The new head of Australias four million Anglicans says his first priority is not to lobby the government over workplace reform, or see women become bishops, or even to deal with the homosexuality row, but to get more people sitting in the pews on Sundays.

Finally, an explanation of the Christian approach to the environment that can be absorbed on an afternoon in the train or passed on to an acquaintence without fear of stressing the friendship.

Even as the clearing up, forensic work, medical treatment and mourning continues in the aftermath of the terrible bomb attacks against London on 7 July 2005, policy makers in government and civil society are necessarily required to think about the response to these awful events.

The Prime Minister John Howard joined Australians in prayer yesterday as hundreds braved the wind and rain to gather at St Andrews Cathedral for a special service in the wake of Londons terror bombings.

The Archbishop of Brisbane, the Most Rev Phillip Aspinall, has been elected primate of the Anglican Church of Australia in Sydney today.

Australian Cricket Chaplain Dr Mark Tronson spent a worrying 14 hours last night praying that his two children staying a street away from one of the London explosions were not injured or killed in the series of devastating terrorist attacks.

The Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Rev Peter Jensen, has reached out to the Bishop of London and the beleaguered people of that city in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

Church leaders around the world are calling on all people of faith to offer prayers for those caught up in the series of explosions that have rocked London in the past 24 hours.