Christian groups at the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally
Christian groups, including clergy in cassocks and others carrying large crosses, were among the estimated 150,000 people who took part in the Unite the Kingdom march in London on Saturday. It was organised by far right activist Tommy Robinson, billed as a free speech demonstration, with Union Jacks, St George’s flags, placards and speeches denouncing mass immigration. At one stage, Elon Musk joined by video link from the United States, calling for the overthrow of the British government. The Met police said 24 people were arrested and 26 police officers were injured when violence broke out. The religious element was clear. There were shouts of “Christ is King”, a cleric led the crowd in saying the Lord’s Prayer, a band led singing of worship songs and then Amazing Grace and Jerusalem, preachers took to the stage, there were clergy from churches such as the Free Church of England, and organisations such as The Christian Emergency Alliance and the Disciples of Christ. A minute’s silence was held for Charlie Kirk, murdered last week in Utah, an act of violence which faith leaders have condemned. After the rally, attendees posted on social media saying it was a movement of God, and a pastor said people were “being saved” as they walked. They said it was a revival.
‘Urgent vocation’ to preach truth to the power of the crowd
The march set off from Southwark, yards away from the Cathedral where the Festival of Preaching was taking place, on the subject “Preaching Truth to Power”. The audience arrived after walking among demonstrators draped in flags. The Dean, Mark Oakley, said the task of preachers was not only to confront the power of government, “but the power of the crowd, the power of the populist slogan, the power of fear in the street or in the culture .. This is a confusing, dangerous, brittle time, where power may be unleashed in ways we never thought we’d see in our lifetime. Flags are being carried right outside now. Crosses are being carried next to them. A so called Christian nationalism is taking hold in many places. Our task as preachers .. is an urgent vocation. Urgent. Much is at stake, and many are in danger.”
The Bishop of Washington says fear is real in her city
The guest preacher at the festival was the Bishop of Washington, Mariann Budde, who gave the address at President Trump’s inauguration prayer service in January, urging him to “have mercy upon people in our country who are scared now”. She was asked on BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme whether, nine months on, people were still afraid. She said the fear was real among immigrant populations of Washington DC and the homeless because of rhetoric against them and the calling in of the National Guard. There was also uncertainty and legitimate fear among LGBTQ+ people, “where protections in law, medicines and treatments have been stripped away in some parts of the country”. She said social media and a coarser political dialogue needed a response of humility and listening to one another.
Historic moment as King attends Catholic mass at Westminster Cathedral
When the Duchess of Kent’s funeral takes place tomorrow (Tuesday) at Westminster Cathedral, with the King in attendance, it will be an historic moment – the first time that the monarch will have attended a Roman Catholic Mass in Britain since the Reformation. The late Duchess, who died at 92, converted to Roman Catholicism in 1994, and was married to the Duke of Kent, a cousin of Elizabeth II. She was the first member of the Royal Family to join the Catholic Church since 1685. The requiem mass will be private, celebrated by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, assisted by Jim Curry, an auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Westminster. Also at the altar will be the Anglican Dean of Windsor, Dr Christopher Cocksworth who will accompany the body to the royal burial ground in Frogmore, where the Duchess will be laid to rest. Catherine Pepinster reports on the significance of this moment here
Pope Leo allows Latin Mass at the Vatican
Cardinal Raymond Burke will celebrate a Pontifical High Mass in the Traditional Latin Rite at St Peter’s Basilica next month. Cardinal Burke, an American who led churches in Wisconsin and St Louis, Missouri, before moving to the Vatican, was an outspoken critic of Pope Francis’ decision to limit celebrations of the Latin mass. The restriction was a rallying point for conservative opponents of the late Pope, who also complained at his progressive stance on LGBTQ+ issues, divorcees and refugees. The Tridentine Mass is in Latin with the priest facing the altar and less participation from the congregation. It was replaced at Vatican 2 with a mass in the vernacular language, the priest facing the congregation and more active participation. Pope Leo XIV’s decision to bring back Burke to celebrate the Latin mass is seen as a gesture of reconciliation, to heal the division between conservatives and liberals in the church. Times story here
Bishop says assisted dying bill will change society
The Bishop of London warned peers that legalising assisted suicide in England and Wales would “change society” by endorsing the idea that “some lives are not worth living”. She was one of three bishops to address the Lords as the Assisted Dying Bill goes through its second reading, over two days of debate. Bishop Sarah Mullally, the former Chief Nursing Officer for England, said there were critical concerns “for those who, like me, believe that the Bill is deeply flawed” and many in parliament “are not heeding the voices of professional and representative bodies that are raising the alarm”. The Bishop of Southwark, Christopher Chessun, said that he was concerned that a change in the law would make the most vulnerable in society even more vulnerable, and warned of a move to a “consumerist” notion of life. He called for better funding for palliative and social care. The Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, said the Bill is both unsafe and unworkable in its current form”. Eight bishops were in the chamber, as well as the Archbishop of York. The bill will be debated again on Friday. Church Times report here
Man arrested over racially motivated rape in Birmingham
Police have arrested a man in connection with a racially-motivated rape of a Sikh woman in her 20s, in Oldbury, Birmingham, in broad daylight last week. Yesterday there was a demonstration in the area by the local community. Local MPs have also expressed concern, saying such “violence and hatred has no place in our society”, and another saying people had become scared for their safety due to an increase in “racist rhetoric” in the UK over the summer.
Mosque vandalised in Taunton, Somerset
A man has been arrested after the windows of a mosque in Taunton were smashed in a suspected racially aggravated crime in the early morning. ITV reports that the Muslim community feels hurt and disappointed, with some members having lived in the town for years building stong links. Gideon Amos, Lib Dem MP for Taunton and Wellington, said the people who carried out the attack are not welcome in the town: “They aren’t patriots, they are weak and cowardly and I completely condemn them.”
Cathedrals and Abbeys targeted by Christian climate campaigners
Supporters of Christian Climate Action disrupted tours and displayed banners at cathedrals and abbeys in Bath, Durham, Westminster, Winchester and York, demanding the CofE act against “climate and ecological collapse”. Banners were unfurled from the tower at Bath Abbey and the roof of Winchester Cathedral. In Westminster, supporters placed a banner in front of the altar and sat down in protest. The protesters, of all ages, are urging the church to speak out against the fossil fuel industry and stand up to the government to tackle climate breakdown.
