Kaya Burgess
@kayaburgess
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Science and Religious Affairs Correspondent @TheTimes of London | Shortlisted for Specialist + Science Journalist of the Year at 2024 + 25 Press Awards
Joined February 2009
Hello, I have the unique privilege of being both Science Reporter and Religious Affairs Correspondent at @TheTimes in London ⚛️🛐 . Here's a collection of stories where I managed to combine both! . Including a link to all my stories in both patches
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These eight lads carrying the Queen's coffin. The crème de la crème, the Premier League of pall bearers. They carried the Queen into Westminster Hall five days ago. Into Westminster Abbey this morning. Back out now. Nerves (and spines and shoulders) of steel.
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BREAKING: The entire senior leadership of the Church of England (every bishop in the House of Lords) has joined to decry the Rwanda scheme as "an immoral policy that shames Britain" in letter to @TheTimes
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Well this bit of commentary is the most *perfect* summary I've heard of VAR and its overall effect on football 🔊
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Wouldn't usually give Katie Hopkins the oxygen of publicity, but Finsbury Park Mosque engaged its lawyers over a false tweet by Hopkins and has forced her into one of the longest/fullest apologies I've seen for such a post. Even had to acknowledge the good work the mosque does
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Was about to order a bunk bed for our sons. Got to checkout to find delivery charge is a whopping £80. Just asked the firm on their live-chat if this could possibly be right. Their reply is below. They said delivery used to be £20.
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Strongly-worded column here from Ian Hislop about Justin Welby's appearance at a British Museum trustees' dinner the day after he announced his resignation
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BREAKING: Church of England just voted not only to condemn conversion or "gay cure" therapy, but also to ask government to ban it altogether.
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Look outside! A Total British Eclipse! Where the sun is completely blocked out by clouds. Don't miss it. Next one not due until tomorrow.
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On the left is the best image we had of Pluto before. Now we have this. Just astonishing. #PlutoFlyby
http://t.co/rA1Ane3oVt.
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In today's Twitter killjoy news: . No, the girl who was the baby face in the Teletubbies sun has *not* had a baby of her own. The baby in this picture is Berry, who replaced her as the face of the Teletubbies sun. But it's not her own baby.
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Exclusive: The Church of England is ditching all £20 million of its investments in Russian companies and has banned further investment in Russian firms, in "response to the attack on Ukraine". Archbishops have called the attack "an act of evil"
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BREAKING: Church of England bishop, the Bishop of Ebbsfleet, has resigned and quit the CofE to join the Roman Catholic church:.
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Blimey, keep an eye on the man shouting in the right of the shot. Someone behind him clearly did not take kindly to his shouting
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Striking image of Archbishop of Canterbury at site of the Amritsar massacre. He expressed his "profound shame" at the actions of British troops in 1919 and said he recognises "the sins of my British colonial history".
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This line in the BBC's analysis of Donald Trump Jr's email revelations is exquisite
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It's true. Pubs didn't close during the Blitz. Despite the huge risk of German bombs being transmitted via airborne droplets between people gathered in close proximity.
“Pubs didn’t even shut during the blitz in the second world war.". Former Chair of Pizza Express @LukeJohnsonRCP says the new tiered system is “incoherent” and “arbitrary” and calls on the government to conduct a risk-assessment into the cost of lockdowns. #Newsnight
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Oh dear. The UK didn't even get any pity points from Ireland. This has 'nul points' written all over it. (Has only happened once). #Eurovision2021.
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A 90-year-old survivor of both the Holocaust and the Great Famine in 1930s Ukraine (which some say the Soviets caused deliberately) is now living in makeshift accommodation in Poland, having fled her country. Her granddaughter in UK is desperate to bring her to Britain but can't.
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Says *seven time* unsuccessful MP candidate (losing in 1994, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2015)
The rumour in Washington is @HillaryClinton will stand again in 2020. It’s time for her to recognise that it’s over.
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BREAKING: The Methodist Church has voted to allow same-sex marriages in church. The largest denomination to do so in Britain, joining the Scottish Episcopal Church, United Reformed Church, Quakers and Unitarians. Methodist Conference just voted 254-46 in favour.
