A Church of England bishop has joined millions of Christians around the world by 'giving up' something he likes for Lent. But Dr Alan Smithson, Bishop of Jarrow, has made an unusual choice for his Lenten sacrifice - he has given up reading the Bible and has taken up the holy Muslim book, the Koran, instead.
21 February 1997
Church attendance in the Church of England has dropped. The latest statistics which are based on 1995 figures show that the average total Sunday attendance for the Church of England was 1,045,000 in 1995. This is 36,000 lower than the 1994 figures and the biggest fall since the mid-1970s.
14 February 1997
Diana, Princess of Wales, highlighted the devastating effects of landmines on a recent visit to Angola. The Princess visited the country on behalf of the Red Cross and had her visit recorded by the world's press and media. On arrival in Angola she explained her role: "I hope that by working together in the next few days we shall focus world attention on this vital but until now largely neglected issue."
14 February 1997
Churches in England are rushing to obtain copies of a special millennium liturgy designed to be used on Sunday, 6 April this year - exactly a thousand days before 1 January 2000. The liturgy has been prepared by Churches Together in England (CTE), which groups England's main denominations. Stephen Lynas, CTE's Millennium officer, said this week that 7000 sets of the special liturgy had been sent out in just seven days.
14 February 1997
Reform, an Anglican campaign group, has indicated its intention to set up a network of bishops from England and overseas who would be available to provide Episcopal oversight to the group's member and so bypass the oversight of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
31 January 1997
A Christian is someone who believes that Jesus Christ is God showing everyone what he is like. Jesus lived in Palestine and was killed by being nailed to a cross in about 33 A.D. - a victim of wrong-doing and evil. Yet he was given new life, so overcoming evil and death. He promised his followers that they too would have the experience of travelling the same kind of path: often one of suffering, but ultimately one of life with God.
27 January 1997
Millions serve him as their Lord and worship God. Over the past two thousand years the Christian Church has spread to every country in the world. In great cathedrals and in little churches, in private homes and in the open air, Christians meet to worship God through Jesus Christ and to dedicate their lives to His service.
27 January 1997
Unity is not an option for the Christian. It is an imperative which springs from the very depth of Jesus' own prayer that all who claim allegiance to him might be one. Yet almost from the beginning there has been difference, diversity, conflict, which in the course of history has led to division.
27 January 1997
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Dr George Carey, and the Prince of Wales have both urged closer cooperation between faiths to combat the spread of materialism.
17 January 1997
Sixteen Anglican priests who left the Church of England after the Church started ordaining women as priests have decided to return to the Church. Of the 16, eight joined the Roman Catholic Church and have now returned to the Church of England where they have received permission, once again, to conduct Anglican services.
17 January 1997