Comment

John Stott

“Uncle John”: Remembering the man who changed the face of evangelicalism

2025-04-25T15:10:00+01:00By

John Stott, once named among of the 100 most influential people in the world, possessed a borderless influence that shaped the global evangelical movement. Ahead of Stott’s birthday (27 April) Dr Donald Sweeting honours his dear friend’s life

BT1BNN

This attempt to silence Christian street preachers was a serious threat to religious freedom

2025-04-24T14:13:00+01:00By

Rushmoor Council’s efforts to stop Christian street preachers represents a significant and deeply troubling attack on freedom of speech and religious expression, says Christian Concern’s Andrea Williams

2025-04-16T111842Z_1120990753_RC2YYDAPM6T3_RTRMADP_3_BRITAIN-COURT-WOMEN

Let’s speak with grace and truth. Men cannot become women

2025-04-22T09:48:00+01:00By

After much cultural debate, the UK Supreme Court has ruled that a woman is a biological female. The truth has finally won, says Lois McLatchie-Miller

2024-02-28T000000Z_1978332976_RC2KB6ADV7D9_RTRMADP_3_POPE-HEALTH

10 brilliant things Pope Francis said about God

2025-04-21T15:43:00+01:00By

Few leaders spoke with the warmth, wisdom and weight of Pope Francis. No matter the subject of his address his words cut through and challenged us to see each other, the world and our faith differently. Here are ten of his most profound statements

EASTER OFFER

Grab this Deal!

Our exclusive Easter April offer for Premier Christianity gives you 6 months of the magazine for £12.99

Delve into thought-provoking content from the UK's leading Christian magazine. Begin your enriching journey with us today. This is a limited time offer, so take advantage while you can!

Take me to the offer!

*Offer applies in UK only, but check here for our overseas offers

Apr 25 Mag Subs 01
Close

2025-04-21T080535Z_891476312_RC2M1EAPN8OL_RTRMADP_3_PEOPLE-POPE-FRANCIS

Pope Francis (1936-2025): The people’s pope

2025-04-21T07:01:00+01:00By

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88. He was the Bishop of Rome from 2013 to 2025 in a papacy characterised by a dedication to the marginalised and a deep care for God’s creation. Though his time in office was not free from criticism and controversy, it was one that will leave a lasting impact on Catholics around the world, says Catherine Pepinster

2019-01-06T102558Z_1535259863_RC157D9A08A0_RTRMADP_3_CAMBODIA-ROUGE

The Killing Fields: Can there be redemption for a genocidal killer?

2025-04-17T09:11:00+01:00By

Today marks 50 years since the beginning of the Khmer Rouge’s reign of terror, during which 1.3 million people were killed and buried in the Cambodian Killing Fields. In looking at the history, Julia Cameron unearths a shocking story of God’s lavish grace

Jesus' empty tomb

You can be confident the resurrection of Jesus Christ really happened. Here’s why

2025-04-17T08:12:00+01:00By

With the most significant day in the Christian calendar approaching, Andy Witherall unveils five undeniable facts supporting Jesus’ resurrection

97244765-0-image-a-15_1744616895216

English Heritage is wrong. Easter isn’t pagan

2025-04-16T10:37:00+01:00By

As English Heritage release a children’s booklet claiming “the goddess Eostre gave Easter its name!”, George Lapshynov debunks the increasingly common claim that Easter originated as a pagan festival

2025-04-13T114243Z_1671338673_RC2YWDASV622_RTRMADP_3_ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-GAZA

Israel’s attack on a Christian hospital breaks my heart. We will keep praying for peace

2025-04-14T15:05:00+01:00By

The last operating hospital in the Gaza Strip was hit by an Israeli airstrike yesterday. Israel says a Hamas command and control centre was being operated from inside the medical facility. The head of Bethlehem Bible College Rev Jack Sara condemns the attack and says he fears for the remaining 600 Christians in Gaza

outreachwithywamships

Why the mainstream media’s reporting on alleged abuse at YWAM falls short

2025-04-14T10:23:00+01:00By

Christians should be grateful whenever abusive practices within the Church are brought into the light. But too often a lack of religious literacy within our national newspapers leads to inaccurate reporting, says Tim Wyatt  

Screenshot 2025-04-09 210055

Will Smith’s spiritual openness is both a door and a danger

2025-04-10T10:28:00+01:00By

During a recent interview with the rapper Lecrae, Hollywood A-lister Will Smith opened up about his spiritual beliefs. But should Christians welcome Smith’s comments, or approach them with caution?

