghanistan evacuee crisis.

The bishops have recently led a number of licensing services for clergy who have taken up new appointments across the diocese as well as overseen parish services of welcome for those who were previously licensed online last year due to restrictions.