Latest News
Newcastle pupil honoured in Prayer Book awards
03/03/2010
The former Foreign Secretary and elder statesman Lord Douglas Hurd presented over 30 young people with their prizes and certificates at this year's Cranmer Awards finals held in the chapel of Sutton's Hospital at Charterhouse in the City of London.
The Newcastle ... Read on
New canons to be installed
25/02/2010
Bishop Martin has announced that seven new Honorary and Lay Canons of St. Nicholas’ Cathedral will be admitted along with Canon Sheila Bamber (pictured left) who will be installed and licensed as a Residentiary Canon of the Cathedral at 6.00 p.m. on Sunday, March ... Read on
New champions for Newcastle's churches
15/02/2010
Parishes in the Newcastle diocese have two new champions to help them make the most of their churches – whether they be historic places of worship or more recent buildings facing the challenge of changing times.
Andrew Duff (pictured left) and David L ... Read on
"Big Read" launches at Durham Cathedral
10/02/2010
The world’s most popular book - the Bible - is being read aloud from beginning to end at Durham Cathedral this month, launching the North-east's “Big Read” in which members of many different churches will come together to explore and enjoy St. Lu ... Read on
Archbishop visits Newcastle Diocese
05/02/2010
The Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, visited the Newcastle Diocese this week to meet people in the region’s rural and urban communities, and to see first hand the work of Church members and their partners.
First port of call was Church House in Percy Main ... Read on
Bishop blesses Great Park community project
04/02/2010
The Ark in the Park, a pioneering initiative to help Newcastle’s Great Park transform from a collection of houses into a thriving community has been launched with a special blessing from Bishop Martin .
The “Ark” is really a large home at the ce ... Read on
Newcastle and Durham dioceses join forces for wedding show
02/02/2010
Newcastle and Durham dioceses once again shared a stand at the UK wedding show held at Newcastle’s Metro Arena last weekend.
Pictured here is the vicar of Earsdon and Backworth, the Rev. Andrew France, and Margaret Campbell from Newcastle Diocese Mothers&rs ... Read on
Getting in the swim for Lent
26/01/2010
What are you giving up for Lent this year ?
Church Army Sister Val Legg , who is the West Deanery’s evangelist, likes to put it another way: “What are you taking up for Lent this year ?”
Val herself has committed to swimming the equivalent of ... Read on
Newcastle "City for Peace" Lecture
14/01/2010
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, will deliver the inaugural ‘Newcastle City for Peace’ lecture on Wednesday February 3 at 5.00pm in the Council Chamber of the Civic Centre.
The title of his address is “Graci ... Read on
Bishop backs emergency appeal for Haiti
14/01/2010
Bishop Martin is backing Christian Aid's £1m emergency appeal for victims of the Haiti earthquake.
"Thousands of people are already feared dead and many more are believed to be critically injured," the Bishop said today. "Countless more a ... Read on
Archbishop of York to visit Newcastle Diocese
04/01/2010
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, is coming to pay the Diocese of Newcastle an official visit on 3rd and 4th February.
"This is one of the ways in which he can get to know the life and work of the Church in the furthest reaches of the Northern Province,&qu ... Read on
"Inspired" Development appointment to be made
26/12/2009
How do you look after a Grade 1 listed building with medieval windows, Victorian carvings, or a Norman bell –tower, when you’ve got very little cash and there’s a pressing need for a new toilet?
Ask any Church of England congregation meeting regular ... Read on
Bishop Martin's Christmas message
24/12/2009
Earlier this year in Bethlehem, I found myself holding a newborn baby in my arms.
He had been abandoned by his mother, found at the roadside, and taken to the Holy Family Hospital. There were many others like him in this hospital, which is funded entirely by do ... Read on
Bishop urges help for Asylum Seekers
08/12/2009
Could you face Christmas on £10 a week, with only a bag of minimal groceries and toiletries as extras ?
This is the situation facing destitute asylum seekers this year, and for the third year running, Bishop Martin is making their plight the subject of a Christma ... Read on
Swine Flu restrictions on Communion lifted
27/11/2009
Bishop Martin today told parishes in the diocese that the administration of Holy Communion will return to normal practice following the lifting of guidelines imposed during the first wave of the swine flu pandemic in July.
