UK & Ireland in Brief

Attempts to convert a disused church building into a mosque have failed because of a restrictive covenant imposed by the CoE when the building was sold.

St John’s Church in Hanley, a grade II-listed building was sold by the diocese of Lichfield in 2009. The transfer included a restrictive covenant barring the use of the building for worship by any religion other than Christianity. It is understood the Zamir Foundation recently bought the property and was granted planning permission from Stoke-on-Trent City Council to turn it into a multi-purpose faith based building – including a mosque. The Church Commissioners for England reportedly stepped in and informed the local planning authority of the restrictive covenant.

Nicola Laver

BBC News reports: ‘A physiotherapist who prayed outside an abortion centre has been convicted of breaching a safe zone after refusing requests to move on.

‘Adam Smith-Connor was outside the clinic in Bournemouth in November 2022 where a public space protection order was in place. The 51-year-old from Southampton denied failing to comply with the order, but District Judge Orla Austin said on Wednesday his actions had been “deliberate”. Smith-Connor was handed a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay more than £9,000 costs.’

bbc.co.uk/news

Jamie Young of Business Matters magazine reports: ‘Three private Christian schools and a group of parents are preparing to launch a legal challenge against the government’s plan to impose VAT on school fees.

‘Emmanuel School in Derby, the Branch Christian School in Yorkshire, and the King’s School in Hampshire, alongside parents, claim that the tax will unlawfully discriminate against faith-based schools and families by making Christian education unaffordable, potentially forcing many schools to close.’

bmmagazine.co.uk