• Friday, March 29, 2024

Results for "Church of England"

New definition of extremism unveiled

The UK government on Thursday unveiled a new definition of extremism, as church leaders warned it risked disproportionately affecting Muslim communities. The new definition comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned earlier this month of a "shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality" that risked the country tipping into "mob…

Church of England mulls asylum seeker change amidst conversion debate

THE Church of England (CoE) is considering updating its guidance to clergy on supporting and ministering to asylum seekers, amid concerns that religious conversions are being exploited by people seeking to stay in Britain. The Church's role in the asylum system has been in the spotlight since media reports that…

British Pakistani girl credits mother for instilling ‘deep passion’ for…

A British Pakistani girl, studying for 28 A-levels, has credited her mother with instilling in her a 'deep passion' for learning and books. Mahnoor Cheema, 17, from Slough, with an IQ as high as Einstein’s, is currently undertaking 28 A-levels after completing 34 GCSEs. She is studying four A-levels at…

King Charles’ charity patronage ‘shows commitment to south Asia’

KING CHARLES’S cancer diagnosis has shocked the whole country, but will be felt especially keenly by the British Asian community, for whom he has cared as long as anyone can remember. He said as much when his private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, attended the Hinduja Diwali party in October 2022…

King Charles urges compassion, care for environment

KING Charles called on people on Monday (25) to help those less fortunate during a time of economic hardship and global conflict, using his Christmas Day message to emphasise the importance of kindness, compassion and care for the environment. In his second Christmas message since becoming Britain's king, Charles also…

Church of England’s synod to discuss blessings for same-sex unions

THE Church of England's governing body will deliberate on how priests could carry out blessings for same-sex couples when it gathers in the cathedral city of York for a five-day meeting on Friday (7). The assembly of bishops, clergy and laity - called the General Synod - is also due…

Exclusive: Church of England victimises whistle blowers

THE Church of England stands accused of failing survivors of child abuse and punishing whistle blowers who give them a voice, a former independent advocate has told Eastern Eye. The church sacked Jasvinder Sanghera, who founded Karma Nirvana, a charity for mainly south Asian survivors of domestic abuse, forced marriage…

Asian and faith leaders hail king’s service vow

British Asian leaders have praised King Charles for using his coronation  an essentially Christian ceremony which also showcased Britain’s “diversity of faith and communities”  to pledge his life to service. Last Saturday’s (6) coronation of the King as monarch of the UK and 14 Commonwealth countries was the first in…

King Charles III crowned in historic ceremony

King Charles III was anointed and crowned on Saturday in Britain's biggest ceremonial event for seven decades, a sumptuous display of pageantry dating back 1,000 years. In front of a congregation of about 100 world leaders and a television audience of millions, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of…

A look at the royal family’s involvement in King Charles’…

The coronation of King Charles is set to draw attention today, Saturday (06) as the British royal family is accompanied by around 100 heads of state and prominent global figures. Here is a breakdown of the key members of the royal family, their place in the line of succession, and…

The coronation will combine age-old traditions with modern Britain

As per the Order of Service, the coronation of King Charles will integrate the ancient customs of a ceremony that has endured for nearly 1000 years with the contemporary, multifaceted aspect of Britain and its many religions. In front of approximately 100 heads of state and dignitaries, Charles will be…

Coronation of King Charles III: Meet the royal and political…

The upcoming coronation of King Charles III will involve numerous historical roles, many of which have been adapted to suit the present day. Buckingham Palace stated that those chosen for these roles were selected to acknowledge, thank, and represent the nation for their notable contributions. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin…

Archbishops’ Commission report wants government to prioritise families in policies

In a report released today (27), the Archbishops' Commission on Families & Households has made a series of recommendations for the flourishing of families and households. The report titled "Love Matters" calls on institutions such as the Church of England and the Government to prioritise the importance of families in…

Coronation of King Charles III: An insight into symbolism and…

King Charles is being crowned as a symbolic and ceremonial confirmation of his rightful position as the monarch of the United Kingdom and the other 14 realms that make up the Commonwealth of Nations. The coronation is a centuries-old tradition that signifies the monarch's duty to uphold and defend the…

Coronation of King Charles III: Celebrating 1000 years of Westminster…

For nearly a thousand years, Westminster Abbey has held a vital role in the history of Britain's royal family. The story of the abbey dates back to the 960s when a Benedictine monastery was established on the site. King Edward the Confessor ordered the construction of a stone church in…

