Christian free-speech cases ‘ballooning’ says FSU boss
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 29 Nov 2025
The Free Speech Union (FSU) has dealt with more than 100 cases involving Christian free speech since its 2020 launch, and the number is rising. Sam Armstrong, an evangelical Christian, is the FSU’s legislative affairs director.
He says its membership more than doubled to about 35,000 since the 2024 election, followed by further uptick after Charlie Kirk’s death. en spoke to Sam about the erosion of free speech in the UK and challenges for Christians today.
New report examines whether smacking harms children
The Christian Institute / en staff
Date posted: 28 Nov 2025
A new report by the Christian Institute claims the evidence does not support the view that mild smacking causes harm to children, particularly when delivered in the context of warm and loving parenting.
The narrative review, Does Smacking Contribute to Negative Outcomes for Children?, examines 37 peer-reviewed studies.
Richard Turnbull dies
en staff
Date posted: 27 Nov 2025
A well-known evangelical theologian and leader, Richard Turnbull, has died.
Among other roles in a varied life of ministry and service, Turnbull had been the Chair of Trustees of campaigning organisation the Christian Institute; Principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, an Anglican evangelical college; and was Director of the Centre for Enterprise, Markets and Ethics, which aims to “bridge the interface of theology, economics and business”.
Autumn Budget: Christian charity reacts
Christians Against Poverty
Date posted: 27 Nov 2025
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has recognised the importance of the government's decision to remove the two-child limit, while highlighting that without the removal of the overall cap on the payment of benefits for families, children may still face poverty.
The national debt help charity recognises the benefits of supporting children to grow up with sufficient income to access the essentials, which many currently cannot. CAP has highlighted that by ensuring the social security system supports every child in a household, the Chancellor is actively addressing the barriers to a thriving childhood and future opportunities to fulfil their potential.
Makin Review: New action sought
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 26 Nov 2025
Warning: the following content relates to crimes of abuse and could be both upsetting and triggering.
The Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team (NST) has confirmed it is seeking disciplinary proceedings under the Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM) against retired minister Iain Broomfield in the light of the Makin Review.
Sculpture will ‘shout to future generations’ about prayer
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 25 Nov 2025
A massive new Christian monument under construction near Birmingham is a living declaration that Jesus is alive today, the man behind it says.
After reaching its initial £40 million fundraising target, the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer broke ground on its Coleshill site in November, kicking off a multi-year process which should see the structure completed in 2028.
Christ's authority over all - including politics
Paul Huxley
Date posted: 23 Nov 2025
With questions about "Christian Nationalism" swirling around evangelical circles, around 200 people gathered in Tamworth at the annual Mission of God conference to consider the timely topic of the Bible and politics, writes Paul Huxley.
The day of teaching, worship, and networking was jointly hosted by Christian Concern and the Ezra Centre for Christian Thought.
Mission Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow: GBM day
Naresh Mistry
Date posted: 23 Nov 2025
Grace Baptist Mission’s (GBM) Annual Mission Day had as its theme “Mission Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”.
Attendees gathered to celebrate 164 years of dedicated service by missionaries supported by the churches. Missionaries from diverse regions shared stories of encouragement and challenges. Ray Evans from Grace Community Church, Bedford delivered a compelling closing message drawing from Acts 16.
World Vision UK rejects allegations as ‘false’
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 21 Nov 2025
Christian charity World Vision UK has hit back following allegations of an allegedly “toxic” workplace culture.
The allegations were initially reported by website Third Sector, a publication for the voluntary, charity, and non-profit sector, which said it had spoken to 11 current and former members of staff.
Blackpool: FIEC leaders meet
John Woods
Date posted: 20 Nov 2025
More than 1,100 church leaders, missionaries, and gospel workers gathered in Blackpool for the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches' (FIEC) Leaders’ Conference to consider mission in the UK and to the ends of the earth.
While the church can sometimes pay only lip service to mission, this conference provided a substantial rather than perfunctory engagement with the theme. The main plenary sessions were rooted in a proclamation of the first two chapters of Acts. There was a welcome emphasis on the fact that the mission is God’s mission, that it has the gospel at its core, has the local church at its heart, and flows out of our weakness, enabled by the power of the Spirit.
Safeguarding provider responds to ‘Private Eye’
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 20 Nov 2025
Warning: the following content relates to crimes of abuse and could be both upsetting and triggering.
A Christian safeguarding provider has responded to an article printed in Private Eye magazine which focused on its involvement in a sexual abuse case.
Scottish outreach: 'Hope for the Hebrides'
Free Church of Scotland
Date posted: 19 Nov 2025
A village at the end of the road, on an island at the edge of the Atlantic, facing a week of door-to-door visits in driving rain and winds of almost 85-mph. On paper, it was far from the ideal setting for a week of gospel outreach.
However, for a hardy international team from Operation Mobilisation (OM), this was nothing out of the ordinary; they had faced such conditions before and were more than happy to do so again.
Young adults are joining churches - here's why
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 16 Nov 2025
A new report shows that young adults in the UK today are approaching faith as a source of emotional wellbeing rather than social inheritance.
Published by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life, the report demonstrates a shift from inherited to personal experience of faith in 18-34 year olds. The results from a survey of 2,000 adults who said they had experienced a change in their beliefs highlight some significant insights into why people are moving towards or away from faith and religion.
MAF marks 80 years of humanitarian flight
MAF
Date posted: 15 Nov 2025
Marking the first Lady Mayor’s Show in style: Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) joined the iconic procession to welcome Dame Susan Langley as the new Mayor of London on Saturday 8 November.
Dressed to impress in aircraft costumes spanning ten metres, and capes printed with scenes from isolated communities, the MAF team marched from Mansion House to the Royal Courts of Justice to greet the newly installed Lady Mayor.
Street evangelists affected by Birmingham ban
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 14 Nov 2025
Street preachers in Birmingham have adjusted their evangelistic strategies to comply with a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that came into force earlier this year (see this en article).
The PSPO focuses on the amplification of noise. Evangelists have ceased using PA systems or have chosen to operate outside of the area protected by the order.
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.
