On 19 July I was staying just ten miles away from Conningsby in Lincolnshire when the temperature reached 40.3C, the hottest ever recorded in the UK.
As I write, temperatures are no longer scorching, but is still warm and we face the prospect of a drought. The winter months seem far off, but we know it won’t be long before the nights draw in and we need to turn the heating on. However, many are already living in fear of that day because of impending increases in the energy price cap.
It is expected that average household energy bills will reach £500 a month in January. These price hikes are the result of the war in Ukraine, the reduction of supplies of Russian gas, and the rise in wholesale prices. Despite government help many families and individuals may face the invidious choice of ‘heating’ or ‘eating.’ How should the church respond to this coming crisis?
As one ‘rules-based order’ passes, another abides
Events since the beginning of 2026 have suggested the collapse of the “rules-based world order” that has held sway since …