Church

Lenten season 2017: Why Christians observe it
Lenten season 2017: Why Christians observe it

Many Christian believers are now celebrating the Holy Week, which is the last week of the 40-day Lenten season, which, on the other hand, will conclude on Black Saturday.

Fourteen per cent of US Christians left their churches after Trump\'s election, new research finds
Fourteen per cent of US Christians left their churches after Trump's election, new research finds

Some 14 per cent of Christians abandoned their churches after the election of Donald Trump, according to research by The Washington Post showing that a number of people who went to a church in September last year had left it by mid-November.

Alabama Senate grants church its own personal police force
Alabama Senate grants church its own personal police force

The Senate of Alabama has voted to allow a church to have its own police force.

Conservative priest asked to take a break after congregation storm out when he criticised Pope Francis
Conservative priest asked to take a break after congregation storm out when he criticised Pope Francis

A priest is being asked to take a break from his parish in the Italian town of Montesilvano after some in his congregation reportedly stormed out of Mass when he openly criticised the progressive agenda of Pope Francis.

Britain needs some of Aslan\'s \'deep magic\' to reimagine its future, says Archbishop of Canterbury
Britain needs some of Aslan's 'deep magic' to reimagine its future, says Archbishop of Canterbury

Britain needs to 'reimagine' a new set of values to face a radically different future, according to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Coptic churches in Egypt cancel Easter celebrations, mourning Palm Sunday bombings
Coptic churches in Egypt cancel Easter celebrations, mourning Palm Sunday bombings

Coptic churches in the south of Egypt said they would not hold Easter celebrations this year, in mourning of the 45 Coptic Christians killed in the two Palm Sunday bomb attacks.

Chinese Christians forced to set up surveillance cameras in their churches
Chinese Christians forced to set up surveillance cameras in their churches

The Zhejiang provincial government had instructed local authorities to install security cameras in churches with the aim of helping them monitor religious activities.

French evangelicals implore prayer for country facing terrorism, corruption and division ahead of presidential elections
French evangelicals implore prayer for country facing terrorism, corruption and division ahead of presidential elections

A body of evangelical Christians in France has urged the Christian community to pray for France ahead of its next presidential election.

Christ with a barbed wire crown: St Paul\'s Cathedral installs Wallinger statue to highlight plight of prisoners
Christ with a barbed wire crown: St Paul's Cathedral installs Wallinger statue to highlight plight of prisoners

Ecce Homo, by renowned sculptor Mark Wallinger, has been installed in collaboration with the cathedral and Amnesty International and will remain there for six weeks.

\'Love, even when we disagree\': Archbishop of Canterbury urges radical Christian unity
'Love, even when we disagree': Archbishop of Canterbury urges radical Christian unity

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby made an impassioned plea for Christian unity at the weekend, saying he hopes the Church can show the world that it's possible to 'love, even when you disagree passionately'.

Jailed missionary Andrew Brunson\'s sister: \'We believe God is with him\'
Jailed missionary Andrew Brunson's sister: 'We believe God is with him'

The sister of Andrew Brunson, the American missionary jailed in Turkey on what his supporters say are false charges of membership of a terrorist organisation, has spoken of how the family's faith in God is sustaining them.

It\'s easy to over-complicate the gospel. Here\'s how to avoid it
It's easy to over-complicate the gospel. Here's how to avoid it

Sometimes we make Christianity sound too complicated. We talk in theological jargon, forgetting that, in essence, Christianity is all about a person – it is all about Christ.

\'The joy of the Lord is our strength\': 7 Christian jokes to lift your spirits
'The joy of the Lord is our strength': 7 Christian jokes to lift your spirits

Laughter is good for you, and is a gift from God. Here are seven jokes inspired by the Bible and the Church.

Jerusalem Church leaders proclaim hope of the Resurrection: \'Death does not have the final word\'
Jerusalem Church leaders proclaim hope of the Resurrection: 'Death does not have the final word'

Leading Patriarchs and Christian leaders in Jerusalem have signed a joint ecumenical message proclaiming the hope of Easter over the trials of sufferings and death.

Can we avoid Holy Week hypocrisy?
Can we avoid Holy Week hypocrisy?

Last week I found myself doing exactly the sort of thing I decry in others, and which seems to me to go against the gospel Jesus taught – and which I claim to preach – in so many ways.

1 million Christian pilgrims prepare to descend on Rome to mark the Passion and Resurrection of Christ
1 million Christian pilgrims prepare to descend on Rome to mark the Passion and Resurrection of Christ

As Christians descend in their thousands on Rome for the ceremonies of Holy Week and Easter, Pope Francis is preparing to visit a jail located 30 miles away to take part in the Maundy Thursday foot-washing ritual.