These articles were first published in our April edition of the newspaper, click here for more.
Equalities Minister Olivia Bailey has reasserted her determination to introduce a conversion therapy ban.
She told a Stonewall event in February that Labour will bring forward a conversion practices bill this parliamentary session, which ends in May. It is more than eight years since the then Conservative UK government said it would outlaw conversion practices.
Nicola Laver
A dedicated UK singles chart for gospel music has just been launched.
According to the BBC: “The Official Charts Company says there’s been a big rise in demand for faith-based music over the last ten years. “Its data shows the UK Christian and gospel albums market has grown by 64% since 2015.”
en staff
In the article “New Christians for Reform group receives mixed responses” in the March issue of en, we incorrectly described Laila Cunningham as a Christian. She is in fact a Muslim. We are sorry for this error and any confusion it may have caused.
en staff
Young people’s interest in Christianity is genuine, an investigative journalist has concluded. Helen Coffey, a journalist with The Independent, analysed data that has fuelled recent reports of a “quiet revival” in the UK and the doubling of Bible sales in the past five years.
She found more individuals than ever were buying a Bible; with UK Bible sales last year reaching their highest point since 2008 when records began. Coffey also found that annual sales more than doubled from £2.69m in 2019 to £6.3m in 2025, while sales rose 106% in volume over the past five years.
Nicola Laver
A group of evangelical Christians is taking their legal challenge against the imposition of VAT on private school fees to the Supreme Court after appeal judges rejected their case. The Christian Legal Centre is supporting one of two groups of claimants, which include The King Alfred School, Lower Gornal; Emmanuel School, Derby; and Wyclif Independent Christian School.
In February, the Court of Appeal ruled that the lack of exemptions for low-cost or faith schools was proportionate in meeting the government’s aim in raising revenue for education; and that parents could still access state or home education.
Roger Kiska, for the CLC, said: “This is about far more than tax policy. It concerns the freedom of parents to direct their children’s education in accordance with their deeply held Christian convictions, and the preservation of genuine educational pluralism in our society.”
Nicola Laver
Nicole Appleton of girlband All Saints has revealed her record company pressurised her into aborting her baby. Speaking to the BBC for a new documentary, said after the abortion she felt suicidal, adding: “I was in shock. I couldn’t believe what I had done. I wanted to kill myself.”
She added: “I was horrified, violated by what I felt was the power of an industry that leads a woman to sacrifice her child to keep a band together. What mattered was our success and our ability to make money.” Her bandmate, Melanie Blatt, said she was also told to have an abortion, but gave birth to a daughter.
Nicola Laver