News Stories
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28 Oct. 2025
in GeneralAttendance at our churches rises for fourth year
Statistics have shown that attendance at CofE churches in our diocese has risen for the fourth year in a row since the Covid pandemic. There are now 8,000 worshippers in our churches each week. The figures reflect a similar rise at national level. However, the figures are still below the pre-pandemic levels reached in 2019. Read more
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25 Oct. 2025
in GeneralCathedral offers space for homeless to sleep
Our cathedral will welcome 12 rough sleepers each night from the end of October to March 2026, as part of a partnership with the Society of St James. They'll bed down for the night in Becket Hall, the cathedral's hall in St Thomas's Street, opposite the cathedral itself Read more
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21 Oct. 2025
in GeneralChaplains are integral to hospice care
Chaplains are integral to the care that hospices give to their patients, families and staff. Spiritual issues are woven into end-of-life care, and to bereavement support. The Rev Vickie Morgan is the chaplain at the Mountbatten Hospice on the Isle of Wight Read more
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16 Oct. 2025
in GeneralNew pioneer minister commissioned on island
Ali Mascarenhas was commissioned as a lay pioneer in a special service at St Mary’s Church, Brighstone. Ali has led work in this parish over the past four years on projects including working parties in the churchyard, nature talks, a group creating mosaics and outdoor Celtic worship. Read more
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13 Oct. 2025
in GeneralNew priest appointed for Hayling Island
Bishop Jonathan has appointed a new associate priest to work in the parish of Hayling Island. The Rev May Barker will work alongside the interim priest-in-charge, the Rev Nick Todd. Read more
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3 Oct. 2025
in GeneralBishop welcomes new Archbishop of Canterbury
Bishop Jonathan today welcomed the announcement that the Rt Rev Sarah Mullally is to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury. The 106th Archbishop of Canterbury will be the first woman to hold the role. Read more
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26 Sept. 2025
in GeneralSafeguarding conference examines trauma
Dozens of parish safeguarding officers, clergy and other church staff attended the fourth annual Safeguarding Conference, held at St Luke’s Church, Southsea. They heard from speakers about trauma-informed care, about the theology of trauma and about aspects of mental health. Read more
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26 Sept. 2025
in GeneralAmbitious Remembrance project to help us remember
An ambitious Remembrance project will help us to remember those who made sacrifices to preserve our freedoms. Christ Church Portsdown will host the event, which will include thousands of poppies cascading inside and outside the church, stories of wartime evacuees, and an exhibition within the church. The church site, on London Road, includes a military cemetery where those who died in the First and Second World Wars are buried. Read more
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23 Sept. 2025
in GeneralPrison chaplaincy can be a godsend
The chaplains based at HM Prison Isle of Wight offer regular Sunday services, pastoral care, Bible studies and help with bereavement issues. Every Sunday there is a Eucharistic service in both chapels, on the Parkhurst site and on the Albany site, led by one of the two Anglican chaplains on site. Around 30 inmates attend each. Read more
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17 Sept. 2025
in GeneralIndependent audit praises safeguarding in diocese and cathedral
An independent audit has praised the transformation of the safeguarding culture within our diocese and our cathedral over recent years. The report, by independent safeguarding group INEQE, was published after a digital survey earlier in the year and a week-long in-person visit in June. The audit said that our diocese had gone through “a substantial and positive transformation in its safeguarding culture, establishing a firmly embedded and robust framework.” Read more