New measures to strengthen governance and operational frameworks for England’s cathedrals receive final approval by General Synod.

General Synod voted unanimously today to endorse the Church’s response to the five recommendations from IICSA and urged its national safeguarding steering group to work towards a more fully survivor-centred approach to safeguarding, including arrangements for redress for survivors.

Blog from new lead safeguarding bishop as he takes up the role.

Statements from Bishop Stephen, Archbishop Justin and the National Safeguarding Team.

Grants to provide opportunities to learn about cutting-edge science for people training for the priesthood in the Church of England are to be made available as part of a £3.4 million project aimed at transforming the relationship between science and faith.



 

Work is underway in all 42 dioceses on the Church of England's Past Cases Review 2 (PCR2) with a key focus on listening to survivors who want to come forward. The Church was criticised for not including their voices in the original PCR 2007/8 as shown in an independent scrutiny report, published in 2018.

The Bishop of Huddersfield, Jonathan Gibbs was announced as the Church of England’s new lead safeguarding bishop in February 2020, taking over from Bishop Peter Hancock, the Bishop of Bath and Wells. In March 2022 it was announced that Bishop Jonathan was to be the next Bishop of Rochester but as planned would continue as the lead safeguarding bishop until the end of March 2023.

Melissa Caslake, the Church of England’s national director of safeguarding, is moving on to a new role as Chief Officer for Children’s services for Devon County Council.

The Bishop of Bristol, Bishop Viv Faull has been appointed a deputy lead bishop for safeguarding, with a focus on liaison with diocesan bishops on behalf of the National Safeguarding Steering Group (NSSG) and with the wider Anglican Communion, and to speak on safeguarding in the House of Lords.

The Church Commissioners for England today reiterated support for the climate-related shareholder resolution, filed against the board of ExxonMobil, and calls on Exxon not to block the resolution going to a vote in 2020.