The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 16th September 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government whether they are considering using the underspend in the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme to lift the cap on individual claims in the second half of the 2025–26 financial year.
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The Bishop of Southwark spoke at the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on 12th September 2025, expressing concern regarding the effects of the bill on vulnerable members of society, and the sanctity of human life:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I acknowledge with deep respect that those arguing for the passage of this Bill are often speaking from personal experience of the pain and suffering of someone’s final illness. Yet, along with many other speakers, I have deep concerns about legislating to permit the practice of assisted dying. I caution the House against the remedy of choice in this area. My concern is that those who are most vulnerable in society will become more vulnerable should this Bill find its way on to the statute book.
Related to this, and as a Bishop, I wish to say something on the subject of life, which I believe we must consider in any Bill making provisions for its termination. In the Old Testament, the principal word for life is the Hebrew word “hayim”, a plural noun. This expression signifies both our physical life and our source in God, who is the source of all life. It is a relational term, and, like most societies until our own age, it reflects a view of life as a gift and one lived out with others. It is a sign of the deep richness of the journey of life, which, of course, encompasses mortality and the finality that takes us to our very last breath. We need to be immensely careful in supporting a departure from the practice and wisdom of centuries.
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The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answers on 18th July 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government, in the light of the suicide bombing at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Prophet Elias on 22 June, what support they have given to the new government of Syria to help to protect the Christian population against attack.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about threats against Christians in Syria”The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 16th July 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of arrests made in the Republic of Armenia of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan; and the impact the arrests may have on freedom of religion in Armenia.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about religious freedom in Armenia”The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 24th June 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the BBC World Service on (1) global projection of the UK, and (2) global access to news reporting.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about impact of the BBC World Service”The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 23rd June 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report of the European Parliament A-10-0067/2025 on the 2023 & 2024 Commission on Türkiye and the subsequent motion of 6 May, in particular paragraph 25 of the report where the parliament calls for Turkey to respect the role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Orthodox Christians; recognise its legal personality and the public use of the ecclesiastical title of Ecumenical Patriarch; and protect the value of UNESCO World Heritage sites the Hagia Sophia and Chora Museum.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about freedom of religion and belief in Turkey”The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 23rd June 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to curb the sale of looted antiquities from Syria on the international market.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about combatting illegal sale of cultural artefacts from Syria”The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answers on 17th June 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government:
The Bishop of Southwark asked a question on efforts to recognise Palestinian statehood and the issue of trade with illegal settlements in Israel on 16th June 2025, following a government statement on the conflict in the Middle East:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I pray for wise judgment and a swift end to the current conflict between Israel and Iran. I pray for restraint and for the safety and well-being of Jewish people, here and around the world. I support the steps that have been made to protect British nationals and I am appalled by the attacks on civilians, wherever they occur.
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The Bishop of Southwark spoke in debate on the rile of craft industries in the UK on 12th June 2025, highlighting the role of the Church of England in supporting craft skills:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Freyberg, for securing this debate and for his expertise.
Like the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Chichester, who will speak later, I believe that cathedrals and churches are some of our nation’s most significant and tangible assets, shaping our history and identity, as well as being the beating hearts of our communities. I regret, therefore, that the Government’s decision to curb support for the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme affects our ability to maintain and renew this precious inheritance. I hope this has been recognised in the spending review.
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