UK Church
What just happened in the Northern Ireland elections and what does it mean for peace?
Last week, Sinn Féin become the first Republican party to emerge top at Stormont. But what exactly does that mean?
Why Christians should repent of past antisemitism
The Church of England has held a special service to apologise for passing anti-Jewish laws 800 years ago that resulted in the expulsion of Jews from England. But can Christians repent of historic acts they were not personally responsible for? Dr James Patrick gives his view
Church leaders aren't looking for special praise...but they deserve it!
Clergy became essential key workers during the pandemic, tirelessly serving their communities. Now it’s over, let’s not forget that they may need supporting too, says Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York
Men’s events with monster trucks don’t promote toxic masculinity, they’re reaching blokes with the gospel
A US conference has come under criticism for hosting monster trucks and rodeos alongside Christian speakers. For Carl Beech, organiser of a Christian men’s event in the UK, the complaints were not new. But for him, they simply don’t stack up
I’m an Irish Protestant who just met the Pope. But I promise I’m not a heretic!
It was an honour to be invited into the Pope’s presence, writes Presbyterian minister Steve Stockman
Living in Love and Faith: A critical assessment of the CofE's sexuality course
The Church of England has been encouraging its congregations to "grow together" on issues related to sexuality, identity, relationships and marriage. Nigel Griffiths has been taking part and helping to facilitate the church's Living in Love and Faith (LLF) course, and offers his reflections on what has - and hasn't - worked
Almost half the population believe in Jesus’ resurrection. It’s time for the Church to be bolder
Are more people open to the gospel than we think? A new report suggests they are, says Andy Kind. Let’s start talking Jesus
Together Again: 3 leaders explain how their Christian festivals survived the pandemic
The past two years have seen many Christian gatherings moved online, scaled back or simply not taking place at all. Emma Fowle asks three festival organisers how they survived the pandemic and why they still believe God uses large events so powerfully
91% of Christians say mental illness is stigmatised in the Church. But the solution may be simpler than you think
How mental health friendly is your church? Tim Wyatt investigates
'I was suicidal. But then a Christian prayed for me and everything changed'
When Donna Sleep was invited to Creation Fest by a friend, she was depressed and suicidal. She went, intending to return home to take her own life afterwards. But instead she encountered the powerful love of Jesus
Greenbelt Festival sits on the fringes of faith. That’s why I love it
Pussy Riot would never have performed at the Christian festivals I attended as a teenager, nor would they ever have been invited. But when it was announced that the Russian feminist punk rock band would be the artists in residence at Greenbelt 2018, it felt apt.
Archbishop Angaelos: ‘The world needs the Church more than ever’
The world needs the Church in all its breadth and diversity, says the first-ever Coptic Archbishop of London.
In defence of Justin Welby
The Archbishop of Canterbury has been attacked for using his Easter Sunday sermon to lash out at the Government immigration plans. But George Pitcher believes the critics have misunderstood Welby’s message
This 76 year-old grandmother was arrested while praying. She’s still waiting for justice
Rosa, a 76-year-old grandmother, was arrested while walking and praying during lockdown. Due to court backlogs she is still awaiting trial.
Why our church hired an outreach worker to the transgender community
A United Reformed Church in Oxford has become the first congregation in the UK to appoint an outreach worker to transgender people. The church’s minister explains how the decision came about
Christian nurses are facing discrimination from an intolerant NHS
Dr Kalpana Dein believes there’s an institutional problem at the NHS when it comes to the treatment of Christian medical professionals
The week that changed the world?
