UK & Ireland

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 26 Jul 2025

One in three UK adults no longer believe monogamy is a realistic ideal, a report on marriage and traditional relationship structures has found. It also suggests younger people are particularly cynical of traditional marriage.

The Modern Marriage Report was published following a law firm’s survey of 1,000 respondents across the UK. It says a third of all respondents believe monogamy is no longer a realistic ideal in modern relationships – rising to 42% of respondents in the 18–24 age group.

Emily Pollok

Date posted: 25 Jul 2025

A new website, pastapastor.org.uk, has been launched, providing access to more than 50 digital booklets and blogs by former pastor and en editor John Benton.

After serving in these roles, Benton worked for the Pastor’s Academy at London Seminary providing one-to-one advice and help for pastors. Through this work he gained great insight into the practical challenges that pastors face.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 24 Jul 2025

Migration in the UK church context was the focus of a conference for 150-plus church leaders, theologians and other Christian workers at Oak Hill College.

It followed a report last year that found almost half (47%) of all migrants across the world are Christians. According to the report from Pew Research, 29% of migrants are Muslim.

Emily Pollok

Date posted: 23 Jul 2025

Lansdowne Church’s School for Discipleship in Bournemouth is launching a new resource to provide a flexible, accessible theology course to those who might not be able to commit to formal, in-person study.

The ‘Bible College in a Box’ contains core textbooks and relevant study material from the School for Discipleship’s existing training programme, but is a self-led programme that can be completed at the individual’s own pace – whether over a year or longer.

The Proclamation Trust (PT) held its annual Evangelical Ministry Assembly (EMA) conference, at the Emmanuel Centre, London, welcoming over 600 delegates across the three days for Bible teaching, encouragement, and reflection under the theme “Encouraged”.

This was the first EMA under the leadership of new Director, Robin Sydserff. It coincided with a refreshed look to PT and updated logo – a dandelion seed – a symbol of the way in which the word of God is scattered far and wide and takes root everywhere.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 21 Jul 2025

The trial of former vicar Jonathan Fletcher has been postponed to May 2026 to enable the defence to obtain expert reports on his fitness to plead.

Fletcher pleaded not guilty in August 2024 to eight counts of indecent assault on a male. His trial had been due to start on 30 June. Kingston Crown Court confirmed that he has not yet been arraigned on an additional count of grievous bodily harm.

The Association of Grace Baptist Churches (South East) has hosted a half-day conference entitled ‘Authority in the Local Church’ in London. Jonathan Leeman

(pictured), President of 9Marks, taught two sessions on the subjects of ‘Congregational Authority in the Local Church’ and ‘Elders’ Authority in the Local Church.’

Dan Jenkinson

Date posted: 19 Jul 2025

What are you praying for your church to be like in 30 years’ time?

That’s the question Moorlands Church in Lancaster asked the children in their congregation. A slide into the baptism pool and people arriving on hoverboards were some of the more imaginative answers. Other answers included: “Still love listening to Jesus” (Gus, 3); “Keep singing lovely songs about Jesus” (Jemimah, 6); and to “Keep growing for the right reason so that the good news of Jesus’ salvation will go out to all the world” (Hannah, 13).

Lydia Houghton

Date posted: 19 Jul 2025

In the heart of a busy village in Buckinghamshire, a group of book-loving believers gathered to celebrate all things Christian literature.

2025 saw The St Andrews Literature Festival – organised by the local bookshop of the same name – mark its second year. Hosted in Great Missenden, the home of Roald Dahl, the two-day event saw Christian authors come together to share insights about their faith, books, and writing processes.

Lydia Houghton

Date posted: 18 Jul 2025

Smuggling Bibles to believers in Communist countries – that’s how Open Doors UK & Ireland began; 70 years on, the organisation has become an international ministry working for the good of the Persecuted Church.

In 1955 Dutch missionary Brother Andrew set off for Poland with a suitcase containing his Bible and hundreds of tracts entitled “The Way of Salvation”.

Serving as a woman in ministry is a privilege and a blessing, but it can be a lonely role –

that’s why 30 women from churches across the UK gathered for three days for Thrive, coming together around God’s word for refreshment and support.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 17 Jul 2025

An in-depth report on abortion buffer zones says there are serious issues around freedom of belief, religion and speech. It also concludes that “a pro-abortion worldview has in effect been legally prioritised and protected from any form of criticism” and calls for the government to introduce a Freedom of Religion Act.

Local authorities have power to impose buffer zones – formally called “public space protection orders” – under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and the Public Order Act 2023. The powers were intended to tackle general anti-social behaviour, but have been used to crack down on any form of anti-abortion presence outside abortion clinics and hospitals.

Jonathan Lamb

Date posted: 16 Jul 2025

Delegates from 16 countries representing 90 different Bible-teaching events and almost 50,000 believers are attending the 150th celebrations at the Keswick Convention.

They are participating in a special track – the Keswick Fellowship International Consultation.

Emily Pollok

Date posted: 4 Jul 2025

By bringing God, Bible study and gardening together, Hazelnut Community Farm in East Bristol is pioneering an innovative approach to living out the Christian faith that reaches their neighbourhood with the gospel while combating the climate crisis.

Located in the grounds of St Anne’s Church, the farm is both a Christian community and a community garden, a space for outdoor worship and a thriving vegetable plot.

This year marks the 140th anniversary of the Cambridge Seven sailing for China in February 1885.

The OMF website explains: “This group of seven Christians from Britain caught the imagination of the church and the nation as they gave up riches, fame and comfortable lives to go and share the good news of Jesus in China through the China Inland Mission (CIM), now OMF International.

Milla Ling-Davies

Date posted: 2 Jul 2025

Amid recent reports of a “quiet revival” and renewed exploration of Christianity in the UK, the question remains: Why the growing interest? A new report from the Evangelical Alliance has helped reveal the answer.

The Evangelical Alliance’s (EA) “Finding Jesus” research, conducted in 2024 and released this June, found that UK adults are investigating Christianity primarily due to a need for meaning and hope – often prompted by a personal crisis.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 Jul 2025

Claims by the author of The Passion “translation” of the Bible – that he translated a version of the New Testament for an indigenous people in Panama – have been rejected by Wycliffe Bible Translators.

Brian Simmons has, for many years, repeated claims online and in writing that he was a co-translator with Wycliffe in translating the Paya-Kuna New Testament. He has also claimed, in freely available interviews online, to have visited a library in heaven where Jesus promised him an “extra” chapter of the Gospel of John.