The Forward in Faith Festival 2023 took place on Saturday 20 May 2023 at the Church of St Alban the Martyr, Holborn.

Texts, photographs and sound files will be posted here as they become available.

Mass

Sermon

Text

Audio

Meeting

Presentation from Fr Chris Brading, Society Missioner

Text

Audio

Presentation from Bishop Jonathan Baker on current issues of interest and concern in the Church of England

Text

Audio

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

The Catholic Group on General Synod has elected a new Chairman, following Fr Paul Benfield's decision to retire from the role after seven years as Chairman.

Fr Adam Gaunt, Rector of Loftus-in-Cleveland & Carlin How with Skinningrove in the Diocese of York, is the new Chairman. Fr Adam is local to that area, having been born in Middlesbrough and raised on Teesside. In 2015 he was elected to the House of Clergy of the General Synod and was re-elected in 2021. In 2017 Fr Adam was appointed as a board member of Together Middlesbrough & Cleveland, a joint venture between the Church Urban Fund and the Diocese of York, and in 2020 he was elected as a trustee of the Prayer Book Society.

Bishop Tony Robinson, Chairman of Forward in Faith, commented: "I warmly welcome Fr Adam to this important role. I know from his grounding in the life of his parish, and from the various trusteeships he has held, that he has the right blend of experience and skills to represent the Catholic Movement on General Synod effectively and with due consideration of the differing views held by fellow Anglicans, particularly at this testing time for Synod. I would also like to pay tribute to Fr Paul for undertaking the role with such aplomb over the last seven years. I am grateful that his legal expertise will remain available to our Movement."

The retirement of Fr David Houlding SSC has been announced with Fr David's last Sunday on duty being 23 July 2023 and a farewell celebration scheduled at All Hallows', Gospel Oak for Saturday 3 June 2023. Bishop Tony Robinson, Chairman of Forward in Faith, has responded to the news: "Fr David has served the Catholic Movement in the Church of England with great distinction. We particularly remember his tireless efforts as Chairman of the Catholic Group on General Synod during challenging times for our Movement. We wish Fr David well in his retirement and we pray that a worthy successor may be identified to succeed him in his role as a parish priest."

Bishop Tony Robinson, Chairman of Forward in Faith, has welcomed the appointment of Maggie Swinson as the Church of England's Independent Reviewer, following the untimely death of Sir William Fittall earlier this year. Maggie will follow in the illustrious footsteps of Sir Philip Mawer and Sir William in this role and we wish her well in playing a part in enabling mutual flourishing to remain both a priority and a reality for the Church of England.

Bishop Tony Robinson, Chairman of Forward in Faith, has welcomed the appointment of the Revd Dr Rob Munro as the successor to Bishop Rod Thomas in providing an episcopal ministry to conservative evangelical parishes across the Church of England. The appointment demonstrates the Church's continued commitment to mutual flourishing and a diversity of theological views among its bench of bishops.


Footnote: the Revd Dr Rob Munro will be the Bishop of Ebbsfleet, following changes to the Sees utilised to provide episcopal ministry under the House of Bishops' Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests. His predecessor, Rod Thomas, had been the Bishop of Maidstone. It has recently been announced that Fr Paul Thomas will be the Bishop of Oswestry. His predecessor, Jonathan Goodall, had been the Bishop of Ebbsfleet.