Screen-Shot-2020-08-03-at-2.20.18-PM

3 vital lessons the Church still needs to learn from Bonhoeffer

2025-04-09T17:58:00+01:00By

80 years after Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed by the Nazis, the young German theologian’s writings continue to challenge Christians. From resisting toxic nationalism to staying faithful despite Church failings, his life and legacy remain urgently relevant in a world grappling with division, says Krish Kandiah 

businessman-5889266_1280

Should Christians forgive people who are not sorry? RT Kendall responds to David Instone-Brewer

2025-04-09T09:53:00+01:00By

It might take superhuman strength to forgive people who are unrepentant, says RT Kendall. But with God’s help, it is possible

Screenshot 2025-04-02 090809

Justin Welby’s BBC interview was a very bad idea. What was he thinking?

2025-04-04T13:17:00+01:00By

Perhaps the former Archbishop of Canterbury intended to convey remorse and accountability in his conversation with Laura Kuenssberg. But that’s not how it’s been received, observes George Pitcher

2025-02-10T171020Z_122213544_RC2SRCAF9K45_RTRMADP_3_RELIGION-BRITAIN-CHURCH

Love your neighbour…unless they’re an archbishop?

2025-04-04T08:40:00+01:00By

Newcastle Cathedral has cancelled a planned speaking appearance by the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, citing concerns over his handling of safeguarding. Rev Dr Christopher Landau argues that instead of resorting to worldly tactics of de-platforming, the Cathedral should heed the New Testament’s radical call for love and unity

Youth Demand stage a rally outside University of London following the arrests of six activists at Quaker Meeting House in Westminster

The police just violated a place of worship. I'm frightened about the future

2025-04-03T09:14:00+01:00By

The heavy-handed police raid on a Quaker meeting house should be a wakeup call to anyone who cares about freedom of religion or expression, says Symon Hill

family-1866868_1280

Want to see renewal? Parents will have a unique role to play

2025-04-02T09:13:00+01:00By

By all means celebrate stories of a revival of spiritual interest among Gen Z. But if we don’t empower Christian parents to pass faith onto their children, we won’t move the needle on church growth, says Gareth Crispin

2025-03-18T142142Z_1122971954_RC2PFDA8XKK1_RTRMADP_3_USA-VANCE

The Christian faith of JD Vance

2025-04-01T18:08:00+01:00By

The once ‘hillbilly’ evangelical is now a powerful Catholic. Heather Tomlinson explores the changing faith of the Vice President of the United States 

pexels-tima-miroshnichenko-6010794

As a Christian doctor, I know allowing assisted dying will be a disaster

2025-04-01T15:45:00+01:00By

The Isle of Man’s newly passed Assisted Dying Bill is not a compassionate safeguard, but a dangerous enabler with ethical missteps that forces doctors into legal grey areas. The welfare of society’s most vulnerable is at stake, says Graham McAll

University students young people friends

Students are more open to reading the Bible than ever. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for the Church

2025-04-01T15:29:00+01:00By

Students are one of the UK’s biggest and most influential people groups – and new research shows that, far from being hostile to Christianity, a third would read the Bible with a friend, and a quarter find scripture personally helpful. If Christians believe the gospel changes lives, it’s time to step up and help them access it

CTY image

Kathleen Stock and Laurence Fox are testing the bounds of free speech. I know who I side with

2025-03-28T16:35:00+00:00By

Free speech protects great minds discussing ideas, not small minds abusing people, says George Pitcher, as he looks at the recent cases of Laurence Fox and Kathleen Stock

Rosa and Isaac

Churches will always be a place of sanctuary, whatever Donald Trump says

2025-03-28T14:28:00+00:00By

When the US authorities tried to deport Rosa del Carmen, she found refuge inside a church building - living there for two years. Isaac Villegas’ decision to provide sanctuary for an undocumented immigrant may have been politically controversial, but he believes it was line with historic Christian beliefs

Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny, good gospel: The lessons I’m learning from this Puerto Rican rapper

2025-03-28T12:50:00+00:00By

Bad Bunny’s latest album speaks of his proud Puerto Rican heritage. For pastor Johnny Rivera, it was a reminder that his allegiance is to Christ, and he will always be proud to live under God’s banner

