Godly grandad
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 6 Apr 2026
A grandfather in the US has recorded the entire Bible as a gift to his grandchildren.
Johann Klaassen, 71, of Brinnon, Washington, hopes that “it leads them back to the church and [to] belief in Jesus”. He “wanted to do something to make a lasting impression on his grandchildren”.
Timothy Dudley-Smith
en staff
Date posted: 5 Apr 2026
A memorial plaque was unveiled in Norwich Cathedral in late March, in memory of noted evangelical bishop and hymn writer Timothy Dudley-Smith. He died in 2024.
He is best known as a writer of hymns, and the memorial stone being unveiled in Norwich Cathedral bears the line: “Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord.” The unveiling and dedication of the stone was set to take place at the Cathedral’s Evensong on 22 March at 3:30pm. Timothy Dudley-Smith was greatly involved with the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS), Billy Graham’s Mission England (1984) and the Evangelical Alliance from 1987 to 1992. He was Archdeacon of Norwich and Bishop of Thetford.
Robin Whaley
en staff
Date posted: 31 Mar 2026
Anglican International Development (AID) is pleased to announce the appointment of Robin Whaley as its new Chief Executive Officer.
After 12 years serving in Kosovo with Operation Mobilisation, Robin will take up the role on 27 March, succeeding current CEO Simon Tustin as AID looks ahead to its next chapter of gospel-centred development work.
TV man’s faith
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 29 Mar 2026
British antiques expert David Harper – known for his presence on shows such as Bargain Hunt and Flog It! – has become a Christian after witnessing his daughter’s conversion.
Harper’s daughter, Hetti, after suffering from mental ill-health, turned to church and gave her life to Jesus. Over the next 15 months, Harper witnessed what he described to The Christian Post as “mind-boggling” changes.
Jo Frost
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 28 Mar 2026
Jo Frost is joining OCCA (the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics) as its new Executive Director.
For the last eight years, she has been director of communications and engagement at the Evangelical Alliance where she helped pioneer the Being Human project and associated podcast.
Tom Muir
Sarah Robinson
Date posted: 25 Mar 2026
Tom Muir has been inducted into the role of Church Planting Director in the Free Church of Scotland.
The induction took place at a meeting of the Edinburgh and Perth Presbytery. The Free Church is seeking to strengthen church planting across the denomination and support the development of new gospel communities in the years ahead.
Andrew Carey
en staff
Date posted: 22 Mar 2026
Andrew Carey, the former editor of The Church of England Newspaper (CEN), and son of former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, has died.
He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Carey was born in February 1966 and his home town was Bradworthy, Devon.
Winter Olympians share faith
Luke Randall
Date posted: 21 Mar 2026
Winter Olympians have been sharing what their faith means to them.
Christian US bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor won the gold medal in the women’s monobob at the Winter Olympics in Italy, making her the oldest American woman to win an individual gold medal in the history of the Winter Olympics.
Andrew Watson: 1961-2026
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 4 Mar 2026
Andrew Watson, who was the Bishop of Guildford and a member of the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), has died - less than a month after announcing a diagnosis of inoperable pancreatic cancer.
Watson was born in 1961 and grew up in Buckinghamshire and Hampshire, as detailed in the Church Times' obituary. He studied law at Corpus Christi, Cambridge and then trained for ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge before being ordained deacon in 1987 and Church of England priest in 1988. He is survived by his wife, Beverly, four children (Hannah, Sam, Joe, and Lydia), and three grandchildren - as well as his mother and three siblings.
Michelle Agyemang
en staff
Date posted: 28 Feb 2026
England footballer Michelle Agyemang has shared how important her faith is to her.
She told The Times that her football playing is “almost a ministry. I’m doing it to give back to God for the gift he’s given me. To use that to spread the gospel is really important to me.
John Dunnett
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 25 Feb 2026
The Church of England Evangelical Council’s (CEEC’s) National Director John Dunnett has resigned his title of Honorary Canon in response to Chelmsford Cathedral’s offering of the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF), reportedly used for the first time on 16 November 2025.
