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        <title>Christian Today | Church</title>
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                <title><![CDATA[Church warden and rector lead legal challenge against Church of England's Project Spire]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/church-warden-and-rector-lead-legal-challenge-against-church-of-england-s-project-spire</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/church-warden-and-rector-lead-legal-challenge-against-church-of-england-s-project-spire</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[St Pauls Cathedral, Church of England]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:04:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A legal challenge has been on the cards for some time but the names of those spearheading the action have only now been revealed.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A church warden and a rector in the Church of England have sought permission from the Charity Commission to initiate a legal challenge against Project Spire, the controversial plan to commit £100 million towards reparations for the Church’s alleged historical links to the transatlantic slave trade.
The prospect of a legal challenge has been on the cards for some time. Last year Conservative MPs and peers wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, urging her to abandon the plans and stating that Charity Commission rules require charitable funds be used for the purpose for which they were donated.
“By law, the endowment must be used to support parish ministry, maintain church buildings, and care for the Church’s historic records," the letter said.
Such a challenge however has not come from the Conservative Party, but from Dr Bijan Omrani, a churchwarden in the Diocese of Exeter, and Rev Dr Jamie Franklin, a rector in the Diocese of Winchester.
Writing on X, Rev Franklin said that Church Commissioners had refused to “engage with serious legal, moral and historical questions around Project Spire”, adding that the legal challenge was the “only resort”.
Referring to 1 Corinthians 6, which warns against lawsuits between believers, Franklin said the scripture should not be “a licence for the misuse of church funds”.
In a separate post, Franklin said of himself and Omrani, “We love the CofE and want the Church Commissioners to see sense and abandon this dubious project before it wastes even more money and causes further reputational damage.”
The action has received support from a number of political and activist figures.
Reform’s Suella Braverman, herself a Buddhist, said, “Well done. The tragic decline of Christianity in our country has been caused by CofE leaders who look more like left-wing campaigners than defenders of our national faith.”
Conservative MP Neil O’Brien also welcomed the action against what he called “an appalling misuse of money”.
Tim Dieppe, head of policy at Christian Concern said it was “excellent” that the controversial reparations plan would be challenged in court.
Anti-racism group Don’t Divide Us, also welcomed the legal action, saying, “There are legal issues with the CoE's Project Spire; and maybe many think this is just a concern of Christians. It isn't. One important moral principle at stake is this: if your grandfather committed a crime but was not punished at the time, should you be liable for his actions?”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV recovering after lung cancer surgery]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/pope-leo-xiv-recovering-after-lung-cancer-surgery</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/pope-leo-xiv-recovering-after-lung-cancer-surgery</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Duncan Williams]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Vatican Media) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:07:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV has undergone successful surgery to remove a "small, localised nodule" from his lung and has returned to his room at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican has confirmed.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Pope Leo XIV has undergone successful surgery to remove a "small, localised nodule" from his lung and has returned to his room at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican has confirmed.
The Holy See Press Office said the operation had been completed as planned and that tissue examined during the operation confirmed a lung cancer diagnosis.
"The Pope had a good night in the hospital, got up and had breakfast," the Holy See Press Office said on Thursday morning.
The 71-year-old pontiff was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital earlier on Tuesday for the procedure, which was carried out by a specialist thoracic surgery team led by Professor Stefano Margaritora, the hospital’s chief thoracic surgeon.
Pope Leo revealed on Sunday that doctors had discovered the small, localised nodule during routine medical examinations. He said it had been detected at a very early stage and that doctors considered it advisable to remove it.
The pontiff decided to follow their advice and undergo surgery, telling those gathered in St Peter’s Square for the Angelus prayer about the planned procedure.
Doctors performed a lobectomy to extract the lower lobe of his right lung, confirming a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.The Vatican has indicated that Pope Leo is expected to remain in hospital for approximately a week while he recovers from the operation.
His public engagements have been cancelled until 20 October.
The Archbishop of Westminster, Richard Moth, is asking people to pray for the Pope.
He said: “It is with gratitude and relief that we learned that Pope Leo’s surgery on Tuesday at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital was successful."
He continued, “I ask that Catholics in England and Wales, and indeed all people of goodwill, pray for Pope Leo - in our homes and in our parishes - that he may be restored to full health after a period of rest and recuperation.
“We also remember all those who are experiencing illness at this time, and keep them, their families and those who care for the sick in our prayers.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, has also offered her prayers. 
"My daily prayers remain with Pope Leo XIV following his cancer diagnosis, and I assure the Holy Father and the Catholic faithful of the prayers of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion," she said.
"I pray that the Holy Spirit - the Comforter, Healer and Giver of Life - will sustain him in the days and weeks ahead, and that his recovery will be swift and complete."]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Half of Catholic churches in Glasgow to close]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/half-of-catholic-churches-in-glasgow-to-close</link>
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                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Glasgow]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:56:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The city was once famed for its Catholic heritage.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Archbishop of Glasgow has confirmed that around half of the city’s Catholic churches will close due to there being "too few people" and "too many churches but too few priests".
Archbishop William Nolan wrote to Catholic congregations to address rumours of the changes and confirmed that 24 churches would be closed down.
Explaining the rationale for the decision, Nolan laid out the facts of the matter: "There are too many parishes but too few people, too many churches but too few priests.
"Compared to when these parishes were formed and our churches built, there are significantly fewer people coming to Mass. Some of our largest churches are in places where there are the fewest people.”
The lack of priests was given further attention in the letter, with Nolan pointing out that in his five years as Archbishop the number of active priests had dropped by a third. Of those that remain, most are over 60 and only one is under 45.
Nolan said that without foreign priests and volunteers “the situation would be even more critical than it is”.
He added, "Our parishes and our churches hold great memories for us and are dear to our hearts, so any reduction in parishes and any closure of churches will be a painful experience. We cannot avoid that pain, though, by not facing up to reality."
Catholic commentator Mark Lambert, writing on X, said the cuts were “extraordinary”, particularly when considering the strong Catholic heritage of the city. He called upon the Church to examine itself and attempt to reverse rather than manage the decline.
“The crisis did not begin with Archbishop Nolan, and it would be unjust to hold him personally responsible for decades of secularisation. But episcopal leadership cannot be judged solely by how competently bishops administer the consequences of declining religious practice," he said.
“For generations, bishops have been responsible for safeguarding and transmitting the Catholic faith.
