Tag: Palestine

Bishop of Southwark asks about administrative detention in Palestine

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 22nd June 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government:

  • what assessment they have made of the government of Israel’s use of administrative detention in Palestine; and what representations they have they made to end this practice.
  • what representations they have made to the government of Israel to release Natalie Abudayyeh, a young Palestinian Christian woman from Birzeit, West Bank, who was placed into administrative detention on 2 June 2026.
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Church Commissioners Questions: Disabled Access to Churches, Cost of Living, Places of Worship Renewal Fund, Support for Christians in Palestine

On 18th June 2026, in the House of Commons, the Second Church Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova MP, gave the following answers to questions from MPs:

Churches: Disabled Access

Daniel Francis MP (Lab, Bexleyheath and Crayford) asked: 3. What steps the Church of England is taking to ensure that churches are accessible for disabled people.

Marsha De Cordova (Lab, Battersea): The Church of England is committed to improving accessibility, so that all who wish to attend churches, whether for worship or community activities, are able to do so. Parishes may apply to the parish accessibility fund for up to £50,000 or a small grant of up to £5,000 for project proposals to improve accessibility features, such as the installation of an accessible toilet, step-free access and production of large-print materials.

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Church Commissioners Questions: Christians in Palestine, Children and Young People, Project Spire, Extremism, Child Poverty, Places of Worship Renewal Fund, Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, Archbishop of Canterbury, Small Churches

In the House of Commons, Marsha De Cordova MP, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, gave answers to the following questions from MPs on 16th April 2026:

Christians in Palestine

Kate Osamor MP (Lab, Edmonton & Winchmore Hill) asked: 1. What steps the Church of England is taking to support Christians in Palestine.

Marsha De Cordova MP (Lab, Battersea): The Church remains steadfast in its support for Palestinians. The Bishops of Southwark, Gloucester, Chelmsford and Norwich have publicly highlighted their concerns by condemning the increased settler violence and calling for the reopening of holy places. They have joined His Holiness the Pope and the local heads of Churches, who have called for the protection of innocent civilians. They are offering sanctuary, working for peace and reconciliation, and building intercommunity trust.

Continue reading “Church Commissioners Questions: Christians in Palestine, Children and Young People, Project Spire, Extremism, Child Poverty, Places of Worship Renewal Fund, Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, Archbishop of Canterbury, Small Churches”

Bishop of Southwark asks about UK response to Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 6th March 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government

  • what assessment they have made of the impact that the construction of the E1 settlement to the east of Jerusalem will have on the on the prospect of an independent, viable and contiguous Palestinian State
  • what assessment have they made of the merits of imposing travel or economic sanctions on individuals or bodies involved in the planning and construction of the E1 settlement to the east of Jerusalem.
  • what assessment they have made of the merits of (1) reviewing existing trade ties with Israel, or (2) suspending the 2030 Roadmap for UK-Israel bilateral relations and imposing targeted sanctions upon Israel, because of the planned construction of the E1 settlement.
  • what representations they have made to the government of Israel over the seizure of the UNESCO archaeological site at Sebastia on the West Bank, including the traditional burial place of St John the Baptist, for the new Shomron National Park.
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Church Commissioners Questions: Deprived Communities, Church Attendance, Christian Communities in Palestine, Historical Forced Adoptions, Sudan Conflict

On 26th February 2026, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova MP, gave the following answers to MPs in the House of Commons:

Jessica Toale MP (Lab, Bournemouth West) asked: 2. What steps the Church of England is taking to support deprived communities. 

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Bishop of Southwark asks about reconstruction in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answers on 23rd February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the repair of graves in the Gaza war cemetery in al-Tuffah.

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Bishop of Norwich asks about funding of Israeli settlements

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 23rd February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked  His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the use of charitable funds originating from the UK being used to support and maintain illegal settlements in Palestine; and whether they will undertake a review of this practice.

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Bishop of Gloucester asks about government response to legal opinion on Israel’s activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answer on 23rd February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government when they plan to publish their formal response to the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion on Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, published on 19 July 2024.

Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab, FCDO): I refer the Lord Bishop to the answer provided on 1 August 2025 to Question HL9653.

Hansard

Bishop of Southwark asks about killing of Palestinian journalists

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 12th February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked  His Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel about the killing of three Palestinian journalists by a targeted strike on a vehicle on 21 January.

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Bishop of Gloucester asks about peacebuilding conference on Israel-Palestine conflict

The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answer on 12th February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government

  • what steps they are taking to include religious leaders and faith based civil society groups from Israel and Palestine that are committed to peace building and reconciliation in the conference at Lancaster House on 12 March regarding the establishment of an international peace fund for Israel and Palestine.
  • what steps they are taking to consult with Palestinian civil society and Israeli human rights groups ahead of the peace building conference at Lancaster House on 12 March.
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