The multiculturalist King

WATCHING the funeral of the late Queen, I wondered why her son Charles, the new King, somehow seemed to resemble an actor playing the role. This was partly simple unfamiliarity. Nobody aged under seventy can remember there actually being a King before. It may have been a function of familiarity…

Coronation of King Charles III: A guide to the celebrations

On Saturday, May 6, the coronation of King Charles III and his wife Camilla as queen will be the highlight of a weekend of celebrations. The King's Procession The day's proceedings will commence with the "King's Procession," a 1.3-mile (two-kilometre) journey from Buckingham Palace in central London to Westminster Abbey.…

Heating up asylum debate is an own goal

THERE has been a new Sunday morning routine in our house this year. Since my ten- year-old daughter got into football by watching Euro 2020 and the Lionesses triumph in the women’s Euros, the alarm goes off at 7.30am so we can get up to watch the early morning repeat…

Church of England explores gender-neutral God

The Church of England will look into the use of gender-neutral terms to refer to God in prayers, but the centuries-old institution said on Wednesday there were no plans to abolish current services. The issue reflects growing global awareness about the assumed usage of pronouns causing offence or upset to…

Church of England bishops apologise to LGBTQI+ people

Church of England bishops apologised to LGBTQI+ people on Friday for the rejection or exclusion faced by the community, saying occasions of hostile and homophobic responses the community had received in churches were shameful. "We have not loved you as God loves you, and that is profoundly wrong," the bishops…

Church of England bishops refuse to allow same-sex marriages

The Church of England will refuse to allow same-sex couples to get married in its churches under proposals set out on Wednesday (18) in which the centuries-old institution said it would stick to its teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman. The proposals were developed by bishops,…

Church of England says it knew of slavery links as…

The Church of England knew it was investing in the transatlantic slave trade during the 18th century, the head of its investment arm said on Wednesday, after it committed 100 million pounds ($121 million) to address the "shameful" wrongs of links to slavery. The Church Commissioners, who manage the church's…

It’s time for black or Asian person to run British…

Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy has called for diversity among top executives in media houses and suggested it was time for a black or Asian person to run a British television channel. He said Jewish people had been well-represented at the top levels but it was not the case…

Five-year UK child abuse inquiry to deliver conclusions

A five-year national inquiry into decades of child sex abuse in Britain will deliver its conclusions on Thursday, after hearing that politicians, church leaders and others in authority had failed to act or turned a blind eye. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), one of the largest and…

UK to propose asylum ban on Channel migrants

British interior minister Suella Braverman will set out plans on Tuesday for new powers which would ban migrants who cross the English Channel from claiming asylum, a government source said. The government has been under pressure to deal with the rising number of people making dangerous journeys despite plans to…

Church of England bans Desmond Tutu’s daughter from leading funeral…

The Church of England has prohibited the late Desmond Tutu's daughter from leading her godfather's funeral as 'she is married to a woman', media reports said. Mpho Tutu van Furth is an Anglican priest in the Diocese of Washington DC. She was invited to preside over the funeral of Martin…

University of Cambridge says it gained from slave trade

Britain's University of Cambridge said on Thursday it had benefited from the proceeds of slavery over its history, and promised to expand scholarships for Black students and fund more research into the murderous trade. The acknowledgement comes as a string of leading institutions - from the bank of england to…

King Charles pledges ‘additional duty’ to protect faith diversity of…

King Charles III has pledged to uphold the “additional duty” as a new monarch of protecting the diversity of the UK and be a sovereign of all communities around the Commonwealth. Addressing a group of faith leaders on Friday evening in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace, where just days…

EXCLUSIVE: “King Charles be defender of all faiths” 

SENIOR SOUTH ASIAN and Black leaders have urged King Charles to make sure their communities continue to have a strong influence on Britain’s future. While he was a prince, the new monarch was outspoken on issues which concerned him. They included highlighting the dangers of climate change, the benefits of…

Man arrested after claiming Mecca pilgrimage for Queen

Saudi authorities have arrested a man who claimed to have travelled to the Muslim holy city of Mecca to perform an umrah pilgrimage on behalf of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The man, a Yemeni national, on Monday published a video clip of himself on social media at the Grand…

FACTBOX-How King Charles’ accession to the throne is formalised

Queen Elizabeth, the longest-reigning monarch in Britain's history, died on Thursday (8) aged 96, and her son Charles succeeded to the throne immediately. Here is an explanation of the protocol surrounding the official accession of a new monarch and Saturday's ceremony formally proclaiming Charles as king. An Accession Council has…

