Latest news from our diocese.
Latest News
Bishop's Day
First published on: 14th February 20189 March, 9:30am - 1pm (coffee from 9am) at Canterbury Christ Church University. Find out more and book here »
Congratulations to St Augustine's students
First published on: 9th February 2018
                        Congratulations to those students - lay and ordained - who attended the College's recent Celebration of Awards. 
Southwark Cathedral provided the backdrop for St Augustine’s College of Theology’s Celebration of Awards on 13 January. The servi
                    
Madagascar appeal
First published on: 19th January 2018
                        Following Cyclone Ava, Archbishop James asks for prayers and help.Message from Bishop Trevor Willmott, Bishop of Dover and Bishop in Canterbury:
"It is with grave concern that I write to you with news from our sister Church in Madagascar. In the l
                    
Images of hope from Bolivian rainforest
First published on: 8th January 2018
                        Vivid colours of the Bolivian rainforest are in Maidstone from 27/01-09/02 with an exhibition at St Martin's church.
Images of hope from Bolivian rainforest to visit St Martin’s Church, Maidstone
Christian Aid supports communities to develop disa
                    
Bishop's Christmas & New Year message
First published on: 18th December 2017
                        In his message, Bishop Trevor speaks of the hope of transformation and the promise of God's presence with us. 
 	Photo of Bishop Trevor
Christmas is undoubtedly a time of transformation. As I write, across the nation people are rummaging in th
                    
Day of Prayer: what you said
First published on: 18th December 2017
                        We asked for your feedback on the Diocesan Day of Prayer - and for what you think God might be saying to the Diocese. 
Click here for feedback from the Day of Prayer (and here for a printer-friendly version).
View pictures from the Day of Pr
                    
Live Nativity, 16th December, Maidstone
First published on: 13th December 2017
                        Well known locations across Maidstone’s town centre transformed into scenes from the traditional Christmas story.
Waypoint Project Live Nativity Saturday 16th December Maidstone Town Centre
What will the Mayor of Maidstone Say?
On Saturday
                    
General Synod By-Election
First published on: 7th December 2017General Synod By-Election result in the House of Clergy announced. Read more »
Thanks for Day of Prayer
First published on: 23rd November 2017
                        Bishop Trevor offers his thanks for everyone’s participation in the Day of Prayer. View pictures
 
Dear colleagues,
I write simply to thank you for your enthusiastic participation in our Diocesan Day of Prayer. I personally found such
                    
Vegetable orchestra leads thanksgiving
First published on: 25th October 2017
                        Vegetables crafted into instruments at a unique County Harvest Thanksgiving Service.
Vegetable orchestra leads Harvest thanksgiving in vineyard
A carrot, a pumpkin, a courgette and a pepper were just some of the vegetables crafted into instrume
                    
Cross-channel peal of bells
First published on: 19th October 2017
                        Hundreds celebrated the licensing of new Team Vicar of Sittingbourne with Bobbing, Revd Lesley Jones.
Cross-channel peal of bells to welcome Sittingbourne’s new Team Vicar 
Hundreds of people celebrated the licensing of new Team Vicar of Sit
                    
Fairtrade coffee
First published on: 18th September 2017
                        Two of our resident coffee experts tried and tested three different Fairtrade coffees available for churches to buy in bulk. 
Two of our resident coffee experts, Nick Morgan and Murray Wilkinson, tried and tested three different Fairtrade coffees 
                    
New Archdeacon of Ashford announced
First published on: 14th August 2017
                        Canon Darren Miller has been announced as the new Archdeacon of Ashford. 
14 August 2017
 	Photo: Revd Darren Miller
Canon Darren Miller, from Cheam in Surrey, has been announced as the new Archdeacon of Ashford. Darren will succeed The Vene
                    
Plant seeds of hope at Harvest
First published on: 4th August 2017
                        Archbishop Justin is asking churches to help people in financial distress this Autumn. 
More and more people in the UK are struggling with money and debt. 600,000 families are spending more on repaying debts than on food. One in four adults have 
                    
Recycle unwanted school uniform
First published on: 2nd August 2017
                        Parents are donating unwanted school uniform, making it easier for local families on low incomes to get ready for the new school year. 
Last year the project saw hundreds of items of school uniform donated. Following on from this success, local c
                    