After gay conversion therapy U-turns from the government, high profile debates over transgender athletes and a contentious letter signed by Lord Rowan Williams and other church leaders, Peter Lynas wonders if this was a world changing week
Christine Noble (1938-2022): The Christian freedom-fighter
Christine Noble was a gifted and passionate Christian leader who fought for other women to be free in their callings, says Sue Rinaldi
Why single Christian women are leaving the church
If leaders don’t respond to women’s concerns about sexism, misogyny and their role in church life soon, it will be too late to stem the tide, says Dr Katie Gaddini
Gerald Coates (1944-2022): A true pioneer
The founder of the Pioneer network of churches and March for Jesus, Gerald Coates, has died at the age of 78. Billy Kennedy, who succeeded him in heading up Pioneer pays tribute to the prophetic leader
Supporting Ukrainian refugees is a colossal task, but here’s how our church welcomed a family of 17
Associate pastor Brian Whittaker welcomed 17 Ukrainian refugees to his church on Sunday
‘I walked from Cardiff to London to encourage ethnic minority young people into leadership’
Daud Irfan was six years old when his family fled persecution in Pakistan for a new life in Wales. Since then, he and his father have followed in the footsteps of their Methodist heroes, the Wesley brothers, by walking 170 miles to encourage diversity within the Church
Why believing conspiracy theories corrupts your Christian witness
Christians have a dual responsibility to question conspiracy theories and show compassion to those who believe them, says Jared Stacy
'800 people became Christians at the last Spring Harvest. Now is the time for the Church to come together again'
With just weeks to go, Spring Harvest's CEO tells us how the biggest Easter celebration on the Church’s calendar is set up to bring physical and spiritual refreshment
After a heartbreaking week in Christian news, here are 6 things to do when our leaders fail
When our leaders fail the pain of disappointment can be hard to bear. Sarah Yardley leads us into lament, and encourages us to look to Jesus to learn the lessons of good leadership
Burnout: Has the pandemic pushed pastors to the point of no return?
A record number of church leaders are thinking about quitting ministry. Megan Cornwell speaks to the pastors experiencing burnout to find out why the spiritual health of the Church is under attack
The CofE’s refusal to teach on the moral issues of the day is reprehensible
The Church of England is providing less moral clarity on the key issues of the day than most FTSE 100 companies, says this ex-Catholic ordinand’s wife.
My little Hillsong church is very different from what you see in the documentaries
Hillsong Church has faced multiple scandals. So why does Jonty Langley still attend? The Sunday experience is very different to what you see on TV, he says.
Cost of living crisis: 3 leading campaigners share how the Church can respond
Faced with the aftermath of a pandemic, rising food bills and soaring energy costs, more people are finding themselves struggling to make ends meet. Premier Christianity brought together three leading activists for a roundtable discussion on how the Church can provide hope, practical help and campaign for change
Genelle Aldred: ‘Jesus wouldn’t fit in most of our churches’
The journalist and activist was just 19 when an unplanned pregnancy ended in the stillbirth of her daughter. It was an experience that still drives her to tackle inequality wherever she sees it
Meet the evangelists: Efrem Buckle on how to preach the gospel at a funeral
Funerals are one of the most difficult places to share the Gospel, says London City Mission’s Efrem Buckle. Here’s how he approached the task
Meet the evangelists: Andy Kind shares his most embarrassing moment
Three Christians with the gift of the gab on how you can grow in sharing your faith
After George Floyd, I needed a new prayer. When thousands joined Black Liturgies I realised I wasn’t alone
Ahead of Racial Justice Sunday, Cole Arthur Riley explains how racial injustice sparked her to create Black Liturgies
Inside the fastest growing religious movement on earth
The agnostic journalist Elle Hardy has been investigating how Pentecostalism is taking over the world. Here’s what she discovered
Will Covid empty the pews?
Only a third of younger Christians intend to return to church regularly after the pandemic
Meet the experts helping your church navigate a PR crisis
How should churches respond when the press uncovers scandals about them? We speak to the PRs hired to help Christians cope with negative news coverage
From drug-addicted bouncer to Jesus-loving youth worker
This self-described “tattooed freak” was addicted to cocaine and working as a nightclub bouncer when God kept putting Christians in his path…
Martin Smith: The former Delirious? frontman on how Covid-19 has changed him
Martin Smith opens up about his insecurities and explains how the pandemic has changed him for the better
Wrestling with biblical teaching on gender inspired my award-winning photograph
‘Wonder Boy’ has just been nominated for the prestigious Portrait of Britain award.