"If successive generations have drifted away, if priestly vocations have almost disappeared, and if churches built by our forebears must now close, surely we are entitled to ask whether the Church's pastoral priorities, catechesis, evangelisation and formation of Catholic families have been adequate to the challenge.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Christian beliefs increasingly unfamiliar to British public, research finds]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/christian-beliefs-increasingly-unfamiliar-to-british-public-research-finds</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/christian-beliefs-increasingly-unfamiliar-to-british-public-research-finds</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Bible, Bible study, quiet time, Bible reading, Bible engagement, faith, Christianity]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:56:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[With more and more people unclear about basic Christian teachings, Britain “is a mission field” in need of faithful Gospel witness, says Ligonier Ministries, which commissioned the survey. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A growing number of people across Britain are unclear about basic Christian teachings, according to new research that finds religious uncertainty has increased considerably over the past eight years.
The findings, published in the 2026 State of Theology survey, point to a decline in familiarity with Christian doctrine among the general public, even as churches report signs of renewed interest in Christianity and an “influx” of newcomers attending services.
Conducted by Whitestone Insight in partnership with Ligonier Ministries UK, the study surveyed 5,177 UK adults between 23 and 27 January 2026, examining attitudes towards God, the Bible, salvation and other central Christian beliefs.
The survey also included an additional sample of 1,000 practising Christians, defined as those who go to church and read the Bible on their own at least once a month.
It follows an earlier survey in 2018, allowing researchers to identify changes in religious understanding and attitudes over time.
One of the most striking developments was the growing share of respondents who answered “don't know” when presented with statements about foundational Christian doctrines like justification, the Trinity and the Holy Spirit.
While uncertainty was already widespread in 2018, it has become considerably more prevalent, with close to half of this year’s respondents unable to give a definite answer to certain theological questions.
Over a third (39%) of UK adults said they did not know whether they agreed with the Christian understanding of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
More than half (56%) were uncertain about a statement concerning the Holy Spirit’s role in bringing about spiritual rebirth before a person comes to faith in Christ, while 46% could not say whether people are made righteous before God through faith in Jesus rather than their own works.
Ligonier said the survey “demonstrates that the UK is a mission field, a country where many people are unfamiliar with biblical teachings”.
It continued: “They suggest not that Christian doctrine has been roundly rejected, but rather that there is a rapidly increasing loss of basic theological categories among the wider public.
“In fact, there actually appears to have been a decline in the outright rejection of the supernatural claims of the Christian faith, such as the resurrection of Jesus or the reality of hell.”
Among UK adults, over a third (39%) disagreed with the statement that the biblical account of Jesus’ bodily resurrection was historically accurate, while 44% rejected the assertion that hell is a real place of eternal punishment.
According to the researchers, the overall picture suggests a population becoming less certain about religious questions rather than necessarily more hostile towards Christianity.
Summarising the findings, Whitestone Insight observed, “Hard secular certainty appears to be weakening.”
It added: “Britain may be becoming less confidently secular without becoming substantially more Christian.”
Alongside the growing uncertainty among the general public, the research identified a notable proportion of evangelical respondents who said they had only recently begun attending church.
For the purposes of the research, evangelicals were identified through their strong agreement with four statements concerning biblical authority, the importance of evangelism, Christ's atoning death and salvation through faith in Jesus alone.
Some 28% of evangelicals said they had started attending Sunday services for the first time as adults within the previous one to two years.
Those classified as “new evangelicals” were more likely to be aged between 25 and 44, male and from ethnic minority backgrounds.
The findings come amid ongoing discussion about changing patterns of religious engagement in Britain, following reports of growing interest in Christianity, particularly among younger generations.
Although claims of a widespread religious revival have been questioned, the researchers said their findings offered additional evidence that churches may be welcoming substantial numbers of newcomers.
However, the research also identified differences between newcomers’ understanding of Christianity and established evangelical teachings.
While 99% of new evangelicals affirmed belief in the Trinity and 97% accepted the bodily resurrection of Jesus, other responses suggested considerable uncertainty about the authority of Scripture and the uniqueness of Christianity’s claims about salvation.
For instance, 71% agreed that “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam”.
Over half (57%) agreed that the Bible “contains helpful accounts of ancient myths but is not literally true”.
The researchers suggested that such responses may reflect limited theological knowledge among those relatively new to church life, reinforcing the importance of discipleship and biblical teaching.
Among evangelical respondents overall, the survey found strong agreement with several traditional Christian doctrines.
Some 96% affirmed the Trinity, while 90% agreed that righteousness before God comes through faith in Jesus Christ rather than personal works.
On ethical and church-related questions, 87% agreed that abortion is sinful, 98% supported the belief that marriage was instituted by God as a union between one man and one woman, and 78% believed Christians have a responsibility to belong to a local church.
Nevertheless, the study also revealed areas where evangelical beliefs appeared inconsistent with historic Christian teaching.
Notably, 34% agreed with the statement that “Jesus was a great teacher but He was not God”, despite the centrality of Christ’s divinity to orthodox Christianity.
The researchers acknowledged that some respondents, particularly newer Christians, may have misunderstood the question or lacked sufficient theological knowledge rather than deliberately rejected the doctrine.
The survey also highlighted changing attitudes towards human sinfulness.
Nearly two-thirds (63%) of evangelicals agreed that most people are fundamentally good despite committing sins - up from 48% in 2018, while fewer than half (47%) agreed that even the smallest sin deserves eternal punishment - down from 61% in 2018.
The researchers expressed concern that these responses may indicate a weakening understanding of the gravity of sin compared with the findings recorded in 2018.
Taken together, the findings present a complex picture of Christianity’s place in contemporary Britain.
The researchers concluded: “The 2026 State of Theology survey underlines the pressing need for faithful Gospel witness in a society where many people are unsure of their beliefs and are unaware that salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone. 
“The ‘new evangelicals’ need faithful biblical teaching so that they might grow in sound doctrine and godly living. This is an area of great opportunity and great need.
“And those in the UK who do not know Christ need exposure and access to the truths of Scripture through faithful churches and believers who extend the Gospel in obedience to our Lord’s command.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Diocese of Hereford celebrates 1,350th anniversary with visit from Archbishop of Canterbury]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/diocese-of-hereford-celebrates-1-350th-anniversary-with-visit-from-archbishop-of-canterbury</link>
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                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Sarah Mullally, the Archbishop of Canterbury]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Sarah Mullally, the Archbishop of Canterbury. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:47:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, joined celebrations for the 1,350th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Hereford with a visit at the weekend.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, joined celebrations for the 1,350th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Hereford with a visit at the weekend.
The diocese was founded in 676 to cover the territory of the sub-kingdom of Magonsæte. At some point in the 8th century Magonsæte was effectively annexed by the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, but while Magonsæte is no more, its borders are preserved more or less in the modern-day diocese.