The Chelmsford Diocesan Evangelical Network (CDEN) – of which Dunnett is chair – sent a letter to Chelmsford’s Bishop Guli and the Cathedral’s Dean, Jessica Martin, expressing “sadness and profound concern” at the decision to offer PLF. On 21 January, Martin replied to confirm the decision won’t be reconsidered or reversed.
Andrew Anderson: FIEC President with zest for life
Mike Hitchings
Date posted: 24 Feb 2026
Andrew Anderson was called home on 1 November 2025. FIEC President in 1987, Andrew was the first to serve a longer term, becoming President again from 1992 to 1995.
Born on 2 June 1935 in Mill Hill, London, Andrew was converted at an early age. He was married to Pearl, who survives him; they had two daughters, Fiona and Colleen. He attended LSE and led the Christian Union there and went on to train at London Bible College.
Daniel Cozens
en staff
Date posted: 23 Feb 2026
Daniel Cozens, who has died suddenly, aged 81, was the founder of Through Faith Missions who also became well-known for pioneering the “Walk of 1,000 Men”.
A Church Times obituary by Paul Preston said that when he preached, “Daniel’s palm would be resting on his open Bible, his earnest expression engaging all in the room, as he gently helped us to place our hands into the hands of Jesus and look to Him, through His love and grace to prepare a place for us.”
Geoff Locke: A grand testimony to the grace of Christ
Wallace Benn
Date posted: 22 Feb 2026
The Funeral of Geoff Locke took place on 21 January and was a great occasion in a packed church full of people whose lives Geoff had touched. A likeable cheerful character, Geoff combined kindness and firm convictions in a convincing way that was a grand testimony to the grace of Christ in his life.
Geoff was the sort of lay leader that we need more of in the Church of England. Wonderfully converted subsequent to being made to think at the Billy Graham Harringay Crusade, he gave his life to Christ when taking a bath (as he joyfully recalled!) and that changed everything.
Thirtyone:eight CEO steps down
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 21 Feb 2026
Christian safeguarding charity Thirtyone:eight’s joint Chief Executive has stepped down after ten years in the role.
Justin Humphreys, who was with Thirtyone:eight for a total of 16 years, called his time with the charity “the honour and privilege of my life”. “Thirtyone:eight has become the ‘go to’ organisation for safeguarding support across an ever-widening landscape. Consequently, we have been able to positively affect the lives of countless thousands of people, whether directly or indirectly. It has been a joy to lead this organisation,” he said.
Martin Goldsmith: Much-loved Jewish disciple of Jesus
Charles Gardner
Date posted: 21 Feb 2026
One of Britain’s most well-known Jewish disciples of Jesus, Martin Goldsmith, has died peacefully, aged 91, after an extraordinary life of service to Christ.
After ten colourful years as a missionary in South East Asia with the Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF), he served for over 50 years as a gifted teacher at All Nations Christian College in Hertfordshire.
Elizabeth Catherwood: Towering evangelical figure
Christopher Catherwood
Date posted: 19 Feb 2026
Elizabeth Catherwood, the globally loved Vice-President of IFES 2003–2011, went to Heaven on 26 January 2026, not long after celebrating her 98th birthday the previous October. The notice of her death was transmitted by IFES worldwide.
Starting with her lifelong devotion to IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students) may be an unusual opening, but it is deliberate. She was of course the daughter of Dr D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the maternal great-granddaughter of Evan Phillips and the beloved wife of Fred Catherwood. But she was a remarkable figure very much in her own right. What comforts those who knew her truly well is that now in the presence of the Lord whom she served so faithfully for decades it was not her earthly descent or marriage that made her so prominent, but her use of the many and great gifts that God gave her – and now she knows it eternally!
George Hawkins
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 16 Feb 2026
The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) has appointed George Hawkins as its Director for the East Midlands. Hawkins was previously the Senior Pastor of Beeston Free Church in Nottingham.
“FIEC Local Directors offer support and advice to pastors and churches or catalyse partnerships at the local level,” said FIEC’s Communications and Media Officer Joel Murray. “This is a key way leaders of FIEC churches can be strengthened and work together to reach Britain for Christ.”