What your church can learn from Wetherspoons
How the popular pub chain will inspire your church to better reach your community
Van life: How Jesus’ counter-cultural lifestyle inspired me to quit my job and live on the road
Why would a married couple trade their comfortable careers for a year of wild camping in Europe? Oliver R Moore-Howells explains how following Jesus turned him into an eleutheromaniac
Jeffrey Donaldson: NI’s longest-serving MP on the faith that sustains him
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s Christian faith has sustained him throughout his political career. But with an impending appointment to the nation’s highest political office, Northern Ireland’s longest-serving MP may still have his biggest challenge ahead
2021 in numbers
Our small team has spent the past year writing, designing and editing 840 pages of this magazine and uploading more than 500 articles to our website. But here, in no particular order, are the most important numbers you need to know about
Carl Beech: 'There is endemic alcohol dependency in the Church'
The church planter explains why reaching the forgotten places of the UK has resulted in him giving up alcohol, and cancelling Sunday services
Cathedrals are where heaven and earth meet. We must protect them
When I walked into Liverpool Cathedral a few weeks ago, I audibly gasped. Stepping inside the magnificent building, I was taken aback by its awesomeness. Built between 1904 and 1978, it is the largest cathedral in Britain and the eighth largest church in the world.
Politics in the Church: Row breaks out over evangelical ‘elites’
Leaders are being accused of selling out their Christian beliefs in order to curry favour with the secular liberal majority
The surprise of Christmas
Into the darkness of Galilee a great light came. RT Kendall wonders if we could be on the cusp of our own revival this Christmas
5 reasons why you need to read more Christian books
Reading has been in decline for decades, with social media, Netflix and video games competing for our attention. There’s also a gender divide. The Telegraph recently reported that men are twice as likely not to read books at all. Krish Kandiah explains why he believes reading good books should be a priority for every Christian
I would be imprisoned if I spoke about Jesus in Iran. Thank you for welcoming me to the UK
Ghazal is an Iranian convert to Christianity who recently received her ‘leave to remain’ from the Home Office. She explains why thousands of Iranians like her are turning to Christ
Franklin Graham is back. But does the UK want him?
Those who believe the nation needs to hear a strong gospel message about repentance and faith in Jesus are excited to welcome the evangelist. But others aren’t so sure…
The Church has benefited from Facebook. But should we embrace Zuckerberg’s Metaverse?
Is the recent Facebook rebrand just a business decision? And what exactly is a metaverse anyway? Our head of digital theology answers your questions
Meet the Scottish church leader who wants to decriminalise drugs
Scotland has the highest drug death rate in Europe. The new Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Rev Iain Greenshields, tells us that ending the criminalisation of drug possession could help solve the problem
Inside the Christian campaign to end homelessness
During the first lockdown, thousands of rough sleepers were housed by a government scheme. But 20 months later, homelessness is back to pre-pandemic levels. We speak to the Christian charities who are working to end homelessness once and for all
We've stopped singing new worship songs by UK writers. Here's why that's a problem
There's nothing wrong with Bethel anthems, says Sam Simons, but we need to be singing the songs of Belfast and Birmingham too.
The Christian speaker circuit is broken. Here’s how we can fix it
It’s not just the world that has a professional speaker circuit, the Church does too. But in only hearing from the same high-profile leaders, we may be missing what God is doing, says Lee Jackson
The BBC’s ‘Godsquad’ mocks 4 kinds of Christian students. It’s a helpful exposé of our evangelistic errors
The BBC Radio 4 drama, Godsquad might poke fun at Christian Unions, but it actually contains valuable lessons for all of us in how we share the good news of Jesus, argues Naomi Sherwood
What’s in a name? Why our church is changing from St Michael’s to St Mike’s
Rev Sarah Yetman is hoping a raft of changes, including a more informal name for the church, will help attract more young people
12 ways Covid is changing the church - evidence from a senior leader
The Evangelical Alliance’s Peter Lynas says we’re in a period of significant change.