As part of her visit to mark the occasion the Archbishop visited a farming community in Affcott. There, a joint project between the Diocese of Hereford and the Methodist Church provides a “bacon butty van” every month providing not just food and drink, but conversation, spiritual counselling and health check-ups, primarily for those working in rural areas.
Also part of the celebrations was a service to admit and license new readers in the diocese. During the service Mullally praised the work of lay ministers, saying, “Your ministry is a gift. Never underestimate the impact that you have on people's lives, on the church and the community."
In a packed schedule, the Archbishop also found herself preaching at Putley Church's Harvest Festival, where she encouraged listeners to bring their worries to Christ.
“There may be worries on our hearts this morning, anxieties that we carry in our work life, home life, communities or health," she said.
"Jesus doesn’t dismiss these concerns, he invites us to bring them to him - to invite him to help us carry the load. And he promises us the gift of the Holy Spirit, the advocate, the counsellor, the one who brings comfort, courage and strength.”
Other visits included a youth hub in Leominster, Hereford County Hospital and an apple festival in the village of Much Marcle.
The anniversary weekend concluded with Evensong at Hereford Cathedral, where the Archbishop spoke about the themes of light and darkness via the story of Jesus and his meeting with Nicodemus, as told in the Gospel of John.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[What’s so fascinating about Church of England vicars?]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/whats-so-fascinating-about-church-of-england-vicars</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/whats-so-fascinating-about-church-of-england-vicars</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Crumpler]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Pippa White]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Pippa White) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Pippa White ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:08:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Church of England priest Pippa White has more than 32,000 followers on TikTok, her online posts have been seen by millions, and she has just published a book explaining clerical life for a non-church audience.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Church of England priest Pippa White has more than 32,000 followers on TikTok, her online posts have been seen by millions, and she has just published a book explaining clerical life for a non-church audience.
In ‘Not a Priestess,’ Pippa “brings her uniquely offbeat perspective to life as a young, female priest navigating the Church of England.”
It’s a lively read, with the title taken from Pippa’s TikTok profile, where her videos explain daily life as a priest, and talk about christenings, weddings and funerals in an informal conversational style. She also rates her least-favourite Christmas carols, talks about how different people ‘share the peace’ in services and gives a snapshot into the challenges of ministry with teenagers. Her dog features prominently.
Describing social media as “one of the best things that has happened to us,” Pippa White explains that the “democratization” that it has brought means “people have access to careers, possibilities and social mobility that were previously gatekept by the elite rich.”
The new book, subtitled ‘Tales from Beyond the Pulpit,’ describes her call to ordained ministry, and what priestly life is like for a young woman, as well as giving insights into the peculiarities of the Church of England. It’s a gift for anyone considering ordained ministry or fascinated by the modern-day church.
And it’s that enduring interest that has given birth to a range of books written by church ministers in recent years. It may seem a puzzling trend.
Pippa White likens the - sometimes unintentionally intrusive - interest she encounters in her role, with her fascination at meeting a tattoo artist and wanting to ask so many questions.
She writes, “But here I was - the person on the outside of a culture, with no idea how that culture worked or why people were doing what they were doing - but dying to know. I couldn’t work out what was a polite question to ask and what crossed the line.”
Among those commending Pippa’s book is fellow priest Kate Bottley. Kate, who is also a broadcaster and TV personality has herself written about her parish and media experiences in ‘Have a Little Faith,’ aimed at readers who would not describe themselves as religious but are intrigued by faith.
Other recent books that have demonstrated how the Church of England and Christian ministry are subjects of deep interest to modern readers include Alex Frost’s ‘Our Daily Bread,’ describing his life as a priest in Burnley, Lancashire. He describes his ministry in an area of social need, seeking to present the Gospel in words and actions.
Alastair Campbell, formerly communications director to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, described the book as “a unique and rare insight into the work of an urban parish priest.” Campbell - remembered as telling an interviewer that Blair “didn’t do God” - called the book “deeply moving.”
Other recent books that have lifted the lid on parish life - aimed largely at a non-churchgoing readership - include Fergus Butler-Gallie’s ‘Touching Cloth’. He describes his early years as a priest and, with humour and insight, writes of his experiences.
The book explains, “Behind the daily scrapes is an all-too-human love letter to the Church of England, and the amazing variety of people who manage to keep it going, providing a listening ear, company and community at a time when so many people desperately need them, as well as a reflection on what it means to follow a spiritual path amid the chaos of the modern world.”
So how come there is a market for these books in a culture where few people go to church, or have contact with the clergy? Maybe, that’s just it.
In today’s world, living a life of faith - and a very visible one as a vicar - is a brave step to take. It marks out the woman or man from the rest of the community. It declares “I believe in God. I have faith, and I have devoted my life to this calling” to a sceptical world.
People are reading these books - or watching TikTok videos featuring vicars - because they are genuinely fascinated by people of faith in the 21st century. They may not get the chance to ask them questions face-to-face, or - like Pippa White with the tattooist – may not know the questions they would like to ask.
But people wearing a clerical collar still, it seems, have a fascination and deep interest in today’s world. May that long be the case, and lead to deeper questions about faith and the Christian gospel.
Rev Peter Crumpler is a Church of England minister in St Albans, Herts, UK and a former communications director with the CofE.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[The London church that helped shape a nation: 300 years of St Martin-in-the-Fields]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/the-london-church-that-helped-shape-a-nation-300-years-of-st-martin-in-the-fields</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/the-london-church-that-helped-shape-a-nation-300-years-of-st-martin-in-the-fields</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Neil Rees]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, church]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ St Martin-in-the-Fields sits on the edge of Trafalgar Square in London. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:29:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Few parish churches are as famous as St Martin-in-the-Fields in central London. This year, it marks its 300th anniversary. This is the story …]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Few parish churches are as famous as St Martin-in-the-Fields in central London. This year, it marks its 300th anniversary. This is the story …
The original church
As the name suggests, the original parish of St Martin-in-the-Fields lay in farmland outside London, but as London grew, it ended up in central London. It is not known when the first church was built, but the earliest recorded mention of it is from 1222.
St Martin
The church was dedicated to St Martin of Tours, who was a fourth-century Roman soldier who had a spiritual conversion as an adult. He is famous for giving half his cape to a poor beggar and then leaving the army when he renounced war to become a bishop. He is considered the patron saint of beggars. There are many churches dedicated to him, but St Martin-in-the-Fields is perhaps the most famous of all.
The medieval church
In medieval times, St Martin-in-the-Fields was a church run by the monks of Westminster Abbey. It was rebuilt in Tudor times. As London grew, so did the church congregation and the church building. In the eighteenth century, the original building was built of brick and had a tiled roof with a stone tower and buttresses, but it was in a state of decay.
