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Europe & Middle East

Millennium funds go to cathedral

Millennium funds go to cathedral

More than £15 million has been awarded to church projects including cathedrals, churches, church halls and community centres by the Millennium Commission.

25 November 1997

Sermon by the Archbishop of Canterbury

Sermon by the Archbishop of Canterbury

Sermon by the Archbishop of Canterbury at the Service held to mark the Golden Wedding Anniversary of HM Queen Elizabeth and HRH Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Westminster Abbey 20 November 1997

"For better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part"

With these magnificent words Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip made their marriage vows to each other in this holy place exactly fifty years ago with the world looking on.

20 November 1997

Archbishop of Canterbury visits Gibraltar

Archbishop of Canterbury visits Gibraltar

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd George Carey, gave thanks for the renovation of Gibraltar Cathedral last week.

14 November 1997

Increase in ordinands in England

Increase in ordinands in England

The increase in the number of people coming forward for ordination in the Church of England has caused the Church of England to need more funds for its training budget. The overspend has come because the Church believes that all who have a genuine vocation which is accepted by the Church are accepted for training.

14 November 1997

Fifth Anniversary of the vote to ordain women

Fifth Anniversary of the vote to ordain women

November 11th marked the fifth anniversary of the vote by the Church of England General Synod to ordain women priests. The occasion was marked by a number of services of thanksgiving throughout the country. The Church of England now has 1765 women serving as priests or deacons. Of these, 1182 are stipendiary clergy, and 583 non-stipendiary. About a further 130 are retired, bringing the total number of those ordained to around 1900.

14 November 1997

Candles for the Millennium

Candles for the Millennium

The Church is to give every household in Britain a millennium candle at the end of 1999, the Second Church Estates Commissioner said last week. The candles can be lit for a moment of silent national reflection at midnight on 31st December, as the new millennium dawns.

14 November 1997

Prayer for the Golden Wedding Anniversary of HM The Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh

Prayer for the Golden Wedding Anniversary of HM The Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh

On the 20th November HM the Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of their wedding. There will be a service of Thanksgiving in Westminster Abbey on that day.

10 November 1997

20th Centrury Martyrs remembered at Westminster Abbey

20th Centrury Martyrs remembered at Westminster Abbey

The West Front of Westminster Abbey in London has had niches standing empty since it was built in the late Middle Ages. On the completion of the restoration of the West Front in 1992, it was decided that these niches should be filled with appropriate statutes. In addition to six statutes of traditional saints and four of allegorical figures representing the values for which martyrs have died are 10 remaining niches.

31 October 1997

Christian AID's Cmpaign for Fair Trading Success

Christian AID's Cmpaign for Fair Trading Success

Consumer power is forcing British supermarkets to insist on better conditions for Third World workers, the international charity Christian Aid reported this month.

31 October 1997

Archbishop of Canterbury Urges Church to move in new directions

Archbishop of Canterbury Urges Church to move in new directions

The Archbishop of Canterbury this week urged the Church of England to continue to adapt and innovate in order to connect more effectively with the spiritual needs of millions of people who feel estranged from organised religion. The Archbishop used his Ashe Lecture in St Helen's Church, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, to set out an agenda for continuing change around the themes of confidence, mission and unity.

21 October 1997