Forward in Faith

05/04/2026

Surrexit Christus alleluia! We wish all of our followers a very happy and blessed Easter

03/03/2026

Forward in Faith is deeply saddened to hear of the death of Bishop Andrew Watson of Guildford. Bishop Andrew was an orthodox and generous Christian with a deep faith which shone brightly to all those who knew him. We pray for the repose of Bishop Andrew's soul and send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. "His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'" (Matthew 25: 23)

https://www.cofeguildford.org.uk/about-us/news/death-announced-of-the-rt-revd-andrew-watson-bishop-of-guildford.php

20/02/2026

The Director is honoured to be present at the Funeral Mass being held today at St Barnabas, Crewe for Bishop John Gaisford SSC. The principal mourners are Bishop John's daughter, Sophia, and son, Giles. His three successors as Bishop of Beverley are present.

09/02/2026

The Director was delighted to be present in Blackburn Cathedral yesterday afternoon for the installation of five new honorary canons, including Fr David D'Silva. Many congratulations to Fr David (who has taken up a new role in Blackburn) and to his four diocesan colleagues, and also to the following Society clergy who have recently become honorary canons (if we've missed anyone out, then please let us know and we'll amend this post):
Fr Oliver Coss (Peterborough)
Fr Adam Gaunt (York)
Fr Peter March (Exeter)
Fr Kyle McNeil (Durham)
Fr Grant Naylor (Sheffield)
Fr Damian Porter (Blackburn)
Fr Stephen Merriman (Chichester)
Fr Robert Norbury (Chichester)

30/01/2026

May Sister Mary Joseph CHC rest in peace. And thanks be to God for the faithful witness of the nuns of Holy Cross Convent, Costock.

27/01/2026

There was a warm welcome yesterday evening for Fr Glen Brooks SSC CF and his wife Heather at the licensing of Fr Glen as the parish priest of St Martin, Bedford in the Diocese of St Alban's / See of Richborough and his commissioning as the Bishop of Richborough's Chaplain. Please pray for Fr Glen as he embarks on these important roles.

21/01/2026

The Director was delighted to address the faithful people of St Cuthbert, Castle Vale in the Diocese of Birmingham / See of Oswestry yesterday evening at the invitation of Fr Jules Mambu. The theme of the evening was the importance of firm foundations of faith in the parish's new mission programme. In this week of prayer for Christian unity, we reflected on the importance of being part of something apostolic and global - the universal church - and paid particularly heed to the words of the 99th Archbishop of Canterbury Geoffrey Fisher: "We have no doctrine of our own. We only possess the catholic doctrine of the catholic church enshrined in the catholic creeds, and these creeds we hold without addition or diminution."

05/01/2026

The Society and Forward in Faith are greatly saddened to hear of the death of the Rt Revd John Gaisford SSC, who was Bishop of Beverley from 1994 to 2000. He was the second Bishop of Beverley and the first to undertake that role as a Provincial Episcopal Visitor (PEV), which was established to minister to those unable to accept in good conscience the Church of England's decision to ordain women to the priesthood. Widely admired for his pastoral care and personal kindness, Bishop John will be much missed. We send our deeply felt condolences to Bishop John's children, Sophie and Giles. Rest in peace, good and faithful servant.

29/12/2025

Today is the feast of St Thomas Becket, under whose patronage Forward in Faith is placed. Please do pray for the work and witness of Forward in Faith

Lord God,
who gave grace to your servant Thomas Becket
to put aside all earthly fear
and be faithful even to death:
grant that we, disregarding worldly esteem,
may fight all wrong,
uphold your rule,
and serve you to our life’s end;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

03/10/2025

A statement on the next Archbishop of Canterbury from Forward in Faith can be found here:

Forward in Faith congratulates the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London, on the announcement of her appointment as the next Archbishop of Canterbury. In line with the Church of England’s...

23/09/2025

Forward in Faith has issued a statement in response to the Independent Reviewer's report on the ministry capacity of the Bishops of Beverley and of Ebbsfleet. You can read the statement here:

https://www.forwardinfaith.com/fullposts.php?id=318