The current church building
In 1720, Parliament passed the St Martin-in-the-Fields Act for rebuilding the church. The architect who was commissioned to design a new church was the Scotsman James Gibbs, and he took inspiration from other churches designed by Sir Christopher Wren. 
He designed a rectangular church with a west front built with a portico of six Corinthian columns and a Portland stone spire above. The foundation stone was laid on 19 March 1722, and the Gothic spire, which rises 192 feet above the floor, was added in 1724. Bells were cast in 1725, and the new church was consecrated 300 years ago on 20 October 1726 by the Bishop of London.
When it opened, the design was unique, but later the design became famous and inspired other churches around the world, such as St Andrew’s in the Square in Glasgow, but also St Michael’s Church in Charleston, South Carolina, and All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington, DC, and others across the British Empire. The church building is now a Grade I listed building.
Location
St Martin-in-the-Fields now has a prime position at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square, near to the National Gallery and Charing Cross London Underground station. However, the church was there first, and it predates Trafalgar Square, which dates from the 1820s, and Charing Cross station, which opened in 1864. In the Victorian era, the church became very fashionable and is mentioned in the book David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.
Ministry under Dick Sheppard
The church came into prominence during the time that Rev Dick Sheppard was vicar, from 1914 to 1927. Dick Sheppard was ordained in 1908 and briefly served as a war chaplain, and his experiences led him to adopt pacifism. He came to St Martin-in-the-Fields late in 1914, when it was a fashionable church for the well-to-do. He was inspired by his war experience and by the story of St Martin to turn the church into a place where faith was put into action.
Seeing men going off to war and returning from war from Charing Cross, he opened the crypt as a refuge for soldiers, providing food, rest and hospitality. After the war, it was kept open for the homeless or people who missed the last bus home. In 1920, the church started an annual Christmas Appeal to raise money for vulnerable people. The church also acted as a social centre for those in need, and members of the church ministered to the local homeless.
Pacifism
After the Great War, Rev Dick Sheppard became involved in the peace and reconciliation movement, and he allowed sermons critical of the war and prayed both for soldiers from both sides and for conscientious objectors, which was unusual at the time. After leaving St Martin’s, Sheppard founded the Peace Pledge Union in 1934, which became Britain’s largest pacifist movement.
Connection with the BBC
After the BBC started in 1922, it was St Martin-in-the-Fields which provided the first Christian service ever to be broadcast, on 6 January 1924. In 1926, Dick Sheppard made his Christmas Appeal on the radio, and it has been held annually ever since. This year will be its 100th appeal.
St Martin’s was the church chosen by the BBC for regular religious broadcasting, and evening services were played on the BBC and across the BBC World Service. The radio broadcasts brought Dick Sheppard some fame, and his preaching attracted huge numbers. As the BBC expanded its religious output, it began broadcasting services from other churches around the UK, but it still sometimes broadcasts from the church.
Social justice campaigns
The church became the headquarters for the Church League for Women’s Suffrage, which sought voting rights for women. In 1928, it hosted a thanksgiving service when women finally gained the vote on the same terms as men.
Following the Sharpeville massacre of 1960, when South African police shot and killed anti-apartheid demonstrators, the church’s vicar, Rev Austen Williams, publicly condemned apartheid. The congregation became active supporters of the anti-apartheid cause, and the church also became a venue for anti-apartheid vigils and demonstrations, helped by its central position by Trafalgar Square.
The Handel connection
The organ was originally gifted by King George I to the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields in London in 1726. It was supposedly a favourite instrument of Handel during his time in England. It was purchased from St Martin-in-the-Fields by the vicar of St Mary’s and moved to Wotton around 1800.
Over time, the church became known for high standards of liturgical music and attracted distinguished organists and composers. One of the people connected to the church in the 1700s was the composer George Frideric Handel, who sometimes played the organ. The new church had a new, larger organ which was paid for by King George I, and Handel played at its grand opening in 1726. It was said to be his favourite organ, although he also played at St George’s in Hanover Square. When it was replaced in 1800, it was moved to the parish church of Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire, where it is still played.
Concerts
The church’s concerts, recordings and broadcasts have introduced countless listeners to sacred music. In 1958, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields was founded by Sir Neville Marriner and John Churchill and gave its first concert in 1959. It became one of the world’s leading chamber orchestras and carried the church’s name to an international audience. Services, concerts and special events were transmitted nationally and internationally by the BBC, helping establish the church’s reputation as “the parish church of the nation”. Today, people visit the church for lunchtime and evening concerts.
The crypt
During the Second World War, when the Blitz started, St Martin-in-the-Fields turned the crypt into a public air raid shelter with a canteen for members of the armed forces. In 1948, St Martin’s formally established its Social Service Unit. From the 1970s, St Martin’s began moving away from providing direct overnight accommodation in the crypt and towards specialist support services beyond its walls.
The homelessness work evolved into what became The Connection at St Martin’s, which is now a separate charity focused on helping rough sleepers get off the streets into housing and support. The charity moved to a more practical base in nearby Adelaide Street, not in the crypt itself, which allowed the crypt to be redeveloped for other uses.
A café had existed there from at least the mid-20th century, and from 1987, parts of the crypt were deliberately developed as a cultural space and rooms for letting commercially to provide income for other services. From 2005, the crypt and underground spaces were extensively rebuilt and modernised, creating the café, shop, exhibition and event spaces seen today.
Legacy
St Martin-in-the-Fields has been a place where new ideas began. It pioneered religious broadcasting, working with the homeless, internationally famous music-making and charitable initiatives that spread far beyond London. Few parish churches can claim such a combination of architectural, musical, social and national significance as St Martin-in-the-Fields.
300th anniversary exhibition
St Martin’s likes to think of itself as at the heart of London and on the edge of Trafalgar Square. The church this year marks its 300th anniversary with a programme which includes worship, exhibitions, concerts, educational activities and community events that seek to connect the church’s history with its continuing mission.
There is also a free exhibition called St Martin-in-the-Fields: 300 Years at the Heart and on the Edge until 15 November, which is in the crypt.
