Closing churches leads to loss of up to a third of the congregation
The National Churches Trust has commissioned a poll suggesting that if a church closes, the congregation will fall by a third, with 22 per cent unwilling to worship elsewhere, and others saying they will attend less often or only worship online. The poll also shows little appeal for new forms of church, such as in a cafe, community centre, school or a mission hub – only 3 per cent said they would switch to these venues. The Trust is urging the government to guarantee a grants scheme where churches can claim back VAT on church repairs, in order to keep church buildings open. Chief Executive, Claire Walker, said the backlog of repairs in England is £1billion and the annual need is £150 million. More than 3,500 churches have closed in the UK in the last 10 years. In England over 900 churches are on the Historic England Heritage at Risk Register. The poll was conducted by Whitestone Insight among 2667 UK adult Christians online between 12th and 20th June 2024.
GCSE Religious Education still popular despite teacher shortages
The Religious Education Council is once more calling for a national plan for RE, after GCSE results were published yesterday. They show that 223,034 students took RS GCSE (full course) in England, an increase of 0.3 per cent. The RE short course rose in England by 9.5 per cent to 20,627. Overall, 72.7 per cent passed above grade 4, and 31.4 per cent above grade 7, remarkably similar grades to the previous year. The high success rate and increase in numbers, comes despite a shortage of specialist teachers, with the National Association for Teachers of RE saying 51 per cent of those teaching RE mainly teach another subject. Deborah Weston, chair of the RE Policy Unit, said: “Poor quality, tokenistic RE taught by non-specialists without subject training, has a knock-on effect on not just our communities, but the depth and quality of a young person’s education. Properly taught, GCSE RS provides invaluable academic and life skills that enables young people to think meaningfully about life’s big questions in relation to their own beliefs and those of others”. There were more dramatic results for Wales, where 10,254 students took the full course, a rise of 6.4 per cent. But short course entries fell by 27.1 per cent to 2,201.
Millions of Shia pilgrims flock to Karbala in Iraq for Arbaeen pilgrimage
Millions of Shia pilgrims are gathering at Karbala, in Iraq, for the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. Arbaeen comes from the Arabic “Arba’in”, meaning fortieth, and marks the 40th day of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Hussein bin Ali, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, the third Imam in Shia Islam, who lived in the 7th century CE. He was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680CE, for refusing to acknowledge the corrupt regime of a tyrant named Yazid, and he is buried in the city. So far, a reported 2.9 million people have entered Iraq for the pilgrimage, which reaches its peak on Sunday.
Mosque security training sessions underway across Britian
Faith Associates, leading experts in mosque security, are offering training sessions on how to keep congregations and buildings safe. They review security and safety processes, as well as online safety. In London, the Mayor has put in more money for extra security and a community programme provides practical support for faith leaders. Nationally, the government is rolling out a £29.4 million scheme to provide rapid security support for buildings targeted by hate crime. Shaukat Warraich, managing director at Faith Associates, told Islam TV: “The recent disorder and Islamophobia observed around the country has been shocking and has scared people”, and explained that training offered now can be implemented immediately.
CAFOD demands immediate ceasefire in the Middle East
The Catholic Aid charity CAFOD has once more made an urgent appeal for a ceasefire and peace in the Middle East. Elizabeth Funnell, Country Programme Representative for the Middle East, said that as hopes for an imminent ceasefire fade, the tragic toll of 40,000 deaths in Gaza underscored the need for peace. “Gaza is the most dangerous place in the world to be an aid worker but CAFOD’s partners, despite immense challenges, continue to deliver essential aid and support. We demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire to halt further loss of life, allow critical aid to reach those in desperate need, and secure the safe return of hostages”.
