After so many weeks of being constricted, and of fearing the possibility of an unseen but life- threatening virus, it is no surprise that feelings run high some days. Our internal limbic brain systems have been functioning on high alert, and the natu
Please see below a joint statement from the Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Christine Hardman and the Bishop of Berwick, the Right Reverend Mark Tanner following the Governments announcement that church buildings will be able to reopen for pu
Michele Hampson shows how creating a safe space can help us respond to stress and anxiety, starting with an understanding of our natural biological reactions. A safe space is one we can picture in detail and that we associate with a sense of peace. I
Bishop Christine has paid tribute to volunteers who have kept people safe during the Covid crisis.She said the efforts of volunteers throughout our Diocese have been an inspiration.Their work to support community services have kept us going and would
St Lukes Virtual Clergy Wellbeing ProgrammeHere be dragonsSystemic facilitator and trainer Revd Hilary Ison shares reflections on responses to trauma to help us navigate these challenging times.On a walk recently I was very glad of a map I had with m
By the Revd Sarah Hills, St Mary's Parish Church, Holy IslandI have been feeling, like very many of us over the last week, angry, sad, bewildered. George Floyd in Minneapolis died being held down, kneeled on, struggling for breath. Touch comes i
Message from Bishop ChristineI am pleased to announce that Carol Butler, a specialist in safeguarding and risk management, is the new Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, succeeding Ruth Rogan who retires from the role at the end of this month. We have bee
Coping with the current pandemic isnt easy, for most it is a challenge, but for some the impact has been much greater. Deterioration in mental health continues to be a concern as this crisis continues.The need to f
For many people the idea of change is very threatening and a source of fear, even when there may also be some excitement involved too. Both positive and negative changes can be sources of stress. Our diocese is seeing many changes right now, with the
An influential panel of MPs, peers and bishops, including Bishop Christine, has called on the government to release more women from prison during the coronavirus pandemic.More than 40 parliamentarians have put their names to a letter to the
Thy Kingdom Come (TKC), launched today (21st May) has been radically revamped due to Covid-19.TKC has been tailored to enable churches, families and individuals to pray and worship in their homes, through a suite of adapted resources, in line with so
The Reverend David Glover has been formally instituted into his role as the new Rector of Hexham by the Bishop of Newcastle.The institution service led by the Right Reverend Christine Hardman would normally have taken place inside Hexham Abbey, but i
For obvious reasons, we have not been able to celebrate Christian Aid Week in the normal way this year. No house-to-house collections, no coffee mornings, lunches or other get togethers, but at St Nicholas, Gosforth, we were determined to do all we c
While the country is in lockdown, Humshaugh Church of England First School, Northumberland remains open operating with a small team of staff to keep the school running for those children who absolutely need to attend. Pupil numbers in school are very
The Reverend David Glover will formally become the new Rector of Hexham later this week when he is instituted into his new role by the Bishop of Newcastle.The ceremony, which would normally take place inside Hexham Abbey, will instead be conducted ov
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
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
Every Life Matters has produced a guide to maintaining your mental health and wellbeing during Covid-19. It includes advice on working from home, creating a routine, beating anxiety, managing stress, coping mechanisms, a wellbeing plan, and how
I Get Knocked Down but I Get Up Again CHUMBAWAMBAResilient people are not superhuman! Like each one of us, they face suffering in this life in its varied forms. They are not immune to the full range of human experience or emotion. They live it, just
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
I will be retiring as Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser in June this year and the Diocese is starting the recruitment process for a full-time safeguarding adviser to replace me. Ive been in this role for almost six years and until now it has always been
I wonder if youve ever read a book and wished you had written it!! This was my experience with the recent The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry How I wish I had written this, encapsulating research, contemporary cultural analysis, wisdom from the ancient
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
Theres a great picture on Facebook the outline of a head, with an internal repeating Help me, help me filling the space and an external No really, Im fine! Many of us know those conversations. We ask how someone is and hear Im fine even when were pre