2023-03-22T113025Z_1158152869_RC2XYZ91ROEC_RTRMADP_3_AUCTION-BIBLE-ISRAEL

3 reasons why every Christian should learn a biblical language

2025-03-27T09:23:00+00:00By

A basic language course on Hebrew or Greek can transform your understanding of scripture and ultimately the world, says Dr Jonathan Rowlands

Chancellor Rachel Reeves

What should Christians think about welfare cuts? It’s complicated

2025-03-26T10:45:00+00:00By

The welfare state was designed for a different time, but reforming it requires compassion and understanding. As chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers her spring statement, Christians should pray for the politicians leading this charge - and all those affected by it, says Tim Farron MP

Shahida-Bibi

Shahida Bibi was forced to convert to Islam and married against her will. Now she’s free

2025-03-25T09:05:00+00:00By

Shahida Bibi was abducted, forced to convert from Christianity to Islam and sexually exploited. Tragically, she is only one of many girls who endure this fate. Her restored freedom is a sign of hope, but the fight against forced conversion and child marriage is far from over, says Tehmina Arora

pexels-pixabay-161034

Bible sales are surging! It’s more evidence of renewal in the UK

2025-03-21T17:18:00+00:00By

Bible sales have surged in the UK, amid a broader cultural change pointing to an awakening in society. With church attendance seemingly stagnating, Sam Richardson says many are turning straight to scripture to answer life’s deepest questions

fashion-1219507_1280

Why your church needs to open a youth club…now!

2025-03-21T16:27:00+00:00By

From the hit Netflix series Adolescence to Gareth Southgate’s recent lecture, it’s clear from the headlines this week that young people in the UK need much better role models. Andy Mossop says it’s time for more churches to plug the gap left by funding cuts and invest in opening new youth clubs. It will bring you and your church numerous benefits, he says

Gareth Southgate

Gareth Southgate’s lecture had echoes of a sermon. Here’s what Christians can learn from it

2025-03-21T12:18:00+00:00By

Sir Gareth Southgate’s lecture on identity, redemption and the state of the youth had all the makings of a sermon – a sermon that Christians should be paying attention to, says Tim Bechervaise

Hailey Bieber

Hailey Bieber has berated believers. Is she right?

2025-03-21T09:20:00+00:00By

Following the news that Hailey Bieber has attacked preachers for their use of alliteration, Jonty Langley asks whether this just another sign of our consumer church culture, or if the celebrity’s criticism is correct 

Church for sale 2

3,500 churches have closed in the last ten years. We must stop the epidemic

2025-03-19T16:24:00+00:00By

Across the UK, church buildings are falling into disrepair, closing and being sold off, with some turned into pubs, nightclubs and even mosques. We must act now to preserve these vital community assets says Claire Walker, before they - and their congregations - disappear forever

6086081141_78a50fd393_b

Did St Patrick invent friendship evangelism?

2025-03-17T09:48:00+00:00By

St Patrick’s Day isn’t just about shamrocks and Guinness. His radical love in action turned traditional methods of evangelism upside down - and won most of Ireland to Christ. There’s much the Church can learn from his example today, says Geoff Peters

Giles_Coren_on_The_British_Library

Giles Coren has given up atheism for Lent. Are we witnessing an intellectual return to Christianity?

2025-03-14T17:13:00+00:00By

In his latest column for The Times, journalist Giles Coren announced that he was giving up atheism for Lent. Stephen McAlpine explores

2025-02-14T000000Z_1693342964_MT1SIPA0000QBR3E_RTRMADP_3_SIPA-USA

Mumford & Sons’ new song is an anthem for a generation rediscovering Christianity

2025-03-14T16:31:00+00:00By

Marcus Mumford has never wanted to be a poster boy for Christianity. But his new song ‘Malibu’ may, nonetheless, be capturing a cultural moment, says Robin Ham 

joshua-4115147_1280

Church attendance won’t be enough to stop antisemitism among Christians

2025-03-14T15:06:00+00:00By Motti Inbari and Kirill Bumin

Last month, a report claimed one third of British Christians had endorsed anti-semitic tropes. After looking at the available data, our editor suggested the problem may be confined to more nominal believers. In this response, researchers Motti Inabari and Kirill Bumin unveil more aspects of their work, which they say paints a more worrying picture 

1ce10bb0-fdc5-11ef-beb5-25fb93bd8841

I was arrested for my opinion. Civil liberties are under threat in the UK and Christians must take a stand

2025-03-13T17:20:00+00:00By

Symon Hill has been compensated £2,500 by police after he was arrested for voicing the opinion there is no king but Jesus. Free speech is under attack from both policy and culture, says Hill, and it’s time for Christians to push back 

pexels-rdne-8674149

5 years on from Covid, the Church is still making a difference

2025-03-12T15:38:00+00:00By

Five years on from the start of the Covid pandemic, Tim Farron MP celebrates how the Church stepped up to serve when it mattered the most. The hope of the gospel continues to light the darkness, he says

standard-picture-web-bernard-petition-2-720px-390px

Christianity is being attacked in the West. Why won’t our church leaders admit it?

