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The Communications Office at Church House, Westminster, provides a 24-hour, seven day a week service on behalf of the National Church Institutions, including the Archbishops' Council, the Church Commissioners and the Church of England Pensions Board.

For national media enquiries or contacts in the dioceses call:
020 7898 1326

The 10 most recent press releases from the Church of England can be read below. You can read all such press releases since 1999 by clicking on the relevant year in the right hand column. The search option will help you find news on a specific subject.

Latest Religious Trends publication ‘flawed and dangerously misleading’
8 May 2008

Projections and comparisons published by Christian Research in its Religious Trends publication are flawed and dangerously misleading, the Church of England said today. “These statistics are incomplete and represent only a partial picture of religious trends in the UK today. In recent years, church life has significantly diversified so these traditional statistics are less and less meaningful in isolation,” said the Rev Lynda Barley, Head of Research and Statistics for the Archbishops’ Council.

Church Commissioners announce another year of outstanding results
6 May 2008

Results released today by the Church Commissioners show that they have outperformed 98 per cent of similar investment funds over the past 10 years.

Church welcomes Competition Commission’s supermarket report
1 May 2008

The Church of England has warmly welcomed the Competition Commission’s decision to seek undertakings from grocery retailers to establish a Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) Ombudsman, as set out in the report The supply of groceries in the UK market investigation.

Back to Church Sunday goes global
1 May 2008

People in churches all over Britain, and for the first time, in other parts of the world, will be backing Back to Church Sunday this September 28th and inviting a friend back to church with them.

Women in the Episcopate – Manchester Report published
28 April 2008

The House of Bishops is to discuss the report of the Legislative Drafting Group considering proposals to allow for women bishops at its next meeting in May. The report of the group, chaired by the Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, Bishop of Manchester, has been published today and will be debated by General Synod in July.

New Chief Surveyor for Church Commissioners
28 April 2008

The Church Commissioners today announce the appointment of Joseph Cannon MRICS as their new Chief Surveyor.  Joseph will head the Commissioners’ Property Investment Department, responsible for the management of a portfolio of agricultural, commercial and residential investment properties valued at nearly £1.7 billion at 31 December 2007.

New Director of Cathedrals and Church Buildings appointed
28 April 2008

The Archbishops’ Council has appointed Janet Gough as Director of Cathedrals and Church Buildings. She will take up the post in September.

Archbishop - Protect the Poorest from the Effects of Economic Downturn
25 April 2008

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has today called on the government to do more to protect the poorest and most vulnerable from the likely consequences of an economic downturn. Speaking in the House of Lords, the Archbishop highlighted the fact that government targets on alleviating poverty, particularly child poverty, risked not being met and warned that in a period of economic decline the poorest in society, who carry a higher proportion of personal debt, were most at risk. In the debate, called by the Archbishop, he suggested ways in which government might help low income families avoid entering into cycles of unsustainable debt - by improving financial education in schools, enforcing tighter controls on doorstep credit agencies and by helping to foster responsible alternatives to doorstep lending, such as those offered by Credit Unions.

Archbishops issue joint statement on Zimbabwe
24 April 2008

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued a joint statement this morning concerning the deteriorating situation of ordinary people in Zimbabwe calling for “a civil society movement that gives voice to those who demand an end to the mayhem that grows out of injustice, poverty, exclusion and violence”.

Double honour for co-ordinator of Church’s Unity work
24 April 2008

Prebendary Dr Paul Avis has been appointed as a chaplain to Her Majesty The Queen and the first Canon Theologian of Exeter.