The following article by the Revd Dr Peter Phillips was first published on the LSE Religion and the Public Sphere blog. Relatively little is published on prison chaplaincies and the law, and we are grateful for permission to cross-post this thought-provoking item.

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The statutory presence of the Church of England in prisons should give it a voice on issues of imprisonment, but it remains largely silent

The formal links between the Church of England and prisons are strongly embedded in legislation and constitutional practice, despite changing patterns of religious practice in society. Despite this, Peter Phillips argues, the isolation of many prison chaplains from the mainstream of the church has prevented the Church of England from raising ethical and practical prison concerns in the public forum. Continue reading →