Third of Catholic priests in England from 1992-2024 were former Anglican clergy
A report from St Mary’s University in London, has found that a third of all Catholic priests ordained from 1992 to 2024, were former Anglican clergy. Prof Stephen Bullivant, the study co-author, said there was “unequivocally a surge” in conversions to Catholicism following a vote (in 1992) that allowed women to become Anglican vicars”, though there were other reasons too. The report highlights the “substantial contribution to Catholic life” made by convert clergy/religious, and acknowledges the work of the St Barnabas Society, which has supported people with pastoral and financial support as they converted. There were an estimated 491 ordinations of former Anglican clergy in the Catholic Church during this time. In total around 700 former Anglican clergy, religous, or members of the Scottish Episcopal Church were received into the Catholic Church over the same period. The study also identified 16 former Anglican bishops and two Continuing Anglican bishops who had converted during these years. Meanwhile, approximately 6,500 women have been ordained as priests in the Church of England since the first ordinations took place in March 1994. Telegraph report here
British Jews abandon Labour and Tories for the Greens and Reform
Changing political preferences among British Jews have been reported by the Institute of Jewish Policy Research. Support for the two main parties, Labour and the Conservatives, has “collapsed” to 58 per cent by July 2025 from nearly 84 per cent in 2020. There were two fast moving trends – 18 per cent are turning to the Green party, especially younger people, at a high rate than the population – up nine per cent in the year that the Greens elected new leader Zack Polanski, a “proud Jew but not a Zionist”. And 11 per cent back Reform, a rise of eight per cent in a year, a trend seen among male, older Orthodox and Zionist Jews. The report says “for a significant minority of Jews, domestic priorities and progressive values outweigh foreign policy concerns”. JPR executive director, Dr Jonathan Boyd, said “political polarisation anywhere is rarely, if ever, good news for Jewish communities. It points to a more fragmented, fraught and fractious political environment in which more populist and extreme ideas can take root, including antisemitic conspiracies, motifs and tropes”. He suggested the shift indicates greater tensions within the Jewish community, and a decline in community cohesion. Overall, he said the report is worrying: “It underscores key issues going on in the UK that should raise alarm bells everywhere – declining trust in mainstream politics and politicians, the growing appeal of simplistic answers to complex political issues, and the prospect of increased anger, uncertainty and division across the country as a whole.”
Church in Wales bishops set dates to decide on same sex blessings and marriage
Bishops of the Church in Wales are to bring proposals for same sex blessings to the church’s governing body in April next year, and on same sex marriage the year after. In a statement released yesterday, they say most people who spoke in a six month listening exercise were in favour of the changes, but “a strong part of our Church family” finds that difficult. An experimental “Rite of Blessing” for same sex couples who had celebrated a civil marriage or partnership, was introduced for a five year period in 2021. That is now coming to an end and the Bishops say the time is right to decide. Their statement says that “deep convictions will still vary” and people with “deep convictions of conscience will have to be respected” so that no-one will be forced to act against their conscience and people in same sex relationships will be “given full consideration”. They say: “Whatever people’s convictions on this matter, as your bishops we believe first that this should not be a ‘Church-dividing issue”. Full statement is here
The Bishop of Leeds Nick Baines gives final sermon this weekend before retiring
The Bishop of Leeds Nick Baines will preach his final sermon before retiring, in a special service at Ripon Cathedral on Sunday. He has held the role for 11 years and the service also marks the 38th anniversary of his ordination which has taken him from parish ministry to the Lords, where he was the lead bishop on the media, as “Bishop for Diocesan Communicators”. Before ordination he was a linguist at GCHQ, fluent in German, French and Russian. At his final address to the Leeds Diocesan synod in June, he gave an indication as to why he is retiring now, aged 68, two years below the church retirement age: “I am retiring now because it is clear that the diocese needs to be moving on in a way that it cannot while I am still here. Nothing malicious – just how the world works. When I asked last November for the business case for when the diocesan bishop should go, I was told September. It wasn’t what I had in mind; but, it was right. Although I have had personal health issues to deal with more recently, they are coincident and not a reason for finishing. I want this to be clear. The diocese needs me gone in order to focus on the next stage.” His blog is here
Live-streamed church attack deepens anger over Nigeria’s security crisis
A live-streamed attack on a church in rural Nigeria on Tuesday evening, in which gunmen killed two worshippers and abducted the priest, has intensified criticism of President Tinubu’s handling of security. Video from Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara state shows masked attackers firing into the packed congregation as children scream. The incident was one of several violent episodes this week that forced Tinubu to cancel overseas commitments and confront multiple crises, from jihadist insurgencies to mass kidnappings. Hours after the church shooting, President Tinubu confirmed that an army brigadier-general had been killed by Islamic State-linked militants in Borno. While in western Nigeria, security forces are searching for 24 schoolgirls, all Muslims, kidnapped from their dormitories in the early hours of Monday morning. At least 1,500 students have been seized over the past ten years since Boko Haram took 276 girls from a Christian school in Chibok. The footage has fuelled anger among Nigerians and prompted President Trump to claim Christians face an “existential threat”, warning he may cut aid or consider military action unless Abuja improves protection. The Associated Press carries an analysis of violent attacks in Nigeria saying some attacks target Christians, but everyone is a potential victim, regardless of background or belief in a “multidimensional crisis”.