Since that time chu ... Read on
Back to Church Sunday saw record numbers return
27/11/2009
Church of England churches welcomed back 53,000 people on Back to Church Sunday 2009, a 71 per cent increase on 2008, as part of a growing initiative that saw more than 80,000 people come back to church across the UK on one Sunday in September.
In the Newcastle Diocese ... Read on
Angela Ashwin launches new book at Cathedral
04/11/2009
Angela Ashwin, writer, lecturer and retreat leader, makes a welcome return to the diocese this month to launch her latest book: “Faith in the Fool: Risk and delight in the Christian Adventure”
Angela, along with her husband Vincent, the former vicar of Halt ... Read on
Big Read update
13/10/2009
Big Read update
Churches in the Newcastle Diocese are gearing up for Lent's Big Read in which Christians across the North-East will be getting together to study Luke's gospel with the aid of a new book written specially for the project by the B ... Read on
Diocese to join in Big Read
30/09/2009
From Tweed to Tyne, and way down to south of the Tees, plans are underway to get church people from a wide variety Christian denominations joining in a project called The Big Read.
The brainchild of the Bishop of Durham, Tom Wright, The Big Read will see a series of ta ... Read on
New Church of England academy opens
08/09/2009
The Northumberland Church of England Academy, one of the biggest and most ambitious projects of its kind in England, opens its doors to the children of east Ashington, Newbiggin-by-the sea and Lynemouth this week.
For Canon Margaret Nicholson, Diocesan Director of Educ ... Read on
Operation Dolly Mixtures gets underway
27/07/2009
It’s a sweet thought – “Operation Dolly Mixtures” is taking off in a church hall near the MoD training camp in Northumberland, and there’s an invitation for other churches in the diocese to get involved.
It all began when church folk in th ... Read on
New priests and deacons ordained
07/07/2009
Among the candidates for ordination at St. Nicholas' cathedral at Petertide were a former policeman, a head teacher, and a retired GP.
They formed part of a team of 13 new priests and deacons selected to serve the Church of England in the Newcastle diocese, and 12 were ... Read on
New Diocesan Secretary Appointed
02/07/2009
Bishop Martin has announced the appointment of a new diocesan secretary, Mr. Graham Barnard, who takes up his post on September 1.
Graham, who is 55, has been a partner at Dickinson Dees Solicitors in Newcastle for the past 23 years, and is a specialist in property law ... Read on
New horizons for Shepherds Dene
29/06/2009
Shepherds Dene entered a new phase of its life last month with a service of rededication in the chapel and a supper to celebrate its reopening after the recent refurbishments.
Welcoming friends and guests to the ceremony was the chair of the Shepherds Dene trustees, Al ... Read on
"Creation Crisis" demands prayer and action
09/06/2009
Newcastle Diocesan Environment Officer Rob Kelsey is urging parishes to support a Churches Together initiative later this year in the run-up to the Copenhagen climate change summit and help avert a "creation crisis".
As United Nations delegates pre ... Read on
Holy Land pilgrims back in the diocese
19/05/2009
Welcome home to the diocesan pilgrims - 60 people from Eglingham to Snods Edge, from Wallsend to Harbottle – who visited the Holy Land this month.
The pilgrimage was led by Bishop Martin and Archdeacon Geoff with the support of Dave & Audrey Elkington, and th ... Read on
New Chancellor for Diocese announced
01/05/2009
The Diocese is to have a new Chancellor from this July.
Bishop Martin says: "I am delighted to announce that His Honour Judge David Hodson has been appointed to succeed Professor David McLean as Chancellor of the Diocese from 1st July, 2009."
... Read on
Director for Northumberland CoE Academy appointed
27/04/2009
The Northumberland Church of England Academy, due to open in September this year, has appointed an Executive Director, it was announced this week. Phil Hearne, who has had 25 years experience in education, will lead the new school. H ... Read on
Bishop urges support for Sri Lankans
15/04/2009
Bishop Martin is urging people in the diocese to support Christian Aid’s latest appeal for those affected by the war in Sri Lanka.
Robin Greenwood, head of Christian Aid’s Asia Middle East region, says: “In recent weeks fighting has intensified betwee ... Read on
National Advisor Role for Monkseaton Reader
06/04/2009
Sue Hart, a Reader from St. Mary's Monkseaton, has been appointed as Ministry Division’s first National Advisor for Quality in Reader Education.