Tercentenary service
The church is also still a place of worship with regular Sunday and midweek lunchtime services which can be joined in person or online. There will be a special tercentenary celebratory service at 10am on Sunday 18 October. The service will feature a grand procession of charities and organisations that trace their origins to St Martin-in-the-Fields. Then there will be addresses from representatives of some of the organisations and a sermon from Revd Dr Sam Wells. The service will be followed by a reception.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[UK Christians unite for nine days of prayer as National Week of Prayer enters third year]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/uk-christians-unite-for-nine-days-of-prayer-as-national-week-of-prayer-enters-third-year</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/uk-christians-unite-for-nine-days-of-prayer-as-national-week-of-prayer-enters-third-year</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/92/99203.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Bear Grylls]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Bear Grylls is among the many Christians joining in the National Week of Prayer. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2026 10:49:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Christians from different denominations and traditions across the UK are coming together for nine days of collective prayer this October, as the National Week of Prayer (NWoP) returns for its third consecutive year.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Christians from different denominations and traditions across the UK are coming together for nine days of collective prayer this October, as the National Week of Prayer (NWoP) returns for its third consecutive year.
Running from October 10 to 18, the initiative will see churches, Christian organisations and prayer networks host gatherings across the British Isles, with a shared focus on seeking God’s guidance for the nation, strengthening unity among believers and praying for spiritual renewal.
This year’s programme was organised around the theme, ‘Gather. Remember. Return,’ and encourages Christians to make prayer a greater priority in their daily lives and to intercede for their communities, families and workplaces as well as those in positions of influence.
According to organisers, events are planned in over 100 locations, ranging from small gatherings in homes and workplaces to larger meetings involving churches and Christian leaders.
A central event will take place on October 15 at the Royal Military Chapel, also known as the Guards’ Chapel, in London.
The service will bring together representatives from 10 areas of society, including public life, business, healthcare and the media, to pray for the country’s challenges and future. Those unable to attend in person will be able to participate through an online livestream.
Launched in 2024, the National Week of Prayer initially attracted around 20,000 participants, with organisers reporting increased engagement the following year.
NWoP coordinator Kamesh Flynn said the response since its launch had exceeded expectations.
Reflecting on the movement’s growth, she said: “What we hadn’t anticipated was how deeply people were longing for a moment like this to pause, to gather with others and to lift up our nation with one voice.
“Reminiscent of when the king called the nation, those in and outside of church, to pray for miracles during troubled times, we have seen collective faith rise once more for our beloved nation.  
“The National Week of Prayer is becoming part of our annual rhythm, and a symbol of how returning to the Lord as a nation can renew our unity.”
The campaign has attracted support from a broad range of Christian organisations, representing evangelical, Catholic, charismatic and other church traditions.
Among those involved are Open Doors UK & Ireland, Premier, CARE, Stewardship, Christians in Government, Christians in Parliament, Christian Medical Fellowship, Christians in Media and Home for Good/Safe Families.
Public figures including adventurer Bear Grylls and BBC Radio 1 presenter Swarzy have also lent their support, alongside leaders working in government, business, media and the church.
Grylls, who has supported the initiative since its launch, also features in a short promotional video encouraging Christians to turn to prayer amid life’s challenges.
“Life is full of adventure,” he said in the video. “It’s also full of battles, and over the years, I’ve learnt that strength - real strength - often starts when we get down on our knees.”
He added: “During this National Week of Prayer … speak to the One Who’d been writing that story all along.”
Also in the video, Lt Col Simon from Defence Christian Network drew a parallel with the Second World War, when King George VI called the nation to prayer in 1940 as British troops faced imminent destruction at Dunkirk.
The Chair of the London Mission Collective, Andy Frost, welcomed the initiative, saying: “Christians are involved in so much good work, but this week is a poignant reminder that everything we do needs to be underpinned in prayer. To see the change we want to see in society requires a move of God in us and through us.”
Janie Oliver, CEO of Christian charity Stewardship, highlighted the pressures facing churches, charities and community organisations.
“Prayer reminds us that we were never meant to carry these burdens alone,” she said. “It reorients our hearts towards God, renews our perspective and strengthens us for the work He has called us to do.” 
She continued: “That’s why I’m delighted to support the National Week of Prayer. At a time when our communities, churches and charities face significant challenges, there is something deeply powerful about Christians across the UK coming together in humility and unity to seek God’s wisdom, provision and renewal.”
Beyond organised services, the campaign is encouraging individuals to take part wherever they are, including by meeting in small groups, praying with colleagues or incorporating the initiative into existing church activities.
Participants will also have access to a nine-day prayer plan through the YouVersion Bible App, offering daily guidance on praying for different areas of society.
A dedicated ‘Ten Spheres’ podcast series has also been made available, featuring discussions and prayer prompts relating to issues affecting public life and communities across the country.
Christians wishing to take part can find information about local gatherings, register their own events and access prayer resources through the official National Week of Prayer website.
Reflecting the wider vision behind the initiative, Flynn concluded in the promotional video: “We all sense there's more. We want to seek the peace and prosperity of our nation. We want to see a society transformed. We want to see God’s kingdom come. Here, on Earth, as in heaven.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Christian faith seen as ‘significantly more relevant’ to young people than church, new report finds]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/christian-faith-seen-as-significantly-more-relevant-to-young-people-than-church-new-report-finds</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/christian-faith-seen-as-significantly-more-relevant-to-young-people-than-church-new-report-finds</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[young people, young person, teenager, student, Gen Z]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 09:18:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Christian faith is perceived as “significantly more relevant to children” and young people than the church itself, according to new research which calls on churches to rethink how they engage the next generation.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Christian faith is perceived as “significantly more relevant to children” and young people than the church itself, according to new research which calls on churches to rethink how they engage the next generation.
The findings come from Scripture Union’s ‘Taking the Pulse of Ministry Among Children & Young People,’ written by Dr Sarah Holmes and drawing on responses from 697 adults surveyed by the Institute for Children, Youth and Mission (CYM) from May to July 2026. 
Respondents included church leaders, children’s and youth workers, parents, grandparents, congregation members and chaplains from various denominations across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. 
One of the clearest findings was a gap between perceptions of Christianity and the institutional church. 
On a scale from 0 to 2, respondents gave the Christian faith an average relevance score of 1.28, compared with 1.13 for the Bible and just 0.84 for the church.
The report said the Christian faith was perceived as 54% more relevant than the church. 
“This is significant because respondents did not reject faith as irrelevant; rather, they distinguished between the continuing relevance of the Christian faith and the perceived relevance of the church as an institution or community,” it stated.
It said the findings should prompt churches to consider “whether the church culture, language, structures and patterns of belonging make church feel accessible, meaningful and trustworthy to children and young people.”
Relationships and belonging also emerged as major themes. 
Respondents identified “a relationship with Jesus or a Christian faith foundation” as young people’s greatest need, followed by belonging, love and community, trusted adults, and mental health and hope.
“Churches tend to instinctively default to programmes, but these findings reveal that relationships and belonging are much greater needs,” the report said. 
