Church of England Archbishop to Visit Four Dioceses in 2026 Listening Tour

Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally announced plans to visit four Church of England dioceses in 2026 as part of a listening tour focused on clergy, congregations, and community outreach.

The Archbishop will travel to Peterborough, Rochester, Leicester, and Hereford this year, with Worcester scheduled for early 2027. The visits are designed to give Mullally direct contact with local church life across England.

The announcement came alongside news that Bishop Joanne Grenfell of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich has become the new co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Safeguarding in Faith Communities. Grenfell previously served as the Church of England's lead safeguarding bishop.

The APPG, established in 2021, works to raise awareness of safeguarding issues in religious settings and promote best practices across faith communities.

Separately, Justin Humphreys, former CEO of the Christian safeguarding charity Thirtyone:eight, launched a new international consultancy called Integra Safeguarding. Humphreys said the goal is to help organizations build safer cultures, drawing on 30 years of experience in the field.

The Church of England also released a series of short films featuring priests who combine parish ministry with secular careers, including a hairdresser, a data analyst, a solicitor, and a doctor. Bishop Julie Conalty, who oversees more than 2,000 self-supporting ministers, said these dual-role clergy bring fresh perspectives and new opportunities for sharing faith.