Defining secularism
Date posted: 17 Mar 2026
Dear Editor,
In recent editions of en, the word “secularism” has cropped up many times. I led the track on secularism at the Lausanne Congress in Seoul in September 2024, and we worked on a model of analysis which I think clarifies the issues.
Loneliness and churches
Date posted: 12 Mar 2026
Dear Editor,
Kirsten Birkett’s article “Connection and community for the lonely” touches on a core issue for today’s church. Loneliness is a most powerful driver for church attendance, spiritual searching, and serving. Mother Teresa, Elisabeth Elliott, and numerous other missionary figures wrote extensively about it as the deepest of human needs.
Conspiracy theories
Date posted: 9 Mar 2026
Dear Editor,
Helen Thorne-Allenson is right about conspiracy theories (see en article here), and especially right that we should try to protect “believers” from isolating themselves. “It is the act of casting out that makes the outcast”, as C.P. Snow so wisely said.
The church in China
Date posted: 8 Mar 2026
Dear Editor,
With yet another article about the arrests of members of the Early Rain Covenant Church, readers might like to read what the (now arrested) leaders of that church, and other house churches, said in anticipation of this time.
Questions of authority
Date posted: 6 Mar 2026
Dear Editor,
It was a joy to read Wallace Benn’s article on questioning whether we are only willing to follow Jesus up to a point. He asks if faithfulness to the Word of God and the gospel of Christ is at stake are we willing to lose everything and look to God to vindicate that?
Same-sex issues
Date posted: 4 Mar 2026
Dear Editor,
We are aware, along with many others, of the considerable disappointment among the LGBTQ networks with the recent decision from the October meeting of the House of Bishops to pause the Prayers of Love and Faith process due to legal and theological reasons. They have expressed feelings of being misled and given false expectations by being offered what, as was clear to some for a number of years, the process envisaged could never deliver. For this reason they have our sympathy.
A 'confusion of categories'
Ryan Burton King
Date posted: 24 Feb 2026
Dear Editor,
Last year, I wrote an article, for en's website, titled Should we ban public displays of non-Christian faiths? (see article here). I am grateful for the recent effort at engagement from Michael Reade in his article In defence of Christian nationalism (see article here).
Christian nationalism?
Dave Williams
Date posted: 24 Feb 2026
Dear Editor,
I was interested to read Michael Reade’s Comment piece on en's website (see article here) defending Christian nationalism and responding to articles by Ryan Burton King (see Ryan's piece here) and me (see here).
Recorded music - your views
Date posted: 17 Feb 2026
Dear Editor,
I refer to the letter regarding request for recorded hymns. We have a Roland Music Player that plays MIDI files (3½ inch discs) that we’re happy to give to Robert Grieve if it is of use.
Monarchy questions - your views
Date posted: 15 Feb 2026
Dear Editor,
Mr Burke has significantly distorted the history of monarchy in Britain by conflating its origins with an idea that fully emerged about a thousand years later, “the divine right of kings” (“Monarchy in the Bible – and in Britain today”). That latter theory was fully propagated in 16th-century France to justify the new absolutism of its dynasty, and spread to Scotland first, and then to England through the Stuarts.
Retirement opportunities - your views
Date posted: 11 Feb 2026
Dear Editor,
In response to Sue Sanderson’s question regarding a Christian course within the U3A [the University of the Third Age – an organisation providing learning opportunities in retirement] – the answer is yes, it can be done, and it is a superb opportunity for Christians who are members of their local U3A.
Passionate worship - your views
Date posted: 1 Feb 2026
Dear Editor,
Full marks to the challenging piece from Matthew Roberts suggesting a disconnection with God among evangelical churches. Worship, of course, isn’t restricted to singing. For we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, worshipping the Lord with all our heart, mind and strength – in all we do, including our communal times of devotion. Following Jesus is ultimately the greatest romance ever, and surely the only worthy response is to lay ourselves at His feet in total worship, nothing held back. Are we in danger, like the Ephesian church, of losing our first love?
Eastern Orthodoxy - your views
Date posted: 31 Jan 2026
Dear Editor,
As an Evangelical Christian with a longstanding academic and pastoral interest in Eastern Orthodoxy, I have followed with interest the story surrounding the ex-FIEC congregation in Halifax which recently converted en masse (no pun intended) to Eastern Orthodoxy. I have appreciated the coverage of this story in en, namely the articles by Lydia Houghton (see here) and particularly the one by Kenneth Brownell (see here). In my experience, in Russia and the English-speaking world, Eastern Orthodoxy holds a certain appeal for Evangelical Christians, particularly in situations where theological truth seems too confused or personality-based, and where public worship becomes too casual and reduces the divine means of grace to “explanation” and “symbol”.
"Fallen Royals" - your views
Date posted: 8 Jan 2026
Dear Editor,
Your recent column on “Fallen Royals” [see the article here] suggests that the British royal family are “earth’s most committed non-meritocracy”. But I suggest that earth’s most committed non-meritocracy is none other than the universal Christian Church, the worldwide company of born-again Christian believers, saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, the gracious gift of the one true God alone to supremely non-meritworthy sinners.
Thank you - your views
Date posted: 7 Jan 2026
Dear Editor,
Thank you for the November issue of en. I found the wide-ranging selection of articles both helpful and stimulating. I particularly appreciated the central pair of articles and replies, debating a Christian approach to immigration and integration [see article here]. More like this please!
Pardon? - your views
Date posted: 6 Jan 2026
Dear Editor,
It is very encouraging to see younger men being brought into the preaching ministry. But it needs to be impressed on them (perhaps by their sending churches) that their sermons need to be 100% clearly audible to their hearers. A common fault seems to be that they tend to drop their voice and quickly slide over the last few words in many sentences.
Ryder’s Christian origins - your views
Date posted: 4 Jan 2026
Dear Editor,
Regarding Charles Gardner’s letter in the December en [see the letter online here] about the Ryder Cup’s Christian origins, I would like to point out that although Samuel Ryder was born in Lancashire, he and his siblings moved to Sale, then Ashton upon Mersey, in Cheshire.
Recorded hymns - your views
Date posted: 26 Dec 2025
Dear Editor,
This is an enquiry about whether you know of any Christian organisation who supply equipment of recorded hymns to small churches that have no choir or musicians. I am trying to find out if such equipment exists for private and personal use. It would be great for older people who can’t get to church anymore, but would love to easily access a large range of hymns and anthems. Thank you.
Christian nationalism - your views
Date posted: 22 Dec 2025
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to David Shepherd’s article on “Christian Nationalism and far-right exclusivism” [see the article here].