All UK Church articles – Page 2
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OpinionThis St George’s Day, let us show what the Christian martyr truly stood for
On St George’s Day, Karen Miller argues his flag has been repurposed from its honourable origins. Can we reclaim it for good?
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OpinionStudents attending 8am chapel services? At this Oxford college, it’s not strange
In a recent column for The Spectator, author Bijan Omrani recalled his days at the University of Oxford in the 1990s when college chapels were deserted. Today it’s a different story, says Rev Dr Robert Wainwright. Students are seeking something substantial - and finding it in early morning, traditional church
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ReviewsIs Christian Aid just Oxfam with hymns? This book suggests it might be
A new book marking Christian Aid’s 80th anniversary offers valuable insights into the charity’s pioneering approach to poverty. But sadly it fails to explain how faith makes it distinctive from secular development agencies, says our reviewer
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OpinionUK churches are being hit by 10 crimes a day. Something has to be done
A recent report revealed that an average of 10 crimes are committed at UK churches each day. Claire Walker of the National Churches Trust unpacks the deeper impact crime is having on the nation’s sacred spaces and the communities they serve
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ReviewsHow a builder became a Baptist minister and comedian before facing terminal cancer
From building sites to the pulpit, comedy clubs and Britain’s Got Talent, Allan Finnegan’s extraordinary journey took a devastating turn when he received a terminal cancer diagnosis. And yet his new book suggests faith and humour are sustaining him, says our reviewer
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OpinionEven if it isn’t a quiet revival, our church is still growing
In just a few years, Victor Oladele’s small local church has grown from around 30 adults to two Sunday services - with a significant number of young people coming through his doors. It’s not revival, but it is definitely something, he says, and that must not be denied
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OpinionKemi Badenoch has promised to repair Britain's churches. But Britain needs its moral foundations repaired first
Kemi Badenoch has pledged to restore church buildings, declaring Britain a ‘Christian nation’. But as Christians face prosecution for silent prayer and society strays further from Christian principles, Lois McLatchie Miller argues it is all in vain if the deeper crisis of abandoned Christian values goes unaddressed
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OpinionThe withdrawal of the quiet revival report is a reminder not to measure the wrong thing
The Church was too keen to welcome a report that soothed its own anxieties, rather than looking to serve a generation drowning in their own, says Michael Tang. But Gen Z are still spiritually hungry, reading scripture in their rooms while trying to decide whether the institution that holds it can be trusted
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OpinionWhy Sarah Mullally wants to be the Archbishop of Compassion
With much anticipation surrounding how the new Archbishop of Canterbury’s tenure will unfold, Andrew Atherstone suggests one thing can be expected from Sarah Mullally: a primacy defined by a steadfast commitment to compassion
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OpinionThe first female Archbishop of Canterbury is here. It’s a historic moment for Church and country
Whatever happens under the leadership of Most Rev Dame Sarah Mullally, it is a huge step forward for equality in the workplace and wider society, says Abigail Frymann Rouch
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Magazine FeaturesOverdoses and tea: My 24 hours with the radical pastor caring for Britain’s forgotten streets
Needle exchanges, overdoses, rough sleepers and prayer. In Burnley, Pastor Mick Fleming runs a church unlike many others. AJ Gomez followed the addict turned pastor to witness what building a church for those on the margins really looks like
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Magazine FeaturesFrom ‘Oh Happy Day’ to ‘The Blessing’: The history of modern worship in 10 songs
Veteran record producer and friend to countless worship leaders, Les Moir shares the stories behind the songs which have shaped the faith of millions
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OpinionWhy Christians should defend Muslims’ right to pray in Trafalgar Square
Conservative MP Nick Timothy has caused controversy after calling a public iftar gathering in London’s Trafalgar Square an “act of domination” by Muslims. Creating a culture of suspicion and exclusion towards people of other faiths is neither British nor Christian, argues David Taylor. He believes Christians should be the first to defend the right of Muslims to gather and pray peacefully
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ReviewsNew Wine leader Rich Johnson has written an outstanding book on humble Christian leadership
As toxic leadership cultures continue to be exposed across denominations, Rich Johnson’s timely book offers a biblical framework for leading well and sustainably in the church, says our reviewer
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InterviewsAl Gordon on creativity, AI and why the next great move of God is already here
We’re living through the greatest technological revolution in human history – and it’s preparing the ground for a spiritual awakening. Al Gordon, leader of SAINT church in Hackney, tells Sam Hailes why the Church must rediscover its God-given creativity in the age of AI
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OpinionThe public are clear about their position on abortion up to birth. The Church should be too
Parliament has once again pushed the boundaries of abortion law, but the public remain unconvinced — with just 1 per cent of women supporting abortion up to birth, notes Lois McLatchie-Miller. As the law moves further than most are comfortable with, the Church must speak clearly and courageously for both mother and child, she argues
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OpinionPeople come to church for all sorts of reasons. We must give them the reason to stay: Christ
Esther Walker’s account of attending church as a newcomer in The Times is no typical revival story. Drawn in by her son’s cricket superstitions and kept by an amusing vicar, Rev Peter Crumpler says her honest reflections offer vital lessons for how the Church reaches those outside its walls
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OpinionThe defeat of the assisted dying bill shows that the Scottish Church is alive and well
Bucking the current trend, the Scottish Parliament has failed in its most recent attempt to legalise assisted suicide. There’s many good reasons for that, says Nathanael Smith, but the country’s long history of revival, the unity of the Church and the prayers and actions of Christians all played their part
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OpinionTradition is important. But the Church must adapt in order to survive
The desire to preserve the beauty and tradition of the Church is valid, says Rev Jamie Sewell, but beauty without purpose is just a museum
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OpinionBanning social media for under-16s will only increase loneliness
As youth clubs, uniformed groups, sports and arts opportunities have diminished, social media is one of the few places where young people can meet with their peers. Banning it might protect them from online harm, but it will also increase isolation, says Bishop Philip North
