YouGov to run latest ‘Quiet Revival’ survey this year
The polling organisation YouGov, which conducted the survey resulting in the Bible Society’s report “The Quiet Revival”, says it intends to run a similar study again this year. A spokesman said: “This particular piece of research from 2024 has generated a very unusual number of queries and YouGov takes these seriously. We will be looking again at this topic in the latest iteration of this study later in the year”. A Bible Society spokesperson said: “We’ve run various surveys with YouGov over the years and we’re talking to YouGov about running the survey again – details have still to be worked out. Given this is a fascinating cultural moment, we want to continue to monitor it closely.” The Quiet Revival report suggested a 56 per cent rise in church attendance between 2018 and 2024, including an increase from four to 16 per cent among young men, a rise which is not seen in polling by the Catholic church, the Church of England or the British Social Attitudes survey. Last month, Prof Sir John Curtice suggested the survey should be done again to see if the result is replicated. The Bible Society has consistently stood by the poll findings.
Public can ensure good journalism which seeks the truth by ‘engaging with the media’
Good journalism telling the truth is not inevitable and demands a pragmatic and principled approach to secure its future, according to Anna McNamee, executive director of the Sandford St Martin Trust, who gave the inaugural Lent lecture at Salisbury Cathedral last night. The series is entitled “What is Truth?”, and in her lecture, she drew attention to the way social media has promoted fake news, with misinformation and disinformation posing the most serious threat to democracy. But there were also examples where citizen journalists had shone a light into corruption and oppression through truthful reporting, for example in Iran or Myanmar. She challenged the audience to secure good journalism by engaging with the media, believing in those who are seeking the truth, employing critical thinking and never taking for granted “unbiased media founded on the principle of serving the public interest”, and she reminded people to respond to the public consultation on the future of the BBC. Turning to religious broadcasting, she said the Sandford St Martin Trust believed the media should be at the front line of promoting religious literacy for a better world: “We need newspapers, broadcasters and social media platforms which take their civic role and responsibilities seriously, and will undertake to provide us with trustworthy thoughts and information which will nurture our imaginations, our hearts and our minds”.
Reform UK leader says churches should not be converted into mosques
Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, has said much of what makes Britain great derives from its Christian heritage, and his party will prevent redundant churches from being converted into mosques or any other place of worship. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Mr Yusuf, who is Muslim, said this “cuts to the heart of what it means to protect our culture.” In an interview with The Times, he said Britain is losing its Christian values and the party will put Christianity at heart of the school curriculum and grant listed building status to churches across the UK, restricting their change of use. He was followed by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who said Church of England bishops were out of touch with their members on immigration, with senior clergy holding “a rather twisted view of what their flock in this country actually want them to do”. He said: “If they cannot see that aggressive young males chucking their phones and passports into the English channel at the twelve mile line” is a threat to the country then “frankly they are not doing a very good job”. Press conference recording here
Check: Number of churches converted into mosques
The Times has investigated the figures on church closures and conversion to mosques. It reports that over the last 50 years, 8,500 churches in the UK have closed, leaving 38,500 still standing. They have become flats, bars, community centres, offices, shops or performance spaces – 496 were demolished. Reform says 41 places of worship have become mosques, based on a Wikipedia entry. These mostly belonged to Methodist, United Reformed, Seventh Day Adventist and Plymouth Brethren denominations. But for the Church of England, a spokesperson told the RMC that deconsecrated churches are sold under restrictive covenants which prevent the majority from ever from being turned over to other religions, even after they have been sold on. Two redundant CofE churches have become gurdwaras and one a mosque – in Peckham, south London.
Church leaders appeal for prayer on fourth anniversary of war in Ukraine
Metropolitan Epiphanius, of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, has joined the Ukrainian World Congress global initiative for the fourth anniversary of the outbreak of war, entiteld “Stand With Ukraine: Protect Future Generations.” He has called on the faithful to pray for children affected by the war, specifically highlighting the illegal deportation of nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children by Russia, saying they are being “stripped of their native language, identity, and future”. The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) has announced a National Day of Prayer for peace today, denouncing the “immense suffering, grief, and losses” brought by the Russian aggression. A service marking the anniversary will be held at The Holy Family in Exile Catholic Ukrainian Cathedral, in London this morning.
Exterior of Gothic cathedral in Barcelona completed after 140 years
The central tower of the unfinished “Sagrada Familia”, a Gothic basilica in Barcelona, has finally been finished, marking the completion of exterior works in a building project that started 140 years ago in 1882. It has taken so long due to its architectural complexity, reliance on private donations, the destruction of plans in the Spanish Civil War, and the recent Covid pandemic. The central tower of Jesus Christ was completed when the upper arm of a cross was put in place, standing 176 meters from the ground. The cross itself is 17 metres tall and 13.5 metres wide. The tower is surrounded by four others dedicated to the four evangelists and one to the Virgin Mary. The culmination of the tower of Jesus Christ coincides with the 100th anniversary of the death of Antoni Gaudí, the Catalan architect who designed the tower.
Royal Mint announces some gold bar sales revenue will go to Islamic Relief in Ramadan
The Royal Mint has announced that some money from sales of gold bars will be donated to Islamic Relief during Ramadan. It means 2.5 per cent of online sales revenue from 1g and 5g bars featuring the Kaaba, the sacred pilgrimage site in Mecca, will be donated. 1g bars are valued at £175m, and 5g bars are listed at £689. In addition, two 1g and two 5kg Kaaba bars will be auctioned for the charity’s Dudan appeal, and there will be a joint social media prize draw, giving away 10 of the smaller gold bars. The Kaaba range was created in collaboration with the Muslim Council of Wales in 2023, originally launching as a 20g minted bar. Andrew Dickey, from the Royal Mint, said they were delighted to support the charity’s work.