From guns to God: This former heroin dealer is on his way to becoming a vicar
Don’t miss Claud Jackson’s inspiring testimony
‘I’m transgender and I love Jesus’
Chrissie Chevasutt battled gender dysphoria for decades. They explain how a dramatic encounter with the Holy Spirit during a transgender dressing appointment changed everything
Is this the most persecuted 31 year-old in Britain?
Joshua Sutcliffe has lost his job twice, and been caught up in media storms over his Christian views on sexuality, gender and other religions
‘It’s not “religious” its real’ - The open air Prayer Station changing Crewe’s estates
A series of ‘delightfully informal’ Christian gatherings are having a profound effect in Crewe
‘My church didn’t know what to do with me’ - Libby’s transgender story
During her teenage years Libby Littlewood pleaded with God to make her ‘feel like a girl’. With her prayers seemingly unanswered, she transitioned to live as a man aged 17, before being convicted by God to de-transition in her early twenties. Here’s her story in full
The Christian entrepreneur behind the UK’s favourite jam
It’s 150 years since William Hartley established a brand of jam that is still the market leader in the UK today
How to grow old faithfully
The Bible doesn’t talk about retiring, says Carl Knightly. Whatever age we are, we still have value, worth and a part to play in the family of God
Against the odds: How Creation Fest overcame a global pandemic, 75mph winds and a £100,000 deficit
Creation Fest almost didn’t happen this year. But when it did, coming together as Christians felt more vital than ever, says Emma Fowle
Does the Church still care about abortion?
Activists say most churches are silent on pro-life issues. Heather Tomlinson asks if Christians are avoiding the subject and, if so, why?
Our society is more divided than ever. Here’s how Christians can help fix it
I bring good news and bad news. The good news is that the people of Britain are right about something. The bad news is that they are right about how awful something is. Half of our fellow citizens tell pollsters that our country is “more divided than ever before”. Following ...
‘I used to be quite literal about my faith. It’s much messier now’ - Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol
The Mayor of Bristol tells Sam Hailes how the parable of the talents is inspiring him to fight poverty, and why he no longer views doubt as a dirty word
Direct Action: Is it ever OK for a Christian to break the law?
Hundreds of Glaswegians surround an immigration enforcement van, defying the authorities, demanding that the people inside be allowed to return to their homes. The crowd chants: “These are our neighbours!”
Should churches remove slavery-tainted statues?
In the midst of a polarised and emotive debate, the Church of England is encouraging ‘balanced, inclusive decision-making’
Why Christians need to stop bashing the BBC
The BBC and Church of England have more in common than you might think, says comedian Paul Kerensa
The Church is losing an entire generation. Here’s what you can do about it
Even prior to Covid-19, the number of children and teenagers attending church services in the UK was in steep decline. But after a year like no other, is the answer going back to the way we’ve always done things, or is it time for a fresh approach?
Investigation: Are Christians in the UK persecuted?
In recent years there have been a string of high-profile religious freedom cases in the news. But is it really true that Christians in the UK are experiencing persecution? Tim Wyatt speaks to those on both sides of the debate
It’s one year since church leaders promised to re-examine their attitudes towards racism. So, what’s changed?
12 months on from the tragic death of George Floyd, have church leaders kept their promises?
Reimagining Britain: God’s vision for a post-pandemic world
The Archbishop of Canterbury says we have an unprecedented opportunity to build a global community that reflects God’s heart for the poor and respects our planet. But real change will require courage – from all of us
The Shadow Pandemic: domestic violence and the Church during Covid-19
The coronavirus crisis has led to a substantial global rise in violence against women. While the Church hasn’t always been a safe place for survivors of domestic abuse, it now has an opportunity to be a light in these dark times. Megan Cornwell investigates
The problem with pedestals
As toxic behaviour by some of the Church’s biggest names is uncovered, Heather Tomlinson says the problem isn’t just with them. It’s with us
Who are the Hebrew Israelites and why do they believe that Jesus is black?
