New trust comes at 'defining moment'
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 22 May 2026
A new, training-focused trust for gospel workers is currently accepting applications for its first grant round.
The Yarnton Gospel Workers Trust is seeking to enable and fund training of gospel workers who will serve the church and advance the gospel in England and Wales.
letter from Dublin
Irish calls for ‘life-affirming alternatives’ are heard
Lois McCrea
Date posted: 22 May 2026
Thousands of people marched through Dublin for the annual “March for Life” on 4 May. Church services took places before the march which was attended by people from all over Ireland. The march was organised by the Pro Life Campaign and called for “life affirming alternatives, practical help for women in crisis, and policies that protect both mother and child.”
Abortion was illegal in the Republic of Ireland until 2019. Prior to 2019, women would travel to England for terminations. Abortion was legalised following a 2018 referendum and according to Ireland’s Department of Health, 10,852 abortions took place in 2024. This was a 62% increase since abortion was legalised in 2019 when the number of abortions were 6,666. The Iona Institute states that one-sixth of pregnancies in Ireland now end in abortion.
Scotland & Wales: Dr Q & LGBTQI+ pose challenges
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 21 May 2026
Scotland and Wales have elected their newest parliamentary representatives, which could pose some concerns for evangelical Christians in each country, says The Christian Institute.
Scotland saw the Scottish National Party (SNP) get the most votes for the fifth time, along with the most seats in parliament, although less than the last election. Labour and Reform UK came in joint second, with Reform making strides since the last election and winning its first seats in Holyrood.
Independent reviewer of church ‘was church member’
en staff
Date posted: 21 May 2026
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Swansea, appointed a member of its own congregation as one of three individuals tasked with carrying out an independent review requested by the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC), en has learned.
During 2024, a number of concerns were raised with the FIEC by multiple parties in relation to “leadership culture and the handling of complaints within the church”, known as “Mount”.
Jonathan Fletcher: 20 years of indecent assaults, jury finds
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 11 May 2026
Warning: Readers may find some aspects of this report deeply disturbing.
A jury has found that Jonathan Fletcher indecently assaulted a man over a period spanning around a quarter of a century – ending with a particularly brutal assault in the 1990s.
World Cup: Who’s the GOAT?
Luke Randall
Date posted: 11 May 2026
Who is the real GOAT? That is the question posed by a new tract being published as World Cup fever ramps up ahead of this summer’s festival of football.
The tract, written by Jonny Reid and Christians in Sport’s Graham Daniels, and published by 10ofThose, enters into the debate among football fans about who is the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT). It encourages readers to consider what constitutes true greatness, and could be a helpful evangelistic tool ahead of kick-off at the World Cup being hosted by Mexico, Canada and the USA in June.
New £2.5m church building opens
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 4 May 2026
A Baptist church in Christchurch, Dorset has opened the doors of its new £2.5 million building, with total project costs reported to be over £3 million.
Christchurch Baptist Church, Bargates, has been planning and fundraising for the move since 2015. The church’s minister, Chris Brockway, told en why the move is significant: “Our previous buildings, though deeply valued and faithful to us for around 150 years, had become too small and no longer fit for the needs of our mission and ministry. In contrast, this new space provides both the capacity and a contemporary environment to support what God is continuing to do among us.” The church’s new site has 250 seats and is 60% larger than its previous location – a hall opposite.
Sports Plus Xtra welcomes pupils
Christians in Sport
Date posted: 30 Apr 2026
Christians in Sport has partnered with The Fulham Boys School in London to run Sports Plus Xtra, a two-day, non-residential sports camp enabling young people to explore the good news of Jesus through their love of sport.
The event welcomed 63 pupils, supported by 16 volunteers alongside Christians in Sport staff. Across two days, young people took part in sports coaching, team games (including “escape the shark”), and meetings, all designed to teach the gospel through the lens of sport. Beginning in Genesis, they explored God’s good design for humanity and the brokenness caused by sin, moving on to Romans 12 and the restoration and hope Jesus brings through His sacrifice.