It added that sharing the gospel in ways that connect with young people’s emotional needs and search for truth was crucial, instead of framing Christianity “as an abstract belief disconnected from their lived experiences.” 
The research also highlights the considerable influence of peers and the digital world. 
Friends and peers were regarded as the greatest influence on children’s and young people’s faith and spirituality, cited by 31.57% of respondents, followed by parents and carers at 28.01% and social media at 23.3%. The church and Bible were cited by only 5.57% and 1.94%, respectively. 
Despite social media’s perceived influence, only 1% of respondents identified digital connection as an effective missional approach. 
By comparison, 56% pointed to accessible and regular activities such as clubs and groups, while 38% highlighted meeting young people where they already are, including schools and community settings. 
Questions about truth and discernment have also become more prominent since the previous survey in 2024. 
Church leaders and children’s and youth workers expressed particular concern about subjective understandings of truth, artificial intelligence, social media and fake news. 
The report nevertheless found strong support for sharing Christianity with younger generations, with some 87% agreeing that seeking to evangelise children was appropriate.
Respondents stressed that faith-sharing “should be age-appropriate, clear, sensitive, safeguarded and transparent,” with the report suggesting that some Christians may lack confidence because they are unsure how to share their faith appropriately rather than because they lack conviction. 
In explaining their views, 23% said careful consideration should be given to how the gospel is shared with children and young people, while 15% highlighted barriers such as “fear, lack of knowledge or feeling unqualified.” 
When respondents were asked about church priorities for both under-11s and 11 to 18 year olds, top of the list was “leading them to a personal relationship with Jesus.” 
Helping young people find a place where they belong and providing role models of faith were also ranked highly. 
The report said effective ministry was strongest when children and teenagers were “not treated as a separate audience to entertain, but as relationally known, spiritually engaged, and visibly included participants in the wider church and community.” However, it found that this inclusion does not often extend to decision-making. 
Most respondents said children and young people had either minimal involvement or no involvement at all in church decisions. 
Their views were generally gathered through informal conversations, feedback and direct questions rather than established structures that allowed them to influence decisions. 
“Whilst informal listening is valuable, it is not the same as shared decision-making,” the report warned. “This raises a deeper question about agency: are children and young people being listened to as participants in church life, or mainly consulted about provision designed for them?” 
Resources remain another challenge, with limited volunteers and time identified as the biggest barriers to general outreach. A shortage of trained workers and time were among the main obstacles to effective schools ministry. 
The report suggests churches may need to rethink outreach so that it can take place within “existing activities and spaces.” 
Family relationships were identified as an important part of faith formation. Among parents and carers surveyed, 83% said they sought to make conversations about Jesus and faith a regular part of everyday family life, with 57% reporting daily faith conversations and 29% having them weekly. 
Yet 49% of grandparents surveyed said they did not receive any support from their church in this area. 
Summarising the findings, Scripture Union said: “Children and young people need to feel that church is a place they belong, have trusted relationships and meaningful participation, not only programmes.
“Trusted adults, including parents, carers and grandparents are key in the formation of faith. We need to all work together as a team.
“Digital culture matters, but online mission is marginal. Continued exploration would be valuable regarding how the online context can facilitate vibrant faith in younger generations. 
“Children’s voices are valued but rarely shape decisions in church contexts.” 
The report cautions that the survey does not directly show what children and young people themselves think, with Scripture Union planning further research into their perspectives. 
It concluded: “Churches have opportunities to share faith, but it seems that confidence varies across roles and is shaped by safeguarding, culture and relational trust. 
“Effective outreach depends on moving beyond separate provision towards sustained, everyday connection with families, schools, communities and the wider church.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Scottish cathedral to charge non-Scottish visitors £12 entrance fee for first time]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/scottish-cathedral-to-charge-non-scottish-visitors-12-entrance-fee-for-first-time</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/scottish-cathedral-to-charge-non-scottish-visitors-12-entrance-fee-for-first-time</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[St Giles Cathedral]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 10:18:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Church of Scotland is struggling to hold on to its historic buildings.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
St Giles’ Cathedral in Scotland has said that visitors from outside of Scotland will be charged an entry fee of £12.
The cathedral, located in Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile, was established in 1124 and, in all that time, has never charged for admission.
Under the plans, Scottish residents will be able to book entry online for free if they can provide proof of residency. Visitors living in other parts of the United Kingdom or from overseas, will be required to pay the fee.
The St Giles' Cathedral Charity Trust indicated that the move was necessary to maintain the financial viability of the site. With annual operating costs topping a million pounds, and no regular funding from the Scottish government, charging for entry was seen as the best option.
The Church of Scotland has been struggling in recent years with the maintenance of its historic buildings.
Earlier this year the Church warned that changes to a government scheme for funding historic churches placed the financial viability of some of its buildings under threat.
In August the Church transferred ownership of 800-year-old Brechin Cathedral to a community group. Later the same month the Church asked the Scottish government to take over the running of the Abbey Church of Dunfermline in Fife, final resting place of Robert the Bruce.
Announcing the introduction of the fees, officials at St Giles’ said the changes could improve the cathedral’s status as a tourist destination.
Stephen Preston, Transitional Chief Operating Officer at the cathedral, said, “Having recently celebrated our 900th anniversary, and with Scotland in an exciting time of growth with regards to tourism, we want to embrace the opportunity of being one of the world’s most visited heritage sites.
"These changes will allow us to meet the responsibility of sharing our story with national and international visitors.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Catholic Church 'deeply disturbed' by Greens call for complete abortion decriminalisation]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/catholic-church-deeply-disturbed-by-greens-call-for-complete-abortion-decriminalisation</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/catholic-church-deeply-disturbed-by-greens-call-for-complete-abortion-decriminalisation</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Bishop John Keenan]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Bishop John Keenan ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:01:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Catholic Church in Scotland has said it is “deeply disturbed” by the Scottish Green Party’s call for the complete decriminalisation of abortion.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Catholic Church in Scotland has said it is “deeply disturbed” by the Scottish Green Party’s call for the complete decriminalisation of abortion.
The Greens have called upon the SNP government to move forward with the recommendations of the Scottish Abortion Law Reform Expert Group. The group recommends measures that critics say would effectively legalise abortion up to the point of birth.
Bishop John Keenan, President of the National Office for Marriage, Family and Life of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, has previously criticised the so-called expert group for excluding pro-life voices and for adopting a principle of “non-regression” from the outset - in short meaning that recommendations would only go in one direction.
Responding to the Greens' demand, Bishop Keenan said, the Church “is deeply concerned by renewed calls to decriminalise abortion in Scotland and to remove existing legal safeguards governing the ending of unborn human life".
