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 3 November 2023

Bishop and Imam determined to strengthen good relations between faiths in Oxfordshire; Relationships in UK “should not be defined by disagreements about conflict abroad”; “Gaza” daubed in red paint on London Holocaust library sign; First handwritten Bible commissioned for 500 years given to Lambeth Palace

Religion news 2 November 2023

Bishops hope for Middle East ceasefire “in the long term”; Pope will attend Cop28 saying world is collapsing through climate change; UK Rickshaw runners prepare to cross India for SewaUK charity

Religion news 1 November 2023

Emergency baptism for nine babies at Greek Orthodox church in Gaza; Politicians stoking division and “fuelling Islamophobia in plain sight”; Evangelicals start network in favour of same sex relationships; All Saints in glorious technicolour at St Albans Cathedral

Religion news 31 October 2023

Security advice offered to Jewish parents whose children attend non Jewish schools; Christians in Gaza will find it difficult to “resist temptation to leave”; Nuns abandoned their convent and took off with sacred works of art; Archbishop backs warm welcome campaign

Religion news 30 October 2023

Government concern at impact of Israel/Gaza war on community cohesion; British Jewish organisations discuss security online; British Muslims abused and labelled terrorists; Rome synod ends with promise of women deacons report; The Dark Gathering in Cornwall, as nature moves into winter

Religion news 27 October 2023

The King meets representatives of British charities working in Gaza; Pope Francis calls Catholic church in Gaza “practically every afternoon”; New US House speaker says God is behind his election; The vicar in Shropshire who pulls the pints in his local

Religion news 26 October 2023

Labour leader meets Muslim MPs after backlash against his comments on Gaza; Welby warns conduct of war affects chances of reconciliation; Ambassador says support for Palestinians is not rooted in religion but is cross community in Britain;; The poor, the planet and conversion – key themes from the synod in Rome

Religion news 25 October 2023

Palestinian Christians “horrified” at western Christian support for Israel; Anglicans in Palestine say Welby does not understand existential threat; US conmen pretending to be priests swindle money for sacraments; Polish Catholic bishop resigns after reports of gay orgy

Religion news 24 October 2023

“Unprecedentedly high” number of antisemitic incidents since 7 October; Orthodox leader says Gaza church strike must be met with peace; Alpha founder observer at global conference opposed to same sex blessings; MPs take aim at “backward” CofE same sex proposals

Religion news 23 October 2023

Pope calls Biden to discuss war and peace in the Middle East; Archbishop joins church leaders in Jerusalem calling for protection and peace; Number of Chinese Christians in Britain rises by 29 per cent in two years