The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 2nd May 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding the occupation by Israeli settlers of Cows Garden in the Armenian Quarter of the Old City in Jerusalem on 3 April.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about occupation of part of the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem by Israeli settlers”On 18th April 2024, Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following answers to MPs in the House of Commons:
Easter Church Services
Kevin Foster (Con, Torbay): To ask the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent assessment the Church has made of trends in the number of families that attend a church service over the Easter period.
Andrew Selous MP (Con, South West Bedfordshire): Although we do not yet have confirmed numbers of worshippers for this Easter just gone, our clergy report high attendance, among all ages, at services, which supports the post-pandemic trend of people returning to services on Easter day in person to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
Continue reading “Church Commissioners Questions: Easter Church Services, Families & Households, Abortion Legislation, Armenian Church in Jerusalem, Sale of Land, and Church Schools”The Bishop of Chelmsford asked a question on the potential impact the building a national park on the Mount of Olives would have on Christian holy sites on 29th February 2024, during a discussion on the Israeli prime minister ruling out a two state solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: Last year, it was reported that the Government of Israel were considering plans to build a national park on the Mount of Olives. Will the Minister say what assessment has been made of the impact of these proposals on the Christian holy sites in this area and the holy sites of other faith communities? What impact would such a project have on the prospect of Jerusalem as a shared capital for Israeli and Palestinian states?
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The right reverend Prelate has illustrated my point. Faith does provide a solution, as we have just seen in practical terms.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about effect building a national park on Mount of Olives would have on Christian holy sites”The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answers on 14th February 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel to ease its restrictions on the free movement of Palestinian people within the West Bank and from the West Bank to Israel.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con, Foreign Office): We expect Israel to fulfil its obligations as an occupying power, and we are concerned by the restrictions on the free movement of Palestinians in the West Bank. In our engagements with Israel, we have stressed to them the damage the restrictions on movement, access, and trade are doing to the living standards of ordinary Palestinians.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about current events in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank”The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answers on 12th February 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government, further to their statement on 27 January that they have “considerable concerns” about the International Court of Justice ruling on 26 January regarding the case of genocide against Israel, what assessment they have made of that ruling; and what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning compliance with it.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about current conflict in Israel and Gaza, and the situation in Jerusalem”
Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs on 10th March 2023:
Jerome Mayhew MP (Con): To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of local authority grant funding available to parish churches to upgrade their facilities.
Andrew Selous MP (Con): It is the view of the National Church Institutions that Local Authority and Parish Council grant funding is not being made available to parish churches on a consistent basis, due to a lack of clarity in interpretation of existing law, specifically the Local Government Acts 1894, 1972 and the Localism Act 2011.
Continue reading “Church Commissioners Written Questions: Church Repairs & Maintenance, Rural Areas, and Vandalism of Cemeteries in Jerusalem”The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 24th January 2023:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support the historic status quo governing Jerusalem’s holy sites including Al-Haram al Sharif/Temple Mount.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about preservation of holy sites in Jerusalem”
The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 25th January 2022:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government, further to concerns expressed by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem that “radical fringe groups” are trying to drive Christians out of Jerusalem, what assessment they have made of the future status of Christians in Jerusalem.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about issues faced by Christians in Jerusalem”
On the 8th March the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP answered written and oral questions in the House of Commons. Questions covered a range of issues including the Church Investors Group, digital connectivity, environmental taxation, homelessness, the Holy Sepulchre, church infrastructure and financial education in church schools.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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