St. Helen's Bishopsgate Rector Calls Church of England Bishops Heretics Over Same-Sex Blessing Process

The Rev. William Taylor, rector of St. Helen's Bishopsgate in London, publicly called Church of England bishops involved in the "Living in Love and Faith" process "heretics" and "false teachers" in a statement that has drawn sharp reactions across the Anglican world.

Taylor said his church will seek alternative ordination pathways, effectively distancing St. Helen's from the Church of England's official episcopal structure. The move signals one of the most direct confrontations yet between conservative evangelical congregations and the denomination's leadership over the blessing of same-sex couples.

The "Living in Love and Faith" process, which the Church of England launched several years ago, has allowed some clergy to offer prayers of blessing for same-sex couples. Conservative evangelicals have argued the process crosses a theological line that cannot be reconciled with orthodox Christian teaching on marriage.

St. Helen's Bishopsgate is one of the most prominent evangelical churches in the City of London, known for its large congregation of young professionals and its influence in Anglican evangelical circles.

The Religion Media Centre reported the statement on September 29, 2026, noting that it came the same week Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally visited The Episcopal Church in the United States to emphasize Anglican unity.

The contrast between Mullally's unity message and Taylor's break from episcopal authority highlights the depth of the divide within global Anglicanism. Conservative Anglican networks in Africa and North America have long argued that the Western church has departed from biblical teaching on sexuality.

Taylor's statement did not announce a formal departure from the Church of England but made clear that St. Helen's would not accept ordination from bishops it considers to be teaching false doctrine.