News


The Bishop of Berwick, the Right Revd Mark Tanner to become 41st Bishop of Chester

First published on: 12th May 2020

View video here of Bishop Mark speaking to Bishop Christine about his new appointment.The Right Reverend Mark Tanner has been named by Downing Street as the next Bishop of Chester, succeeding the Right Reverend Dr Peter Foster who retired last S


House of Bishops backs phased approach to revising access to church buildings

First published on: 5th May 2020

The House of Bishops met via Zoom this afternoon, as it has done regularly throughout the current pandemic, and continued to review advice to clergy on the Churchs efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus, to protect the vulnerable and health s


Over 6,000 calls in first 48 hours to Daily Hope, the free dial-in worship phone line

First published on: 28th April 2020

A free phone line offering hymns, prayers, and reflections 24 hours a day while church buildings are closed because of the coronavirus has received more than 6,000 calls in the first 48 hours.The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, launched Daily


Archdeacon of Lindisfarne to become next Dean of Derby

First published on: 25th April 2020

The Archdeacon of Lindisfarne, the Venerable Peter Robinson is to leave his role after nearly 25 years in the Diocese of Newcastle to become the next Dean of Derby.Peter has been Archdeacon since 2008 and worked in the oil industry before b


Bishop Christine urges the Government to support local groups working to produce and deliver PPE

First published on: 23rd April 2020

The Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Christine Hardman has spoken in the House of Lords about the work being done by a North East NHS Trust to address the shortage of PPE in the fight against coronavirus.A partnership led by Northumbria H


Bishop Christine seeks reassurances for our care homes, sheltered accommodation and hospices

First published on: 22nd April 2020

The Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Christine Hardman has sought reassurances from the Government over the support being given to care homes, hospices and operators of sheltered accommodation during this coronavirus pandemic.Speaking dur


Northumberland priest to be next Archdeacon of Northolt

First published on: 20th April 2020

The Reverend Catherine Pickford, currently Priest in Charge of St Mary the Virgin, Stannington, and Continuing Ministerial Development Officer for the Diocese of Newcastle has been appointed the next Archdeacon of Northolt in London. Previously, Cath


Bishop Christine's Digital Good Friday and Easter Day services

First published on: 9th April 2020

From Bishop Christine:These are extremely challenging times for all of us and we are having to find new ways of worshipping and praying together, and to do this many of us are engaging with technology in ways we have never done before. This Easter, I


National virtual service for Palm Sunday

First published on: 3rd April 2020

Christians are to be encouraged to make their own paper or card palm crosses and display these in their windows in a national virtual church service for Palm Sunday to be broadcast by the Church of England.The Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, will


Archbishops and Bishops: stay at home but continue to pray, to love, to care for the vulnerable

First published on: 24th March 2020

The Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of England have urged everyone to follow the instructions given by the Prime Minister to stay in their homes in a national effort to limit the transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19).But they called on the


A message from Bishop Christine as we prepare to leave the European Union

First published on: 30th January 2020

Dear brothers and sisters, One of the many people who has had a major influence in my life is the late Bishop Sehon Goodridge, who was Bishop of the Windward Isles. During my ordination training he came to talk to us and he saidthere are two kinds of


New Rector of Hexham appointed

First published on: 28th January 2020

The Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Christine Hardman has appointed the Reverend Canon David Glover as the new Rector of Hexham.David, who is currently Rector at Holy Trinity in Washington, succeeds Canon Dr Dagmar Winter who left her ro


BISHOP RONALD OLIVER BOWLBY, RIP

First published on: 23rd December 2019

BISHOP RONALD OLIVER BOWLBY, RIP1926-2019It is with sadness we inform you of the death of Bishop Ronnie Bowlby on Saturday, 21stDecember, 2019.Ronnie died, supported by the love and steadfastness of his daughters and sons and by excellent care in the


New Residentiary Canon Director of Mission and Ministry

First published on: 15th December 2019

The Bishop of Newcastle is pleased to announce the appointment of the Revd Rob Saner-Haigh as Residentiary Canon Director of Mission and Ministry.As a member of Bishops Staff, and Residentiary Canon of our Cathedral, Rob will hold a lead responsibili


Political parties sign up to ‘clean campaign’ pledge

First published on: 26th November 2019

All four parliamentary candidates in the Hexham constituency have agreed to sign up to a Clean Campaign Pledge, proposed by a local Church of England vicar.The Reverend Tom Birch, who represents the parishes of St Oswins Wylam and St Mary the Virgins


