King declares Archbishopric of Canterbury is vacant from 7 January
The King has formally declared the see of Canterbury vacant. An announcement from Buckingham Palace said His Majesty has accepted Justin Welby’s resignation and, on advice from the Privy Council, he declares the Archbishopric of Canterbury vacant from 7th January 2025. The Crown Nominations Commission, comprising 17 members, will meet to select his successor, but one member, Canon Andrew Cornes, is unable to take part as his “permission to officiate” has been withdrawn after criticism in the Makin Report. And calls for Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, to stand aside after criticism of his handling of another sex abuse case, have come from Luke Meyer, new Labour MP and member of parliament’s Ecclesiastical Committee.
Bishop says ‘It’s time the CofE is no longer the centre of the Anglican Communion‘
Among the bishops whose names are being discussed as possible successors, several are women, but this would be problematic for the global Anglican communion, where there is still opposition to women’s ordination. Yesterday, Bishop Graham Tomlin tweeted that “It’s time the Church of England was no longer the centre of the Anglican Communion”. He drew attention to a report published on 6 December on the future role of the Archbishop of Canterbury. According to the Church Times, one proposal would remove the description of the churches being “in communion with the see of Canterbury”, substituting it with a reference to their “historic connection” with Canterbury, a form of words that may help women be selected. However, The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals: Renewing the Instruments of the Anglican Communion will not be considered by the Anglican Consultative Council until 2026.
Bishop’s Council in Truro backs Bishop of Newcastle over safeguarding
The Bishop’s Council in Truro has written to churches and schools in the diocese on the turmoil after the Makin review, Justin Welby’s resignation and calls for the Archbishop of York to step aside as well. The letter endorses the Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, who was the only bishop to call for Dr Welby and then Stephen Cottrell to go. The letter said: “We join our voice to Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley’s prophetic call for us to be a different sort of church”, not seeking to protect itself but to champion the vulnerable. Recommendations for change had been delayed time and again and survivors and victims of abuse had been caused intense pain. The people who signed included the acting bishop, Hugh Nelson, the Archdeacons of Bodmin and Cornwall, the Dean of Truro, and the chairs of the diocesan board of finance, House of Laity, and House of Clergy.
Keir Starmer hosts first Hanukkah reception at Number Ten
Jewish News reports that Keir Starmer hosted his first Hanukkah reception at Downing Street and pledged to do everything he could to help secure the release of the hostages in Gaza. Guests included the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and a wide spectrum of Jewish leaders from Charedi to Progressive. He gave an account of emotional meetings at Number Ten with families of the hostages, saying they were going through torture. Rabbi Mirvis thanked him for his commitment to fight antisemitism, a cause to which the Prime Minister renewed support, saying: “We will do everything we can so the Jewish community stands tall and proud and safe and secure, stamping out intimidation wherever we find it.” Hanukkah is an eight-day festival commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem more than 2,000 years ago, and includes the daily lighting at nightfall of a nine-branch candelabra, or Menorah. This year it starts on 25 December. Factsheet here
Report into Muslim community initiatives to tackle loneliness
A report into loneliness in Britain says it is a public health crisis affecting 50 per cent of the population, costing the economy over £6 billion a year, and recommends a more holistic approach to the problem. “Tackling Loneliness: Learning from British Muslim Experiences”, by the public policy think tank Equi, highlights the particular issues affecting Muslims and reviews “impactful solutions that can inspire national strategies”. It suggests anti-Muslim hatred, lack of faith literate mental health services, geographic isolation, poor health and personal circumstances, all play a role in developing chronic and occasional loneliness. Recommendations include a more detailed analysis of the extent of the problem especially among minority groups, embedding cultural and faith sensitivity into mental health delivery, long-term investment in grassroots initiatives, and enabling greater access to community hubs and services.
Jenrick accused of inflammatory rhetoric in saying sharia courts should not exist
The Muslim Council of Britain has criticised the shadow justice secretary, Robert Jenrick, for a post on Twitter/X, where he said sharia courts should not exist, adding: “There’s only one law in this country and it is British law”. He was commenting on an article in The Times, saying Britain has become the western capital for sharia courts, with 85 now in existence and people travelling to the UK from Europe and North America for rulings on issues around marriage and family life, which are governed by Islamic teaching. The MCB says sharia courts are “voluntary arbitration forums operating entirely within British law – just like Jewish Beth Din courts, which Mr. Jenrick conspicuously fails to mention”. It says “Jenrick’s comments about Sharia councils reveal a concerning pattern of inflammatory rhetoric that surfaces every few years to whip up antagonism against British Muslims”.
British Sikhs assured government won’t tolerate harassment by foreign powers
The Guardian reports that the security minister, Dan Jarvis, has written to the Sikh Federation after reports that British Sikhs were being stopped on return to the UK and questioned about their views on India. They complained they were harassed by or on behalf of the Indian government, over their views on the proposed Sikh homeland, Khalistan. Mr Jarvis said the UK will not tolerate attempts by foreign countries to harass or intimidate British citizens, and police would continue to use “all the tools at our disposal” to keep people safe. The report says the Sikh activist based in Birmingham, Avtar Singh Khanda, had complained about being harassed over the phone by Indian police, before his sudden death in June last year. In 2023, a Sikh activist was killed in a drive-by shooting in Canada, after which the Canadian government said there were credible allegations that India was complicit in the attack. Mr Jarvis said: “We take the findings from the Canadian investigations very seriously and the UK has full confidence in Canada’s judicial system. All countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, and we encourage all involved parties, including the government of India, to cooperate with the legal process.”
Tablet with Ten Commandments sold for $5 million
A stone tablet, inscribed with the Ten Commandments, has sold at Sotheby’s for just over $5 million to an anonymous buyer who plans to donate it to an Israeli institution. The tablet is two feet long, carved in an early version of Hebrew and believed to be 1,500 years old, from the late Roman-Byzantine era. It was found in 1913 during railway excavations along the southern coast of Israel and was then used as a paving stone by a front door, suffering wear and tear. The text contains nine of the commandments recorded in scripture, replacing the tenth “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain”, with an instruction to worship on Mount Gerizim, a holy site for the Samaritans. The New York Times reports a dispute over the stone’s age and origin, but it was significant enough for a buyer to take a risk.
Cathedrals celebrate Christmas in style
Cathedrals are pulling out the stops this Christmas with a variety of events alongside the traditional Nine Lessons and Carols, and services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Several have been bathed in light, with colours beamed onto historic buildings, as well as inside, often accompanied by sound shows. There are Christmas tree avenues decorated by local businesses and charities, and music concerts from Handel’s The Messiah to Michael Bublé. Alongside this try beer and carols outside Bristol cathedral, or a shoppers’ carol service at Canterbury. For nativity plays, there are llamas replacing camels at Exeter, and shepherds in high-vis and angels with mobiles in the Lichfield cathedral tableau. Christmas 2024 article here.