‘Revival of Christianity’ as clergy protest outside Chicago migrant detention centre
The Religion News Service has been following the clergy protests outside Broadview detention centre in Chicago, where migrants rounded by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are held. Jack Jenkins reports on the Rev David Black, a young Presbyterian minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, who was shot in the head with pepper balls as he was praying outside the centre. His “progressive church with traditional theology” has a history of being in the vanguard of progressive movements and has attracted new people drawn by his stand. He told RNS: “I’m seeing almost a revival of Christianity through what’s happening at Broadview in Chicago.” Many clergy have joined the protests. Methodist minister the Rev. Hannah Kardon, was pulled from the crowd while praying and arrested. The Rev Michael Woolf was among 21 people arrested last weekend. David Black says his church is exploring a “deliverance ministry” with a task to cast “demons out of American politics, and out of the institutions that enable things like ICE and ICE’s operations.”
Orange hearts on posters, Christmas trees and biscuits to show support for refugees
A campaign to demonstrate support for refugees and people seeking asylum is being organised for the weekend of December 5-7, by the Joint Public Issues Team representing Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches. The Communities Together with Refugees campaign will include the display of orange hearts in posters, Christmas decorations or even biscuits at community events. JPIT says: “At a time when we are witnessing increasing anti-migrant sentiment in some local communities and in politics, it is more important than ever to show that not only are refugees welcome here, but that our communities stand wholeheartedly together.” Details here
Belarus frees two Catholic priests after Vatican intervention
Two Catholic priests in Belarus have been freed from jail following talks with the Vatican. The Associated Press reports that the Rev Henrykh Akalatovich, aged 65, who criticized the government in his sermons and was accused of spying for Poland and the Vatican, charges he denies, was convicted of treason and imprisoned for 11 years in 2023. And the Rev Andrzej Yukhnevich, detained four times including for posting a Ukrainian flag on social media, was serving 13 years for child molestation charges, which he denies. Their release follows talks between the Belarus president and Donald Trump in the summer, and a visit to Belarus in October by papal envoy, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, a former Vatican ambassador to Belarus. Associated Press report here
1974 Birmingham pub bombings anniversary remembered today
Birmingham Cathedral will mark the anniversary of the 1974 Birmingham Pub Bombings today with an afternoon of reflection and prayer. A bound copy of the commemoration book, with testimonies of survivors, bereaved families and members of the local Irish community who suffered a backlash at the time, will be gifted to the Cathedral. A paperback version will go on sale at the same time.
QR code scheme translating Christmas services live into a phone
A Christian tech company “Breeze Translate” has created software that allows congregations to connect with sermons and receive a live translation into their own language on their phone. It’s offering the “Christmas Welcome Initiative” where churches sign up for a standard weekly plan, and Breeze Translate includes the cost for all additional Christmas services through the season – Advent, crib services, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day – for free. Mike Ashelby, Product Lead for Breeze Translate, said: “Christmas is about good news for all people. We want to ensure that whether a visitor speaks Farsi, Spanish, or Mandarin, they can understand the message of hope being shared in their local church.” Described as a game changer for community cohesion, the idea came from a gathering of Christian techies at the “Kingdom Code Hackathon” and has been developed entirely by ”faith-filled volunteers”. It works by attendees scanning a QR code to access a live transcript of the service in their chosen language on their own device. The company says more than five million people in England and Wales do not have English as their main language and they see their job as a mission to take the message to every “tribe and tongue”. More details here