Review: Christianity Explored, renewed, revamped
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 29 Apr 2026
When I decided to attend the London launch of the new-look Christianity Explored, I was intrigued and sceptical in equal measure. How, I wondered, could this solid fixture of the evangelical world – the conduit through which many have come to the Lord in faith – be improved?
Sure, the familiar face and voice of Christianity Explored – Rico Tice – have matured (a little) since its official launch in Spring 2001 at All Souls, Langham Place. But surely not the content? Because we know God’s Word does not change.
Scafell Pike hike to raise awareness of global persecution
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 29 Apr 2026
The CEO of Release International, a UK-based Christian ministry supporting the persecuted church around the world, will carry a cross to the top of England’s highest mountain in June in solidarity with those suffering for the gospel.
The Light Walk Challenge, which involves scaling Scafell Pike through the night, relates to Release’s 2026 theme, “Light in the Darkest Places.”
New safeguarding review in Ireland
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 27 Apr 2026
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has commissioned INEQE Safeguarding Group to carry out an independent external review into serious safeguarding failures. The review, which is already under way, will be victim focused, with completion expected by early 2027.
This is the latest development following revelations late last year of significant safeguarding failings within the all-Ireland PCI, which has resulted in a criminal investigation, and Northern Ireland’s Charity Commission launching a statutory inquiry.
Onward Christian soldiers
SASRA
Date posted: 26 Apr 2026
The Soldiers’ and Aviators’ Scripture Readers Association (SASRA) has held its annual Workers’ Conference at King’s Park Conference Centre, Northampton.
It is always a great encouragement to be together and this year's theme was “Revival”, writes Lt Col Dr Martin Gliniecki QGM, SASRA Executive Director.
Don’t draw Jesus, in case it offends, schools told
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 26 Apr 2026
State schools across the North of England have been sent guidance that discourages them from asking children to draw “Jesus” to avoid offending Muslims. The guidance also says prayers should be “as inclusive as possible”.
The guidance on sensitivity around faiths and beliefs was drafted by secondary religious education network Pennine Learning; and distributed to schools via local authorities, including Leeds City Council and Kirklees Council.
Wake up to fundraising code, churches urged
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 25 Apr 2026
Churches are being warned that tithing and in-service offerings constitute public fundraising activities and are covered by the new Code of Fundraising Practice, meaning that appropriate safeguards should be implemented.
This also applies to other forms of collections, appeals and legacies.
National Secular Society move could hit Bible colleges
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 24 Apr 2026
The National Secular Society (NSS) is preparing to seek a judicial review of the student regulator’s “systemic failure” to uphold freedom of speech – with the aim of “protecting” public money from being given to theological colleges.
If successful, Bible and theological colleges could be left unable to access public funding.
Baptist Union vote result revealed
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 23 Apr 2026
Members of the Baptist Union of Great Britain have voted for Mark Elder, minister of Tarporley Chapel in Cheshire, to be president for 2027/2028 after a controversial election cycle.
“Thank you so much for your participation, it is a wonderful expression of who we are as Baptists to discern the mind of Christ together,” said the Union’s General Secretary Lynn Green in the announcement emailed to members.
Riviera debut for Rising Lights
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 23 Apr 2026
In the English Riviera town of Torquay, Devon, approximately 1,400 adults and 600 young people gathered for Rising Lights. The debut Easter holiday event was organised by the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC).
The morning main sessions were on Philippians and led by Paul Mallard. The evening celebrations were themed “Moments with Moses” – journeying through Exodus, with Mike Cain, Maurice McCracken, Rick Raja and John Stevens. Evening worship was led by Phil Moore.
For temple neglect, God withholds blessing – BUILD!
David Fielding
Date posted: 21 Apr 2026
A packed venue of around 300 on each of four nights in April, the enthusiastic singing of great hymns, the joy of fellowship of likeminded churches, an extensive bookstall, and a faithfully biblical and engaging speaker – it must be Derby Bible Week (DBW), writes David Fielding, chairman.
For many Christians in Derby and the surrounding area, DBW is definitely a highlight in the year.
