Staff writer

Coronavirus 'has hit church income hard' - Stewardship
Many churches have experienced a drop in income since the start of the pandemic, says Stewardship, which is encouraging them to consider online giving as a way to reverse the decline.

Religious freedom roundtable calls for charges to be dropped against pastor
Human rights campaigners have called on the Attorney General of Nepal to drop all charges against a pastor accused of trying to convert others to the Christian faith.

New owners planning 'vibrant future' for architecturally significant seminary ruins
A rundown seminary regarded by architectural conservationists as having worldwide significance has been handed to new owners by the Archdiocese of Glasgow.

Barclays closes bank account of Christian charity supporting people with unwanted same-sex attraction
Barclays Bank has bowed to pressure to close the bank account of a Christian charity that offers counselling to people with unwanted same-sex attraction.

British ISIS members say they were jailers of Christian aid worker Kayla Mueller
More light has been shed on the horrific ordeal of a young Christian woman who was raped and tortured by ISIS militants before being killed.

It's not wrong to say 'Islamist terrorism' - Michael Nazir-Ali
The former Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, has defended the use of the term 'Islamist terrorism' following reports that it may be dropped by the police.

Bible Societies around the world at threat of closure over coronavirus
The financial fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has left dozens of Bible Societies around the world at risk of closure.

Virtual evensong to raise money for cathedral choirs feeling the strain from coronavirus
TV presenter Alexander Armstrong and news reader Katie Derham are lending their support to a virtual evensong to raise money for cathedral choirs struggling financially as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Anger after Sheffield Cathedral decides to shut down beloved choir
Sheffield Cathedral has been widely criticised on social media after announcing the closure of its choir over concerns that it is not diverse enough.

11 Christians killed in latest attack in Nigeria
Dozens of Christians have been killed in separate attacks in southern Kaduna state in the last month and a half.

Christian girl abducted and forced into Islamic marriage is now pregnant, says family's lawyer
A Christian teenage girl abducted and forced to marry a Muslim man in Pakistan is now pregnant and confined to a single room, the family's lawyer has said.

Virtual doctors are a lifeline for impoverished families in Ecuador
Many impoverished families in Ecuador have neither the money nor transportation to visit a hospital. As the pandemic continues to strain the country's health service, Compassion International is addressing the need with a new telehealth hotline.

Muslim leaders express concern over plans to make Hagia Sophia a mosque
Muslim leaders have expressed their support for calls to keep the Hagia Sophia in Turkey open to people of all faiths.

Positive contribution of faith groups in social cohesion deserves greater recognition - report
The role of faith groups in social cohesion is undervalued, says a new joint report from the Theos think tank.

Thousands sign petition calling for RSE watchdog
Over 20,000 people have signed a petition calling for a watchdog to be established ahead of the roll-out of the Government's controversial new Relationships and Sex Education curriculum.

Compensation payout to abuse victim of JRR Tolkien's priest son to be tripled
An unnamed abuse victim of Father John Tolkien, Catholic priest and son of JRR Tolkien, is to receive triple the original compensation from the Catholic Church.