During a visit to St Paul’s Hammersmith on Sunday 1 March, the Acting Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Dr Emma Ineson, encouraged churches across the Diocese to embrace a renewed ministry of reconciliation and prayerful attentiveness in what she described as “a year full of opportunity.”
In one of her first public engagements since taking on the role, Bishop Emma highlighted London’s beauty, diversity, and creativity, while acknowledging the rising levels of tension in many parts of society. Polarisation, she noted, is increasing “globally, politically, locally, even in schools,” and the Church has a distinctive role in such a moment.
“Maybe part of our calling is to stand between groups who fear or misunderstand one another – to listen, reconcile, and draw people together in Christ’s love,” she said. She invited churches to be known for hope rather than criticism: “I hope in the coming year we can proclaim the good in our city. Too often the church is known for negativity. Can we be known for speaking life?”
Attending to God’s leading in times of transition
In a conversation with the Revd Pete Wynter, Vicar of St Paul’s, Bishop Emma reflected on how the Diocese might faithfully navigate the vacancy period ahead. Drawing on the Old Testament story of the Israelites in the wilderness, she described how God guided His people not with a map but with His own presence – the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.
She suggested this is a helpful picture for the Diocese today: attending closely to God’s leading, especially when the way ahead is not entirely clear. Her reflections resonate strongly with the Diocese’s Lenten theme, Treasures of Darkness, which invites us to recognise God’s presence even in hidden or unfamiliar places.
“This year is full of opportunity,” she said. “There will be moments to push forward and moments to rest – times to stop striving and simply stay close to God.”
Reflecting on the service, Revd Pete Wynter, Vicar of St Paul’s Hammersmith, said:
We are so grateful to have Bishop Emma as our Acting Bishop and as our Area Bishop, who shares our vision to see the Church alive, encountering God, and awakening the city. God is moving in London, and we are seeing that with many new people encountering Him – especially in the emerging generations – week on week.