Chaos at Barnabas Aid
Premier Christian News is reporting chaos at Barnabas Aid, a Christian charity which supports the persecuted Church across the world and has a turnover of £20m a year. It reports that Patrick Sookhdeo, the founder, has been suspended, along with three other key figures, following allegations of financial mismanagement and toxic work culture. All four deny allegations against them. The charity has a UK board and an international board, which has ordered an independent investigation conducted by lawyers, who have issued an interim report. In a statement to Premier, Barnabas Aid said it had identified payments to people which could not be readily explained. The charity is now being led by Colin Bloom, former independent faith engagement adviser to the last government, But the UK board chair said his appointment had not been approved by the charity in the UK. Trustee Andrew Carey is quoted saying: “There’s importance in coming clean about the chaos with a new honesty and transparency. What we have is a crisis. But even through this period, I have to assure supporters that the brilliant work of the charity is proceeding”. The Charity Commission says it is assessing concerns about the charity.
SPAC Nation church trustees disqualified for 12 years
The Charity Commission has concluded that trustees of Salvation Proclaimers Ministries Limited, also known as SPAC Nation, are responsible for serious misconduct and/or mismanagement over safeguarding practices and financial failures over many years. The Christian charity, which has been removed from the register, held religious services at venues in London and organised community and outreach events. Three trustees have been disqualified from being a charity trustee for 12 years each and a former trustee banned for 10 years. The Commission opened an inquiry in December 2019, into financial concerns. SPAC Nation was wound up in June 2022 after a court heard it had failed to account for more than £1.87 million of spending.
Pockets of antisemitism at US universities and colleges
A study by Brandeis University researchers in Boston USA, suggests that around one-third of non-Jewish college students embraced patterns of ideas hostile to Jews or Israel during the 2023-24 academic year. The research was based on answers from 4,000 students at 60 colleges or universities earlier this year. It found that about 15 per cent of students surveyed were hostile to Israel, with many believing that Israel has no right to exist. It also found that nearly a quarter of non-Jewish students said they did not want to be friends with people who support Israel’s existence as a Jewish state. A further 16 per cent of non-Jewish students were hostile to Jews but not to Israel, believing in enduring antisemitic ideas such as that Jews have too much power in America. Jewish Telegraphic Agency story here
Four Baha’i men from Yemen freed after arrest for holding private house meeting
Four Baha’i men from Yemen have been released from prison, 15 months after they were arrested in a raid on a private home. They were among 17 people detained in May 2023 by armed and masked representatives of Houthi authorities, for taking part in a community activity, which is against the law for Bahai’s. Abdul Elah Al Boni, Muhammad Bashir, Ibrahim Juail, and Hassan Thabet were released after facing pressure to renounce their faith through forced participation in cultural courses, according to the Baha’i International community. It welcomed their release but said they should never have been arrested: “The group had gathered in a private home for a peaceful community activity: a fundamental human right protected by international law and the freedom of religion or belief.”
Campaign to beatify the penultimate Queen of Italy
A committee of admirers of the penultimate Queen of Italy, Queen Elena, is calling on the Vatican to beatify her, despite her husband’s association with fascism. The groups says she never showed any sympathy for Mussolini’s fascism, nor for Hitler, and she should be made a saint for her good works such as turning a ballroom into a hospital for soldiers in World War I, helping in the response to three earthquakes and promoting research into cancer. The campaign to beatify her was started by Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, the Archbishop of Bordeaux, in 2001. The Times report is here
Priest in hot water for offering mass with two spritz drinks for the price of one
An Italian priest who offered mass with two spritz drinks for the price of one, has roused the anger of conservatives, who objected to a poster advertising the Sunday evening mass with a picture of the drink next to an image of Jesus and the chalice. Father Andrea Ricatti, from the town of Urbino, has apologised and removed the images. Nicknamed “Don Perignon”, he explained that he was attempting to appeal to young people by offering non-alcoholic drinks on a Sunday evening. And it worked. The mass attracted 50 young people every week, with up to 100 for special occasions. He told a reporter for The Telegraph: “This parish is dedicated to young people, and we wanted to think of something that would attract them to Sunday Mass. Pope Francis has spoken about the need for the church to be close to young people and we wanted to make them feel welcome.”
