Church

Male-only Mount Athos monasteries 'full of unease' after Greece passes transgender law
The conservative Greek Orthodox Church has reacted furiously to the new law.

Bishop of Chester abuse: I am a victim of Victor Whitsey and it cost me everything
Because of the sexual abuse I suffered at the hands of Victor Whitsey I lost my faith, my chosen life as a vicar, my self-belief, my freedom from worry and my dignity.

Late Bishop of Chester investigated after 13 allegations of abuse
Police are investigating allegations of child sex abuse carried out by the late Bishop of Chester, Hubert Victor Whitsey, the Church of England has admitted.

Shortage of monks forces abbey closure after nearly 900 years of prayer
A German monastery almost 900 years old will close due to a shortage of people wanting to be monks.

The strangest church names in London
The Baptist Tabernacle Stockton was far from among the worst title chosen by the original founders.

Income from C of E parishes tops £1 billion for the first time
Church of England parishes raised income which topped £1 billion for the first time in 2015, despite an apparently ongoing decline in church attendance.

Female church leader named as new top pastor at Willow Creek
A woman will take over as lead pastor of the evangelical megachurch Willow Creek Community Church.

'Crucify no voters' graffitied on church walls in Australia's toxic same-sex marriage poll
'Crucify "no" voters' has been graffitied on a Melbourne church in the latest call to violence during Australia's increasingly toxic same-sex marriage postal survey.

Justin Welby apologises to abuse survivor; bishops accuse CofE's insurer of 'horse trading' on settlements
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has apologised to a clerical sexual abuse survivor over the Church of England's response to his claims. Three CofE bishops condemned the Church's insurance company for what it called 'horse trading' over settlements for abuse survivors - though the insurer has challenged the allegation.

Pope canonises first New World martyrs, calls Amazon synod for 2019
Pope Francis canonised 35 new Roman Catholic saints on Sunday, including three indigenous children martyred in 16th century Mexico and considered the first Christians killed for their faith in the New World.

European Evangelical Alliance honours adoption charity founder for refugee work
He was given the Hope Award, granted once a year to a person or organisation for outstanding service in a specific area of Christian work.

Forth to Farne Pilgrimage Way to launch this Sunday
A new pilgrimage route travelling through the picturesque coastal scenery between North Berwick and Lindisfarne will be opened this Sunday in Whitekirk, East Lothian.

How a West Midlands pastor is reaching out to the UK's fast-growing Polish population
Church leader and author, Pastor Joe Hayes, has written a book aimed at nurturing the growing number of Polish believers.

'The challenge of our generation' â Pete Greig joins calls for climate change action
Best-selling author and International Director of the 24-7 prayer movement, Pete Grieg, is calling climate change the 'challenge of our generation'.

The laddish cruelty of 'pigging' â and 5 ways Christians can do better at dating
This week has seen the revelation of a new, cruel kind of dating, known as 'pigging'. But Christians can get relationships very wrong too. Here are five ways to try and do better.

Former Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, is to receive life peerage
The Prime Minister's Office has announced that Rt Rev & Rt Hon Richard Chartres, recently retired Bishop of London, is to be awarded a life peerage.