UK & Ireland in Brief

Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention has launched its 90th conference with launch events in Bangor and Belfast, sharing its 2026 theme of “Pressing on”. Conrad Mbewe will be leading this year’s Bible studies at the Convention.

The organisation shared that its usual main venue isn’t available this year, so many events will be held in different locations – and has asked for prayer as “these necessary changes create the potential for confusion and frustration”. Its 90th Convention will be held from 14-23 August 2026.

Lydia Houghton

Biblical Counselling UK (BCUK) has announced that Graham Beynon will now be giving two talks at its 2026 national conference.

The announcement comes after Sam Allberry withdrew from his role – after being due to give two talks on union with Christ at this year’s conference (see en online stories 4 May and 6 May).

Beynon is Associate National Director of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC), a popular conference speaker, and author of several books including Emotions and Mirror, Mirror – which explores the Christian’s identity in Christ.

Lydia Houghton

A Christian Concern petition supporting street preachers in Colchester has surpassed 25,000 signatures.

Bread of Life Community Church, supported by Christian Concern’s legal team, is challenging a Community Protection Notice (CPN) which reportedly prohibits the church’s use of amplification during its weekly outreach.

According to Christian Concern, street wardens also raised concerns about the content of the evangelists’ preaching – including theological references to judgement and hell. The council reportedly claimed such content might distress some listeners, says Christian Concern. Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, the church argues that “the issue is not disturbance but discomfort with the message itself, something expressly protected under Articles 9 and 10 of the Human Rights Act”. “This marks a significant shift from regulating noise to attempting to regulate Christian doctrine expressed in public”, Christian Concern says.

Lydia Houghton

Thousands of Christians are expected to gather, organisers say, for an event titled the “Jesus March” (originally established in London in 1987 as the “March for Jesus”), taking place on Saturday 23 May in central London from 2–5pm.

The event is being organised and hosted by Ichthus Christian Fellowship in partnership with other Christian ministries – and churches – including London City Mission and Street Pastors. At a time “when many churches are reporting renewed openness to the gospel and growing confidence in evangelism… the Jesus March is designed as a visible expression of Christian unity across denominations, cultures and generations”, Ichthus Christian Fellowship said. “Importantly, the event is not a protest, not a political march, and not a platform for self-promotion,” the organisation stated. “No political or national flags will be permitted, and the focus will remain solely on lifting up the name of Jesus in a spirit of worship, peace and public witness.”

Lydia Houghton

Keswick Ministries has announced that Christopher Ash will be giving week two’s Bible readings at this year’s Keswick Convention. He will be in the book of Genesis, exploring the Convention theme of “Strong in His Strength”.

Ash has “been a friend to Keswick Ministries for many years” writes the organisation. Ash is Writer in Residence at Tyndale House in Cambridge, was previously director of the Cornhill Training Course, and is a former church planter. Keswick Ministries says: “We look forward to hearing him teach us from God’s Word this summer.”

Lydia Houghton

The fifth annual Pillar Network International Conference is being held in Edinburgh from 20-22 May. The Pillar Network is a community of doctrinally-aligned Baptist churches from all over the world committed equipping, planting and revitalising churches.

Over the three-day conference, Pillar church pastors and leaders will gather to hear from God’s Word and discuss opportunities for the spread of the gospel through starting and strengthening churches.

Emily Pollok

The Anglican Mission in England (AMiE) has held the first ordination for its “vocational diaconate”. This was for Lesley Flecknell at Holy Trinity Gateshead.

Bishop Tim Davies said: “This focused ministry allows men and women alike to flourish in particular areas of gifting – whether among children, young people, women or the wider community – without the broader responsibilities entrusted to presbyters.” AMiE, which does not ordain women as presbyters or bishops, is not part of the Church of England but is affiliated to conservative movement GAFCON.

AMiE

Retired pastor Clive Johnston has been convicted for preaching on John 3:16 within one of Northern Ireland’s controversial abortion censorship zones.

The former President of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland, who is being supported by The Christian Institute, has been convicted of two charges under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act for holding an open-air service on the fringes of a buffer zone opposite Coleraine’s Causeway Hospital last year.

Christian Institute