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*Looks around for a pro-Brexit politician who has stuck around to deal with the mess*
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💉Historic day and a "huge milestone". Today the world's first ever routine malaria vaccinations will be administered, starting in Cameroon. After 3+ decades of work, today is when malaria vaccines get added to routine immunisations for the first time.
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First day back at work today after two weeks’ paternity leave. Bewildering that, in the 21st century, dads are granted only a fortnight after the birth to hang out with their new kids. It’s not only about spending time with your child but also supporting your partner. 1/4.
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Bishop of Newcastle said she was "deeply disturbed" by parts of Welby's speech. Said it was "unwise to say the very least". "To make light of serious matters of safeguarding failures in this way yet again treats victims and survivors of church abuse without proper respect."
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FACT-CHECK: 'Oak trees were specially planted at Versailles in 19th century to restore Notre Dame's wooden frame if needed'. FALSE ❌. Château de Versailles confirms: "The rumour circulating on social media is false.". Says it has "no basis in historical fact".
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I remember @EddieIzzard, as far back as 1993, joking about the way Londoners react with defiance to terror attacks
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Look at how *amazing* roads look when you restrict motor traffic access and use that space for other things. This is London's Soho.
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The firm said they may one day be able to lower their delivery charge back down from £80 to nearer the original £20 fee, but said this below. So it's all going marvellously for businesses and consumers so far, then.
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BREAKING: Justin Welby has arrived by train in Kyiv to show solidarity in face of "Russia's illegal, unjust and brutal invasion". First Archbishop of Canterbury since WWI to travel to active European war-zone. I'm exclusively accompanying him for @TheTimes
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Pyramid stage was as full as I've seen it (Beyoncé levels of full) for Jeremy Corbyn, who got quite the reception
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Finsbury Park Mosque said the apology came after they "instructed our legal representatives" and said they had accepted it. It's a strong and decisive response from the mosque to set the record straight and fight back against damaging falsehoods on social media.
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There really aren't enough yawns in the world to express how deeply, deeply boring these takes are. The desperate attempts to make a culture war issue out of "some people find it really helpful for productivity and childcare and convenience to work from home sometimes"
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@DPJHodges Might it be because the coverage is misleading? Mr and Mrs Potato Head will *remain* Mr and Mrs Potato Head. It's the overall brand/logo that is becoming just plain "Potato Head".
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Peterborough Cathedral is "in crisis", it said today. Set to run out of money by Easter, its Dean told me. May have to close its doors on some days and become first part-time cathedral - needs £300k by March. This teddy in the transept seemed particularly downcast about it.
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Protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine is gathering in London's Trafalgar Square in front of the National Gallery . Shouts of 'Slava Ukraini', or 'Glory to Ukraine' ringing out
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Surprising YouGov poll finds that 16-24 year olds are more likely to believe in God than millennials in their late 20s and 30s, bucking the trend for younger age groups to be less religious.
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Very strongly worded statement from the Bishop of Liverpool, condemning Johnson's "false slur" and the "rancid" political culture.
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A view from behind the man who was shouting at the funeral cortege.
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Damon Albarn first Glastonbury star to mention EU result. "Democracy failed us because it was ill-informed."
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UPDATED WITH THEME TUNE: The state of British politics summed up in a clip of a flotilla face-off
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The Church of England has launched an Instagram filter allowing people to superimpose a digital ash cross onto their foreheads in selfies while people can't mark Ash Wednesday in church
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📰 @TimesDiary (my 130th) has withering put-downs by Jacob Rees-Mogg + this by @ProfBrianCox
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Map of how Britain voted (first pic) makes more sense when adjusted for population (second pic)
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1. Times front page.2. Andrea Leadsom claiming not to have said it. 3. Transcript proving she did.
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This is pretty huge. If confirmed, it'd be biggest hint of alien life discovered so far. On Earth, this gas is made by living organisms and NOTHING ELSE. We know of no inorganic process that can produce dimethyl suphide. And it may have been detected on this distant planet K2-18b
Astronomers may have detected (and it's still only "may" at this point) dimethyl sulphide on a distant planet, a molecule which on Earth is only produced by life.
