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Around 100,000 people attended the memorial service of Charlie Kirk, the US Christian activist and MAGA-supporting influencer, who was assassinated while answering questions at a university event. Powerful politicians and Christian leaders spoke. President Trump described the service as “an old-time revival”.
The announcement of the next Archbishop of Canterbury is imminent – a decision was promised by the end of September. Here’s a reminder of our briefing speculating on the choice and reviewing the intray. Links to the full briefing video and podcast available here.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, is approaching his 80th birthday in November, and Catherine Pepinster reports that there are signs he might soon retire – his diary is almost empty for October, and speculation is growing about his potential successor. Her report is here.
Methodists in Britain have responded to the recent march in London, the disorder outside asylum hotels, and the British flag raising campaign across the country by making a film, with more than 140 congregations singing the hymn “All Are Welcome” and calling out that same message in many languages >>
Jesuits have stepped into the breach to provide legal assistance for refugees coming to the UK, as a shortage of specialist lawyers and complex cases means people get trapped in the system for sometimes more than a decade. Catherine Pepinster reports here.
British Jewish organisations have condemned Keir Starmer’s announcement that the UK is formally recognising a Palestinian state. The Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said it ‘will prove to be a historic error of foreign policy’.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has accused Donald Trump of being ‘racist, sexist, misogynist and Islamophobic’ after the US president told the United Nations that Sir Sadiq was a terrible mayor who wanted to introduce sharia law. MPs were outraged and came to the mayor’s support, saying the jibe was baseless >>
The 700-year-old tower of All Hallows Staining Church near Fenchurch Street railway station in the city of London has been suspended 45 feet above ground on stilts, while the earth below is removed for a new office development. Sky News story and pics here >>
More headlines ..
Here are headlines from this week’s daily bulletins. Sign up here to receive them in your inbox every morning.
- Mounting speculation that Cardinal Vincent Nichols’ successor will soon be announced
- Jewish organisations condemn UK decision to recognise a Palestinian state
- Cardinal and Archbishop lead church leaders in call for end to war in Gaza
- ‘Old Time Revival’ of Charlie Kirk’s memorial service
- Clergy say Christianity was ‘misused’ at Unite the Kingdom march
- Church Times journalists ponder the inbox of the new Archbishop of Canterbury
- Archbishop warns assisted dying will herald ‘fundamental change’ in society
- Exploring religion ‘sets you up for the real world’
- JIPR: British Jews’ support for a two-state solution drops dramatically
- Prime Minister criticised again after Rosh Hashanah message
- Bishops welcome recognition of Palestinian state
- Caritas Jerusalem suspends medical operations in Northern Gaza
- Commission ‘expected to take decision’ on next Archbishop of Canterbury this week
- New watchdog to monitor hate crime against Muslim women and girls
- Jesuit Refugee Service ‘deeply concerned’ at removal of asylum seekers to France
- Church in Wales discusses same sex blessings experiment
- Quaker Week 2025 theme ‘Love Your Neighbour’ as resistance to hate
- New general secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
- Church leaders ‘deep concern’ at Christian symbols used in Unite the Kingdom march
- Polly Toynbee: ‘Christian label offers veneer of respectability to tribal racists’
- Tim Farron: ‘Appropriation of Christianity by one political movement is heretical’
- Methodist and URC leaders welcome UK recognition of Palestinian State
- Jewish News: UK recognition of Palestine ‘stabbed Jews in the back’
- Pope Leo’s regular calls to the parish priest in Gaza
- CofE report recommends more support for ‘flying bishops’
- US National Religious Broadcasters reaffirm free speech after Kimmel
- Charlie Kirk’s fervent memorial service ‘astounding impact’
- AI-generated versions of Charlie Kirk in heaven are going viral
- Jesuits provide legal help to refugees stuck in UK’s ailing asylum system
- Outrage at Trump’s sharia law jibe against London Mayor
- Muslim Impact Forum for global philanthropy launches in London
- £3k for people affected by data breach in CofE redress scheme
- US Black Christian leaders “unnerved” by response to Charlie Kirk’s death
- How Americans see AI’s impact on society
- Unification church leader arrested in South Korea
- Church tower on stilts as new office block built below
- ‘All Are Welcome’: Britain’s Methodist churches unite in hymn against division and fear
- Call for discussion on integration and the ‘weaving of society’
- Israeli women ‘abused and raped in Britain’ after being matched with violent men
- Mayor of Bethlehem says ‘emigration is draining the Holy Land of Christian presence’
- Catholic bishop welcomes recognition of the State of Palestine
- Seven Buddhist monks killed in Sri Lanka cable car accident
- Britain’s Rabbinic couples share secrets on how to make marriage work
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