"These proposals would permit abortion up to birth for any reason, including sex-selective abortion," he said. 
He added, “A just and compassionate society should recognise and protect the lives of both mother and child, especially when either is vulnerable.”
The bishop took issue with the Green view that abortion should be treated on a par with any other healthcare, saying such a view “simply does not match the brutal reality of abortion, which is the deliberate ending of an innocent, defenceless human life”.
In Scotland the views of the Greens potentially matter. While in England the Greens are a fringe party, in Scotland, due to the proportional representation system, the party as occasionally got its hands on the levers of power. Between 2021 and 2024 the Greens entered a power-sharing and cooperation agreement with the SNP, which had failed to win an outright majority.
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children has also spoken against the Green proposals, calling them “disastrous and destructive”.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Irish archbishops urge peace and reconciliation amid Drumcree stand-off]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/irish-archbishops-urge-peace-and-reconciliation-amid-drumcree-stand-off</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/irish-archbishops-urge-peace-and-reconciliation-amid-drumcree-stand-off</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Archbishop Eamon Martin, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, and Archbishop John McDowell, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Catholic Communications Office archive) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Archbishop Eamon Martin, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, and Archbishop John McDowell, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:53:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Ireland’s Catholic and Church of Ireland archbishops have appealed for an “urgent” initiative to resolve the Drumcree parade dispute and asked Christians to pray for peace. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Ireland’s Catholic and Church of Ireland archbishops have appealed for an “urgent” initiative to resolve the Drumcree parade dispute and asked Christians to pray for peace. 
In a joint statement, the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin and his Church of Ireland counterpart, Archbishop John McDowell, warned against language that deepens division and called for respect for the rule of law alongside renewed efforts to build trust between communities.
The appeal comes amid a stand-off over an Orange Order parade from Drumcree Church along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown. The Parades Commission authorised the march for the first time in almost 30 years, but police prevented it from proceeding on 27 September after protesters blocked the route.Orange Order members want to complete their traditional route, while residents oppose the parade, citing the painful history associated with the dispute. Talks ended without agreement last week, and residents have launched legal actions against the permission granted for the march.In their joint statement, the archbishops posed the question: “How can we be good neighbours to each other?”
They also encouraged Christians to consider what would be generous and for the common good.
“We acknowledge the real hurt left by past violence, and the fragility of the present situation. We caution against language that inflames division and urge people to make space for a peaceful way forward,” they said.
“We call for an urgent, constructive, inclusive and reconciling initiative to help find a way through this crisis.
”The archbishops acknowledged their own failings and expressed willingness to help guide the community towards peace.They also released a video jointly reciting the Prayer for Peace of Saint Francis, inviting people across Ireland and beyond to use it at home and in worship over the weekend.“We ask all Christians, and all people of good will, on the island and beyond, to pray for peace, healing and reconciliation at this time. This prayer offers a way to pray, and a challenge to live: to let the love of God and neighbour shape our words and actions they said.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Former priest Chris Brain convicted of rape as Church review set to begin]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/former-priest-chris-brain-convicted-of-rape-as-church-review-set-to-begin</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/former-priest-chris-brain-convicted-of-rape-as-church-review-set-to-begin</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Chris Brain]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Crown Prosecution Service) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Chris Brain ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:26:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Former Church of England priest Chris Brain has been convicted of rape and four counts of indecent assault following a retrial. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Former Church of England priest Chris Brain has been convicted of rape and four counts of indecent assault following a retrial. 
The conviction led to renewed apologies from the Bishop of Sheffield and confirmation that an independent safeguarding review will now begin.
Brain, 69, who founded the Nine O’Clock Service in Sheffield, was found guilty at Inner London Crown Court on Friday. The verdicts bring his total convictions to 22.
He had been convicted of 17 counts of indecent assault against nine women in August 2025, but the original jury could not agree on five other charges. Those offences, involving four women, were considered during the five-week retrial.
The Nine O’Clock Service attracted young worshippers through live music and nightclub-style events during the 1980s and 1990s. Brain was accused of exploiting his religious authority by making women believe that refusing his sexual demands would mean they were failing as Christians.
In a statement following the verdict, the Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Pete Wilcox, commended the women who gave evidence.
“My first thoughts today are with the women whose courage brought this retrial to a conclusion. They have now given evidence, in full, not once but twice. It is unfortunate that that was necessary, and I am acutely conscious of the cost it has had for them,” he said.
Wilcox also recognised the distress experienced by others outside the criminal proceedings and renewed his apology.
He continued, “Last year I offered an unreserved apology for the abuse of power and leadership that took place within the Nine O’Clock Service. Today’s verdict adds to that same picture, and my apology stands in full.”
An independent Safeguarding Practice Review commissioned last year had been postponed to avoid interfering with the retrial. It will examine how the Church responded at the time.
“With today’s verdict, that review will now begin, and I remain committed to seeing it through, and to acting on its findings,” Wilcox said.
Brain was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Peterborough Cathedral opens exhibition on Mary, Queen of Scots]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/peterborough-cathedral-opens-exhibition-on-mary-queen-of-scots</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/peterborough-cathedral-opens-exhibition-on-mary-queen-of-scots</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/91/99192.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Mary, Queen of Scots]]></media:title>
                                                                                </media:content>
                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2026 08:59:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Peterborough has opened a new exhibition on Mary, Queen of Scots, that will remain in place until 15 November.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Peterborough has opened a new exhibition on Mary, Queen of Scots, that will remain in place until 15 November.
Mary was deposed as Queen of Scotland following the suspicious death of her first husband. She subsequently fled to England where she was held under house arrest by Elizabeth I, who was concerned that she may become a focal point for Catholic resistance to her rule.
Her fears were well founded. Mary was found to be involved with a plot to kill Elizabeth and place herself on the English throne. She was executed in 1587. Arguably she had the last laugh however, as her son James succeeded Elizabeth, becoming king of both England and Scotland, paving the way for the modern United Kingdom.
The new exhibition at Peterborough Cathedral, where Mary was buried for a time, will include talks, a radio play and a candlelit tour.
Jack Pishhorn, Peterborough Cathedral Chief Operating Officer, said of the exhibition, “This is amazing for us, as this is a real true story of the cathedral and an amazing piece of history.
"This exhibition is the story of her life, all the way through to her execution and burial, where she was here for 25 years before her son took [her] to Westminster Cathedral.
“We are very proud to be hosting it and are expecting tens of thousands of people to come through our doors over the next two months.”
As well as the temporary exhibition, Pishhorn hopes there would be permanent educational installations on Mary and that this in turn could help boost visitor numbers.
