Bernard Randall: ‘You have to stand up to the world’
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 24 Jul 2026
An Anglican chaplain cleared to return to ministry after a seven-year battle says too many Church of England leaders belong to the “metropolitan elite” and have forsaken a Christian worldview.
In 2019, Bernard Randall was referred to Prevent (the UK’s counter-radicalisation programme, part of the Government’s wider counterterrorism strategy), treated as a safeguarding risk, and effectively shut out of ministry for preaching a sermon rooted in CofE doctrine.
en responds to Amnesty criticism
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 24 Jul 2026
Evangelicals Now (en) has responded to an Amnesty International UK report – now withdrawn for review – which branded it, among others, an “anti-rights organisation”.
Some of those also labelled a “growing threat” to human rights were the Evangelical Alliance, Affinity, the Christian Institute, Christian Values in Education (CViE); the Christian Medical Fellowship; Living Out; Christians in Parliament; Lovewise; Christian Action, Research and Education (CARE); Anglican Mainstream; True Freedom Trust; and Brephos.
Conversion therapy bill ‘deeply concerning’ says EA
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 23 Jul 2026
The Evangelical Alliance says the Government’s draft bill on banning so-called “conversion practices” in England and Wales is “deeply concerning”.
The proposed law states that a person found guilty of “abusive conversion practices” could face unlimited fines and/or up to five years in prison.
Archbishops call alternative ordinations 'unnecessary'
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 18 Jul 2026
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have called a set of alternative ordinations performed in May “unnecessary” and “ecumenically discourteous.”
Martin Morrison, a bishop in the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa (REACH-SA) ordained seven deacons at a service in east London.
Stay alert, Anglican evangelicals warned
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 17 Jul 2026
Evangelicals are being urged to remain “alert” after a Church of England motion widely seen as liberalising its position on same-sex relationships was defeated at the Church of England’s General Synod in York.
The call comes from John Dunnett, National Director of the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) after the so-called “King Motion” was not carried.
Jewish believers 'disappointed' with CofE
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 17 Jul 2026
The Church’s Ministry Among Jewish People (CMJ UK) has expressed concerns about the Church of England’s (CofE) “Kairos Palestine motion” which was passed at July’s General Synod.
In a letter to the CofE’s General Synod, CMJ UK affirms the importance of hearing the witness of Palestinian Christians, and then says: “Our concern is not that these voices are being heard, but that they are presented largely in isolation from other faithful Christian perspectives.”
UCCF to help fund Quinta's 'largest' building project
Thomas McBride
Date posted: 15 Jul 2026
Each year in early September, UCCF hosts its annual conference for student leaders, Forum. The conference has run in essence for over a hundred years, bringing Christian Union leaders together to enjoy fellowship, be encouraged in their faith, share ideas and be equipped to share the gospel at their universities.
Hosting a thousand student leaders at Forum requires a major outlay each year. The Quinta Christian Centre has partnered with UCCF for many years to host the conference with the main arena situated on the site near Weston Rhyn, Shropshire. The main arena gives every student there the opportunity to worship and hear from God’s Word as one body of Christians each year – I know I found it an emotional and memorable experience when I first stepped into the marquee as a student for the evening meeting.
Seven-year Bernard Randall case ends in settlement
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 9 Jul 2026
Evangelicals are celebrating after it was today announced that Church of England (CofE) chaplain Bernard Randall's seven-year ordeal has reached a settlement.
In 2019, Randall was referred to Prevent (the UK's counter-radicalisation programme, part of the Government's wider counterterrorism strategy), treated as a safeguarding risk, and effectively shut out of ministry for preaching a sermon rooted in CofE doctrine.
Christian charity helps 35,000 become debt-free
Luke Randall
Date posted: 8 Jul 2026
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is celebrating 30 years of service, during which it has helped families clear over half a billion pounds of debt, given money or job coaching to over 100,000 people, and helped 35,000 become debt-free.
As CAP revealed in a new report, less than a quarter of their clients have the means to repay their debts in what is considered a suitable timeframe, down significantly from 40 per cent, 12 years ago. The level of debt clients owe has also soared, showing debt is a growing problem as the cost of living crisis continues to bite.
Gentle conversations
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 5 Jul 2026
A secular arts festival was used as an opportunity to “gently” open conversations about faith through the painting of the Biblical creation story.
The project was led by Ashby Baptist Church volunteer Lisa Noon who recently completed a Master’s degree in Mission, Pioneering and Theology.
50 years of housing for ex-missionaries
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 3 Jul 2026
This year, the Evangelical Housing Association (EHA) is celebrating 50 years of providing homes for retired gospel workers.
Launched in 1976, EHA supports ex-pastors and missionaries who have served in the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC), Grace Baptist Association (GBA), and the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches (EFCC).
Scottish charity celebrates six decades
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 3 Jul 2026
Blythswood, a Scottish-based Christian charity with international impact, is celebrating 60 years of ministry this year.
Founded in Glasgow in 1966, the charity started out as a Bible tract society, reaching out to people with the gospel in the Blythswood region of the city, which was notorious for poverty and prostitution.
Immigrant faith ‘is flourishing’
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 3 Jul 2026
Christianity in the UK is flourishing in immigrant communities, a Durham University professor says.
Writing in “The Conversation UK”, Mathew Guest, Professor in the Sociology of Religion, says the most vibrant congregations are often found among ethnic minority and migrant communities, noting research that shows the health of Black Pentecostal churches, as well as churches attracting Christians of Asian heritage.
Knife crime plan hope
en staff
Date posted: 2 Jul 2026
The gospel is bringing hope in the midst of rising knife crime, London City Mission (LCM) says.
The capital-based outreach organisation says knife crime has been increasing since 2016, and points to a recent Channel 4 News report showing that there are “equivalent to four knife-related incidents in English and Welsh schools per week”.
New national event for grandparents
James Patterson
Date posted: 1 Jul 2026
A local ministry for Christian grandparents at a Northamptonshire church has expanded into a national group.
And it will hold the first national conference for Christian grandparents this autumn.
Q’s conversion ban bid
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 29 Jun 2026
Q Manivannan, one of the first transgender MSPs to be elected to the Scottish Parliament, has put forward a motion in Holyrood calling for a ban on “conversion practices”.
“Legislation in this area is not about outlawing genuine abuse – since that is already illegal,” said Joanna Timm, Senior Public Affairs Office at the Christian Institute.
Former FCoS leader dismissed
Luke Randall
Date posted: 29 Jun 2026
The Free Church of Scotland has dismissed former Moderator Bob Akroyd from ministry and suspended him indefinitely following an investigation which revealed he had engaged in “inappropriate communication”.
Akroyd, a well-known figure in the Scottish evangelical church who served in the denomination’s highest public role as Moderator of the General Assembly for 2023/24, has also been removed from his duties as a part-time lecturer and training director for the Free Church and Edinburgh Theological Seminary (ETS).
New prayer call for CofE as crunch vote looms
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 29 Jun 2026
The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) is inviting churches, clergy and individuals across the UK to take part in a month of prayer for the CofE as another crunch vote looms.
The initiative coincides with the General Synod’s July meeting where Members are expected to debate a “significant” Private Member’s Motion (PMM) on marriage and sexual ethics.
