The April CDN is now available.
The April edition of the Chester Diocesan News is now available. The Dean of Chester Cathedral writes an Easter-themed reflection titled 'Glimpses of Resurrection in which he draws parallels with the Covid pandemic.
News
Postal delivery of Royal Maundy
Brenda Baxendale, Joan Sears, John Freeman and Vincent Whitehead are this year's diocesan Maundy Recipients. They each received the gift by post after the traditional Royal Maundy Service was cancelled.
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Archbishop Justin to lead Easter Sunday worship
As churches and cathedrals prepare to celebrate Easter, the Archbishop of Canterbury will for the first time give his Easter sermon across BBC television, local and national radio, and the Church of England digital platforms.
An Easter Message
The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Mark Tanner, delivers his Easter message for 2021 from his back garden. You can watch his video here, in which he talks of hope being born and how we can look forward with confidence.
Churchyard garden transformation
A neglected area of a churchyard in St. Mary’s in Partington, a large social housing estate on the outskirts of Manchester, has been transformed to create a spiritual reflection garden with biblically inspired planting.Â
The Kingdom Come resources
The Thy Kingdom Come team are relasing new resources for 2021, including an escape room resource for young people; daily videos; and an updated Digital Family Prayer Adventure Map. They are also giving away 100,000 prayer journals.
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Memorial Spiral unveiled in Chester Cathedral
A ‘memorial spiral’ created from a variety of stones has been unveiled inside Chester Cathedral to coincide with the National Day of Reflection, today, 23 March. The installation has been constructed in the nave.
Earth Hour
Revd Mike Loach, from Christ Church, Higher Bebington talks about Earth Hour, an event held every year where millions of people across the world join in raising awareness of the issues facing our planet.Â
Synod welcomes launch of Growing Faith
Diocesan Synod has welcomed the launch of Growing Faith, a national initiative to reorientate mission back towards children and young people by encouraging partnership working between schools, churches and households.
Exploring Eco-Church in Higher Bebington
In this short video, Vicar of Higher Bebington and co-chair of the environment forum, Revd Mike Loach, shares some of the small environmental projects they're pursuing as part of the Eco-Church scheme.
National Day of Reflection: Get involved
The Church of England has published 12 ideas to help churches take part in the National Day of Reflection on Tuesday 23 March. Bishop Mark says the day is a moment to "note how far we have come and look forward with hope."
Bishop Mark: "Look forward with hope"
Bishop Mark has said the last 12 months have been "unexpected, harrowing and lonely for so many" but that the National Day of Reflection on Tuesday 23 March is a moment to "note how far we have come and look forward with hope".
Robot cat goes to good home
The Sycamores care home in Newton, Hyde, has a new resident, Freddie the Robot cat, which was donated by the local church, St Mary's, also in Newton. The vicar, Revd Sheila O'Flaherty, and the congregation raised the £100 needed.
Millions access online worship
The Church of England’s national online services alone have attracted more than 3.7 million views since the first restrictions on gatherings for public worship to limit the spread of Covid-19 were introduced almost a year ago.
"Thank You" from Keith and Rosie Sinclair
Following his leaving service on 07 March and subsequent retirement on 08 March, former Bishop of Birkenhead, Keith Sinclair, and his wife Rosie, have written a letter of thanks to the dicoese.
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National Day of Reflection
A National Day of Reflection is due to take place on Tuesday 23 March. Chester Cathedral will hold a service and will also install a new sculpture in the nave to encourage prayer and reflection born out of the experience of lockdown.
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Two poems by the Revd Alec Brown
The Revd Alec Brown has written two sonnets. One, titled; 'The roadmap unfolding' 'is in response to the Prime Minister's roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions in England.
Farewell Bishop Keith
Bishop Keith Sinclair gave his final sermon as the Bishop of Birkenhead on Sunday 07 March and retired from the role the following day, exactly 14 years after he took up the post. Watch the service and read his final sermon here.
Greening Grange
Watch the Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner, "break the ground" of a new community garden at St. Andrew's, Grange. The garden will be planted on the site of the old church hall and will be designed to help increase biodiversity.
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Bishop's Council approves Eco-Diocese target
The Diocese of Chester will aim to become an Eco-Diocese following a unanimous decision by Bishop's Council to agree to work towards that target. Eco Diocese is an initiative from the Christian environment charity, A Rocha.
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How climate change affects our linked diocese
The Diocese of Chester has strong links with the Diocese of Melanesia, which is in the Solomon Islands. The islands are significantly affected by climate change, a tragic irony not lost on the inhabitants who lead eco-friendly lifestyles.
Bishop Keith on Radio Merseyside
Bishop Keith speaks to the BBC about his time as the Bishop of Birkenhead ahead of his retirement on 08 March. You can hear the interview here. His final service as Bishop of Birkenhead will be on 07 March and can be viewed online.
March CDN is available
The March edition of the Chester Diocesan News is now available. It's a 'Farewell' special edition, marking Bishop Keith's retirement on 08 March. Here he writes in the CDN for the final time as the Bishop of Birkenhead.
New bishop for the environment
The Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, is to lead the Church of England’s Environment Programme. His remit is to lead bold, deliberate, collaborative action across the Church to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.
World Day of Prayer
This year’s World Day of Prayer is on 05 March in Vanuatu, an island of Melanesia, which is one of our linked Dioceses. They invite you to join them in prayer, which you will be able to do online this year.
Wedding numbers set to increase
The number of people permitted to attend weddings and funerals is set to increase incrementally, according to the Government "roadmap" out of lockdown. Further detailed advice will be made available in the weeks ahead.
2021 APCMs can take place online
The Bishop of Chester has given his permission to allow Annual Parochial Church Meetings to take place online in the year 2021. The decision has been taken to improve the safety and accessibility of APCM's in this emergency period.
Coroanvirus reopening roadmap
Following the Prime Minister’s statement to Parliament, the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, who chairs the Church of England’s Coronavirus Recovery Group, has issued a statement on behalf of the Church.
Dear England - A Book by the Archbishop of York
"Stephen Cottrell writes about Christ as if he were here now. As if redemption were possible for all of us, as if the void that threatens to engulf us all could be filled by a personal relationship with Christ in the present."
Environment Forum record podcast
Members of the diocesan Environment Forum have recorded an episode of the diocesan podcast Chester Box. In it they talk about the diocesan environment-foccussed Lent campaign and their hopes for the diocese.
