The Church of England

@churchofengland.org

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We're a Christian presence in every community across England and in Europe. Learn more about the work we do from churches, cathedrals and Christian communities.

Four individuals are standing in a church, facing an ornate altar with religious artwork. The text "What is prayer?" is overlaid on the image.
Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: graft in our hearts the love of your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of your great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Stained glass windows with colorful geometric designs are illuminated by sunlight. Text reads, "Holy moments, holy days." The Everyday Faith logo is at the bottom.
Almighty God, whose Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of mind and body and called her to be a witness to his resurrection: forgive our sins and heal us by your grace, that we may serve you in the power of his risen life; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A digital promotional image for a special webinar titled "Get ahead for Advent and Christmas" presented by Digital Labs. The background features a mosaic pattern in blue, pink, and white.
Generous God, you give us gifts and make them grow: though our faith is small as mustard seed, make it grow to your glory and the flourishing of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: graft in our hearts the love of your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of your great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. ```
Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: graft in our hearts the love of your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of your great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Creator God, you made us all in your image: may we discern you in all that we see, and serve you in all that we do; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Merciful God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as pass our understanding: pour into our hearts such love toward you that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Creator God, you made us all in your image: may we discern you in all that we see, and serve you in all that we do; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A historic stone church with a tall tower stands amidst a lush green landscape. A stone wall runs parallel to the church. The scene is framed by large trees, with the sky showing early evening lighting.
Merciful God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as pass our understanding: pour into our hearts such love toward you that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
General Synod – 14 July 2026 Final day of the current General Synod, marking the end of its five-year term. The end of Synod will be marked with a service of Eucharist to formally conclude the Synod before elections later this year. Debate calling on the Church of England to appoint a lead Bishop for looked after children. Debate on nature recovery: A motion asking Church Commissioners to do more to support biodiversity and nature restoration on church-owned land. Abuse Redress Scheme: Members will consider the final Abuse Redress Rules. The scheme aims to provide financial and other support to victims and survivors of Church-related abuse. Approval of the rules will help the scheme launch in the coming months. Closing business: Formal notices of dissolution. Expressions of thanks and farewells. The Archbishop of York will dissolve the Synod, officially ending the current five-year term ahead of autumn elections.
Creator God, you made us all in your image: may we discern you in all that we see, and serve you in all that we do; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A large modern church interior with a vertical white cross and abstract sculpture hanging beneath it. Text on the image reads, "Nothing is too ordinary." The "Everyday Faith" logo is at the bottom.
TODAY AT GENERAL SYNOD 13 JULY 2026 There will be a debate calling on the Church of England to appoint a lead Bishop for looked after children and young adults who have been in care. The Private Member's Motion will call for the dioceses to take action to support these children and young people and the communities who care for them. Currently there are more than 100,000 children in care across the UK with a child entering the care system around every fifteen minutes. There will be a discussion of the Archbishops' Council annual report, after which Synod will be asked to approve the Archbishops' Council budget for 2027. Professor Helen King, from the Diocese of Oxford will present a Private Member's Motion on same sex relationships. There will be a debate at the start of the afternoon on reports addressing the challenges of trust in the Church of England. The Synod sessions will finish on Monday with an update from the new lead safeguarding bishop.
Merciful God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as pass our understanding: pour into our hearts such love toward you that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Today's General Synod agenda includes: A service at York Minster, with Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally preaching. Consideration of Hope for All Creation, a new Church of England teaching document that provides a theological response to environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Final approval of a new annual Festival of Creation in Christ, which would add prayers and readings focused on God's creation to the Church calendar. Final approval of plans to commemorate the 21 Martyrs of Libya, Christians killed by ISIS in 2015, as a reminder of ongoing Christian persecution worldwide. An evening debate on a motion expressing solidarity with Palestinian Christians, originally passed by the Carlisle Diocesan Synod in 2021 and amended in 2025.
Creator God, you made us all in your image: may we discern you in all that we see, and serve you in all that we do; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
TODAY AT GENERAL SYNOD 11 July 2026 This graphic combines five agenda items into one post: The day's agenda focuses on national unity, church governance reform, member questions, legislative changes, and updates on the Church of England's digital communications and new website.
Almighty God, send down upon your Church the riches of your Spirit, and kindle in all who minister the gospel your countless gifts of grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
An important feature of Synod, in addition to legislation, is debating important issues through motions brought by individual members and dioceses. This time there will be debates on supporting Palestinian Christians; the Church’s response to same-sex relationships and the challenges facing looked-after children and care-leavers.
Members will spend time discussing how Christians can promote national unity in England in a time of polarisation. They will meet in plenary and in smaller groups to share stories about how the current climate is affecting them and how Scripture is guiding them. The early evening session on Saturday will finish in time for members to support England in the World Cup match against Norway.
Another key change to the Church of England’s liturgy – or worship - up for approval is the introduction of an annual commemoration of the “21 Martyrs of Libya”, a group of Christians who were killed for their faith by Isis terrorists 10 years ago. It will be a vivid reminder of how Christians are still persecuted around the world today.
Amid another heatwave, environmental crises will take centre stage at this Synod. A landmark new teaching document, Hope for All Creation, is being published, offering a Christian response to climate change and the mass extinction crisis. Synod will hear updates on moves towards net zero carbon and vote on approving a new annual “Festival of Creation in Christ”, remembering these issues in our worship.
Members of General Synod, the Church of England's parliament, are heading to York for the final meeting of their five-year term, ahead of elections later this year. On the opening day they will hear an address by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, before debating a motion celebrating the richness neurodivergent people bring to the Church and asking how barriers to participation can be removed.
5 Things Coming Up At Synod
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty God, send down upon your Church the riches of your Spirit, and kindle in all who minister the gospel your countless gifts of grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty God, send down upon your Church the riches of your Spirit, and kindle in all who minister the gospel your countless gifts of grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A serene garden with lush greenery and colorful flowers is in the foreground. In the background, there's a historic stone building featuring tall arched windows. The text "How we grow" is overlaid on the image. A small logo for "Everyday Faith" is visible at the bottom.
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty and eternal God, who, for the firmer foundation of our faith, allowed your holy apostle Thomas to doubt the resurrection of your Son till word and sight convinced him: grant to us, who have not seen, that we also may believe and so confess Christ as our Lord and our God; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that with you as our ruler and guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not our hold on things eternal; grant this, heavenly Father, for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that with you as our ruler and guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not our hold on things eternal; grant this, heavenly Father, for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
An open Bible rests in a wooden holder with three white candles and green foliage in the background. The text "Wrestling with the Old Testament" is overlaid above the Bible.
Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you in their death as in their life: grant that your Church, inspired by their teaching and example, and made one by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A prayer for Petertide God our Father, Lord of all the world, through your Son you have called us into the fellowship of your universal Church: hear our prayer for your faithful people that in their vocation and ministry each may be an instrument of your love, and give to your servants now to be ordained the needful gifts of grace; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
God our saviour, look on this wounded world in pity and in power; hold us fast to your promises of peace won for us by your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Almighty God, you have broken the tyranny of sin and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts whereby we call you Father: give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service, that we and all creation may be brought to the glorious liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.