Oak Hill College now ‘healthier’
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 13 Nov 2025
An independent reviewer has described Oak Hill as healthier than it was, according to the Church Times, which was leaked a summary and “lessons learned”.
It follows the March 2023 resignation of Johnny Juckes as Principal of the college after five years in post. The review aimed to assess Oak Hill’s organisational health, governance, leadership and strategic alignment. It was commissioned one year on from the appointment of James Robson as Principal and conducted by an independent reviewer with experience in Christian organisational culture.
politics & policy
Fragmenting politics & the case for electoral reform
Tim Farron
Date posted: 11 Nov 2025
As the darker evenings set in, it remains a challenging time to be in government, and also to be in the Conservative Party.
Under our two-party system, the Tories would traditionally hope to regain voters as disillusion with the Labour government grows. But this is not happening. Smaller parties are benefitting from increasing support whilst the two largest parties are losing members and voters. Several high-profile Conservatives have recently defected to Reform.
Belfast church welcomed into Presbyterian Church in Ireland
presbyterianireland.org
Date posted: 10 Nov 2025
“Central Belfast”, a church which began life as a team of just nine people who came together to pray in 2016 but now attracts well over 300, has been welcomed into the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) as its newest congregation.
A special service of thanksgiving to mark the event was held in the church in mid-October.
ETS conference: Focus on the gospel, not gimmicks
Luke Randall
Date posted: 9 Nov 2025
Edinburgh Theological Seminary (ETS) recently held its fourth annual conference, focused on the Great Commission from Matthew 28. The event, held at St Columba’s Free Church, featured keynote speakers, singing, and updates from church planters and missionaries.
There were contributions from ETS lecturers Ben Castaneda and Zachary Purvis, as well as guest contributions from Michael G. Brown and Fikret Böcek, ministers based in Milan and Izmir respectively.
Grace Baptists meet in London
Jim Sayers
Date posted: 5 Nov 2025
“The Global South church is constantly asking – what can we do for the church in Europe?” This was the challenge that Conrad Mbewe gave at Grace Baptist Association Day in London on 4 October.
After a talk by Paul Smith on William Carey being sent out, Mbewe spoke about the opportunities for others to be received in. And as churches have multiplied rapidly in his home country of Zambia and elsewhere, they are eager to see how they can provide a new generation of gospel workers to send out to Europe.
DC3: 18-year-old Christian rapper celebrated
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 4 Nov 2025
DC3, an 18-year-old Christian rapper from Northampton, is quickly becoming one of the most-watched artists on the UK’s Christian music scene.
The young musician, who is the son of a pastor, won the Best Newcomer award at the recent Premier Gospel Awards.
Ex-FIEC church explains switch to Eastern Orthodoxy
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 3 Nov 2025
The leader of a former FIEC-affiliated church which became Eastern Orthodox in September has been explaining why they made the move.
Hope Church Halifax, which was part of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, has become St Hilda’s Orthodox Church, part of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of the British Isles and Ireland. It now uses a Roman Catholic building, St Malachy’s, for its services.
Word on the Wash conference marks 10 years
Graham Pickhaver
Date posted: 2 Nov 2025
Over 130 people, from all over Norfolk and beyond, turned up for the tenth anniversary of Word on the Wash on Saturday 4 October at the King’s Centre, King’s Lynn. There was a feast of good ministry and warm fellowship.
Adrian Reynolds, Associate National Director of FIEC gave two talks on the book of Ezra, the first dealing with the rebuilding of the temple following the exiles’ return from Babylon, and the second dealing with Satan’s ploy in hindering the work. As many expressed, this was good, solid, pastoral preaching at its best (both talks can be heard on the website).
Help as homelessness in Scotland reaches crisis point
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 31 Oct 2025
The homelessness problem in Scotland is reaching a crisis point, according to new figures released by the Scottish Government.
They reveal that more than 17,000 households were in council-funded accommodation in March which is a six per cent increase from last year’s figures. The number of households classified as “homeless” last year was the most it has been since 2012.
Freedom includes ‘right to offend’
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 30 Oct 2025
The right to freedom of expression includes the right to offend, a judge has stressed. Mr Justice Bennathan's comments were made when he overturned the conviction of a man who burned a Qur’an outside the Turkish consulate in London.
Hamit Coskun appealed after being convicted of a religiously aggravated public order offence after setting fire to the book and shouting in protest at Islam. A knife-wielding Muslim man who attacked Coskun during his protest was convicted of assault and possession of a knife. The judge said: “Burning a Qur’an may be an act that many Muslims find desperately upsetting and offensive. The criminal law, however, is not a mechanism that seeks to avoid people being upset.
‘Islamophobia’ acceptance plea
en staff
Date posted: 29 Oct 2025
A Muslim member of the House of Lords is urging the government to adopt a new definition of “Islamophobia” after a working group submitted its proposals.
Islamic website hyphenonline.com, which says it is the “leading media platform on Muslim life in the UK and Europe”, reports that the plea comes from Baroness Shaista Gohir, who leads the Muslim Women’s Network UK.
King 'breaching coronation vow,' says PTS
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 28 Oct 2025
A well-known evangelical organisation has joined its voice with others in expressing concern at King Charles praying with the Pope.
Edward J. Malcolm, on behalf of The Protestant Truth Society (PTS), writes of "their grave concern, as faithful and loyal Protestants" at His Majesty's visit to the Vatican, which took place last week.
The local church at the heart of God’s global mission
Oak Hill College
Date posted: 28 Oct 2025
Oak Hill College and UFM Worldwide joined forces with The Upstream Collective to help people explore the vital place of the local church in mission.
Kentucky-based Upstream Collective’s mission is to help churches send well - doing this through equipping the church with tools and relational support and by sending the church as a missions agency that prioritises relationships.
Smyth survivors sue Church of England
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 28 Oct 2025
Please note: This article contains references to abuse.
Several victims of the late John Smyth are suing the Church of England, a year after the seismic Makin Report into his abuse of at least 115 children and young men over five decades. Some of them later attempted suicide.
Situation for UK Christians is now ‘graver’
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 27 Oct 2025
Persecution of Christians in the UK for preaching the gospel has grown in last 15 years and is “graver”, says Sam Armstrong from the Free Speech Union (FSU).
Armstrong, an evangelical Christian and a political consultant with the non-sectarian organisation, says the FSU has dealt with more than 100 cases involving Christian free-speech issues since its inception in 2020.
Former Scottish pastor jailed for 14 years
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 27 Oct 2025
Please note: This article contains references to abuse.
A former Glasgow pastor has been jailed for 14 years for rape and abusing eight children for more than 20 years.
Warnings that conversion therapy ban threatens Christian teaching
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 26 Oct 2025
Two dozen evangelical church leaders have warned the Equalities Minister of the implications of a full “conversion therapy” ban on historic Christian teachings.
Olivia Bailey MP made clear at a panel hosted by LGBT organisation Stonewall at the Labour Party conference on 28 September that she is “determined” such a ban will be fully inclusive. The 24 church leaders across conservative evangelical denominations have published an open letter to her expressing “grave concerns”.