Zero to 370 million: Queen Elizabeth II in numbers

During her record-breaking reign, Queen Elizabeth II racked up an array of statistics. Here are some numbers associated with her life and reign: 0  She was a frequent traveller, but she had no passport as she was the one who issued the document. Her name was on the passports of…

EXPLAINER-Britain’s rules of succession for a new sovereign

Queen Elizabeth, Britain's monarch for more than seven decades, died on Thursday aged 96. The following is an explanation of the rules of the British court regarding the accession of a new sovereign and a description of the powers and responsibilities of the monarch. Under the British constitution, a sovereign…

Priest of Indian heritage appointed Church of England’s first racial…

A former Barbados high commissioner of Indian heritage has been appointed the first racial justice director of the Church of England. Anglican priest Guy Hewitt will assume office in November as the head of the Church’s racial justice unit, set up following the recommendations of the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce report.…

Lord Boateng urges Church of England to ‘contribute to national…

LORD Boateng has urged the Church of England to contribute towards a £4 million national memorial to victims of the slave trade in Hyde Park, the first of its kind in Britain, according to a report. The report by an independent group led by the Labour peer, the Archbishops’ Racial Justice…

No fixed date for when UK will send first migrants…

Britain's government cannot give a fixed date for when it will first be able to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, deputy prime minister and justice secretary Dominic Raab said on Thursday.Britain's initial attempt to deport asylum seekers - part of a policy designed to deter dangerous sea crossings of the…

UK confident it can overturn legal ban on Rwanda plan

Britain is confident it can overcome legal challenges to its bid to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda following a last minute intervention by European judges that grounded the first flight minutes before it was due to depart late on Tuesday.The government had been forced to fight a series of legal…

We will not be deterred from Rwanda asylum plan: Boris…

THE UK government on Tuesday (14) defended its controversial policy to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, even as the entire senior leadership of the Church of England branded it shameful and immoral. According to Daily Mail, opening Cabinet this morning, prime minister Boris Johnson said, "What is happening with the…

‘An immoral policy that shames Britain’: Church of England leaders…

SENIOR leaders at the Church of England have called the Home Office's plan to deport migrants to Rwanda 'immoral'.  The Most Rev Justin Welby and the Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, the senior leaders, alongside 23 bishops criticised the plan. "Whether or not the first deportation flight leaves Britain today for…

UK’s first flight taking migrants to Rwanda can go ahead,…

Britain's government overcame a legal challenge to its controversial policy to begin deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda as the High Court dismissed campaigners' attempts to win an injunction and said the first flight could leave next week.Charities and a trade union had launched a challenge earlier this week against the…

Ed Sheeran to crown queen’s four-day jubilee party

British pop superstar Ed Sheeran was on Sunday set to bring the curtain down on four days of momentous nationwide celebrations to honour Queen Elizabeth II's historic Platinum Jubilee.The multi-award-winning singer-songwriter will perform at the finale of a day-long pageant lauding the 96-year-old monarch's record seven decades on the throne,…

The queen has travelled to more than 100 countries since…

Longevity Elizabeth has reigned for 70 years and nearly four months -- longer than any other monarch in British history. The previous record was held by her great-great-grandmother queen Victoria, who reigned for 63 years, seven months and two days until 1901. At 96, Elizabeth is the oldest current monarch…

Queen pays tribute to Prince Philip

THE Queen on Tuesday (29) made her first major public appearance in months, at a thanksgiving service for her late husband, Prince Philip, who died last year aged 99. The monarch, who turns 96 next month, has not attended a high-profile event outside her homes since she spent a night…

India-born priest becomes youngest Bishop in Church of England

AN India-born vicar, who grew up in a leprosy hospital in Bangalore where his mother was a nurse, has been consecrated as Bishop in the Church of England with a staff, or crozier, made of Indian rosewood. The Right Reverend Malayil Lukose Varghese Muthalaly, known as Saju, aged 42 became…

Painting a picture of love, loss and family memories

MATTHEW KRISHANU DISCUSSES HIS WORK AND USING ART TO MAKE SENSE OF LIFE TALENTED painter Matthew Krishanu has become an important voice in British art, and whether it has been solo exhibitions or as part of a larger group shows, he has delivered eye-catching works that have created thought-provoking moments.…

Families Commission seeks public response as call of evidence ends…

THE Families and Households Commission set up by the archbishops of Canterbury and York has launched a six-week call of evidence to find out the pressures and challenges facing families and households in England. Adults are invited to share their experiences and ideas before the November 18 deadline, after which…

Dismay as Church of England finds ‘racial justice expensive’

