News articles for 2008 Click here to view news articles for: 2007 Bishop defends Church’s missionary approach to Islam 29 June 2008 The Bishop of Lichfield has stepped into the debate about whether the Church should seek to convert Muslims by defending the church’s missionary approach to Islam. Read More »   Media Briefing - the Lambeth Conference and the Diocese of Lichfield 20 June 2008 Media arrangements for CrossTalk and Lambeth Conference events impacting on Lichfield Diocese Read More »   Former Staffordshire priest is first female Archdeacon of Norwich 20 June 2008 The Bishop of Norwich has announced the appointment of a former Staffordshire priest as the first female archdeacon ever to be appointed to the Diocese of Norwich. Read More »   Extracts from the Bishops’ Diaries - June 2008 5 June 2008 The following diary dates may be of interest to journalists: Read More »   Bishop of Stafford clarifies environment comments 2 June 2008 The Bishop of Stafford, the Rt Revd Gordon Mursell, has clarified comments in his Pastoral Letter for parish magazines following media reports concentrating on one aspect of it. Read More »   Schools Adjudicator rules on High Ercall’s future 2 June 2008 The Schools Adjudicator has today published his determination that Childs Ercall CE (C) Primary School should close with effect from 31 August 2008. Read More »   Christians called to respond to “moral decay and political apathy” 30 May 2008 The Bishop of Stafford has said: "our refusal to face the truth about climate change" makes us guilty of "locking our children and grandchildren into a world with no future and throwing away the key". Read More »   Bishop’s Emergency Appeal for Burma is making a difference 30 May 2008 The first donations sent to the Bishop of Lichfield’s Emergency Appeal in response to the Cyclone Nargis crisis in Burma are already making a difference in Myanmar. Read More »   Diocese of Lichfield welcomes Shropshire school proposals 13 May 2008 The Diocese of Lichfield has responded to the Shropshire School Reorganisation proposals by welcoming plans by Shropshire County Council to amalgamate four of the diocese’s schools in the county. Read More »   Cathedral stamp boost for Midlands' economy 13 May 2008 The Dean of an “undiscovered gem” British Cathedral hopes its depiction on Royal Mail’s new 1st class stamp will help boost the economy of Staffordshire and the West Midlands. Read More »   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 »