Megan Cornwell investigates the sect that believes African Americans are the true Hebrew Israelites
What every Christian needs to know about Generation Z
Today’s teenagers and 20s make up the first truly biblically illiterate generation. Tim Alford explores how the Church can best communicate the gospel to this unreached people group
The case against sermon-centric Sundays
Skye Jethani explains why digital technology is disrupting our 500-year-old emphasis on lengthy Sunday sermons
Why we should ban Bible study
Interacting with the Bible should be a rewarding and transformational experience, argues Nick Page
Soul Survivor: The end of an era
As their summer festivals draw to a close this month, Ruth Jackson reflects on 26 years of Soul Survivor.
Meet the Bruderhof: Our exclusive peek inside a modern Christian utopia
Megan Cornwell spends 48 hours with the Christian community where all possessions are shared, faith sits at the centre of daily life and crime is nonexistent. But is this mere escapism, or a much-needed return to the model the early Church gave us?
Why we need to talk about race
Ben Lindsay is a black pastor of a white majority church, who has written a new book exploring race. He explains why a push for diverse congregations isn’t enough.
Why the Church's conspiracy of silence is hurting gay Christians
While researching various Christian views on sexuality, Megan Cornwell uncovered a conspiracy of silence. Is it time for churches to come out and say what they really think?
Holy Ghosting: When Christians vanish from church
Katie Stock reports on a mysterious phenomenon
The rise of secularism
The Church is being scrutinised by a growing number of people who do not share our faith. Should we be worried? Megan Cornwell investigates.
Deconstructing faith: Meet the evangelicals who are questioning everything
A new generation is re-thinking what they've been told about Christianity, the Bible and what it means to be a follower of Jesus. They argue a 'new reformation' is taking place as they voice their doubts and embrace a process known as theological deconstruction. Those who have walked this road say it's a life-giving and ultimately faith-affirming process, but others are sceptical. Sam Hailes investigates
Eucharismatic: Why Christians should honour both Spirit and sacrament
Andrew Wilson explains how a fresh understanding of wine in the Bible will make you want to praise God on both the loud cymbals and the loud symbols
How Hillsong conquered the world and changed the way we worship
What began as a single Sydney congregation is now a global church famous for producing some of Christendom’s best-known worship songs. As Hillsong gears up to plant yet more congregations across the UK, we take a peek behind the scenes of this pioneering megachurch
Faith in action: How Christians are plugging the gap left by austerity
As government austerity is blamed for a rise in UK poverty, Megan Cornwell reports on how churches are intervening to help those in need
A woman's place
Society’s attitude towards women has undergone a massive shift in recent years. But does the Church also need to re-examine its views? Katie Harrison investigates
The Battle for London: How Christians are fighting back against a knife crime epidemic
With gang culture on the rise and 26 teenagers stabbed to death in the capital last year, we meet the Christians battling for peace
How 3 very different churches experienced remarkable growth
Contrary to popular opinion, the Church is not on its deathbed. Sam Hailes tells positive stories of growth from across the UK
How evangelicals took over the Church of England
From Justin Welby to the HTB effect, evangelical influence on the Church of England has grown dramatically. But not everyone is pleased, and sexuality still threatens to split the denomination
Wonder Women: Celebrating 100 years of female ordination
Katie Stock looks at the rise of women in church leadership positions
Beauty from Brokenness: These Christians are trying to restore dignity among sex workers
There are no simple answers when it comes to prostitution. Katie Stock reports
The Missing Jewel: How the modern worship movement was born
Les Moir, the producer behind the UK's best known Christian albums, explains how a new way of worshipping God began 50 years ago
Charlotte Gambill: The popular preacher on leading Life Church and discipling women
Lucinda van der Hart meets Charlotte Gambill, who is following in her father Paul Scanlon’s footsteps in leading Life Church, Bradford.
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