Luke Jerram's 'Helios' installation at Fountain's Abbey brings an extraordinary light into a place once dedicated to prayer.

As we near the announcement of the next Archbishop of Canterbury it's time to reflect on the state of the Church of England, and what might arise from the Church's long decline.

Like many others, I’ll probably make an effort to see tonight’s full moon. Noteworthy not only for its fullness but also, today, for the eclipse which will be at least partly visible from the UK. The ‘blood moon’, as it is called, might offer us a spectacular reminder of this strange and beautiful neighbouring globe, held in the earth’s gravity. As a presenter on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme commented, events such as the eclipse somehow serve to put humanity’s woes into perspective. As we agonise about the various crises of our time, earth’s celestial companion is a daily reminder of a strange place to which few humans have ever been.

Whether it’s her housing, clothes, the restaurants she goes to, or the fact she watches opera and drinks wine, she can apparently do nothing right, writes Guardian columnist Zoe Williams

During research into the London hospitals at the Reformation, I discovered their role in policing the streets. Following the dissolution of the monasteries, each of the five re-founded hospitals maintained beadles, part of whose job was to patrol the streets around the institutions, retrieving the sick and poor into them, with the power to "expulse" sturdy vagrants from the City. This was done in response to concerns by city leaders that the city was looking disheveled. In the politics of reformation, this was an unwelcome development. In the document re-founding the London hospitals it was stated:

A debate has been initiated by Sarah Coakley about the place and value of theology in the life of the church. This sees a much more significant place for theology, and a broader range of people involved in creating it, and debating it.

I have begun experimenting with artificial intelligence. Using the available free programmes I am exploring how AI might be used, and what risks or concerns need to shape my approach. It is fascinating - if a little disconcerting. For example, last week I resurrected the towering Anglican Archbishop of the 20th century, William Temple. I asked ChatGPT what Archbishop Temple might say to the Church of England today. At lightening speed, after presumably trawling all available Temple content in cyberspace - and assessing the state of the Church of England today - the headline answer emerged as follows:

Our capacity to create story & express it in ritual is perhaps the continuous defining characteristic of being human.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the publication of Faith in the City, begging the question as to what the Church is doing in our cities in 2025.

Not discussing theology is not the same as an absence of theology. The Church in particular always makes decisions - for better or worse - that are theological in nature. Discussing this adds value and understanding, even though it may not make life easier for the institution. It is obliged to do theology if it doesn't wish to dance to other agendas and influences.

How do we account for the value of a library of books which has both legitimated terror and inspired some of the most compassionate deeds in history?

Power isn't all it's claimed to be - and theology offers alternative ways of understanding its purpose.

Retreating to a remote place, immersing ourselves in the natural world, has a long history. Even at a time when we are most conscious of our mortality, this experience can be healing and uplifting.