Church leaders are encouraging churches across Somerset to prepare for the General Election, by being ready to organise a local hustings for candidates and encouraging residents in your local community to register to vote.

Ben Aldous is particularly interested in mission, ecumenism and intercultural theology. He spent 16 years in Cambodia and South Africa firstly as a church planter and latterly as a parish priest. He helps host and curate conversations amongst denominational church leaders with the portfolio of mission from across CTE’s 52 member churches. He is the author of The God Who Walks Slowly (SCM 2022) and ‘Lived’ Mission in 21st Century Britain (SCM 2024). Ben is a research fellow at The Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education in Birmingham.

From left to right: Bishop Nigel Stock (Anglican), Divisional Commander Paul Billard (Salvation Army), Regional Minister Nigel Manges (Baptist), District Chair Jonathan Pye (Methodist), Bishop Declan Lang (Roman Catholic), District Chair Dan Haylett (Methodist), Divisional Commander Gill Billard (Salvation Army), Regional Minister Gary Woodall (Baptist), Bishop Michael Beasley (Anglican). The new URC Moderator has not yet been appointed.

We continue to pray for peace in Gaza, Palestine, Israel and Lebanon.

Ecumenical resources are available for local churches to mark the Season of Creation 2023 starting on 1 Septermber. This year’s theme is ‘Let Justice and Peace Flow’. Click here for prayer and action resources.

Church news from Europe

News from the world wide ecumenical movement

The theme of this year’s Education Sunday on 10 September is ‘The Armour of Light’.

Click here for details

Somerset’s Interfaith and Belief Network has a new Annual Report

Click here

Disability Awareness Sunday is on 17 September 2023 and we are invited to take part.

Ecumenical updates from Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England

Up to date briefings from our national ecumenical body…

Choral Evensong at Wells Cathedral on 19 June 2022 commemorated the centenary of The Malines Conversations

Lots of community and church events are planned in Keynsham and Saltford over the coming days and weeks to mark their 30th anniversary.

On Friday 27 May a group of our regional Church leaders from across Somerset were in Bath for a Prayer Breakfast organised by Churches Together in Somerset..

Graham has left his Somerset role in the leadership of The Methodist Church.

Jonathan was leading the liturgies for the Anglican congregation there, he took part in ecumenical meetings of church leaders and an ecumenical prayer gathering for Earth Day on 22 April.

We welcome the Revd Dr Jonathan Pye as the new Chair of Churches Together in Somerset. Dr Pye is District Chair of Bristol Methodist District.

Churches Together in England have issued this strong statement in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Read it here

There has been a strong and rapid response from churches across Europe and the world to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.