A group of bishops with a close interest in the Holy Land have welcomed the Gaza peace deal, praying that it will “bring immediate relief and comfort”. The Bishop of
Tag: Bishop Rachel
Bishop Rachel to join The Missing Peace book launch
Bishop Rachel will join author Chris Whittington at Pip and Jim’s in Cheltenham on Thursday 20 November to mark the publication of his new book, The Missing Peace: Meditation as
Bishops welcome recognition of Palestinian state
A group of bishops with a close interest in the Holy Land have welcomed the announcement that the UK has formally recognised a Palestinian state. The Bishop of Southwark, Christopher
Holding the key, podcast episode 11: Junior Smart OBE, founder of SOS Project
In this episode of Holding the Key, Bishop Rachel, the Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons speaks to Junior Smart OBE. Junior Smart is a youth violence consultant, trainer, and someone
IMD 1-4: Preparing for priesthood
Y1 curates only With Bishop Rachel
Bishop Rachel’s sermon: Tenth anniversary of consecration
22 July 2025, The Feast of Mary Magdalene Click here to watch the livestream of the service. Thank you for being here. Thank you to those across this diocese for
Bishop Rachel: 10 years of ministry
We’re celebrating 10 years since Bishop Rachel was consecrated as the Bishop of Gloucester and the first female diocesan bishop in the Church of England. On 22 July 2015, she
Message from Bishop Rachel, 22 July 2025
As I write this letter, I cannot quite believe that it is 10 years since my consecration in Canterbury Cathedral. As I give thanks today I do so with a grateful heart, and I am looking forward to the special Evensong at the cathedral this evening at 5.30pm.
‘Picking up the pieces’ for responsible, relational and restorative justice system
Bishop Rachel has joined with Christian leaders calling on the government to work in partnership with churches, communities, and faith-based organisations to tackle a failing criminal justice system.
Bishops call on government to take action over settler violence
Bishop Rachel has joined with the bishops of Norwich, Southwark and Chelmsford in writing an open letter to The Guardian over settler violence against Palestinian communities, particularly in Taybeh, the
Shining a light and magnifying a whisper
Bishop Rachel’s reflections from a visit to Israel-Palestine in May 2025
Diocese of Western Tanganyika: Celebration of the Ordination of Women, Hucclecote
The DWT Partnership group invites you to a Celebration of the Ordination of Women Friday July 4th 6 – 8pm at St Philip and St James Church, Hucclecote. With slides
Bishop Rachel responds to the Independent Sentencing Review
“As Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons in England and Wales, I wholeheartedly welcome the report of the Independent Sentencing Review.” “It’s evidence-led approach has concluded we need a radical shake-up
Holding the key, podcast episode 10: Kate Fraser of Women in Prison
“We know that all pregnancies in prison are high risk, three babies have died in a women’s prison in the past five years, and it’s absolutely outrageous that we’re sending pregnant women to prison.”
Bishop Rachel calls on Government to reset the relationship between politics and justice
Bishop Rachel has released a statement on the Times Crime and Justice Commission report on the state of the criminal justice system
Bishop Rachel in the House of Lords; “The training for prison staff is woefully short”
Bishop Rachel has released a statement on the Times Crime and Justice Commission report on the state of the criminal justice system
Holding the key, podcast episode 9: David Shipley
Bishop Rachel (Anglican Bishop for HM prisons) in conversation with David Shipley (prison reform campaigner). In this ninth podcast in the series of ‘Holding the Key: Unlocking the door to
On the death of Pope Francis
Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church across the world died today, Easter Monday, at the age of 88.
Bishop Rachel visits Whitminster School following SIAMS inspection
Pupils and staff at Whitminster Endowed C of E Primary School received a visit from Bishop Rachel after their positive SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) inspection report.
Holding the key, podcast episode 8: Dilys Alam interviews Bishop Rachel
Bishop Rachel (Anglican Bishop for HM prisons) in conversation with Dilys Alam (Home Affairs policy advisor at the Archbishops’ Council) – Taking the politics out of sentencing. In this eighth
Bishop Rachel responds to the Times Crime and Justice Commission Report
Bishop Rachel has released a statement on the Times Crime and Justice Commission report on the state of the criminal justice system
How can we help our church thrive?
On 31 May, a group of 80 people will gather at Brimscombe Mill to ask a deceptively simple question: How can we help our church thrive? Titled ‘Thriving Church‘, this
Bishop Rachel writes to the Lord Chancellor
This week Bishop Rachel has written to the The Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice: Dear Lord Chancellor, I wanted to write to
