The following statement was released to the press on February 7th, 2006:

The Archbishops’ Council is pleased to announce that, subject to contract, Hymns Ancient and Modern, a Christian charity and publishing company responsible for SCM-Canterbury Press and the Church Times, is to take over Church House Bookshop, Great Smith Street, London.

Church House Bookshop, widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading Christian bookshops, will continue to trade under its existing name. The existing permanent staff of the bookshop will transfer to the new company.

Professor Peter Toyne, who chairs the Archbishops’ Council’s Publishing Board, said: "The Archbishop’s Council’s decision to sell the bookshop followed a review of its operation by the Council and the Publishing Board. This concluded that, whilst the shop was an important outlet for our publications, there was no fundamental reason why the Council itself should be running such a shop while others in the Christian bookselling sector would be better placed to do so.

"I am delighted that we have reached this agreement with an excellent company that has in-depth experience of the religious publishing market. This will ensure that Church House Bookshop continues to provide a service to the wider Church."

Patrick Coldstream, Chairman of Hymns Ancient & Modern said: "As a publisher both of the Church Times and the well respected Canterbury Press and SCM imprints, we see this as a natural step. Under the new ownership, we intend to develop the range and services offered by the bookshop and its mail order and Internet arms."

Church House Bookshop will continue to stock a full range of Church House Publishing publications and General Synod documents.