Bishop Michael will be holding a prayer vigil for Gaza in the chapel at the Bishop’s Palace at 17:00 on Sunday, 3 August 2025. The vigil will be open for anyone to attend. Those who can’t join Bishop Michael at the chapel are being encouraged to join in and pray where they are, at a time to suit them.
Synod members gathered in York early this month for a five-day summer group of sessions. On the Saturday, Synod members turned to a motion from the Bishop of Hereford calling for a redistribution of Church funds.
Diocesan Synod, together with the Annual General Meeting of the Diocesan Board of Finance, took place on Wednesday, 9 July at Flourish House, Wells.
The results of the independent review into safeguarding in the Diocese of Bath and Wells and Wells Cathedral have been published today. INEQE, who are in the process of evaluating the quality of safeguarding practice in all Church of England dioceses across the country, undertook the audit of Bath and Wells in March 2025.
The House of Bishops, which has been meeting in York issued a statement on the situation in Gaza.
Bishop Ruth has sent a thank you message to all in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
On the day of His Holiness, Pope Francis' funeral, Bishop Michael has written to Bishop Bosco, the Bishop of Clifton, to share with him a message for the people of the Diocese of Clifton, as we hold them and all our brothers and sisters in the Catholic Church in our prayers today.
He said, "In our sorrow we give thanks for all that Francis brought to the role of Pope"
As the sun rose on Easter morning, outside Taunton Minster the community gathered to celebrate the resurrection of Christ and to witness the confirmation 12 people.
More than 500 clergy, lay leaders and people from across the diocese attended the Chrism Eucharist and had to opportunity to say farewell to Bishop Ruth, who was attending her last service as Bishop of Taunton.
In Holy Week Bishop Michael will be out and about around the diocese, joining in with churches as we journey toward Easter.
An update from Bishop Michael and Ben Goodhind, Safeguarding Manager as the two-week safeguarding audit visit to the diocese by INEQE, the independent auditors appointed to evaluate the quality of safeguarding practice in all Church of England dioceses across the country, comes to an end.
Bishop Michael has written to people across the diocese asking them to share their views on the recruitment of the next Bishop of Taunton.
“Our calling as God’s people in these days that we have been given to live in is not to be people of denial or despair but people of hope. Hope is one of the great Christian virtues that we are called to live out,” said Bishop Michael at March's Diocesan Synod
Bishop Michael has sent a message to the diocese with the details of Bishop Ruth’s farewell service. Bishop Ruth’s last service in Bath and Wells will be the Chrism Eucharist on the Tuesday of Holy Week, at which she will preach.
On Sunday, 2 March Bishop Michael joined in the celebrations to mark the 40-year anniversary of Crook Peak United Parish at St Gregory’s in Weare. The service marked the culmination of a month of celebrations across the parish’s six churches, which together raised over £1,000 for good causes.
Downing Street has announced today that Bishop Ruth is to become the new suffragan Bishop of Wigan in the Diocese of Liverpool and to serve as the Interim Bishop of Liverpool.
Due to the overrun of previous items of Synod business, insufficient time was left available to give this motion proper consideration. Hence Bishop Michael proposed a motion requesting an adjournment so that the next Synod in July can fully address the serious concerns raised.
At its February session, General Synod engaged in extensive debate about the future of safeguarding. Bishop Michael has reported back on the debate
Yeovil was the destination for Bishop Michael’s most recent Benefice Visit, when he paid a visit to the Parish of Preston Plucknett.
