The Church of England in Parliament

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Bishop of Newcastle speaks to amendment on protection for those with learning disabilities

The Bishop of Newcastle spoke in support of an amendment aimed at providing additional protection for those with learning disabilities during a committee debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on 6th February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, I will speak to Amendment 108, to which the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Lincoln has added his name. He regrets that he cannot be in his place today, as he is interested in this amendment as lead bishop for the L’Arche community in the UK. With the Church of England, L’Arche strives to provide a positive and inclusive residential community in which adults with and without learning disabilities can live and grow together.

Archbishop of York asks about humanitarian situation in Iran

On 5th February 2026, the Archbishop of York asked a question on support for Iranian families in the UK to contact their loved ones following a government statement on the recent protests and subsequent humanitarian situation in Iran:

The Lord Archbishop of York: My Lords, I have a very simple humanitarian question relating to what the Minister has just said. We do not know how many people have died, how many are injured or how many are missing, but we do know that the internet in Iran has been brought down. Simply, the restoration of the internet would allow family members to be in touch, to seek those who are missing and to know more of what is happening. What representations are the Government making on that issue, which would bring some solace to so many deeply hurting families in this appalling situation?

Bishop of Leicester asks about support for youth employment

The Bishop of Leicester asked a question on supporting young people not in work, education, or training on 5th February, during a discussion on youth unemployment:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester: I welcome the Government’s new initiatives in this area, particularly the youth guarantee. Can the Minister tell us how the Government are going to tackle the estimated 500,000 young people who are not in education, employment or training, and who are not claiming benefits either? Are we not at serious risk of a whole generation of young people not being able to use their gifts for the good of wider society?

Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich introduced

On 5th February 2026, the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Rt Revd Dr Joanne Grenfell, was introduced to the House of Lords and took her seat on the Bishops’ Benches:

Archbishop of Canterbury introduced

On 5th February 2026, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who had previously sat in the House of Lords as Bishop of London, was reintroduced to the House and took her seat on the Bishops Benches:

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Church Commissioners Written Questions: Safeguarding

On 5th February 2026, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova MP, gave the following written answer to a question from an MP:

Cameron Thomas MP (LD, Tewkesbury): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure appropriate safeguarding measures are in place within the Church of England.

Votes: Public Order Act 2023 (Interference With Use or Operation of Key National Infrastructure) Regulations 2025

On 4th February 2026, the House of Lords debated the Public Order Act 2023 (Interference With Use or Operation of Key National Infrastructure) Regulations 2025 and an associated fatal motion in the name of Baroness Bennet of Manor Castle. A vote was held on the motion, in which a Bishop took part:

Bishop of Manchester expresses concern at legislative overreach during debate on public order measures

On 4th February 2026, the Bishop of Manchester spoke during a debate on a motion to approve the Public Order Act 2023 (Interference With Use or Operation of Key National Infrastructure) Regulations 2025 (adding the life sciences sector to the list of key national infrastructure), and an associated fatal motion in the name of Baroness Bennet of Manor Castle, expressing his concern at potential legislative overreach:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, it is always a pleasure to follow my noble and right reverend friend. I will be brief. It has been very clear to me in this debate that we need the life sciences in this country, and we probably conduct them in a better manner than many other parts of the world do, and that is a good reason for maintaining them here.

Church Commissioners Questions: Church Disciplinary Proceedings, Anglicanism in British Overseas Territories, Hereford and Lichfield Dioceses,

On 4th February 2026, the Second Church Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova MP, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs:

Church of England: Disciplinary Proceedings

Cameron Thomas MP (LD, Tewkesbury): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioner, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the communication of the outcomes of Clergy Disciplinary Measures of the Church of England within the Church.

Bishop of Manchester asks about effective community policing

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on ensuring effective neighbourhood and community policing during a discussion on the Police Reform White Paper on 3rd February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I note that when the original Statement was made in the other place, it began and ended with a reference to Sir Robert Peel. In my capacity as the co-chair of the National Police Ethics Committee for England and Wales, I probably talk more about the Peelian principles than I ever thought I was going to do in earlier life. One of those essential principles is that policing is a civilian force: it is people, the citizenry, policing themselves.

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