A Reader for eight years, Sue has spent the last 26 years of her working life at Newcastle College, involv ... Read on
Cathedral welcomes Easter worshippers
30/03/2009
St. Nicholas' Cathedral, Mother Church of the Diocese, invites all who live close enough or who, for whatever reason, do not have access to their own churches, to attend one of its Easter services this year.
Canon Sydney Connolly says: "Holy Week is, in ... Read on
Love & Joy at Pentecost event
29/03/2009
A world-renowned gospel choir from Liverpool is to top the bill at the City Hall in Newcastle for the grand finale Fire Works event on the eve of Pentecost, Saturday, May 30.
The Love & Joy Gospel Choir regularly appears on national and international tv a ... Read on
Holy Land pilgrims prepare for departure
26/03/2009
As Easter approaches the parishioners and clergy who are joining the Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Holy Land are meeting to make their final preparations before departure at the start of May.
The 57 pilgrims include people from Eglingham and Ro ... Read on
Bishop issues Maundy Thursday invitation
17/03/2009
Bishop Martin is issuing a Maundy Thursday invitation to all the people of the diocese to join him for the Cathedral Service at 11am on April 9.
He says: “Together with Bishop Paul, I warmly invite the Clergy, Readers and the people of the Diocese to the Cathed ... Read on
Bishop backs move on climate change conference
02/03/2009
Bishop Martin has joined other Church of England bishops in calling on Gordon Brown to negotiate with fellow European leaders in advance of the Copenhagen Conference on climate change later this year.
Failure to secure a strong, just and eff ... Read on
Parishes sign up for big Pentecost event
20/02/2009
Fire Works is stoking up! The major diocesan event planned for the eve of Pentecost, Saturday May 30, is gaining momentum in the parishes, with some congregations already having booked to make sure of their seats for the City Hall.
Fire Works bookmarks together with ... Read on
Bishop urges parishes to support Zimbabwe
19/02/2009
Bishop Martin is urging parishes in the Newcastle diocese to support the Anglican diocese of Zimbabwe by getting behind the Archbishops’ appeal to be launched on Ash Wednesday.
Commending a Day of Prayer for Zimbabwe, the Archbishops say: “We hope this will ... Read on
Taking a stand at the UK Wedding Show
09/02/2009
It was a cold weekend, but not yet snowing when the Newcastle and Durham dioceses joined forces to exhibit at the UK Wedding Show, held at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena this month.
This was the third year running that the two dioceses had been invited by the show&rs ... Read on
Joint synod motion aims to prevent Olympic trafficking
29/01/2009
General Synod members from Newcastle and Winchester have joined forces to propose a motion deploring human trafficking and calling on the Government to put effective measures in place to stop sex trafficking in the run-up to the ... Read on
Critical Mass was "fantastic"
29/01/2009
More than 150 young people turned up at Newcastle Cathedral this month for worship with a difference, a “Critical Mass” involving laser beams, smoke machines, a rock band, an altar full of candles in the shape of a star, and pizzas all round at ... Read on
Bishop enters tv drama debate
19/01/2009
Bishop Martin has responded to comments from the actress Julie Walters who starred in a BBC drama about assisted suicide.
In “A Short Stay in Switzerland” Miss Walters plays a doctor diagnosed with a rare degenerative brain disease who ended her l ... Read on
New job for Diocesan Secretary
06/01/2009
Philip Davies, Newcastle’s diocesan secretary for the past 10 years, is leaving the diocese to take up a new appointment in March.
The announcement was made by Bishop Martin, who said: “ It is with very mixed feelings that I inform you that Philip has bee ... Read on
Remember present-day Bethlehem, Bishop urges
22/12/2008
Bishop Martin has called on Christmas congregations in the diocese to remember the reality of modern Bethlehem as they celebrate the birth of Jesus this week, and to pray for the people who live there.
