The Bishop of Tewkesbury, Robert Springett, is to be the Church of England’s new Lead Safeguarding Bishop, taking over from Bishop Joanne Grenfell who leaves the role at the end of March 2026, when her three-year term ends.Bishop Robert will work closely with the National Director of Safeguarding, Alexander Kubeyinje, and other members of the National Safeguarding Team which provides specialist expertise on casework, policy development, training, evaluation and survivor participation. The Church of England is continuing to strengthen its safeguarding practices by committing to independent scrutiny and improving delivery. This includes implementing recommendations from the Makin review, the Charity Commission, and insights gained from independent safeguarding audits.Bishop Robert is currently one of the Deputy Leads for Safeguarding and chairs the Theology and Safeguarding Group. He also chairs the Task and Finish Group, which scrutinises the work the Church is undertaking in response to the Makin review recommendations, and was also chair of the Task and Finish Group set up after the Scolding report.In his new role, Bishop Robert will chair the National Safeguarding Steering Group, the delegated House of Bishops body responsible for making national safeguarding decisions. Bishop Joanne Grenfell, who is to be welcomed as Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich in January, will move into the role of Deputy Safeguarding Bishop with responsibility for the ongoing work on Safeguarding Structures, which is a programme of work strengthening Church safeguarding. When she takes up her role as a member of the House of Lords, Bishop Joanne will also speak on safeguarding.The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said, “I am grateful to Bishop Robert, who in his work as Deputy Safeguarding Bishop, has worked closely with victims and survivors on our responses to key recommendations. He is clearly committed to seeking change to our safeguarding culture and practice, and I am delighted that he will bring his long experience in ministry to help lead and promote good safeguarding across the Church.”Bishop Robert said, “Safeguarding should not be seen as a burden, but embraced with joy for the opportunity it offers to serve others. I have found the role of Deputy Safeguarding Bishop deeply rewarding, and I accept this invitation with a profound sense of calling to contribute to the development of healthy cultures across all areas of Church life. Through my involvement in the Scolding and Makin reviews, I have learned a great deal from victims and survivors—wisdom that will continue to shape and inform all that I seek to do in this new role.”
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, preached at St Andrew’s Church, Ramallah, Palestin on Sunday 9 November 2025, where he spoke about resurrection hope, steadfast faith, and peace rooted in justice.Archbishop Stephen said:“It is a joy to be with you this morning. I bring you greetings from your sisters and brothers in the Church of England. We come to stand alongside you in solidarity; our hearts cry out to God for peace and justice in this land, and we are full of admiration and joy that you stand firm in the Lord.”“The first words of the risen Jesus were, ‘Why are you weeping?’ — words that reach out to every sorrow and call us to hope.”Archbishop Stephen is visiting Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory from 8–11 November 2025 with The Most Revd Hosam Naoum, Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, on a pilgrimage of prayer and solidarity. Together, they are spending time in Jerusalem and Nazareth, meeting local church leaders, congregations, and community organisations.In his sermon, Archbishop Stephen reflected on the message that “our God is the God of the living,” calling on all to “stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught.”He spoke movingly of visiting a Palestinian family in the occupied West Bank, whose generous hospitality endured despite hardship. He said. “We are sorry that we were slow to raise our voice in support of Palestine and the Palestinian people. But we are here to listen to you, to learn from you, and then we will tell these stories when we get home. Because there can be no peace without justice.”His sermon message highlighted that true peace requires justice — and that Jesus Christ, the risen Redeemer, calls His followers to persevere in faith, to be peacemakers, and to bring light into darkness.“Peace is not a ceasefire; peace is not the silence after the guns have finished firing. Peace requires justice — and, as followers of Jesus Christ, peace requires reconciliation: where we honour one another, and where we allow each community and each person to flourish.”
Funday@4, our special service for children and families, will be back on Sunday week, November 9th.Our session, including a Bible story, singing, craft work and afternoon tea, will take place on Remembrance Sunday and is aptly entitled - 'Remembrance...blessed are the peace makers'.Everyone -young and old - is welcome to join us at Dunsfold Church. Our service starts at 4pm.
