Below is the Spring newsletter of the Friends of the Diocese:

Dear Friends

If you are feeling overwhelmed and troubled by world events, then you are in good company with so many people. It is usually the first topic in any conversation such is the effect it is having, or will have, on so many areas of everyday life. In our parish priest’s sermon on Sunday, he said that for many the act of prayer was something of a last resort activity when all else fails, when it should be the first port of call (unless, of course, it is a life-threatening situation requiring emergency action). Prayer helps to give a breathing space and perhaps as a result a way forward becomes clearer or more considered actions are taken. So, it seems apt that as a starting point to this letter, I am including a prayer for the Friends of the Diocese written by Guy Milton, Chair of the Friends.

Prayer for the Friends - March 2026
Lord, we give you thanks for the encouragement and support of all those living either in or outside the Diocese who pray faithfully and give generously for the valuable ministry of chaplains, staff and their congregations. We particularly bring before you with gratitude the work of the “Friends of the Diocese”. We thank you for their commitment to pray for the Diocese, their interest in its work and for their donations which provide extra help in areas such as language training for the clergy, study grants and help with ministerial training.
Lord, we pray that you might grant all those who support the Diocese a sense of joy in their faithful giving. We ask that you might call others to become members of the “Friendsˮ so that they might share in its work and be part of a fellowship which values and cherishes the Diocese. We pray for wisdom and guidance for the Committee of the “Friendsˮ as they decide how best to use the contributions from its members, and we ask that these funds might continue to make a real difference to the lives and ministry of so many chaplaincies across the Diocese.
In Your Name
Amen

News from the Friends’ Committee that met in February
Two applications for language tuition grants were approved and by way of providing some interest for you, recipients will be contacted after a reasonable length of time to ask how their course is progressing and how having a better grasp of the national language is helping in their ministry and then reported back to you.

The Friends’ Annual Service 2026 will be on 22 September, joining as it has done for three years the congregation of Southwark Cathedral for Choral Evensong at 5.30pm. There will be a get together afterwards in the Gary Weston Library and it is very much anticipated that both bishops will be attending. So, a date for your diary but, of course, there will be reminders nearer the time. When you know that you will be attending, please don’t forget to let me know for catering purposes.

I am pleased to include with this letter a flyer about a forthcoming book written by James Bettley, a member of the Friends, entitled “English Churches in Europe”. This is likely to be of interest to many of you. Details about the book and how it can be ordered are set out in the flyer. At James’ suggestion I am also circulating his email address in case anyone has any questions and wishes to contact him. He is at: jamesbettley@btinternet.com

The flyer can be downloaded here: English Churches in Europe

I give links to the following:
Prayer Diary
The European Anglican: European Anglicans Magazine. You can sign-up to receive this publication direct to your in-box as soon as it is published by clicking on the subscribe link on that page – subscribing is free-of-charge.

As always, thank you for your on-going support and with every good wish for a joyous Eastertide.

Jeanne

Jeanne French, Honorary Secretary, Friends of the Diocese in Europe, 14 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3QZ
Email: dioceseineuropefriends@gmail.com

Email: jeanne.french@churchofengland.org

Legacies

Making a gift in your Will for the Friends is a lovely way of saying farewell and ensuring that the support to the ministry of the diocese will go on into the future. If you haven’t considered the Friends for a gift, do make a note so you will remember when you are either making your Will or adding beneficiaries to an existing one. Thank you.
 

You can download this newsletter in pdf here: Friends of the Diocese Spring 2026 Newsletter