Church

Pakistan police officer barges into church during Sunday service, assaults pastor after receiving noise complaint
Pakistan police officer barges into church during Sunday service, assaults pastor after receiving noise complaint

Based on what turned out to be a false complaint, a police officer barged into a church in Lahore, Pakistan last Sunday, verbally abusing the Christian worshippers and beating the lead pastor when the latter asked what he was doing inside the church.

Church of England to ordain 950 priests and deacons this summer
Church of England to ordain 950 priests and deacons this summer

The high number of ordinations this summer is said to be "a sign of a hopeful future for the Church of England".

Last diocese in the West Indies votes in favour of women priests
Last diocese in the West Indies votes in favour of women priests

Women are now able to be priests in every Anglican diocese of the West Indies, after the church in Guyana voted to allow the ordination of women yesterday.

New Bishop of Bolton announced
New Bishop of Bolton announced

Downing Street has announced the new Bishop of Bolton will be the Venerable Mark Ashcroft, currently Archdeacon of Manchester.

Arrest after satanic symbols painted in church graveyard
Arrest after satanic symbols painted in church graveyard

A man has been arrested after a satanic pentagram and the number 666 were painted in a church graveyard the night before Father's Day in Yorkshire.

CofE church offers new congregation for gay Christians
CofE church offers new congregation for gay Christians

A new Church of England congregation especially for LGBTI Christians will be launched this summer in the Diocese of Lichfield.

Trainee vicar with cancer to appear on BBC programme: \'God is always faithful\'
Trainee vicar with cancer to appear on BBC programme: 'God is always faithful'

Katy Garner thought she had received a death sentence when she found a lump near her groin seven years ago.

Church of England to sponsor Edinburgh Fringe play about Christian refugee
Church of England to sponsor Edinburgh Fringe play about Christian refugee

"As Christians we have a responsibility to speak up for the poor and the marginalised," a Church spokesman said.

Pope donates thousands in cash to new campaign to help refugees
Pope donates thousands in cash to new campaign to help refugees

The Pope has given more than £75,000 to a new campaign to help refugees, prisoners, battered women and victims of terror attacks and persecution.

Pope Francis: I often have a \'crisis of faith\'
Pope Francis: I often have a 'crisis of faith'

Even Pope Francis has doubts about the Christian faith, he admitted to a group of young people in Rome on Saturday.

Pan-Orthodox Council: Historic summit goes ahead despite Russian withdrawal
Pan-Orthodox Council: Historic summit goes ahead despite Russian withdrawal

Leaders and representatives from 10 autocephalous or self-governing Orthodox Churches held Mass in Heraklion yesterday to mark the beginning of the meeting. T

Leading CofE pastor suspended by bishop after extramarital affair
Leading CofE pastor suspended by bishop after extramarital affair

The Rev Mark Bailey, 56, of Cheltenham's Trinity church, has been been ordered to "step back" from ministry by Bishop of Gloucester Rachel Treweek.

Church of England split over gay marriage may be unavoidable, admits Welby\'s chief of staff
Church of England split over gay marriage may be unavoidable, admits Welby's chief of staff

A split over gay marriage in the Church of England may be unavoidable, the Archbishop of Canterbury's chief of staff admitted on Friday, despite desperate behind-the-scenes discussions to reconcile opposing factions.

One year on, the Pope\'s encyclical on the environment is more relevant than ever
One year on, the Pope's encyclical on the environment is more relevant than ever

One year on since Laudato Si' was published, we are already able to grasp its transformative potential. We now have the opportunity to change course, says Bernd Nilles.

Leading evangelical bishops call for Church to change on gays
Leading evangelical bishops call for Church to change on gays

Bishop of Liverpool Paul Bayes and Bishop of Dorchester Colin Fletcher are among contributors to a new book edited by Jayne Ozanne, a lay member of General Synod and former member of the Archbishops' Council, who counts herself as evangelical and last year came out as gay.

Pan-Orthodox Council: It will go ahead with or without you, theologian tells Churches
Pan-Orthodox Council: It will go ahead with or without you, theologian tells Churches

So can the Pan-Orthodox Council still happen at all? And if it does, is it still a Pan-Orthodox Council, even if all the Churches aren't there?