The Bishop of Oxford has announced he is planning to retire from his role in the summer of 2026.

The Right Reverend Dr Steven Croft will have led the diocese for 10 years when he leaves in July.

His retirement also means he will no longer have a place in the House of Lords after 13 years as a member.

Dr Croft, who was ordained in 1983, said: “I am deeply thankful for the ministries of so many people called to sustain the life and mission of churches, chaplaincies and schools across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.”

As Bishop of Oxford he oversees 800 churches in  609 parishes in the Thames Valley – the largest number of churches of any diocese in the Church of England.

The diocese is also home to 284 schools and academies, educating some 60,000 pupils.

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Bishop of Oxford announces retirement date https://t.co/xxknUJEz4L

— BBC Oxfordshire (@BBCOxford) November 18, 2025

Last month, after escalating violence and systematic killings in el-Fasher, the bishops met together to pray. On 29 October, they issued an urgent appeal for peace in Sudan, calling for all parties to ‘immediately cease hostilities’ and imploring the international community to respond.

The bishops’ October statement depicted the Sudanese people as facing a ‘grave situation’ and drew attention to ‘the ongoing conflict in Sudan and its devastating impact on the security, social and economic conditions’ which greatly affects ‘the lives of citizens.’

Archbishop Ezekiel explains to Anglican News that October’s appeal was all about ‘Urging groups to silence the guns, to stop the war and to speak peace. This is important. Because people are dying. People are hungry.’

Since that statement was made, Archbishop Ezekiel relays,  ‘There is nothing yet changed, but we have hope… We thank God that the Quad group is working very hard to bring the groups together, to ‘stop the war,’ and ‘bring peace’.

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Sudan is facing the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. In October, the bishops of the Episcopal Church of Sudan issued an Appeal for Peace. This November, the Archbishop of Sudan, the Most Revd Ezekiel Kumir Kondo, has been in the UK to raise awareness for Sudan’s plight. To… pic.twitter.com/ZNASOcTqAs

— Anglican Communion News Service (@AnglicanNews) November 18, 2025

Recent Barna research reveals that only one in four single moms attends church weekly, the steepest drop among women in recent years. The finding raises an uncomfortable question: Are churches truly heeding the biblical command to care for the vulnerable in their midst?

When Joie Van Holstyn became a single mom of two boys through foster care and adoption in 2019, her church attendance quickly spiraled. 

“It was really hard at first,” she said. “We had pretty rough attendance the first two years—it was so much work to get out of the house. And I just felt out of place as a single mom.”

For women like Van Holstyn, the barriers start with logistics—juggling work hours, transportation, and the chaos of getting kids ready alone. But the emotional weight can be heavier still. Many feel judged, pitied, or simply invisible in congregations that assume families include a husband.

A friend eventually confronted Van Holstyn about her sporadic attendance. Convicted, she committed to going every week, even when her children squirmed through the small rural church’s service.

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'“It was really hard at first,” she said. “We had pretty rough attendance the first two years—it was so much work to get out of the house. And I just felt out of place as a single mom.”

For women like Van Holstyn, the barriers start with logistics—juggling work hours,…

— Kendall Harmon (@KendallHarmon6) November 19, 2025

35 year old Paris, originally from Iran, moved to England two years ago with her husband on a student visa. Here she explains how her life has changed since stepping into Christ Church in Freemantle, Southampton.

“When my baby was 40 days old and had cried the whole night from colic, I was exhausted and in a very bad state.  I put her in a baby carrier and walked the streets and found myself staring into a school yard for no reason. Somebody asked me to move on and respect their space. That was so embarrassing for me, and I stepped aside.  

As I walked on, I saw the door of Christ Church was open, I went in, and a kind lady invited me to have a warm cup of tea.  A few minutes later, another kind woman, came and told me she was the priest of the church.    

At that time, I didn’t even know what a priest was. I could see she was speaking kindly to me, even though my English language was bad.  She told me she knew my country, and she knew Iranian people locally. Suddenly I realised after months of being alone during pregnancy and after birth, with my language getting worse every day, I was talking with someone again.

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"I’ve never left a Sunday service without feeling lighter and better inside.": "I’ve never left a Sunday service without feeling lighter and better inside."

As an exhausted… https://t.co/YaoK8zAP1o #MentalHealth #CommunitySupport #ParentingJourney #SundayService #FaithAndHope pic.twitter.com/KdYERrivZt

— Rev. Lion David Greene (@greene345) November 15, 2025

Almighty God, by whose grace thy servant Elizabeth of Hungary recognized and honored Jesus in the poor of this world: Grant that we, following her example, may with love and gladness serve those in any need or trouble, in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Today, 17th November, is the feast of St Elizabeth of Hungary, Franciscan tertiary renowned for her love for the poor. Her spiritual director wrote that "she was a lifelong friend of the poor and gave herself entirely to relieving the hungry. She ordered that one of her castles… pic.twitter.com/CIu8wobvRc

— Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P. (@LawrenceOP) November 17, 2025

O Lord, who hast taught us that we can only be forgiven, as we ourselves forgive: Help us ever to bear in mind our continued shortcomings, our manifold transgressions; that as we remember the injuries which we have suffered and never merited, we may also remember the kindnesses which we have received and never earned, the punishments which we have deserved and never suffered; and therewith may render thanks to thee for thine unfailing mercies, and the mercies of our fellowmen; for thy name’s sake.

—Daily Prayer, Eric Milner-White and G. W. Briggs, eds. (London: Penguin Books 1959 edition of the 1941 original)

The Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf beyond, lighting up the heavy rain-filled clouds from Greenwich early this morning… @WeatherAisling @ChrisPage90 @SallyWeather @StormHour @metoffice #loveukweather @PanoPhotos @MetroUK pic.twitter.com/Lnp0I4SnDS

— WalkingTractor (@TractorWalking) November 19, 2025

As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.

When they came to Caper′na-um, the collectors of the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

–Matthew 17:22-27

Each sunrise is proof that no matter what happened yesterday, today can be different. pic.twitter.com/kdIaFpUkpl

— Darius Aniunas (@dariusaniunas) November 19, 2025