Christian medics ‘may face greater restrictions’
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 27 Jun 2026
Christian doctors may face greater restrictions on what they can say about their faith, it is being claimed.
Concerns are arising because of revised regulatory guidance on personal beliefs and medical practice, and the potential implications for evangelical medics and others.
Settlements are agreed
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 27 Jun 2026
Jennifer Melle, the Christian nurse suspended in 2024 for “misgendering” a biologically male paedophile, then reinstated, has agreed a legal settlement with an NHS Trust.
Epsom and St Helier Hospitals NHS Trust had labelled her a “potential risk to the public” and reported her to the nursing regulator, but disciplinary action for an alleged data breach was later abandoned.
Social media ban no ‘silver bullet’
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 26 Jun 2026
The Government’s planned social media ban “is not a silver bullet”, says Mark Gilmore, policy advisor at the Evangelical Alliance.
Speaking to en, Gilmore stated: “The social media ban is not a silver bullet, and many young people will inevitably find ways around it. However, social media has caused significant harm to children’s wellbeing, relationships and safety, which is why we have consistently called for stronger regulation.”
Assisted suicide bid ‘irresponsible’
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 26 Jun 2026
Attempts to revive the assisted dying bill are “dismal”, “irresponsible” and “beggar belief”, leading evangelical figures say.
The draft legislation is returning to the House of Commons because an MP, Lauren Edwards, who came second in the ballot for Private Members’ Motions, wants to bring it back. She blames a minority in the House of Lords for talking the Bill out and preventing it from coming to a vote in the last parliamentary session.
Belfast: ‘Old wounds opened again’
en staff
Date posted: 25 Jun 2026
The atmosphere in Belfast is “tense, weary and deeply unsettled” – and also contains challenges for evangelicals, a church minister says.
Speaking in the wake of disturbances following a vicious stabbing attack in the city, Andrew Irwin told en of the situation in the city and some of the underlying tensions and issues.
‘Islamophobia’ investigation
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 25 Jun 2026
A group of Labour MPs are seeking a formal investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) into Reform UK for alleged Islamophobia.
In a letter, signed by 27 parliamentarians, including Diane Abbott and Clive Lewis, the EHRC has been asked to look into potential breaches of the Equality Act 2010 by Reform politicians.
Non-disclosure agreements ‘continue’
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 25 Jun 2026
The Presbyterian Church of Ireland (PCI) has voted to continue using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), in “limited circumstances”, despite calls for the practice to be abandoned.
NDAs are confidentiality clauses preventing a party (usually a former employee) from disclosing sensitive and confidential information.
Liberal CofE motion 'may pass'
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 19 Jun 2026
Ros Clarke, acting Director of evangelical Anglican organisation the Church Society, speaks to en's Lydia Houghton about the upcoming July General Synod session and Helen King's Private Members Motion titled, Same-sex relationships compatibility with Christian discipleship: "Professor Helen King (Oxford) to move: 'That this Synod affirm that there are no fundamental objections to being in a committed, faithful, intimate same-sex relationship, and that such a relationship can be entirely compatible with Christian discipleship.'"
LH: How likely do you think it is that Helen King's Private Members Motion will go through?
Scottish abortion rates higher than ever
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 30 May 2026
Last year witnessed the highest recorded number of abortions carried out in Scotland according to new statistics released by Public Health Scotland.
Up by more than 50 percent since 2016, 18,783 abortions were performed, ending the lives of thousands of unborn babies.
National flags banned at public faith celebration
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 27 May 2026
The day before Pentecost Sunday, thousands of Christians gathered to publicly celebrate faith, to worship God and to pray.
The "Jesus March" took place on Saturday 23 May and saw participants assemble "in an atmosphere of joy and expectation before singing and dancing through the capital". Around 7,000 Christians gathered for the event in central London which began on Park Lane and concluded in Trafalgar Square.
A million signatures sought for Africa
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 27 May 2026
Open Doors is seeking a million signatures on a petition requesting the United Nations, African Union, EU, and governments around the world to take action for persecuted Christians in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Arise Africa campaign has already garnered 550,000 signatures for the millions of Christians facing violence and displacement in the region. According to Open Doors, more than 90% of Christians killed for their faith last year were in sub-Saharan Africa, where increasing violence is largely driven by Islamist extremists taking advantage of political instability in the region.
Tâp unigryw Cymraeg MLJ wedi’i ddarganfod
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 26 May 2026
Headline reads: Unique Lloyd-Jones Welsh tape found.
A tape of renowned pastor Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaching in Welsh, thought to be the only known recording of its kind, has come to light after more than five decades.
Faith safeguarding probe
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 26 May 2026
An All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) is conducting an inquiry into the safeguarding of children in faith-based environments after several loopholes were identified regarding “regulated activity” in some volunteer-led worship activities.
The APPG on Safeguarding in Faith Communities aims to improve protections for children in churches, mosques, and other religious settings by determining how well current safeguarding rules are understood and applied.
Quinta: ‘Largest project’ in 40 year history
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 25 May 2026
The Quinta Christian Centre, Shropshire, has received planning permission to build an “Activity Barn” – the “largest development project in its 40-year history”.
The barn’s “main arena” would be a 50m by 30m indoor space suitable for a variety of events and activities. Alongside this arena, there would be a two-storey section: an open-plan kitchen area and toilets downstairs, and a meeting room and several breakout rooms upstairs.
Grace Baptist event is a first
en staff
Date posted: 24 May 2026
Twenty-three leaders from eight different Grace Baptist charities have met together for the first time at an overnight gathering in Northampton.
Andrew King, Grace Baptist Association Secretary, writes: "We were encouraged by reports about our annual assembly discussing how to mobilise church members, a growing association of around 100 churches with others applying, a summer youth camp already sold out with over 125 attending, four recent church planting initiatives, ongoing trustee services, a residential women’s conference for 110 people with a waiting list, and publishing work with four new books including a new series on church polity.
Reunited at Bible by the Beach (after 61 years!)
James Stileman
Date posted: 23 May 2026
Hazel Gordon and Linnet Smith left their Cheshire girls' school in 1965. They hadn’t seen each other for over 60 years until this year’s Bible by the Beach (BBTB) conference in Eastbourne over the Early May Bank Holiday.
They sat in a seafront hotel and talked for four hours without stopping. “It was a fitting conclusion to our first meeting,” said Hazel, “to attend the Sunday evening celebration service in the Congress Theatre. What a profound moment to stand together as we sang ‘From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny’. We felt so blessed to have had this remarkable opportunity – and to discover that the adventure of life has not yet stopped.”
Wycliffe – FIEC appeal joy
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 23 May 2026
In January, en reported on a partnership between Wycliffe Bible Translators and the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC), the goal of which was to raise £70,000 to support an Africa Bible translation project. Months later, in what has been described as an “overwhelming success”, this £70,000 goal has very nearly been reached.
The funds are being directed straight into the Wuldor* Programme, which aims to “unlock the Scriptures in 11 languages spoken by 850,000 people”. The project emerged after church planters realised they needed to have the Bible in people's languages in order to reach them with the gospel and to deepen the discipleship of those who become believers.
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.
