News


Comfort and Joy - Christmas Campaign

Created by the National Church of England, this year’s Christmas campaign, called ‘Comfort and Joy’ aims to bring some festive cheer to people and churches everywhere. A wealth of digital and print content is available.


Lockdown walking

After following in the footsteps of one of Antrobus' more famous former parishioners, Arnold Boyd of Antrobus, the Revd Alec Brown was inspired to put pen to paper and write a poem called 'Lockdown Walking'.


What has the lockdown done for us?

If we can find the positives in lockdown it is that we have been enabled to prioritise things in ways that we've never been able to before. In a short video, Revd Canon Elaine Chegwin Hall offers her thoughts on the lockdown.


Future of Transforming Lives Together

Transforming Lives Together, the joint initiative between the Diocese of Chester and the Church Urban Fund is to pause all activities due to a shortage of guaranteed funding, forcing the Board to “re-evaluate the immediate future”.


Foxhill to pause all residential activities

Foxhill has announced it has paused all residential activities until the 1st September 2021. Day events will continue once restrictions have been lifted. Foxhill Director, Jonathon Green, said the decisions have been made with a "heavy heart".


Diocesan thanks to Allchurches Trust

The Diocesan Secretary, George Colville, has expressed his gratitude and thanks to Allchurches Trust for its annual grant of just over £160,000 which is given to the Diocesan Board of Finance. 


Disabled Christians talking about their faith

This week marks 25 years since the UK’s Disability Discrimination Act was passed in parliament. To mark the occasion, the Diocese of Chester is publishing a series of interviews with Christians who are themselves disabled.


Living in Love and Faith resources

The Church of England has published a landmark set of resources drawing together the Bible, theology, science and history with powerful real-life stories as it embarks on a new process of discernment and decision-making.


New lockdown guidance for churches

The Church of England has published new guidance on its website. The document aims to help clergy and church leaders navigate to the sources of information to help parishes make decisions at a local level.


Quiet acts of remembrance and mourning

Last month, the Revd Jenny Bridgman unveiled a memorial stone dedicated to all lives lost through miscarriage, abortion and stillbirth. Since then, people from across the diocese have come to express their own quiet acts of remembrance.


#PrayerForTheNation

Bishop Mark has joined with the Archbishops and other senior church leaders to invite Christians across the nation to participate in a month of prayer as the second lockdown in England comes into force.


Be "calm, courageous and compassionate"

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have invited the nation to join them in prayer, in a message encouraging "calm, courageous and compassionate" responses to the difficulties of the second national lockdown in England.


Connecting without the internet

As we enter another period of lockdown some churches will be re-employing their newfound skills to continue their worship online. But the traditional telephone still has a part to play in keeping in touch with members of the community.


Archbishops join call to allow public worship

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, together with the Bishop of London, have joined national faith leaders in calling on the Government to permit public worship during the forthcoming lockdown in England. 


Take up your cross

In the week the nation enters a second national lockdown the Archdeacon of Macclesfield, Ian Bishop, offers a personal video reflection and ponders what this challenging situation means for us as Christians.


Government guidance on Remembrance Sunday

The Government has today, Tuesday, published a guidance note about how Remembrance Sunday activities can take place in line with current COVID-19 restrictions and requirements in England.


Chester Diocesan News out now

In November's CDN, Bishop Keith writes about his decision to retire and there's a moving story about how an ordained couple in Altrincham unveiled a permanent memorial to remember children lost to miscarriage.


Ordinations to be broadcast live on 24 October

Twenty three people will be ordained Deacon tomorrow at Chester Cathedral in three separate services. Although the event is by invitation only, due to covid restrictions, the services will be broadcast live on YouTube


Publication of review into Bishop Whitsey

The Church of England has published the independent lessons learnt review concerning its handling of allegations against the late Victor Whitsey, formerly bishop in the Diocese of Chester from 1974 to 1981.


Over 17,000 services provided by C of E parishes

More than 17,000 online services and events are being provided by Church of England churches following the introduction of the lockdown and restrictions on public worship earlier this year, according to a new report.


Further COVID updates

The Church of England's Recovery Group has published a slew of updated advice following the introduction of the three-tier risk system last week. The updates cover funerals, confirmations, and baptisms, among other things.


Services in the Christmas Season

Due to the Coronavirus restrictions, Bishop Mark and Bishop Keith are today giving general permission to benefices to dispense with the requirement to hold a service of public worship on Sunday 27 December, if they wish.


Remembering and Remembrance

The central Church of England have produced a number of resources to help clergy and lay leaders prepare for All Saints' Day, All Souls’ Day and Remembrance in 2020. The resources include posters, prayers cards, liturgies and prayers.


Advice for clergy conducting weddings

The Church of England's Recovery Group has published details about the changes in advice for clergy conducting weddings. The changes are in response to the new three-tier system which came into effect this week.


Permitted activities under the three-tier system

The Church of England's Recovery Group has published details about the ways in which the three-tier system will impact on the main activities related to churches. You can view the information here.


Bishop Keith announces his retirement

Bishop Keith Sinclair, has announced that he is to retire on 08 March 2021, 14 years after he was consecrated. Read Keith's statement, and watch a conversation between him and Bishop Mark, recorded on the day of the announcement.


Cathedral exhibition highlights modern slavery

A new exhibition opening at Chester Cathedral on Saturday 10 October will draw attention to the global issue of modern slavery. Human trafficking and modern slavery affect an estimated 40 million people worldwide.  


Scarecrows form part of congregation

You could say that the team at Christ Church, Higher Bebington, were clutching at straws when they came up with their latest idea to connect with the local community, but things just grew from there.


Statement on publication of IICSA

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, IICSA, has published its report into the Anglican Church in England and Wales. Bishop Mark has issued a statement following the publication of the report.


Baby loss memorial service

An ordained couple in Timperley, who lost a child eight weeks into a pregnancy, will unveil a permanent memorial on Friday 9 October to help local people to remember children lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion.

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