Thank you for donating
First published on: 24th July 2017Together we raised over £4,000 for the British Red Cross London Fire Relief.Thank you to everyone who donated money at the ordination services in July to go towards the British Red Cross London Fire Relief. Charles Marshall, Senior Community Fundr
Teynham School win Kent is Delicious
First published on: 11th July 2017
                        A team of pupils from Teynham Primary School were crowned winners at the Kent County Show on Friday 7 July.
11 July 2017 
Teynham School in Sittingbourne win Kent is Delicious Cookery Competition 
 	Live cooking final took place at the Ken
                    
Meet East Kent and Jersey’s #NewRevs
First published on: 30th June 2017On Saturday 1 July, 18 men and women were ordained in Canterbury.to serve in churches and communities across East Kent and the Channel Islands. The Church’s new ministers include a renal nurse, a former police officer, a call centre manager and a v
Blessing of the Fisheries
First published on: 19th June 2017
                        One of Folkestone's oldest and most colourful traditions took place on 25th June.
15 June 2017
One of Folkestone's oldest and most colourful traditions takes place on Sunday, 25th June, with the procession from St. Peter's Church and the histor
                    
‘Kent is Delicious’ finalists
First published on: 19th June 2017
                        Hoath Primary, St. George’s CEP and Teynham CEP.
19 June 2017 
Three schools named as finalists in ‘Kent is Delicious’ cookery competition 
 	Three schools will compete in live final at Kent County Show
 	Competition was open to all
                    
Diocesan safeguarding audit published
First published on: 19th June 2017
                        An independent audit of the safeguarding arrangements for ÌÇÐÄVlog has been published.
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has been commissioned to undertake an audit of the safeguarding arrangements of each diocese of the Ch
                    
Sharp increase in trainee priests
First published on: 16th June 2017
                        A 14% increase in numbers training for the priesthood has been welcomed by the Church of England.
An anticipated total of 543 men and women will begin studies this Autumn. An increase of 17% in women coming forward for ordination was welcomed by 
                    
Forum explores ‘outdoor worship’
First published on: 13th June 2017
                        With no mains water or electricity, Wychling church was the ideal venue to think about the resources we use.
13 June 2017
Meeting God in Nature, as Environment Forum explores ‘outdoor worship’
A wet and windy day in June did not deter th
                    
Great Get Together and Refugee Week
First published on: 13th June 2017
                        Two national initiatives aimed at bringing people together in June.
13 June 2017 
Church events set to mark The Great Get Together and Refugee Week in June
 	Great Get Together picnic in Dane John Gardens, Canterbury
 	Refugee Week film sh
                    
Positive impact of ‘green’ pilgrimage
First published on: 19th May 2017
                        Canterbury hosts meeting of European experts on pilgrimage.Conference highlights positive impact of ‘green’ pilgrimage for Kent
18 May 2017
 	Canterbury hosts meeting of European experts on pilgrimage
 	Pilgrimage the fastest growing secto
                    
Nine Days of Prayer
First published on: 4th May 2017May 26th – June 3rd 2017. The Pocket Prayers – small booklets for personal and group use – are now with your churches. Read more »
Pray as You Go: 29 May
First published on: 28th April 2017
                        On 29 May the ChYP's team are inviting the Diocese to come on a walk.
It's a Bank Holiday, the sun is shining (we hope)… so what are you going to do?
On 29 May the ChYP's team are inviting the Diocese to come on a walk - to enjoy good company
                    
New opportunities to support people in financial difficulty
First published on: 27th April 2017According to recent figures, the number of people in Kent who have accessed a food bank in the last 11 months has risen to more than 17,000. That’s a rise of 11 per cent since last year. Low incomes, changes to benefits, debt, and homelessness are
Refugee roundup – Reflections from France and Refugee Week film showing
First published on: 27th April 2017With the General Election just around the corner, the situation facing refugees may have slipped off the news agenda, but within the Diocese, much work is still be facilitated through our Refugee Officer Domenica Pecoraro, to ensure that our commitme
Join a mini-pilgrimage as part of the Green Pilgrimage Conference
First published on: 27th April 2017Discover the ancient trackways, intimate landscapes, local businesses and small rural churches along the medieval pilgrimage routes between Canterbury and Chilham. Taking place on Friday 19 May, this mini-pilgrimage forms part of the Green Pilgrimage