Church of Bangladesh celebrates anniversaries

THE United Church of Bangladesh celebrated the 50th anniversary of its autonomy, and the 200th anniversary of Bishop Heber’s consecration of St Thomas’s Cathedral, Dhaka, at the weekend. The Church, formerly part of the United Church of Pakistan, was declared autonomous on 30 April 1974. There are eight deaneries and 115 parishes under the three dioceses, with a population of about 22,000. The secretary general of the Anglican Communion, Bishop Anthony Poggo, attended a service of thanksgiving, last Friday, and commended the community’s ecumenism as “an example to many, which is highlighted in the theme of this jubilee celebration”. On Saturday, he preached at the thanksgiving service for St Thomas’s, completed in 1821 and raised to a cathedral in 1951. “It is very good to keep memorials of such historic events in our lives,” he said. “Think of what God has done for you at St Thomas’s Cathedral over the last 200 years. Thank God for this.”

Azerbaijani and Armenian peace talks welcomed

THE Archbishop of Canterbury welcomed the resumption of peace talks between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, which, he said, “gives hope that after a decades-long conflict between these Caucasus neighbours a long-term accommodation is now within reach”. The countries have a long history of territorial disputes, and the latest border clash, in mid-February, led to the death of at least four Armenian soldiers. The German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, welcomed Ararat Mirzoyan, for Armenia, and Jeyhun Bayramov, for Azerbaijan, to a secluded villa in Berlin for two days’ negotiations last week. In a social-media post on the Thursday, Archbishop Welby wrote: “Having visited both countries in October 2023, I’m deeply conscious that these courageous efforts need our prayers and support. I pray that both countries continue to walk the brave path to a just and durable peace that provides for the security and flourishing of their people.”