"Bethlehem today experiences very little of the pea ... Read on
Training principal appointed
16/12/2008
The Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt. Revd. Martin Wharton, and the Bishop of Durham, the Rt. Revd. Dr. N T Wright, have announced the appointment of the Revd. Canon Catherine Rowling, presently Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Director of Reader Studies in the Dioces ... Read on
Treading Lighter on the Earth
09/12/2008
Parishes may still be thinking Christmas, but the Diocesan Environment Task Group would like us all to look a little further ahead as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
The group is gearing up for a major campaign in the New Year, aiming to encourage& ... Read on
New Readers for the Diocese
02/12/2008
A recent wet and windy Saturday saw many of the diocesan Readers meeting at St. Nicholas' Cathedral for a morning’s work, a short annual general meeting, a celebration of work well done, and a look ahead to opportunities in 2009.
The m ... Read on
The Year of the Child
27/11/2008
Next year, 2009, has been designated as the Year of the Child in the Anglican Church in the UK, but some people may be asking: where are the children?
It’s a question that concerns Church Army Sister, Sandra Doore, who is the diocesan children’s work of ... Read on
Urban and Rural parishes urged to link
24/11/2008
It’s the dating game with a new twist! Lively Urban Parish WLTM Sparky Rural Congregation with a view to pleasant outings, cream teas, pie and pea suppers, and a huge celebration at Pentecost next year.
This is the call going out from the Fire Works task group, ... Read on
Gosforth church in competition final
17/11/2008
Congratulations to young people from All Saints Church in Gosforth, Newcastle, whose one-minute video was shortlisted in a national competition to show the ‘True Meaning’ of Christmas.
The All Saints team were beaten to top honours ... Read on
Pizza and Peace on offer at Cathedral
16/11/2008
A special Eucharist being planned for the New Year aims to reach young people and those who rarely attend church with a novel approach.
“Critical Mass” will be celebrated on Saturday January 10 at 7pm in St. Nicholas Cathedral, and the hope of yout ... Read on
New website launched
07/11/2008
The Diocese of Newcastle launches its new website this week - aiming to keep visitors up to date with what's happening in the Anglican Church from the North of the Tyne to the Borders, and as far as Alston Moor in the west.
Here you'll find ou ... Read on
Synod hears of new Mission Action Plan drive
05/11/2008
Children at Bywell prepare for a family service, launched under the parish's Mission Action Plan
Newcastle Diocesan Synod has approved the second wave of the Mission Action Plan initiative, due to launch shortly in two deaneries.
Canon Dave Elkington, Local Evangeli ... Read on
New Child Protection Guidlines launched
04/11/2008
New child protection guidelines were launched at Diocesan Synod this month, revised from the current ones in circulation..
Diocesan Child Protection officer Jean Skinner explained that the guidelines have to be reviewed each year and PCCs made aware of any u ... Read on
Diocese helps flood victims
02/11/2008
After the heavy rainfall and flooding in September, the Diocese has formed a relief fund to help those affected. The fund will be managed by Partners in Community Action (PICA).
Over 1000 homes have been affected by flooding in Morpeth, and around ... Read on
Recycling the Nativity
01/11/2008
St. Nicholas’ Cathedral in Newcastle is “going green” this Christmas, commissioning a lifesize nativity scene made entirely of recycled items from a local water company.
Canon Robert Gage, inspired by the idea of using waste materials to create works ... Read on
Newcastle group visits Link diocese in Norway
30/10/2008
Bishop Martin, together with members of the Newcastle- Møre link group, visited Norway recently to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Møre diocese and attend the consecration of Møre’s new bishop, Ingeborg Midttomme.
The service at Molde cat ... Read on
Church House opens its doors
30/10/2008
The ribbon was cut by Bishop Martin and the day began – Church House in St. John’s Terrace, Percy Main, threw open its doors to the parishes recently, and a thoroughly good time was had by all.
The invitation was all-embracing: Come and visit us and se ... Read on
Rural affairs under the microscope
29/10/2008
The title of the most recent "synod forum" in the diocese was: Rural Church – Community, Partnership, Mission, and the presentations and discussions added up to an inspiring day at St. John's, Kingston Park.
Dr Ian Roberts, Lay Chair of ... Read on
Churches urged to visit museum
27/10/2008
What do church folk do when they're not at church ? Some of them go to museums, and a group from Holy Nativity in Newcastle want everyone else to know about an exhibition called "Mind the Gap"currently showing at the Discovery Museum in the city.
Sa ... Read on