Our Diocesan Synod was held in Bahrain this year and was a very special event.
Celebrating the past 50 years and very much looking to the future, Synod took place in an atmosphere of warm hospitality, friendship, unity and loving support.

Full reports of each day’s events – and more photos – are in the Diocesan website.

Here is a shorter report for St Andrew’s
Diocesan Synod 2026 – Parish Report

Link to the article: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/30-january/news/world/diocese-of-cyprus-the-gulf-celebrates-50-years?utm_campaign=church-times&utm_medium=email&utm_edition=202601300130&utm_source=newsletter

Screenshot

St Andrew’s was well represented at the Diocesan Jubilee Service at St Clement Danes in London, on Sunday.

Left to right. Rev Anthony Fletcher, former Chaplain at St. Andrew’s. 2000-2004.
Linda Smith, Anne Lloyd and Jeanette Burton – former Treasurer at St. Andrew’s during her time in Cyprus (1999-2009).

Many thanks to Linda Smith for sharing these great pictures of some fabulous St Andrew’s people, flying the flag for us and the Diocese over there in London.

DIOCESAN SYNOD 2026: LIVE-STREAMING OF SERVICES

If you would like to follow this year’s Synod worship, in Bahrain, the QR code below will connect to live-streaming of the following two services:

Synod Opening Eucharist on 2 February at 1530 (Bahrain) / 1430 (Cyprus)

Chrism Eucharist on 4 February at 1800 (Bahrain) / 1700 (Cyprus)

(The Synod services booklet will be available on the Diocesan website from Sunday, with notification to that effect posted on fb the same day.)

Screenshot

Anne Lloyd, former Church Secretary of St Andrew’s, and also of the Association Friends of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, yesterday attended a Service of Thanksgiving commemorating 50 years of faithful witness and ministry in the Diocese, which was held at St Clement Danes in London.

Maintaining the strong Kyrenia connection, Linda Smith is now the current Secretary of the Association of Friends. For more information or to become a Friend of the Diocese, please go to: https://www.cypgulf.org/association-of-friends/

Bishop Sean’s sermon reflected on the Diocese at 50, and on the challenges that lay ahead—not just for Cyprus and the Gulf, but for the Church everywhere.

“Anglicanism, with its moderate theology and well-established governance, is well received in the Middle East. We have the reputation of being respectful and committed interfaith and ecumenical interlocutors able to promote dialogue across boundaries and divisions.

“We are well known for our humanitarian outreach, through St George’s Clinic in Baghdad, which is greatly supported by Mosaic Middle East; and through the Ras Morbat Eye Clinic in Aden—run entirely by Muslim staff, in a war-torn area, as a ministry of an Anglican diocese. Here light is literally brought into the darkness of people’s lives.”

He referred too, to a Diocese offering “Christian love and belonging to migrants drawn to the Middle East from all over the world…. For migrants experiencing culture shock, loneliness and the pains of separation from their families, our churches provide a spiritual ‘home from home’, and a spiritual family.

Bishop Sean concluded:
“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Here is the link to the beautiful service for Earl, which was held in Ireland on Saturday.

Screenshot

https://www.cypgulf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Diocesan-monthly-Evening-Prayer-2026-1.pdf

Screenshot

The Service will be recorded and shared with Earl’s friends around the world on St Patrick’s Cathedral, Facebook page.

St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh – Anglican – COI

We are delighted to learn that Rev’d Canon Dr Walter Brownridge is to become Dean of St Paul’s.
Diocesan Secretary, Canon Georgia, brought Rev’d Walter and his wife Tina to visit St Andrew’s, during their time at St Paul’s over the summer.
Rev’d Walter and Fr Alec were delighted to learn they had a number of mutual friends. We very much look forward to welcoming Tina and Walter to Kyrenia for another visit.

Please hold in your prayers the Ras Morbat Clinic in Aden, which has temporarily closed due to ongoing political instability, its director Mansour Yousuf, his staff and the people of Yemen.

Screenshot

The Ras Morbat Clinic is enabled by the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf to serve Yemen’s poor, refugees and displaced people who cannot afford eye care otherwise.