Ruth Peacock

Ruth is the leader of the Religion Media Centre project and oversees its work. After studying theology and teaching RE, she trained as a journalist on a local paper, freelanced in print and radio and then joined the BBC, working in many news departments, including the main newsgathering desk. She also worked on the BBC’s move into the new W1 building and studied organisational change.

Written Content

Religion news 7 January 2025

Justin Welby leaves office after a turbulent 12 years; Archbishop of York takes over a church in turmoil today; Policy Exchange report on Muslim Council of Britain election; Progressive cardinal appointed to Washington DC as Trump moves in

Religion news 6 January 2025

Welby steps down after evensong tonight; Action, not ‘racist witch hunt’, needed to tackle grooming gangs; The vicar on ‘The Traitors’ obsessed with murder; Pope tells nuns not to adopt ‘a vinegar face’

Religion news 3 January 2025

Rosary podcast goes straight to number one in Apple charts; US Council on American-Islamic Relations denounces New Orleans attacker; The future of AI and its power to change people and the world; Notre Dame will welcome the next annual Taizé gathering

Religion news 2 January 2025

Pope’s New Year’s message: respect dignity of life, as Year of Jubilee 2025 begins; Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah, ends today; Police record large rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes; Priest jailed in Belarus for criticising government in his sermons

Religion news 20 December 2024

King declares Archbishopric of Canterbury vacant from 7 January; Keir Starmer hosts first Hanukkah reception; Report on Muslim community efforts to combat loneliness; Government won’t tolerate foreign harrassment against Sikhs; Cathedrals celebrate Christmas in style

Religion news 19 December 2024

Crown Nominations Commission member Canon Andrew Cornes, steps back from ministry; Professor Alexis Jay tells CofE bishops to ‘get a grip’ on safeguarding and backs Bishop of Newcastle; How British Muslims adopt some Christmas traditions; Welby donates to child abuse charity

Religion news 18 December 2024

George Carey relinquishes his license to officiate as a CofE minister; King is praying for people displaced in Syria and supporting Christians in Iraq; Pope says British intelligence saved him from Iraqi suicide bomber; Three Methodists in Nigeria killed by rival church group

Religion news 17 December 2024

Former head of MI5 to chair Crown Nominations Commission; Archbishop of York facing calls to resign over sex abuse case; Kemi Badenoch confesses she no longer believes in God; Slavery and sin – backstory of the nation’s favourite carol