NEWS / Synod voted today that proposals for draft legislation to enable the Church of England to deal more effectively with safeguarding issues be brought forward.

The House of Bishops COVID-19 recovery group has shared draft guidelines for when funerals, weddings, baptisms and individual private prayer can recommence in church buildings.

Canon Winfield was ordained deacon in 1989 and priest in 1994. She has worked in parish and cathedral ministry, university and military chaplaincy, ecumenical and Anglican Communion relations, and humanitarian diplomacy, representing the Anglican Communion at the United Nations. 

FEATURE / The Church of England’s digital communications team has trained more than 200 parishes in social media and writing for the web.

FEATURE / The Church of England takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously.  With 16,400 churches, 10,000 churchyards and 5000 schools it has to - and its Environmental Programme is constantly monitoring and adapting to environmental issues of all kinds.

Safe Spaces is planned as a vital support service for survivors of church-related abuse across the Church of England and the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

Revd Canon Anna Macham, Canon Precentor of Salisbury Cathedral, tells the story of how a prayer vigil for Ukraine at the Cathedral grew from an expected 40 people to more than 600.

This afternoon General Synod affirmed its support for the National Investing Bodies’ (NIBs) approach to tackling climate change, including its ongoing strategy of engaging with companies rather than prematurely disinvesting from them.

Revd Canon Clare MacLaren, Canon Provost of Sunderland Minster, describes the impact of a peace walk co-ordinated by the Minster in the aftermath of the recent violent disorder in the city.

General Synod voted today to acknowledge and apologise for past safeguarding wrongs. It also voted to endorse work on legislative and non-legislative changes to tighten procedures which have been identified following the Chichester Commissaries interim and final safeguarding reports.