“Peterborough is really struggling with the tourism economy, and we play such an important role in that – by putting on these world class exhibitions, it does bring people into our city, and then it has that big impact on our shops, our cafes, our accommodation spaces," he said. ]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Westminster Abbey plans memorial to JRR Tolkien]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/westminster-abbey-plans-memorial-to-jrr-tolkien</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/westminster-abbey-plans-memorial-to-jrr-tolkien</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Robert Parr]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/91/99183.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Tolkien memorial, Stephen Broadbent]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Jonny Nolan) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Stephen Broadbent working on a prototype of the Tolkien memorial, August 2026. ]]>
                                </media:description>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 10:34:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The memorial will go next to that of his friend CS Lewis.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A new memorial to JRR Tolkien will be unveiled in Westminster Abbey in spring of next year, marking the 90th anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit. The memorial will be placed in Poets’ Corner where his friend and fellow writer CS Lewis is also honoured.
The memorial, which will be two and a half metres high, takes inspiration from Tolkien’s Tree of Tales and is the work of artist Stephen Broadbent.
It will be made of wood from British trees, including a tree from Oxford University’s Botanic Garden, which Tolkien himself was particularly fond of.
Tolkien and Lewis, as well as being arguably the most prominent fantasy writers of the 20th century, were close friends, with Tolkien being instrumental in Lewis’ conversion to Christianity.
Lewis is also known for his Christian and apologetic writings, after being an atheist in his youth, while Tolkien was a lifelong Catholic. By 1929 Lewis had come to accept the existence of God, but had yet to accept the truth of Christianity.
By Lewis’ own account, it was an encounter with Tolkien and Shakespeare scholar Hugo Dyson in 1931 that removed the final barriers to him accepting Christ. At the heart of Tolkien’s view was the idea that Christianity and the story of Jesus in particular represented “true myth”.
While the pagan myths and legends, of which both Lewis and Tolkien were fond, could hold elements of divine truth, with ideas such as sacrifice, resurrection and the proper ordering of the world, they remained just myths. The story of Jesus, Tolkien argued, was the one instance of the myth occurring historically.
While pleased that his friend had become Christian, Tolkien was disappointed that Lewis chose the path of Anglicanism rather than the Catholic Church.
A skilled linguist as well as a traditionalist, Tolkien remained a Catholic to his dying day and continued to respond during the Mass in Latin, despite the reforms of Vatican II that encouraged the use of vernacular languages.
How he he would feel about being memorialised in a Protestant church we shall never know.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Could the Church face a ‘silver uprising’?]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/could-the-church-face-a-silver-uprising</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/could-the-church-face-a-silver-uprising</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Crumpler]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/91/99178.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Bible study, old people, ageing, ageism, faith, church, church attendance, intergenerational]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:04:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Churches are being urged to take seriously the contributions of older members - or run the risk of facing a ‘silver uprising’ of discontent from seniors in their congregations. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Churches are being urged to take seriously the contributions of older members - or run the risk of facing a ‘silver uprising’ of discontent from seniors in their congregations. 
The warning comes as the United Nations marks Thursday October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons, dedicated to recognising the role of older people across the world. In the UK, the US and other western countries, populations are ageing, with many more people reaching retirement age and beyond.
Now Chris Spicer, a UK-based preacher and teacher with more than 50 years of experience working with Christian communities and learning centres throughout Europe and North America, has written of the dangers of churches not making use of older people in their congregations. 
In ‘Living Life in the Last Lane,’ Spicer warns, “As long as church leaders equate age with ability, they run the risk of fuelling a silver riot. To lead with a declinist view of age and the ageing process is to risk a popular uprising of revolutionary retirees. 
“Not that an army of placard-waving grey-haired protestors is about to picket church buildings. But rather than suffer in silence, maybe it’s time for those old warhorses tired of being hitched to an ageist agenda to respectfully air their grievances and speak out against those entrenched ideologies and their unfulfilled aspirations regarding life in the last lane.” 
As an example of ageism, Spicer – who has lived in Portland, Oregon and Peoria, Illinois – explains, “When middle-aged worship leaders are ‘encouraged’ to step aside so as to be replaced by their young counterparts for no other reason than to look ‘relevant’ and ‘cool,’ then the future is flawed. When being cool overtakes being Christlike, Christianity has stepped onto a downward spiral of no possibility.” 
Chris Spicer’s warning comes as UK organisations like Faith in Later Life and the Anna Chaplaincy have focussed attention on the important role that older people can play, both in supporting churches and in tailoring outreach to seniors. 
In many churches, declining congregations have meant older people have had to continue in their roles, or take on new responsibilities, without younger people to replace them. But larger, growing congregations can pose risks of older members being sidelined. 
Spicer encourages older Christians to continue to be engaged in supporting church leaders and being willing, as appropriate, to take on mentoring or encouraging roles. He advises, “Even when becoming understudies to those who have taken on those roles and responsibilities we once occupied, super seniors stand ready to cheer their proteges on. 
“But, if necessary, they should be ready to lovingly prompt them when they stumble over their words. For as seniors move on to new spheres of active service, the success of others becomes their success.”
Spicer believes that “living life in the last lane proposes a very different vision for an age traditionally associated with withdrawal and even passivity”. He calls for older Christians to embrace a vision of what God may be leading them into in later years – and for Christian leaders to welcome the gifts of experience that the seniors can bring to churches.
He admits, “To make the necessary comeback, third agers will need to: lose the air of superiority; learn the dynamics of second-chair leadership; listen to those younger and less experienced individuals now in positions of authority; lead from a place of security and daily draw on the oxygen of God’s amazing grace.”
Spicer’s book raises uncomfortable questions, both for older Christians seeking a quiet life in their later years, and for Christian leaders overlooking the talents and abilities of third agers. 
In a set of tough challenges, church leaders are asked to respond to questions such as: 
Do those on your platform or in the pulpit reflect an inter-generational community? How age-relative is your welcoming team? Does your diversity, equality and inclusion policy address ageism? And, do you infantile your conversation when speaking to the elderly? 
Spicer explains, “Whether it’s within the family, church or society at large, many third agers struggle to fit in. Feeling like an uninvited guest at a public event has become something of an occupational hazard for the elderly. Ignored, isolated and invisible, many seniors are increasingly being made to feel unwanted and uncared for.
“If church congregations become so youth-centric that other age groups are made to feel unwelcome or unwanted, the body of Christ can no longer be said to truly represent the heart of a loving heavenly Father. Just as racism is an affront to the gospel, so is ageism.”
Rev Peter Crumpler is a Church of England minister in St Albans, Herts, UK and a former communications director with the CofE.]]></content:encoded>
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