Archdeacon of Berkshire to be next Bishop of Reading

THE Archdeacon of Berkshire, the Ven. Olivia Graham, is to be the next Bishop of Reading, a suffragan in Oxford diocese, it was announced on Monday. Archdeacon Graham succeeds the Rt Revd Andrew Proud, who retired this year. She will be consecrated in St Paul’s Cathedral on 19 November. She has worked in the Oxford diocese since 1997, serving as Team Vicar of Burnham for six years, before becoming Parish Development Officer in 2007. She was made Archdeacon in 2013. She said this week that one of her passions was “greater engagement between our church communities and secondary schools”.

Dean of Oxford tribunal ends

THE tribunal handling a complaint against the Dean of Oxford, the Very Revd Dr Martyn Percy, has concluded. There has been no indication when the judgment will be announced. The tribunal was chaired by a retired High Court judge, Sir Andrew Smith. The complaint against Dr Percy relates to an issue of governance raised by the Dean (News, 5, 23 November). He has been suspended since November. A spokesman for Christ Church, Oxford, offered no further comment.

Groups urge Church to follow Methodist example

LGBT groups in the C of E have called for it to follow the Methodist Church’s example and accept same-sex marriage. In a joint letter, the Campaign for Equal Marriage in the Church of England and other groups have welcomed the Methodist Church’s move towards same-sex marriage, and have urged the C of E to follow suit (News, 12 July). “It is time for change in the Church of England, for an honest acceptance of the differences within us on this issue, just as we do on divorce and the ordination of women,” the letter says.

Irish census religion question changed

THE wording of the question on religion in the Irish census has been changed to “What is your religion, if any?” for the 2021 survey. Atheist Ireland welcomed the change from “What is your religion?”. “No religion” will be the first option in the answers for the first time.

Majority of parents say childhood is getting worse

ALMOST two-thirds of parents (60 per cent) and grandparents (62 per cent) think that childhoods today are getting worse, a survey of 5020 people, conducted by YouGov for Action For Children, says. Of the children surveyed, 34 per cent agreed with this view, and 91 per cent said they were worrying about “adult issues” such as Brexit, terrorism, or the environment. The director of policy and research for the Children’s Society, Sam Royston, said: “We have found that children have been getting steadily more unhappy with their lives and issues around appearance, friendships, social media and even gender stereotypes can be closely linked to a young person experiencing low mood and anxiety.”