News articles for 2008 Click here to view news articles for: 2007 The Myanmar Cyclone Disaster - A sermon by the Bishop of Shrewsbury 11 May 2008 A sermon preached by the Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith at Christ Church, Shelton and Oxon Read More »   Bishop laments “appalling” hindrance to Burma aid effort 10 May 2008 A Church of England Bishop has spoken of his “deep sadness” that the authorities in Myanmar continue to hinder the international aid effort. Read More »   Extracts from the Bishops’ Diaries - May 2008 9 May 2008 The following extracts may be of interest to journalists. Read More »   Bishops issue emergency appeal for Myanmar (Burma) 8 May 2008 The four bishops in the Church of England’s Diocese of Lichfield have tonight issued an emergency appeal for prayers and cash for the people of Myanmar (Burma). Read More »   900 new churchgoers six months after “Back to Church Sunday” 2 May 2008 Six months after the Back to Church Sunday evangelistic campaign, figures from the Diocese of Lichfield show that between 700 and 900 of the 6,000 people who came Back to Church in the area on 29th September last year are now regular churchgoers. Read More »   “Sceptical secular society still hungers for authentic Christian witness” - Bishop 2 May 2008 The Bishop of Wolverhampton has told churchgoers in the Diocese of Lichfield that there is still a hunger for authentic Christian witness despite modern secular society’s scepticism towards religion. Read More »   Bishop leads prayers for Zimbabwe in Lichfield Cathedral 27 April 2008 The Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill, today led prayers for the people of Zimbabwe during a service at Lichfield Cathedral. Read More »   Churches join Global Prayer Day for Zimbabwe 26 April 2008 Churches throughout the West Midlands will join with Christians across the world tomorrow (Sunday 27th April) in a day of Global Prayer for Zimbabwe. Read More »   Public meeting will help decide future of Childs Ercall School 24 April 2008 A public meeting will be held next month to help decide the future of Childs Ercall Church of England Primary School in Shropshire. Read More »   “Use your vote” call from local churches 22 April 2008 Church leaders in the Black Country are urging parishioners to turn out and vote in the May Local Elections and have issued a list of questions for voters to think about. Read More »   ‘Sun, Sea, Sand and Persecution’ warns open doors 15 April 2008 Ten popular holiday destinations named in list of worst 50 nations for religious freedom Read More »   Bishop calls for more effort in celebrating “50 days of Easter” 2 April 2008 The Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith, has called on churchgoers to put more effort into celebrating the full 50 days of Easter in the church’s calendar. Read More »   Extracts from the Diaries - April 2008 1 April 2008 The following extracts from the diaries of the Diocese of Lichfield may be of interest to local journalists: Read More »   Bishop adds voice to free vote calls on human-animal embryos 24 March 2008 The Bishop of Lichfield has added his voice to the growing list of people calling for MPs to have a free vote on the controversial Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. Read More »   More people have faith in resurrection than stock market 21 March 2008 The Bishop of Lichfield has used his Easter message to say more people have faith in the resurrection than the stock market. Read More »   The Revd Steven Mitchell - Rector of Newport with Longford, Chetwynd and Forton 21 March 2008 The Diocese of Lichfield is aware that there are on-going difficulties within the parish of Newport in Shropshire. Read More »   "Don't worry about Church Institution" - Bishop tells clergy 20 March 2008 The Bishop of Stafford has challenged clergy and lay leaders in the Diocese of Lichfield to stop worrying about the institution of the church and to discover a “compelling vision of what the world might be”. Read More »   Christians take to the streets - and hills - for Easter Celebrations 18 March 2008 Christians from all denominations will be taking to the streets this weekend for a series of celebrations of Easter. Read More »   Wolverhampton’s Christians March for Hope 18 March 2008 Christians from all the Black Country will march through Wolverhampton this Saturday at the start of a Hope 08 series of missions in the City. Read More »   Churches to be environmental advocates 15 March 2008 All 582 churches in the Diocese of Lichfield have been asked to become advocates for environmental protection in their local communities. Read More »   Presidential Address to members of the Lichfield Diocesan Synod 15 March 2008 The Bishop of Lichfield speaks to Synod members at Cobridge Community Centre Read More »   Environment and mission on Synod agenda as bishop challenges perception of Stoke as a "failed city" 13 March 2008 Every church in the Diocese of Lichfield could be asked to work out and implement an environmental strategy for its buildings, land and activities if a motion from the Bishop of Shrewsbury is passed by members of the Lichfield Diocesan Synod on Saturday. Read More »   Christian leaders praise BBC's worship milestone 13 March 2008 Christian leaders in north Staffordshire and south Cheshire have joined forces to praise BBC Radio Stoke’s weekly broadcast act of worship, In Praise of God, which this week celebrates it’s 40th anniversary. Read More »   Faith groups’ £4.4 million contribution to Staffordshire social care 13 March 2008 Faith groups in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent contribute more than £4.4 million each year in volunteer hours, according to a social action faith audit carried out by the Saltbox Christian Centre and the Diocese of Lichfield. Read More »   Parishioners urged to “gift it back” as Chancellor ups charity tax break 13 March 2008 It’s never been a better time to ensure your charity donations are gift aided - according to the Diocese of Lichfield which is welcoming the Chancellor’s transitional relief for Gift Aid announced yesterday. Read More »   Diocese refers closure of Childs Ercall School to independent adjudicator 6 March 2008 The Lichfield Diocesan Board of Education is to refer Shropshire County Council’s decision to close Childs Ercall Church of England primary school, near Market Drayton, to the independent Schools Adjudicator. Read More »   Half million pound windfall for churches in Lichfield diocese 6 March 2008 Nine churches in the Diocese of Lichfield are to receive a share of more than half a million pounds in the latest series of grants announced by English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Read More »   Extracts from the Bishops' Diaries - March 29 February 2008