News Stories
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13 Sept. 2022
in Latest NewsThe Bishop of Carlisle to support Her Majesty’s funeral arrangements
The Bishop of Carlisle has travelled down to London to support some of the arrangements around Her Majesty the Queen’s coffin lying in state and the state funeral.
Eight years ago, the Rt Rev James Newcome was appointed Clerk of the Closet to the Royal Household and it is in this position that he will be involved over the comings days.
Yesterday Bishop James attended Westminster Hall as King Charles III addressed Parliament, and later in the House of Lords he renewed his vows to the new Sovereign.
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11 Sept. 2022
in Latest NewsBishops join dignitaries for County and District Proclamations
The Bishop of Carlisle and the Bishop of Penrith have joined other dignitaries for the County and District Proclamations of King Charles III today in Carlisle.
The Rt Rev James Newcome and the Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh were in the city for the County Proclamation given by the High Sheriff Alan McViety, which took place outside The Courts at 12.10pm.
They and others then processed to the Old Town Hall steps in the centre of Carlisle for a further District Proclamation given by the Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr Mike Mitchelson. Both bishops later attended Carlisle Cathedral for a special service of commemoration.
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10 Sept. 2022
in Latest NewsPrayers for King Charles III
The Bishop of Carlisle has today called on people across Cumbria to hold King Charles III in their prayers.
It follows the Accession Council formally announcing King Charles as the new monarch. The Rt Rev James Newcome, joined millions of other people in watching the televised ceremony from St James’s Palace this morning.
Bishop James said: “My prayers are with His Majesty King Charles III at this time. I pray that his reign shall be long and glorious.
“I know that thousands of people across Cumbria will also be holding our new monarch and all the Royal Family in their prayers at this time and this will be reflected in church services across our county tomorrow and in the coming days.
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8 Sept. 2022
in Latest NewsHer Majesty The Queen
The following statement is released on behalf of the Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev James Newcome, following today’s announcement by Buckingham Palace of the death of Her Majesty The Queen:
“It is with huge sadness that we have all learned, today, of the death of Her Majesty The Queen. She has, of course, been our longest ever serving monarch, reigning longer than any other king or queen in the history of our nation.
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31 Aug. 2022
in Latest NewsThe Ven Lee Townend
The Diocese of Carlisle – the Church of England in Cumbria – today announces that the Venerable Lee Townend, the Archdeacon of Carlisle, has decided to step away from his post to enable him and Liz, his wife, to spend more time with their family.
Archdeacon Lee joined the Diocese in early 2017, from his then position as Diocesan Missioner in the Diocese of Derby.
He has had archidiaconal responsibility for four deaneries in the Diocese – Carlisle, Penrith, Brampton and Appleby – as well as taking on the role of Strategic Development Officer - drawing alongside and supporting newly-formed mission communities as part of the county’s ecumenical God for All vision and strategy – and serving as a trustee of the Carlisle Diocesan Board of Finance.
From October 2020, he also took on further responsibility, serving as Priest in Charge of Barton, Pooley Bridge, Martindale and Watermillock.
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18 July 2022
in Latest NewsThe Bishop of Penrith's consecration: In pictures
Click here to see a selection of photos from the consecration of the new Bishop of Penrith, the Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh. Read more
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15 July 2022
in Latest NewsThe new Bishop of Penrith is consecrated
The new Bishop of Penrith has been consecrated today in the first such service to be fully open at York Minster since the Covid pandemic.
Hundreds of people gathered at the Minster (Friday 15 July, 2022) to witness the consecration of the Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh. He comes to the role having served nearly all his ministry in Cumbria, including 10 years as vicar at Kendal Parish Church (KPC). Since 2020 he has been the Residentiary Canon Director of Mission and Ministry for the Diocese of Newcastle.
The two-hour service was presided over by the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev and Rt Hon Stephen Cottrell, and was attended by dozens of people from Cumbria. The Rt Rev Arun Arora was also consecrated as Bishop of Kirkstall in the Diocese of Leeds.
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11 July 2022
in Latest NewsBishop’s consecration to reflect Cumbrian heritage
Cumbria’s heritage will be strongly reflected at the forthcoming consecration of the new Suffragan Bishop of Penrith.
The Rev Canon Rob Saner-Haigh, will be consecrated in a service at 11am at York Minster this Friday (15 July), marking a return to the Diocese of Carlisle where, until 2020, he served all his ministry.
Rob will wear a silver Bishop’s ring, which includes a tiny gold cross of St Cuthbert - a famed northern saint - and which will include the engraving ‘Robert, a servant of Jesus Christ’.
Members of the congregation of Kendal Parish Church (KPC) where he served as vicar for 10 years have gifted him a wooden pectoral cross - worn around the neck - and which has been fashioned from Cumbrian oak by Staveley-based furniture company Peter Hall and Son.
And the Diocese of Newcastle – where he served for two years as Residentiary Canon Director of Mission and Ministry – has gifted him a Bishop’s crozier (a staff) with a handle fashioned from the horn of a Herdwick sheep.
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7 July 2022
in Latest NewsMothers’ Union county-wide fundraising cycle
Two Cumbrian Mothers’ Union members have kicked off a 300-mile fundraising cycle ride to benefit the Bishop of Carlisle’s Harvest Appeal.
Retired hospital consultant Deb Lee - who was appointed the MU’s Cumbrian President earlier this year - has taken to the saddle alongside Action and Outreach Co-ordinator Daphne Sisson.
They plan to visit every church in Cumbria which has an MU branch and yesterday (Wednesday 6 July), set off from Lanercost Priory on the first of 10 legs which will take in Carlisle Cathedral, three priories and 48 churches.
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6 July 2022
in Latest NewsNew discipleship course encourages lay ministry
A new course is set to help encourage people explore what lay ministry they may be being called to across Cumbria.
The Discipleship Project is an ecumenical course and will begin in September, with six core sessions to be run over a year from the Diocese of Carlisle’s Church House offices in Penrith and other supplementary modules to be run across the county.
It aims to support those people who want to explore what ministry they may be being called to, in or outside of a church context.
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