THE Church of England (C of E) has dismissed a plan to appoint 42 ‘racial justice officers’ (RJOs) after archbishops said they could not afford to create the roles, it was reported last weekend. The proposal for RJOs was a key recommendation in a report, From Lament to Action, which…

Campaigners ‘disappointed’ as Church of England drops plan for racial…

THE Church of England has dismissed the plan to appoint 42 'racial justice officers' after archbishops said they could not afford to create the roles, reported The Times. The report added that campaigners, who wanted to tackle racism within the church, have expressed 'shock and disappointment' over the decision. A…

Church of England to review monuments across places of worship…

THE Church of England on Tuesday (11) outlined a review of monuments across its thousands of places of worship to examine if they honour slavery and colonialism, indicating some may be removed. The Anglican Church published new guidelines for its parishes and cathedrals in the latest step of a consultation…

Church of England must act “urgently” on racial inequality, report…

A TASKFORCE commissioned by the archbishops of Canterbury and York has cautioned the Church of England that failing to implement change to achieve greater racial justice and equality could be the “last straw” for many clergy and ethnic minority worshippers. Published on Thursday (22), the From Lament to Action report…

Church of England bans non-disclosure agreements following allegations that it…

THE Church of England on Tuesday (20) banned non-disclosure agreements after the Archbishop of Canterbury said that they must no longer be used to silence abuse victims. Justin Welby told Times Radio that he was 'horrified' to learn of racist abuse aimed at priests and staff within the church, as exposed in…

Prince Philip’s funeral: what happens when?

Here is a timeline for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip, which takes place at Windsor Castle, west of London, on Saturday (17). 11:00 am local time (1000 GMT). Prince Philip's coffin is moved from the royal family's private chapel at Windsor Castle to a separate hall…

Minorities to have a say on future Church of England…

IN order to improve diversity and to have a say on future of Church of England bishops should be approved from black and minority groups, it has been recommended. The reforms will give a black or ethnic minority churchgoer a veto over appointments to senior posts. The move to bring…

Prince Philip’s death leaves ‘huge void’ for Queen: Prince Andrew

The Queen has been left bereft at the death of her husband, Prince Philip, said Prince Andrew on Sunday, as prayers were said at memorial services across Britain. Prince Andrew said his 94-year-old mother was "incredibly stoic" but had been hit hard by the death of the Duke of Edinburgh…

Johnson hails Philip’s ‘extraordinary life’; says country would mourn with…

BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to Prince Philip, who died on Friday (9), saying the country would mourn with the royal family and Queen Elizabeth, who had lost her 'strength and stay of more than 70 years'. "We remember the duke ... above all for his steadfast support for Her Majesty…

Church of England to return Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

THE Church of England has said it would return two Benin Bronzes to Nigeria as debate over returning artefacts from Africa grows. Both the Bronzes were given as gifts to then Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie almost 40 years ago. Lambeth Palace said it is currently in discussions to returns…

Church of England wants ‘one UK minority ethnic clergy elected…

A LEAKED report has revealed that the Church of England will introduce a quota for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) clergy, roll out anti-racism training and contextualise church statues. The 'From Lament to Action: Report of the Archbishops' Anti-Racism Taskforce' report, leaked to The Spectator, said there should be 'one…

‘No hint of racism’ in Prince Charles

  By Amit Roy FOR various personal reasons, I have known Prince Charles for a very long time – and there is one thing I can say with absolute confidence. There isn’t a hint of racism in him. To be sure, the interview given by Prince Harry and Meghan to…

Church of England apologises over ‘deeply shaming’ child abuse inquiry…

THE Church of England has expressed shame and apologised after an inquiry found it had failed to protect children from sexual predators within its ranks for decades. "Its shameful and disgraceful and reveals exactly what they said -- a culture in which there was cover-up and hiding -- and it…

BAME campaigners seek ‘Race Equality Strategy’ to tackle ‘deep-seated inequalities’

A group of social campaigners, academics and religious leaders have urged the government to formulate a “Race Equality Strategy” in the light of the disproportionate impact of coronavirus on BAME communities. Studies have been indicating that Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people are more vulnerable to Covid-19 complications, and…

Scottish Tory minister resigns in protest over Cummings lockdown breach…

DOUGLAS ROSS, a junior minister in the Scotland Office, resigned on Tuesday (26), saying the prime minister's senior adviser's explanation of why he travelled during the coronavirus lockdown was based on decisions "others felt were not available to them". Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson's closest aide, had refused to resign on Monday,…

Cummings has Johnson’s ‘full support’ in lockdown breach row

PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson has resisted calls to sack senior adviser Dominic Cummings after he travelled 400 km (250 miles) to northern England while his wife showed Covid-19 symptoms. Cummings, who masterminded the 2016 campaign to leave the European Union during the Brexit referendum, travelled to Durham in late March,…

