National Churches Trust issues urgent call to save Britain’s churches
The National Churches Trust has issued an urgent call to save Britain’s churches by strengthening partnerships among local communities, local and national government, church authorities, heritage organisations and individual congregations. Launching a call to action at its conference in London, the NCT’s deputy chief executive, Dr Karl Newton said a survey of 3,628 churches found that one in 20 churches say they will definitely or probably not be used as a place of worship by 2030. One in ten say roofs and guttering / drains will need urgent repairs in the next year. There had been a gradual deterioration in the state of the buildings over the last 15 years and the existing process of locally generated funding was unsustainable. He said: “Churches today cannot be adequately funded by a 19th century philanthropic model” and the future is one of collaboration and partnerships. Many speakers emphasised the vital role played by the UK’s estimated 38,300 churches, in the community, such as hosting food banks, art and cultural events and bringing the community together. Ian Morrison, from Historic England, said the real problem was not money, but awareness. In their own survey, 80 per cent valued the importance of church buildings, and now they must turn passive admiration into active care. What was needed, he suggested was a massive national campaign to garner the public’s support “a huge, huge public relations challenge”. Finally, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, committed to the partnerships and leadership necessary to see church buildings not just as heritage assets but living, breathing centres of community and mission. He said churches brought people together in a polarised world and built coalitions of good will. Guardian article here
Another speaker, TikTok historian Alice Loxton gave a rallying cry to the audience saying churches are “crown jewels of our heritage” and we must not be the generation to see them destroyed. Telegraph article here
Bishops call for immediate removal of two child benefit cap
Three CofE bishops have joined with MPs and peers from a range of parties in a joint letter to the Prime Minster, calling for the “immediate complete removal” of the two-child limit on benefits. The Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow, the Church of England’s lead bishop for child poverty issues, together with the Bishop of Gloucester, Rachel Treweek, and the Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, were among signatories to the letter handed into Downing Street yesterday. The letter, led by Baroness Ruth Lister, and promoted by the group Alliance 4 Children, says more than 100 children are pulled into poverty every day and this requires urgent action.
Bishop Nicholas Hudson appointed as Catholic bishop of Plymouth
Bishop Nicholas Hudson, currently Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and Titular Bishop of St Germans in Cornwall since 2014, has been appointed as the new Catholic Bishop of Plymouth. This is the third appointment to the vacancy, which arose in June 2022 when Bishop Mark O’Toole became Archbishop of Cardiff. In 2023, Canon Christopher Whitehead was appointed but his ordination was cancelled three weeks before the due date because of a canonical investigation. In 2024, the Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark Philip Moger had his installation postponed days before the due date due to concerns of a personal nature and he is taking a sabbatical. Among many varied appointments, Bishop Hudson has 39 years’ experience in parish ministry in Canterbury, Streatham and Wimbledon; he is chair of the Department for International Affairs and Episcopal Secretary of the Bishops’ conference of England and Wales. He said: “I am aware how long the clergy, religious and laity of Plymouth Diocese have waited for a bishop. I come with a desire to listen and to learn.”
Catholic Bishop of Northampton takes leave of absence for personal reasons
The Tablet reports that the Catholic Bishop of Northampton David Oakley, “who is understood to be among the top candidates being considered to succeed Cardinal Vincent Nichols as Archbishop of Westminster”, has taken leave of absence for personal reasons. He stepped back in mid-September and appointed the diocesan vicar general Canon Michael Harrison, to take over running the diocese until he returns. Cardinal Nichols is 80 in November and it is widely thought he will step down and his successor will be appointed, before Christmas.
Soul Survivor founder Mike Pilavachi stripped of MBE
The founder of Soul Survivor, Mike Pilavachi, has been stripped of his MBE for “bringing the honours system into disrepute”. He was given the honour in the New Years Honorus List of 2020 for services to young people, starting an evangelical Christian movement that was based at an Anglican church. He was forced to step back in 2023 after allegations that he groomed young men, wrestled them to the ground and massaged them. An independent review, commissioned by Soul Survivor trustees, found evidence that he had “inappropriately close relationships with young men” and exhibited “inappropriate levels of controlling behaviour”.
Freedom of the press highlighted in launch of report on Religious Freedom
The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has said the Vatican remains “full of hope” that the proposed peace plan in Gaza can still work, despite the renewed outbreak of violence. Speaking at the Rome launch of the latest Report on Religious Freedom in the World, compiled by Aid to the Church in Need, he spoke of the climate of intolerance where freedom of expression is no longer respected, referring to an explosive device planted outside an Italian journalists’ home in Italy, and expressed deep concern about recent acts of intimidation against the free press. On Gaza, he said he failed to understand why Christians in Taybeh on the West Bank were targeted by Israeli settlers. And on Nigeria where Christians have been killed in large numbers, he said the situation there is “not a religious conflict, but rather more a social one, for example, disputes between herders and farmers”, with extremist groups making no distinction in their targets. Meanwhile at a report launch in London, Nigerian bishop John Bakeni said that nomadic Fulani herdsmen have devastated Christian farming communities in the region. He reportedly denounced those denying religion is a crucial factor in genocidal violence in his country, saying religion was a significantly exacerbating factor, alongside poverty, climate change and competition for land. He said: “In the face of persecution, we cannot remain silent”.
Bible sales ‘rise by a third’ in the US after Charlie Kirk’s death
Sales of the Bible increased by more than a third in the United States, following Charlie Kirk’s murder in Utah on 10 September. In that month, 2.4 million Bibles were sold — a 36 per cent increase on the same month last year. The data comes from a Chicago based company, Circana BookScan, which analyses data on consumer patterns. Its findings have found their way into multiple news outlets over the past 24 hours, some of which quote Christian book publishers and Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika, saying the spike in sales illustrates an awakening of faith and curiosity. Times report here
East London Mosque women’s leader says there was no ban in the charity fun run
East London Mosque has said it will review the format of its annual charity run, after it was advertised just for men, boys and girls under 12. It was widely reported that the mosque had banned women, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission were reported to be investigating. But in an interview with The Guardian, Sufia Alam, the mosque’s head of programmes who runs its Maryam Centre for women’s worship, explained that there was no ban. Only one or two women entered and “I can’t do a race with one or two women”, adding: “We’ve got a congregation of 10,000 – they’d be up in arms if we had done something that was not proper”. The mosque’s spokesperson said they were confident no laws had been broken but would be reviewing the format of next year’s run.
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