Word on the Wash 26: ‘The sight that saves’
Graham Pickhaver & Anne Roberts
Date posted: 25 Oct 2026
The King’s Centre, King’s Lynn was the venue for the 2026 Word on The Wash Conference on Saturday, 3 October, drawing a crowd of more than 140 from Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and further afield.
The main speaker for the day was Luke Foster, who lectures in Systematic Theology and Church History at Oak Hill College. In two teaching sessions, looking at John’s first letter, he took as his theme “The Sight that Saves”, explaining how the original recipients of the letter, influenced by false teachers, needed to focus clearly on Jesus as both the light and life of God. His second talk focused on how the future return of Christ should influence our lives in the present – maturing as Christians while knowing that on His return we shall finally be like Him.
Derby: 'A testament to God's work within football'
Christians in Sport
Date posted: 25 Oct 2026
What do you get when you combine over 100 years of professional football experience with a delicious curry? That was the recipe for an evening hosted by Derby City Church.
At Okra Curry House last month, General Director of Christians in Sport (CIS) Graham Daniels was joined by Steve Spooner and Darren Moore, both Christians with decades of experience as professional players and coaches. Guests heard how Christ has shaped their lives through the highs and lows of professional sport, enjoyed a Q&A, a short explanation of Christianity from Graham, and an invite to an Alpha course.
Abortion concerns persist in Scotland
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 24 Oct 2026
The Scottish National Party (SNP) may still liberalise abortion – despite dropping a draft motion on the subject from its national conference amidst conflicting concerns from pro-life and pro-choice groups.
The draft, leaked in September, had proposed the implementation of recommendations by the Scottish Abortion Law Reform Expert Group, which critics say would technically legalise abortion up to birth.
Sussex Gospel Partnership launch first men's convention
en staff
Date posted: 24 Oct 2026
The first Sussex Gospel Partnership Southern Men’s Convention has taken place in Burgess Hill.
Around 300 men gathered to sing God’s praise on 26 September, as Matt Bennington from Music Ministry UK and a team from across the south of England led the music.
CEEC director 'encouraged' after Synod elections
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 23 Oct 2026
The national director of the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) says he is "greatly encouraged" by the number of orthodox candidates that have been elected to General Synod.
John Dunnett, who himself has been elected in the Diocese of Chelmsford, said: "The 2026 General Synod elections have been the most hotly contested in recent years – a reflection of the deep divisions which sadly afflict the Church of England at this time.
Surrogacy reform calls are rebuffed amid ethical concerns
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 23 Oct 2026
MPs have opposed calls to fast-track surrogacy reforms – despite a petition signed by more than 113,000 people.
The rebuttal is in part because of mounting concerns about wider ethical issues around surrogacy, with the number of babies being born in this way rising steadily.
New course focuses on disciple-making
Holly Price
Date posted: 22 Oct 2026
Every church leader wants to help people grow as disciples of Christ. But no church leader has the capacity to give everyone in their congregation the kind of ongoing, timely and personal attention that Jesus gave the Twelve.
How can this kind of relational disciple-making that was so central to Jesus’ ministry become the joy of the many rather than the privilege of the few?
Addiction issues? There is help, says ex-businessman
Milla Ling-Davies
Date posted: 22 Oct 2026
A former business executive who found faith in Jesus while in rehab is urging churches in the UK to respond to addiction with greater compassion.
Ervin Lee is co-founder of the From Beer to the Bible website and podcast, and also of Hampton Ministries, which aims to help young adults struggling with behavioural and substance abuse issues.
Ligonier: 1,000 gather for ‘serious Biblical teaching’
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 22 Oct 2026
More than 1,000 pastors, church leaders and believers from across 28 countries attended this year’s Ligonier Ministries UK Conference at Westminster Central Hall in the final week of September. Among the countries represented were Canada, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Lithuania, Netherlands, Romania, Singapore, South Africa and South Korea.
The overarching topic was “Chosen by God” – His sovereignty, our assurance in Christ, and the call to holiness. Michael Reeves spoke on “The Golden Chain of Redemption” (Romans 8v28-30), emphasising that even when life seems to spin out of control, God remains on the throne of grace. Sinclair Ferguson preached on God’s sovereign mercy (Romans 9v14-24) and that dependence on God’s sovereign choice in salvation “produces not only humility but stability” in the Christian life.