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The Times is backing Remain. Read why (for free). Includes this exploding of Brexit myths
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Pope Francis has gifted King Charles two splinters of wood said to be from the cross used to crucify Jesus. They will be carried at the head of the coronation procession next month
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Remember, WWI began after Archduke Ferdinand tweeted: "I ain't afraid of no Yugoslav nationalists. AUSTRIA-HUNGARY!"
North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.
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I still think Labour should use this old Ed Miliband meme as an election poster - http://t.co/1IxQgmWfG1.
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Who invented dressage? How did they bring it up with the horse? "Gary, I know you love ploughing. But how do you feel about the rumba?".
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Jeremy Corbyn has just released a statement. In which he spells his own name wrong.
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Great that Fergal Keane felt able to speak about his PTSD from his work as a foreign correspondent. Important for journalists to be able to talk about how reporting on deaths, disasters, terror attacks, murders and abuse can affect you.
BBC announces Africa editor Fergal Keane has stepped down because of PTSD. Hugely honest statement
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Bishops' letter to @TheTimes condemning the "immoral" Rwanda policy is on the front page of the Telegraph and the i
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Saw the remarkable @RacingXtinction doc last night thanks to @elliegoulding. Daring and harrowing but also uplifting
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BREAKING: The state of British politics summed up in a clip of a flotilla face-off
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Hongkongers who have come to the UK for a new life have been volunteering to help Afghan refugees fleeing to Britain from the Taliban, hoping to pass on the warm welcome they received, @TheTimes has learned
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Statement from Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox
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As Brunei brings in law tomorrow to stone gay people to death:. - Oxford students call on university to strip Sultan of Brunei of his honorary degree.- Uni of Aberdeen will review his honorary doctorate.- SOAS students call for renaming of Brunei Gallery.
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BREAKING: The Church in Wales has voted to introduce blessings for couples in same-sex marriages. Church of England now only Anglican church in Britain that neither performs nor blesses same-sex unions. Scottish Episcopal Church performs them + Church in Wales will now bless them.
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Procession led by Muslim schoolgirls in white headscarves with signs reading "Islam says no to terror" + "Please don't kill innocent people"
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Read the full story in @TheTimes here. Justin Welby's farewell speech in the Lords has drawn criticism over its "frivolous tone" and for appearing "to make light of serious matters of safeguarding failures".
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Conservative peer Ed Vaizey tells the BBC that Rishi Sunak is a possible leadership contender as "he's so rich he's incorruptible. and is one of the few members of the cabinet who can do joined-up handwriting".
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Enjoying sharing this, and seeing everyone express the same shock and nerdy delight as I did when I first realised that postcodes in London are in alphabetical order (apart from the the '1's, which are reserved for the district with the head office):
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Listen to the reaction as Tommy Robinson result announced in the North West.
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Do everyone (and yourself) a favour this morning. If you see a troll's tweet and think 'how outrageous', don't RT it or share it. Ignore it.
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Such an exciting and tantalising update . Alien waterworld could be 'teeming with life'. James Webb telescope data 99.7% certain that planet K2-18b has a gas that, on Earth, is uniquely produced by living organisms .
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Vatican says letting priests bless gay relationships would give "erroneous" impression that church considers same-sex unions to be on equal footing with heterosexual marriage. Says gay unions have "positive elements which are to be valued", but are not "ordered" in eyes of God.
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Bradley Wiggins does hilarious impression of Phil Hindes annoying him with his gold medal before Wiggins' own final
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A nice thought, but the lights were only installed 15 years ago, in 2000, and they always switch off at 1am
The Eiffel tower turned its lights off for the first time since 1889. #ParisAttacks #PrayForPeace #PrayForParis
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Ranks of police officers with white roses wait at the east end of Westminster Bridge
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They misspelled "severed".
"I love this country and feel honoured to have served it," PM @David_Cameron says #BrexitVote.
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Also front page of Yorkshire Post.
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UKIP does badly in London. Area with most foreigners has the least problem with them. Because they are friends and colleagues, not bogeymen.
