Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

Christians face harassment in 143 countries, according to major new research. The latest Annual Pew Report uncovers a record increase in restrictions on religion imposed by many governments around the world. It also finds violence and harassment against religious groups are on the rise. Release International, which supports persecuted Christians around the world, has welcomed...

Church-goers across the world have been in wellies in recent weeks,  in order to clean local waterways, plant trees and promote wild areas in churchyards as part of a global initiative to encourage biodiversity and help stem the effects of climate change. From 1st September to 4th October Christians around the world, including from the...

All in the month of OCTOBER Together we fall Dropping a line Medicine for the heart In memory of Doris Lessing Celebrating Girton – one of the first colleges for women Nietzsche – the man for whom ‘God is dead’ Bugs everywhere you touch ** Editor:  We continue our column that looks at memorable dates...

Recently responding to the fires in the Amazon rainforest, the Church of England’s lead bishop for Environmental Affairs, the Bishop of Salisbury, Nick Holtam,  has said: “There is a climate emergency which does not know international boundaries. The Amazon is a global resource as well as a national one. “I have been asked to sign...

The Bishop of Penrith recently paddled a canoe across Derwentwater to celebrate the launch of a Northern Centre of pioneering mission in Cumbria. The Rt Rev Dr Emma Ineson crossed to St Herbert’s Island to mark the formal collaboration between the Diocese of Carlisle – the Church of England in Cumbria – and CMS. From...

People who live in an area that suffers from natural disasters are 7.6 times more likely to be religious than people who live in areas without natural disasters. Such was the finding of a recent report from the University of Copenhagen, published in The Economic Journal. Dr Jeanet Bentzen explained that by using natural disasters...

The Government plans to introduce a new system of registration for marriages, including church weddings, in England and Wales. It is anticipated that the new system will replace traditional marriage registers with a new ‘marriage document’ to be signed by the couple at the wedding and lodged with the local register office. Although no date...

The Rectory St James the Least of All My dear Nephew Darren Our Lord said that we will always have some poor with us; were He to have been speaking to the clergy that day, I suspect He may well have said that we will always have some awkward parishioners with us. My cross at...

In the coming months, Spring Harvest is holding evenings of Spring Harvest Local, which are events described as ‘heartfelt worship, inspiring teaching and an opportunity to pray for the empowering of the Holy Spirit at venues around the UK.’ The theme will pick up on the Spring Harvest 2020 theme, ‘Unleashed: The Acts Church Today,’...

Five-a-side football, running groups, after-school sports and a boxing club are to be supported by the Church of England as part of a drive to reach people who may never have been to church before, it was announced today. Football, netball and fitness groups are to be funded by the Church of England in Norfolk...

God’s Spies – the Stasi’s Cold War espionage campaign inside the Church More #Niteblessings – Further Meditations for the End of the Day Joseph’s Dreamcoat and other stories By Way of the Heart – the Season of Faith Forgiveness – a practical and pastoral companion Psalm for My Day – a Child’s Praise Devotional First...

The Bible Society is hard at work in Algeria, even though some of its staff could be arrested and imprisoned at any time. But they are willing to take the risk, in order to support the besieged church there, which is begging for as many as 50 Bibles every week.  As a Bible Society spokesman...