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Fixed Odds Betting Terminals: £2 maximum stake is ‘right decision’, says bishop

Fixed Odds Betting Terminals: £2 maximum stake is ‘right decision’, says bishop ABOVE: The Bishop of St Albans speaking in response to the Government’s announcement on 17th May The Bishop of St Albans, Alan Smith, has welcomed Government plans to limit the maximum stake on Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) to £2. Dr Alan Smith… Read more »

Archbishop’s Prayer for Syria

Archbishop’s Prayer for Syria The Archbishop of Canterbury has issued the following prayer for Syria: Lord of all power and might, wisdom and love, You gave your only Son to live with the suffering and poor, to die for our sins and rise from the dead so that we may live. In your hands justice… Read more »

Card Payments in Churches

Card Payments in Churches Parish Buying Scheme For more information on how to get a card reader see the Parish Buying article here. News from the Church of England The Church of England has announced that it is making contactless, virtual terminal, and SMS mobile payments available throughout England, in a bid to make transactions faster… Read more »

Bishop pays tribute to the Revd Billy Graham

Bishop pays tribute to the Revd Billy Graham Speaking following the news of the death of Billy Graham, The Bishop of St Albans, Dr Alan Smith, said: “I join millions of others mourning the loss of Billy Graham and giving thanks for his life and ministry. He always demonstrated his passionate conviction that Christian faith… Read more »

Safeguarding Audit published

Safeguarding Audit published An independent audit of safeguarding arrangements in the Church of England Diocese of St Albans strikes a positive note about safeguarding in the Diocese. It has affirmed the commitment shown to safeguarding by the Bishop and his senior staff in the diocese. The independent review was carried out by the Social Care… Read more »

Bishop’s Bill to Put Mothers’ Names on Marriage Certificates Passes First Stage

Bishop’s Bill to Put Mothers’ Names on Marriage Certificates Passes First Stage A move to end the “historic injustice” of excluding mothers’ names from marriage certificates has passed its first parliamentary stage in a Private Members’ Bill brought by the Bishop of St Albans, Dr Alan Smith. The bill, which also includes provision to modernise… Read more »

Covenant signing in Sweden

Covenant signing in Sweden Bishop Alan visited the Diocese of Linköping, in Sweden to sign the covenant the two dioceses, Linköping and St Albans, on 21 January 2018. The sermon he preached on that occasion can be read here. Just as when the covenant was signed at St Albans Diocesan Synod in October 2017, Bishop… Read more »

The Bishop of St Albans’ New Year Message 2018

The Bishop of St Albans’ New Year Message 2018 HEAR Bishop Alan speaking on Three Counties Radio on New Year’s Eve about looking back and looking forward (opens in new tab) The Bishop of St Albans message for the start of 2018 provides a message of hope for the start of the year. It recalls the opening… Read more »

Bethlehem had no walls for centuries; why are we building them?

Bethlehem had no walls for centuries; why are we building them? asks the Bishop of St Albans READ: the whole sermon here In his Christmas sermon at St Albans Cathedral, the Bishop of St Albans, Dr Alan Smith, will speak about modern political leaders’ predilection for wall-building. He will contrast this with the good news of the Christmas story, in which the… Read more »

How are you spending this Christmas?

How are you spending this Christmas? The Bishop of St Albans Christmas Message 2017 Deck the aisles with tinsel and turkey! This year’s Christmas ads are out! John Lewis’s wants to end your fears of monsters under the bed, Tesco’s says it makes everyone welcome and Marks and Spencer’s shows a life-changing encounter between Paddington… Read more »