PETER HITCHENS: When police start raiding our churches, you know the revolution has begun 

The sight of police closing down a church service is one of the worst moments of this national panic.  I am more and more sure that this country is suffering a revolution in which much that we used to know and believe is being quietly, insistently destroyed. But Scotland Yard’s raid on the Church of Christ … Read more

The Treasures of English Churches: New book shows amazing murals, monuments, relics and carvings

Explore England’s places of worship and you’ll find masterpieces of design, some of the world’s most beautiful stained-glass windows and a host of astonishing murals, monuments and carvings spanning over a thousand years of turbulent history – as a fascinating new book reveals. The National Churches Trust teamed up with prolific church photographer Matthew Byrne … Read more

Churches, pubs and schools could be told to make counter-terror plans

Churches, pubs and schools could be told to make counter-terror plans so they are prepared for any attack Businesses in public places will be told to draw up counter-terrorism plans They must set out what to do in the event of a terror attack under a ‘Protect Duty’ Consultation paper suggests that this includes shops … Read more

Romanian gang who stripped lead from dozens of rural churches are jailed for a total of 22 years

A prolific gang who stripped the lead from dozens of rural churches across England were today jailed for a total of 22 years. The four Romanian men, who were all living in the West Midlands, targeted churches from Somerset to North Yorkshire during a two-year crime spree which left churches facing repair bills totalling more … Read more

Romanian gang stripped lead from rural churches leaving communities facing £2million repair bill

A prolific gang stripped the lead from dozens of rural churches across England causing utter devastation to village communities, a court was told today.  Police swooped on the Romanian men, who were all living in the West Midlands, after the targeted churches were left with repair bills collectively totalling more than £2million.  Among those counties … Read more

Shutdown of churches and ban on weddings during Covid crisis has cost CofE ‘£150MILLION’

Shutdown of churches and ban on weddings during Covid crisis has cost CofE ‘£150MILLION’ and could trigger a cull of parishes Sources suggest Church of England lost £150m in donations during Covid crisis  Money-saving reforms could include cutting number of bishops to less than ten Parish boundaries could be redrawn to reduce the number from … Read more

Religious leaders launch legal challenge against closure of churches

Religious leaders launch legal challenge against closure of churches for public worship during Covid lockdown Church leaders claim worship restrictions breach Article 9 of Human Rights Act  More than 100 are seeking a judicial review of the lockdown closure of churches They are also challenging the Welsh government’s similar ban during firebreak  By Daily Mail … Read more

Churches risk being ‘engulfed by a crimewave’, campaigners warn

Churches risk being ‘engulfed by a crimewave’, campaigners warn, after more than 5,000 offences were recorded last year An average of 13 crimes a day were committed between July 2019 and July 2020 This was despite a four month lockdown and offences included arson and rape Items stolen included 300-year-old brass bell from England’s smallest … Read more

More than 100 UK churches are renting out their parking spaces to drivers

Some churches in the UK are earning an average of £200 a month by renting out their parking spaces to drivers, it has been revealed. A website that allows property owners to hire out their vacant parking facilities says that over 100 churches are now registered online – and making a tidy sum out of … Read more

Churches across England throw their doors open for public Sunday services

Churches across England have thrown open their creaking doors for the first time in 104 days as they welcome the public back for Sunday services. Westminster Abbey, York Minster and Canterbury Cathedral were all lit up as congregations arrived this morning, alongside cathedrals and churches across a patchwork of parishes. But services took place under … Read more