£40m Christian landmark near Birmingham on track
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 21 Oct 2026
Plans are moving ahead for the creation of Europe’s largest Christian landmark, which will be erected near Birmingham.
The first section of the "Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer" has been completed at a purpose-built factory in Portugal. It is the first of 188 concrete segments that will make up the massive Möbius strip, which will be erected in Coleshill, near Birmingham.
Time to ban pimping websites says inquiry
CARE Northern Ireland
Date posted: 20 Oct 2026
Northern Ireland should set the agenda again in tackling sexual exploitation by banning all websites advertising prostitution, according to a new report.
Hidden in plain sight was published today (Tuesday 20 October 2026) by the Northern Ireland Assembly All-Party Group on Modern Slavery and Commercial Sexual Exploitation.
Art opens the door to faith at Worthing church
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 19 Oct 2026
A Worthing church got creative in sharing the Christian message last month by participating in their community’s art event - welcoming more than 240 visitors through its doors.
In September, Maybridge Community Church contributed to the annual Worthing Art Trail by transforming their church building into a free gallery space and exhibiting work by more than 20 local artists over two days. They called the exhibition "Maybridge Creatives".
Highbury Centre to close London guest house
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 18 Oct 2026
The Highbury Centre’s Aberdeen Park site is closing to guests.
For over 130 years, The Highbury Centre’s mission has been to provide guests with a “welcoming, comfortable, safe, peaceful, and affordable home to rest, meet, and fellowship.” Now, the final checkout for its London guest house and meeting rooms will be 30 October. The Highbury Centre as a Christian charity, however, is not closing.
Just 13% of 'Christian nationalists' attend church weekly
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 14 Oct 2026
Only 13% of a group described as "Christian nationalists" attend church weekly, despite 81% of them stating a Christian affiliation and 45% being "very concerned" about the decline of Christianity.
The data comes from think tank Theos, which, for its recent report Beyond "Christian Nationalism", surveyed 1,765 UK adults about the "perceived (and desired) relationship between Christianity and Britishness".
Need help responding to New Age spirituality?
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 13 Oct 2026
The Evangelical Alliance is helping Christians to navigate the world of New Age spirituality, crystals, and tarot as they seek to share the gospel in an increasingly spiritually-curious culture.
In a free, 36-page booklet available online or in print, the Alliance attempts to define New Age spirituality while offering a Biblical perspective as well as some suggested pastoral and evangelistic responses.
Norfolk: ‘Every time we feel like giving up - something happens’
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 12 Oct 2026
Six years into its existence, a Norfolk Christian fellowship in an area “lacking” in gospel churches has tripled in size.
Briston Christian Fellowship (BCF) – in the village of Briston near Holt in North Norfolk – began with four individuals meeting in a house and now consists of 12 regulars who meet in a community room.
Christian youth holidays: Squeezed but growing!
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 11 Oct 2026
The principal of a youth holidays organisation says greater choice is partly responsible for a decline in numbers.
Organisations such as the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS), Scripture Union and West Runton “built a tradition later joined by festivals and family conventions,” Tim Friend, of Ventures and Falcons (CPAS’s camps for 8–18 year-olds), explained. “Overall numbers on holidays have fallen in recent decades, partly because churches now have so much more choice for their young people.”
Tony hits the sweet spot
en staff
Date posted: 10 Oct 2026
Speaker Tony Cannon hit the sweet spot when he spoke at this year’s Junior Anglican Evangelical Conference (JAEC) at King’s Park Conference Centre, Northampton.
Cannon was presented with some aptly-named Tony’s Chocolonely chocolates in appreciation for his endeavours by Lee Gatiss, Director of Church Society, which arranged the event. Designed specifically for lay or ordained men and women exploring ministry, currently in training, in curacies, or in their early years of incumbency, it aims to support those wanting to be positively evangelical and positively Anglican, providing space for Bible teaching, seminars, and fellowship. Cannon is Church Society Regional Director.
More Biblically orthodox candidates stand in vital CofE vote
en staff
Date posted: 9 Oct 2026
More Biblically orthodox candidates are standing in the current "tightly contested" elections for the Church of England's ruling body, a leading evangelical says.
John Dunnett, the National Director of the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), says the crucial ballot is also serving to "unify" and "galvanise" those holding to the Church of England’s Scriptural foundations.