UK ‘can turn tide’ of coronavirus in 12 weeks: Johnson

Prime minister Boris Johnson said Thursday (19) that Britain could "turn the tide" on coronavirus within 12 weeks -- but only if people heed advice to avoid social contact. "We can turn the tide within the next 12 weeks, and I'm absolutely confident we can send coronavirus packing in this…

Mass religious gatherings to stop in the UK

The concept of mass congregational prayers has undergone a major transformation in the last few days as the UK went into semi-lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed 71 lives in the country. The official UK government advice is for everyone, with or without any symptoms of the deadly…

UK rolls out tougher virus action after dire science warning

British prime minister Boris Johnson's government on Tuesday (17) unveiled a huge package of support for businesses to help them survive the introduction of tough new social measures to stem the coronavirus outbreak. The Conservative leader said Britain needed to act "like any wartime government", as chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled…

Archbishop of Canterbury apology for Jallianwala Bagh

By Amit Roy The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, is expected to offer the kind of apology Theresa May felt unable to give as prime minister for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre when he undertakes a 10-day trip to India. The visit will begin in Kottayam in Kerala…

Faith groups back Church of England’s ‘digital charter’

by NADEEM BADSHAH FAITH groups have supported the Church of England’s first-ever digital commandments to combat abuse and fake news on social media. The church has drawn up a “digital charter” based on five Christian values, including not sharing sexually explicit, threatening or racist posts, speaking to others online as…

Experts urge more awareness of food allergies at places of…

by NADEEM BADSHAH FAMILIES need to be educated about suffering a severe allergic reaction following the death of a schoolboy who had cheese thrown at him, experts have recommended. They have also called for places of worship and the NHS to work together to raise awareness of food allergies. This…

Faith in drone appeal

by NADEEM BADSHAH DRONES are being used to film places of worship for YouTube videos with the aim of attracting young people to reconnect with their faith, community leaders said. Mosques and gurdwaras have given permission to filmmakers to record footage, capturing their design, and interiors and exteriors of the…

Revised system will help honour ethnic minority ‘heroes’

by HARRIS BOKHARI OBE National board member, Prince’s Trust Mosaic Initiative THE welcome race disparity audit published by the government two years ago showed that Britain’s ethnic minorities have come a long way in many areas of public life in recent times, though there is still much to be done…

Schoolboy with severe dairy allergy dies after having cheese pushed…

An Indian-origin schoolboy with a severe dairy allergy died after he was allegedly chased and had cheese thrown down his t-shirt, an inquest into his death was told on Wednesday. Karanbir Cheema, known as Karan, was discovered “gasping for air” by paramedics at his school in Greenford, west London, in…

Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali voices support for partial-ban on burqas in…

A Pakistan-born bishop in the UK has called for a near-total ban on wearing of burqas in public places in the country as he backed former British foreign secretary Boris Johnson's criticism of the practice, according to a media report. Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Bishop of Rochester, said the burqas…

Harry and Meghan shake up royal tradition in star-studded wedding

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot at Windsor Castle on Saturday in a royal wedding like no other, mixing British pomp and African-American culture in front of a celebrity congregation and cheering crowds. The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex exchanged vows in St. George's Chapel in a…

British imams plan new progressive national council

Some of Britains leading imams are considering a new centralised body to become a "progressive" voice for Islam in the UK and issue "authoritative" religious rulings on issues such as terrorism and honour killings. The national council is expected to become the first central religious authority for British Muslims, delivering…

How does the Conservative Party elect a leader, and who…

The Conservative party has begun the process of electing a new leader and presumptive prime minister, after David Cameron said he would resign following the country’s vote last week to leave the European Union. The five candidates who were nominated yesterday will now go forward to a vote of Conservative…

UK’s first Asian bishop discusses extremism and isolated communities

Britain’s first Asian bishop has cautioned that the UK’s fight against extremism must not come at a cost to personal liberties at home. Michael Nazir-Ali also criticised the idea of secularism being neutral and claimed that by ignoring the religious heritage of Britain, its citizens have become ill-equipped to understand…

Michael Nazir-Ali: Policies should respect culture and religion

Britain’s first Asian bishop has cautioned that the UK’s fight against extremism must not come at a cost to personal liberties at home. Michael Nazir-Ali also criticised the idea of secularism being neutral. He claimed that by ignoring the religious heritage of Britain, its citizens have become ill-equipped to understand…