US civil rights leader Rev Jesse Jackson has died aged 84
The US civil rights leader, the Rev Jesse Jackson, has died aged 84, after a long illness. He was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 2017 and had been living with progressive supranuclear palsy, which affected his movement and swallowing. He was born in South Caroliina in 1941, and ordained as a Baptist minister in 1968. That same year, he was on the balcony of the hotel in Tennessee, when Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated, and he went on to follow his lead as a civil rights campaigner. He stood as a presidential candidate for the Democrats in 1984 and 1988, served as the District of Columbia’s shadow senator, hosted a CNN programme, and continued his activism becoming the most renowned and respected African-American campaigner. On the night Barack Obama won the presidency, Jackson was seen in tears, paying tribute to civil rights campaigners. Yesterday, former President Obama issued a statement saying he and his wife “stood on his shoulders” and that Jesse Jackson, in all his campaigning, “was relentless in his belief that we are all children of God, deserving of dignity and respect. Reverend Jackson also created opportunities for generations of African Americans and inspired countless more, including us”. Jesse Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and their five children, including former US Representative Jesse Jackson Jr.
BBC leaders speak of ‘huge importance’ of religious broadcasting
Senior BBC leaders have pointed to the way religion has been represented in multiple TV programmes during the past year, saying the Corporation takes religious broadcasting “very seriously”. Chief content officer, Kate Phillips, told faith representatives at the “BBC Religion 2026 Showcase” that reflecting questions of morality, meaning and belief was of “huge importance”. A presentation of highlights in 2025 featured the documentary Amol Rajan Goes to the Ganges, on his visit to the Kumbh Mela festival; the series Pilgrimage; the mini-series Inside the Cult of the Jesus Army; news reports on the death of Pope Francis and the installation of Pope Leo; and the traditional offering of Songs of Praise. Two programmes were highlighted for 2026, another series of The Pilgrimage, and a one off programme Harry Clark Goes to Rome, showing the Traitors star on a quest to meet the Pope. Other programmes will be announced later, nearer to their time of broadcast. Ms Phillips urged attendees to respond to the government’s consultation on the BBC’s future, saying: “We just need as much support as we can at the moment because we need a properly funded BBC to take us into the future”.
Sandford St Martin Trust is also appealing to people to contribute to the BBC’s charter review, on its future content and programming, including questions around representation of faith communities. Closing date is 10 March. Link is here. Sandford St Martin’s article is here
Dr James Orr becomes head of policy at Reform
Dr James Orr, associate professor of philosophy of religion at the faculty of divinity, University of Cambridge, has announced that he is: “delighted to be taking on the role of Head of Policy at Reform. We’re going to build the best policy operation in British politics. And we will give our Shadow Cabinet all the support they need to govern. Britain needs new ideas. Britain needs Reform.”
Lent – a time of spiritual renewal and reflection – and abstinence from harsh words
The Christian season of Lent starts today, leading to Easter and starting with services for Ash Wednesday, when ashes from burning palm crosses are used to mark a cross on people’s foreheads. It’s a sombre ceremony, a reminder of sin, sorrow and death. During Lent, there is a requirement to fast, which has given rise to a custom where people give up things such as chocolate, for the duration of the season. By tradition, Christians fast from meat on Fridays and eat one big meal and two snacks today, Ash Wednesday, and on Good Friday. Pope Leo has urged the faithful to observe a period of listening and fasting, a time of reflection and renewal. He has specifically asked for kind words and abstinence from “harsh words and rash judgement, refraining from slander and speaking ill of those who are not present and cannot defend themselves”. Meanwhile the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, has written to Anglican bishops around the world, saying she will spend time this Lent on retreat and pilgrimage as she prepares for installation in Canterbury Cathedral. The Methodist Church has produced a suite of resources for worship and small groups during Lent with the theme “Pause, Break, Make space for God”. Lent factsheet here
Royal Observatory live astronomy show to seek the new crescent moon
