*** DEBUG START ***
*** DEBUG END ***

UK news in brief

by
25 August 2023

Diocese of Truro

Canon Simon Robinson

Canon Simon Robinson

Interim Dean of Truro to be Dean

THE next Dean of Truro is to be the current Interim Dean, Canon Simon Robinson, Downing Street announced on Thursday of last week. He has been Interim Dean since October, after the retirement of the Very Revd Roger Bush, the previous month. Canon Robinson, who is 56, previously worked as a teacher and head teacher of estate schools in London and Bristol for 24 years. He served his title at St Peter’s, Freshford, with Limpley Stoke and Hinton Charterhouse, in Bath & Wells diocese, and remained in that diocese as Vicar of Minehead from 2015 until his appointment to Truro Cathedral last year. The position and “power-dynamics” of the Dean and Chapter of Truro were raised in a recent visitation by the Bishop, the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen (News, 3 February).


Lancashire clergy condemn vandalism

A SECOND appearance of racist and homophobic graffiti on Morecambe Promenade and the town’s war memorial, discovered last Saturday, has been condemned by the Bishop of Lancaster, Dr Jill Duff, the Archdeacon of Lancaster, the Ven. David Picken, and the Rector of Poulton-le-Sands with Morecambe St Laurence, the Revd Chris Krawiec. They said: “To attack the war memorial alongside our beautiful murals is incredibly distressing. Many of the names on that memorial gave their lives to stem the tide of Nazism in previous generations. . . We commend the grace-filled response of the creative community in working to repair and restore the murals at pace.”

Lincolnshire PoliceLincolnshire Police
Medieval cross stolen from Lincolnshire church

A “PRICELESS” medieval stone cross has been stolen from St John the Baptist, Great Carlton, in Lincoln diocese. A statement from Lincolnshire Police said that it had been removed between 1.45 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. on Saturday. It measures 350mm high and 300mm wide. Anyone with information is asked to contact local police, quoting incident 133 of 9 August.

 

Correction: in our Lichfield tribunal story last week (News, 18 August), we wrongly attributed the description of David Green’s complaints to the employment-tribunal judge. We apologise for the error. A corrected version of the story can be found online.

Browse Church and Charity jobs on the Church Times jobsite

Forthcoming Events

Church Times Festival of Preaching 2026

13 - 15 September 2026

An event to inspire, nurture, and celebrate all who are called to proclaim the gospel today.

tickets available now

English Mystics Series course

26 January - 25 May 2026

A short course at Sarum College.

tickets available now

 

This year, the Church Times is also delighted to sponsor two events: 

National Cathedrals Conference  Bristol, 18 to 21 May 2026

An event aimed at developing cathedrals as important places of prayer, inspiration, education, challenge, and debate. Find out more at nationalcathedralsconference.org

Public Faith Common Good  a day symposium at St John’s College Cambridge, Tuesday 21 July 2026

Speakers to include the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Williams; the Bishop of Chelmsford, Dr Guli Francis-Deqhani, Nick Spencer, and Anna Rowlands.

This event is free, but booking is required. Find out more at elydatabase.org/events

 

Visit our Events page for upcoming and past events

Welcome to the Church Times

To explore the Church Times website fully, please sign in or subscribe.

New to us? Non-subscribers can read up to four free articles a month. Simply sign up for a free account to receive the Church Times newsletter, plus exclusive offers and events, straight to your inbox. As a thank you for joining us, we are also currently offering a £5 discount for the Church House Bookshop online (valid for one order of £30 or more). See your welcome email for details.