Scottish church plants go weekly
Free Church of Scotland
Date posted: 28 Aug 2025
August has marked a significant milestone for two new Scottish church plants as they launch new weekly Sunday morning services.
Leven Free Church, in Leven, and Hope Church Leith, in Edinburgh, have each begun holding regular Sunday times of worship.
Westminster Declaration will call on politicians to reflect
Julia Cameron
Date posted: 27 Aug 2025
A major new initiative – the 2025 Westminster Declaration – is set to call on politicians to reflect on the Christian foundations which underpinned the UK for so long.
It will be launched at a special conference on Saturday, 20 September at the Emmanuel Centre, Westminster. Keynote speakers include Lord (Nigel) Biggar; Fiona Bruce, former MP; Major General Tim Cross; and Michael Nazir-Ali.
Seminary’s big move to Oxford
Westminster Seminary UK
Date posted: 27 Aug 2025
Westminster Seminary UK (WSUK) has announced that it will relocate from Newcastle to Oxford in August 2026.
This development comes in response to a season of prayer and a remarkable invitation from Oxford Presbyterian Church, which has offered new premises in the historic heart of the city.
New sex ed guidance ‘muddying the waters’
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 26 Aug 2025
The latest guidance on Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) for schools in England, published by the Department in Education in July, is receiving mixed reactions from the Christian community.
The big win from the guidance for Christian parents is that all teaching materials for lessons on sex education should be made available to parents from September 2026, when the new rules come into play.
Spurgeon’s: ‘Jaw-dropping’ accounts behind closure
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 26 Aug 2025
A “jaw-dropping” financial situation, and a perceived loss of doctrinal sharpness, have variously been blamed for the abrupt closure of Spurgeon’s College, London.
The Bible college – founded by celebrated preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834–1892) – announced its closure earlier this year, after 169 years of service.
politics & policy
Age checks for porn: A first step, not a full stop
James Mildred
Date posted: 25 Aug 2025
This summer the UK took a huge step forward in making the internet safer for children. At the heart of the Online Safety Act are the age verification provisions.
From the end of July, all social media platforms and commercial porn sites had to put in place robust and effective age gates to stop under-18s from accessing pornographic content. Platforms who fail to comply will be investigated and could face fines or court orders to stop them streaming in the UK.
Fears over restrictive ‘Islamophobia’ definition grow
en staff
Date posted: 25 Aug 2025
A decision on an official definition of Islamophobia – which it is feared could hinder free speech – is being awaited by Christians and other concerned groups.
Earlier this year, the government set up a Working Group to produce an “official definition” of the word. A short consultation period has ended, and a decision is expected by the end of September.
‘Lost’ Martyn Lloyd-Jones tapes recovered
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 22 Aug 2025
Several recordings, currently not available anywhere in the world, have been obtained by the organisation committed to preserving and distributing the sermons of Martyn Lloyd-Jones.
The Martyn Lloyd-Jones Trust (MLJ Trust) wrote on X: “One recording in particular is of special interest, and as far as we know, this ‘might be’ one of the last surviving copies of that sermon from [the evening of Friday] 1st November 1974!”
Bill aims to protect freedom to criticise Islam
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 22 Aug 2025
A bill aimed at preventing the Public Order Act 1986 from being used to prosecute legitimate criticism of Islam is due for its second reading in the Commons on 12 September.
The Freedom of Expression (Religion or Belief System) Bill was introduced in June by Nick Timothy MP and co-signed by another 11 MPs. It would extend the scope of section 29J of the Act – which protects the freedom to criticise religion in specific circumstances – to the whole of the Act.
Evangelicals gather in Aber
en staff
Date posted: 21 Aug 2025
Welsh evangelicals have once again gathered for the Annual Conference of the Evangelical Movement of Wales in Aberystwyth.
Main speaker Vaughan Roberts, Rector of St Ebbe’s Church, Oxford, was scheduled to preach through the Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120–134) with the theme “Homeward Bound”.
Hymn-writer’s home opens
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 21 Aug 2025
The home of renowned hymn-writer Charles Wesley, who penned some of the great Christian anthems including Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing, and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, is opening to the public.
The 18th-century home of the Methodist leader at 4 Charles Street, Bristol will be open to visitors for a ticket price of £8.
Assisted suicide bill set for the Lords
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 21 Aug 2025
The assisted dying bill is due for its second reading in the House of Lords on 12 September – the same day a Private Member’s bill on freedom of expression and belief is due in the Commons.
MPs passed the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in June and peers could delay or reject it. However, it is rare (but not unheard of) for the Lords to reject a bill that has been approved in the Commons.
Case of Leah Sharibu, held by Islamists, raised at Westminster
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 21 Aug 2025
The case of abducted Christian schoolgirl Leah Sharibu has been raised in the UK Parliament.
Sharibu has been held captive since 19 February 2018 when Islamic militants attacked the Government Girls’ Science and Technical School in Dapchi, Yobe State, Nigeria, and abducted 110 schoolgirls.
Good Book Co passes ownership to employees
The Good Book Company
Date posted: 19 Aug 2025
Leading evangelical publisher The Good Book Company is becoming fully employee-owned.
The firm says the decision, which takes effect from September, gives "staff a collective voice in the company’s direction and ensuring that the company’s mission, values, and commitment to high-quality Christian resources will be preserved for generations to come."
Sharing Jesus in the barracks and over a brew
SASRA
Date posted: 17 Aug 2025
The UK’s “quiet revival” is a God-given opportunity for Christian evangelism.
For the Soldiers’ and Aviators’ Scripture Readers Association (SASRA), this means sharing the gospel in the military with more troops and their families, in barracks and stations that are inaccessible to churches.
Locals save birthplace of famous hymn tune
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 15 Aug 2025
A community group in Wales is planning to purchase the Grade II-listed chapel where the famous hymn tune Cwm Rhondda was first sung.
Composer John Hughes wrote Cwm Rhondda for a November 1907 anniversary service and it remains one of the most famous traditional hymn tunes – usually sung to "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah."
Evangelical charity sounds alarm on UK poverty
Christians Against Poverty
Date posted: 15 Aug 2025
Parents on low incomes are facing immense pressure this summer, with some even going hungry so their children can eat.
Christians Against Poverty’s (CAP) latest Opinium polling found more than 1 in 10 parents with kids under the age of 18 have skipped food in the past year so their child(ren) could eat - as a result of financial challenges.
After #KesCon25: Some reflections
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 14 Aug 2025
“Hear God’s Word, become like God’s Son, and serve God’s mission.” That’s what Keswick Ministries is hoping to have achieved with its three-week 2025 convention.
This year, the event celebrated 150 years since its first gathering. An estimated 14,000 people, including 3,500 children and teenagers, took part in a programme spread across three weeks (14 July to 1 August).