The Royal Observatory Greenwich and the New Crescent Society are holding a live online astronomy show from 5.30 pm today, scanning the skies in search of the new crescent moon, which will signal the start of Ramadan. Director of the New Crescent Society, Imad Ahmed, and Royal Observatory astronomer, Jake Foster, will be presenting live from Greenwich, discussing the links between astronomy and Islam and giving tips for spotting the moon. Members of the New Crescent Society will be calling in from around the UK, with news of their own sightings. British Muslims have been relying on astronomers across the world to determine the sighting of the moon, with different results leading to confusion. But this initiative aims to progress a plan to set up an official moon watching system in Britain. Link is here
London’s West End illuminated with Ramadan lights
London is celebrating Ramadan with the installation of streetlights near Leicester Square in London’s West End. The design is inspired by Islamic geometric art, including motifs of both sunrise and sunset to symbolise Suhoor — the meal eaten before dawn, when the fast begins — and Iftar, the meal eaten after sunset, when it ends. Sir Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, who is Muslim, said the lights would show “the best of London, the best of Britain, the best of Islam.. One of our tasks during this Ramadan, both Muslims and non-Muslims, is to show that London is an antidote to hatred”. Rad Maira Butt’s report here
Christian social worker discrimination case continues with a review
An employment tribunal has ruled that legal errors were made in parts of an earlier judgment concerning Felix Ngole, a Christian social worker whose job offer was withdrawn after he expressed views on “Biblical teaching” about marriage and sexuality. He had been offered a role as a mental health support worker with Touchstone Leeds in Wakefield, but the offer was rescinded when his comments emerged. A previous tribunal found he had been directly discriminated against, though it rejected other discrimination claims. Ngole, supported by Christian Concern, appealed. On Monday, the tribunal said aspects of the original ruling were flawed and sent parts of the case back for reconsideration. Christian Concern described the decision as a “significant win” for Christian freedom and free speech.
Judgment reserved in case of man who burned Quran in London
The case of Hamit Coskun, who burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish consulate in London last year, has been considered again in court. Coskun was initially convicted under public order legislation, but that ruling was later quashed on appeal. The CPS is now seeking to challenge that reversal and put its case in the High Court yesterday. Its barristers told the court that burning a book in this location “is in itself disorderly and even more so when the book is a holy text, whatever the religion.” Judgment is due at a later date.
One in three Americans back Christian nationalism, PRRI finds
The US-based Public Religion Research Institute has published new research mapping the spread of Christian nationalist ideas across the United States. The study identifies which Christian denominations are more inclined towards this ideology, which are less so, and which states have the highest concentration of supporters. Overall, 32 per cent of Americans support Christian nationalism. Support rises to 56 per cent among Republicans, compared with 17 per cent among Democrats. Arkansas was found to have the largest proportion of Christian nationalists, at 54 per cent. White evangelical Protestants were the group most likely to back the ideology, with 67 per cent expressing support. In contrast, 35 per cent of white Catholics are supporters. During a zoom briefing last night to deliver the results, PRRI president and founder Dr Robert Jones said the United States is not “evenly polarised” but “asymmetric” with Republicans as outliers. The panel outlined how the data can shed light on the mid-term elections, showing that where Christian nationalism is not dominant, states are more competitive politically. The authors say there are clashes in ideology for example between Catholic teaching and Christian Nationalism, where movement is possible. The research is on the PRRI website here. View the briefing here
US faith leaders take more court action against Trump’s immigration policies
More than 30 faith leaders in the United States are taking court action against the Trump administration’s treatment of asylum-seekers. They have signed a “friend of the court” brief seeking to stop asylum-seekers being turned away at the border. The brief says asylum is “a core religious and moral tenet” and the government’s interpretation of asylum laws is untenable from a historical, religious and social perspective. Signatories include the Presiding Bishop and President of the House of Deputies of the Episcopalian church. The case has been lodged in a court in San Francisco. Episcopalian News Service report here.
Chinese New Year – the Year of the Horse
It’s Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Horse, and festivals are being held across the country and the world. Each new year is named after one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, and the horse symbolises dynamic energy and strength, heralding ambition and life. The 2026 Chinese New Year festival in central London takes place on Sunday 22 February.
