At the end of January 2026, Bishop Rachel returned to visit Israel and Palestine, meeting Anglicans living in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.
Tag: Israel-Palestine
‘If only you knew what made for peace’ ~ The Very Rev’d Canon Richard Sewell
We are incredibly fortunate to welcome The Very Rev’d Canon Richard Sewell, Dean of St George’s College, Jerusalem, to Tewkesbury Abbey. Living and serving in the heart of the HolyContinue reading
Message from Bishop Rachel, 3 February 2026
Yesterday in the Church’s calendar we marked the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (also known as Candlemas), 40 days after Christmas (Luke 2:22-40).
Paths of Hope: seeking justice and compassion for Palestinians and Israelis
Paths of Hope: seeking justice and compassion for Palestinians and Israelis 7.30pm Monday 10th November. St Laurence Church, Stroud Author Matthew Teller in dialogue with The Rt Revd Rachel Treweek (Bishop of Gloucester), moderatedContinue reading
Bishops pray Gaza ceasefire deal brings immediate relief and comfort
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 ofContinue reading
Palestinian statehood
Bishop Rachel, together with the Archbishop of York, the Bishops of Southwark, Chelmsford and Norwich, respond to the Prime Minister’s announcement on the possibility of recognising a Palestinian state.
Shining a light and magnifying a whisper
Bishop Rachel’s reflections from a visit to Israel-Palestine in May 2025
Message from Bishop Rachel, 3 June 2025
Having only returned from Jerusalem the day before, it was poignant last Thursday on Ascension Day to recall Jesus Christ’s words to his disciples on the Mount of Olives, that they should wait to be clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49).
House of Bishops statement on Gaza
Bishop Rachel joins the House of Bishops in protest at the death, destruction and suffering that men, women and children have endured in Gaza, Israel and the region these last 20 months.
Message from Bishop Rachel, 20 May 2025
As I seek to engage with the horror and pain of all that continues to unfold in Gaza, I am angered and deeply perturbed by the obliteration of human lifeContinue reading
Bishop Rachel’s statement on the ceasefire-hostage release agreement
I am extremely glad to hear the news of the ceasefire-hostage release agreement. Whilst there is still a long way to go it shines some light in the darkness forContinue reading
Message from Bishop Rachel, 8 October 2024
As we pause to acknowledge that yesterday was exactly one year since the horrendous terrorist attacks on Israel by Hamas and all that has continued to unfold since then, IContinue reading
Bishop Rachel’s statement on the anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel
As we pray for all who weep and grieve, may we continue to pray for peace and justice for all.
Message from Bishop Rachel, 24 September 2024
‘They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more’ (Isaiah 2:4) InContinue reading
Message from Bishop Rachel, 10 September 2024
‘Fair’ is an intriguing word when we think about our local communities and beyond to the wider world. It raises questions around discrimination, the difference between equality and equity, and shines a light on justice.
Message from Bishop Rachel, 30 July 2024
Over the last few days I have really enjoyed watching some of the Olympic swimming events. One of the things I have found most heart-warming is that at the endContinue reading
Message from Bishop Rachel, 16 July 2024
It is good to be back in the diocese after a few weeks away of so called ‘mini sabbatical’, during which time the political landscape changed dramatically. There have beenContinue reading
Israel-Palestine July 2024: Identity, Separation, Power and Trauma
Returning to Israel-Palestine in June 2024, the beautiful hills of the landscape brought to mind the words of Psalm 121 from the Old Testament and Hebrew scripture.
Bishop Rachel’s visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Bishop Rachel has visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (15-19 June 2024) to show solidarity with the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and local Christians, and to listen and understandContinue reading
‘Together for Humanity’ vigil for peace outside Gloucester Cathedral
A group of people from different faith backgrounds joined in a ‘Together for Humanity’ prayer vigil for peace outside Gloucester Cathedral, hosted by the Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt Revd Rachel Treweek.
Bishop Rachel’s invitation to stand ‘Together for Humanity’ at peace vigil
As we continue to watch the events in the Middle East, we mourn the loss of all those who have been killed in Israel and Palestine, and we long forContinue reading
Message from Bishop Rachel, 9 January 2024
In these early days of 2024 I have enjoyed the beauty of creation whilst also being aware of the devastation of wind and earthquake, and storm and flood, not least within our diocese. Indeed, I’m sure that each of us has begun this year acutely aware of the pain and turbulence in our world, whether that be locally and in our own lives, or whether it is the horror of what is going on in Gaza and across Israel and Palestine, or in Ukraine and elsewhere.
Israel-Palestine conflict: “We must not be silent.”
In our diocesan Bulletin I wrote of the danger of seeing the world through a simple binary lens, and I included the situation in Israel-Palestine. The details of the evilContinue reading
Message from Bishop Rachel, 10 October 2023
In the midst of all the different strands of my ministry at present, I continue to reflect on a world in which oversimplistic binary views are so prevalent and so easily shape the way people view the world, yet the truth is that stories and lives are far messier than that.