Bamburgh bones brought to life in St Aidan’s new interactive ossuary

First published on: 22nd November 2019

The crypt at St Aidans Church in Bamburgh, hidden from view for many years, has been blessed by Bishop Christine, marking the opening of a new cutting-edge project recreating Northumbrias Golden Age.The project, made possible by a 355,600 grant from


Living wage accreditation in the Diocese of Newcastle

First published on: 15th November 2019

Newcastle Diocesan Board of Finance, the charity administering the Church of England in Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside, has been accredited as a Living Wage employer.The NDBF is proud to be one of 111 employers in the North East of Engl


Church engages millions through apps and social media

First published on: 17th October 2019

Apps allowing users to pray the ancient Daily Office of morning, evening and night prayer were used 4.2 million times on Apple devices alone in the last 12 months, an increase of 446,000 on the year before, new figures show. The figures do not includ


Bishops call for greater support for women leaving prison

First published on: 15th October 2019

Listen to Premier Christian Radio's coverage of the 15th October event in Parliament hosted by Bishop Christine and the Bishop of Gloucester Rachel Treweek. They were highlighting the importance of improving the level of support, in particular housin


Bishops push for better support for women released from prison

First published on: 10th October 2019

The Bishop of Newcastle, together with the Bishop of Gloucester, is hosting an event in the House of Lords on Tuesday 15 October to highlight the importance of finding suitable accommodation for women released from prison.The event, support


Newcastle Diocese pays its staff a real Living Wage

First published on: 26th September 2019

We are delighted to announce that the Newcastle Diocesan Board of Finance is now an accredited Living Wage Employer. This means that every member of staff working for the Board of Finance will earn a real Living Wa


Farewell Shiremoor, Kia Ora New Zealand!

First published on: 20th September 2019

The Reverend Dr Tony Curtis, vicar of St Marks Shiremoor, is about to take up an exciting new role 11,000 miles away!Tony, who has been at Shiremoor since 2013, has been appointed the new Dean of the Cathedral Church of St Paul in Dunedin, New Zeala


An update on marriage registration changes

First published on: 12th September 2019

Dr Sandra Millar, the Church of England's Head of Life Events, discusses the possibility of changes to marriage registration systems.Over the summer there has been a lot of information circulating about the implications of the plans for the electroni


Bishops issue open letter on Brexit

First published on: 28th August 2019

A group of Church of England bishops, including the Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Christine Hardman, has issued an open letter on the prospect of a 'no-deal' Brexit and the need for national reconciliation, notwithstanding the potential pro


Marriage registration changes

First published on: 22nd August 2019

The Government plans to introduce a new system of registration for marriages, including church weddings, in England and Wales.It is anticipated that the new system will replace traditional marriage registers with a new marriage document to be signed


Newcastle Cathedral appoints new Canon for Outreach and Discipleship

First published on: 5th August 2019

The Bishop of Newcastle is delighted to be able to announce that the Revd Peter Dobson is to become Canon for Outreach and Discipleship at Newcastle Cathedral.Peter will become the second Canon Residentiary and work alongside the Dean, the Canon for


Bishops’ intervention set to extend gambling protections across the UK

First published on: 18th July 2019

Gambling rules in Northern Ireland could be brought into line with tighter standards in the rest of the UK following an intervention by the Church of England.An amendment tabled in the House of Lords by the Bishop of St Albans, Alan Smith, opening th


Bishop of Newcastle presents Warkworth schoolchildren with their Green Flag Award

First published on: 1st July 2019

Schoolchildren at a Northumberland primary school have been recognised for their work protecting their local environment.The Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Christine Hardman presented the children at Warkworth Church of England Aided Primary


Conviction of the Revd Peter McConnell

First published on: 27th June 2019

Following the conviction of the Reverend Peter McConnell, the Venerable Peter Robinson, Archdeacon of Lindisfarne in the Diocese of Newcastle, said: All forms of abuse including sexual assault are destructive of human relationships and contrary to th


Biggest Leavers' Event Ever!

First published on: 21st June 2019

Nearly a thousand children packed Newcastle Cathedral for our biggest school leavers' event ever.It was so big, two separate services were held throughout the day, one attended by the Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Christine Hardman, an

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