It is about time the Church became serious about politics. The debacle over its opposition to the Government's welfare reform programme offers the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, a God-given opportunity to totally reshape the role of bishops in the House of Lords.

Why is he back in the news?

One of the residents of Chelsea's illustrious Cheyne Walk, along with Dante Gabriel Rossetti, James McNeill Whistler, George Eliot and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the Anglo-French poet, essayist and historian Hilaire Belloc was born in 1870, and famously said: "When I am dead, I hope it may be said: His sins were scarlet, but his books were read."

Justin Welby, the recently enthroned Archbishop of Canterbury, has given his backing to heterosexual couples who want to enter civil partnerships – a right currently restricted to gay and lesbian couples.

Keith Weston, rector of St Ebbe's Church, Oxford, was widely regarded as one of the foremost Bible expositors of his generation. He played a vital part in an ambitious plan by the then Inter-Varsity Fellowship (now UCCF) to see Bible-teaching churches in all UK and Irish university towns. Weston's twofold ministry was to allow scripture to inform the thinking of his church members in whatever sphere they served, and to raise up other preachers who would do the same.

According to a YouGov poll, on the question of trust, respondents ranked a priest below a family doctor, a teacher, a judge and even a BBC news journalist

Pope Francis used his first Easter message today to criticise the forces of capitalist greed and environmental destruction.

Pope Francis calls for peace in Syria and the Korean peninsula

The Archbishop of Canterbury will play the theme tune from the BBC sitcom The Vicar of Dibley when he makes his radio presenting debut on Easter Sunday.

The head of the Church of England has said some gay couples have loving and monogamous relationships of "stunning quality" - and he believes a woman will one day be made an archbishop.

The House of Commons will vote this evening on legalising gay marriage. But that bald statement of parliamentary timetabling masks the full import of what is happening. The Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill is a historic piece of legislation that, once passed into law, will change the social landscape. It will change it for ever – no future government will be able to reverse it – and for the better. This is a modernising, reformist piece of legislation that recognises the right of everyone to be treated equally by the law, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Prominent atheist professor Richard Dawkins described religion as “redundant and irrelevant” as he took on the former Archbishop of Canterbury in a debate.

Allowance would avoid time spent pushing fresh legislation through Parliament

A senior member of the Church of England today survived a bid to oust him from his position after he spoke against the introduction of female bishops ahead of a crucial vote.