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@OllieHolt22 Perhaps because we have less confidence in the technology telling us a player is offside? Less confident they've frozen the frame at the exact 1000th of a second the ball left the passer's foot? Less confident you can accurately tell where an armpit starts on a TV monitor?.
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You know the news cycle is mad when you barely bat an eyelid at Fireman Sam being embroiled in an Islamophobia row.
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Few buildings as steeped in history as Westminster Hall. Built in 1097 by son of William the Conqueror. Hosted coronation feasts of Richard I, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, George IV (in 1189/1509/1559/1821). Hosted trials of William Wallace, Guy Fawkes + Charles I (in 1305/1606/1649)
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Liam Gallagher dedicates a cappella take of Don't Look Back In Anger to Manchester, London and Grenfell Tower victims. Crowd takes up chorus
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This account of the terror attack on London Bridge on Friday is just astonishing.
The Chief Executive of Fishmonger's Hall pays tribute to the bravery his staff showed during the London Bridge attack. #BBCBreakfast
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The words "lefty activist bacteria" are probably being typed into a ministerial speech as we speak.
BREAKING: Asylum seekers to be moved off Bibby Stockholm barge after Legionella bacteria found.
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BREAKING: The Bishop of Oxford has broken ranks to become the most senior serving priest to publicly call for the Church of England to start conducting same-sex weddings. Comes at crucial time as bishops consider change to church policy
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Time for @MrMichaelSpicer to come out from the room next door and take centre stage.
EXC Boris Johnson has launched the search for a new £100,000-plus a year spokesman to become the face of the Government in televised press conferences from this Autumn. A job ad asks for someone to "communicate with the nation on behalf of the Prime Minister". Apply by Aug 21.
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Something has not gone *entirely* to plan at the London Bridge construction site
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Exclusive: Senior imams plan first religious body for UK Muslims, to issue rulings that promote progressive interpretation of Islam [Pls RT]
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Tomorrow the Revs Catherine Bond and Jane Pearse will help open a new chapter in Church of England history. Will be among very first gay couples to stand in front of a priest as he "asks for God's blessing" on them using newly approved prayers. Read here:.
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Remember not to tweet out anything that could prejudice a jury if Geronimo the alpaca ends up being charged and prosecuted.
The alpaca is in police custody 😱😱.
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After almost five years as Religious Affairs Correspondent, it has FINALLY happened.
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Justin Welby's comments in the House of Lords about his resignation as Archbishop of Canterbury:
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You have to watch this with the sound up - the proper Londoner reaction from the onlookers is wonderful.
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How do you produce more than 150,000 roti breads per day at the huge #JalsaSalana festival for Ahmadi Muslims in Hampshire? Well.
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Surely time to give dads their own independent leave entitlement?. Experts say it would prevent employers from discriminating against women if it brings us to a point where men are as likely to take time off for kids as women. Also ends stance that raising kids is a woman’s work.
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The Bishop of London was moved to tears and had to pause her speech, crying as she lamented the "micro-aggressions" still faced by women in the Church of England. A striking moment at the CofE's synod today:
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Astonishing piece of work. An interactive globe to listen to live radio from anywhere on Earth (via @ollyfarrell)
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Would be costly in the short term to give dads paid leave/time off. But what could the social rewards be of helping families spend more time together and share childcare duties from day one and give kids more time with both parents?. Seems like a no brainier. But here we are.
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The Board of Deputies of British Jews has flagged this case to the Home Secretary in calling for more support for Ukrainian refugees. This an extract from the letter from @BoardofDeputies to @PritiPatel
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I demand to know who this Jeremy Corybn character is and whether he backs Jeremy Corbyn.
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Paula Vennells wrote a report in 2019 on:. - a lack of "effective governance".- "corporate memory loss".- the need to spot "red flags".- the perils of being "deaf" to challenges. It was about the Church of England. Specifically, how a review of church buildings had been run 🧵
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@PickardJE Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park is stunning. Reclaimed by nature, full of wildflowers and snaking footpaths. Feels like you're lost in a forest, rather than in the heart of the East End.
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