2025-03-12T13:56:00+00:00By

Western societies are drifting further from their Christian roots. It can no longer be ‘business as usual’ for the Church, says Dr David Landrum. He’s urging Christians to be braver, more counter-cultural, witnesses for Jesus 

2YHHN7H

I gave a sermon on LGBT issues. Now I’m stuck in a time loop of legal battles

2025-03-07T16:34:00+00:00By

After winning his appeal this week, Rev Bernard Randall says his ongoing fight for freedom of speech and religious belief is not exclusive to him, but has major implications for all Christians

pexels-ngqah83-884977

4 ways your church can dismantle sexism and empower women

2025-03-07T15:03:00+00:00By

Reports have emerged that crossbow killer, Clifford Kyle, accessed misogynistic content from Andrew Tate before raping and murdering his ex-girlfriend, and killing her sister and mother. These heartbreaking stories, along with others from inside the Church, demonstrate the need to ensure women’s equality and safety are prioritised, says Emma Hide, writing on the eve of International Women’s Day 

Lower (22)

5 women setting the internet on fire for Jesus

2025-03-07T10:55:00+00:00By

Social media isn’t just a hotbed of shopping inspo and comparison traps. Ahead of International Women’s Day, we say hurray for the women who are chasing after God in the digital space. Here are just five of many

DarleenBoettger_17501492

What God did at Gather 25 is just the beginning

2025-03-06T09:32:00+00:00By

Lauren Burnett is part of the team which hosted the London site of Gather25, a spectacular, global gathering of 7 million Christians. She reports from SAINT church on what God is doing among the next generation, how praying for unity changes things and why the future looks bright 

2025-03-01T095347Z_1968591946_RC2T3DA6262S_RTRMADP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS-USA-CONGRESS

Trump and Vance’s attack on Zelenskyy was the antithesis of Christian values

2025-03-05T09:23:00+00:00By

Donald Trump and JD Vance tried to humiliate Volodymyr Zelenskyy on an international stage last week, says Tim Farron MP. The Christians who voted the US president into power must now hold him to account

2SYXY2N

Stormzy just set the standard for bringing God to secular spaces

2025-03-04T16:46:00+00:00By

Gratitude to God is often vague at big awards shows, but at this year’s BRITs, Stormzy and Ezra Collective’s Femi Koleoso clearly honoured Jesus Christ. Such powerful expressions of faith will inspire other Christian creatives to do the same, says Maxine Harrison

2025-02-26T033600Z_786664005_RC232DAT1SCN_RTRMADP_3_AWARDS-OSCARS-NOMINEES-DINNER

It isn’t blasphemous for Jesus to be played by a woman, it’s inclusive

2025-03-04T14:15:00+00:00By

Grammy award-winning British actor, Cynthia Erivo, will become the first woman to play Jesus in a major production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Emma Gyasi says those criticising the decision shouldn’t judge what they haven’t seen

2025-03-03T062214Z_583758408_HP1EL330HP0AW_RTRMADP_3_AWARDS-OSCARS

A female Jesus? Christians are right to be offended

2025-03-04T14:14:00+00:00By

Grammy award-winning British actor, Cynthia Erivo, will become the first woman to play Jesus in a major production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Kate Orson says the decision is blasphemous, but Christians should take care in expressing themselves

2T988MC

A conversation in a gay bar changed my opinion on sexuality

2025-03-04T09:42:00+00:00By

A conversation on the dancefloor of a gay bar in Chicago challenged much of Christopher Landau’s beliefs about LGBT people and Christianity. But perhaps not in the way you might expect

2SYE48W

5 reasons why Christians should keep up with the news

2025-03-03T16:41:00+00:00By

Faced with an endless cycle of negativity in the headlines, many people are choosing to abandon the news in order to protect their mental wellbeing. But Rev Peter Crumpler believes Christians should resist this trend. He explains why

26

The Church of England is in couples therapy. Can we work through our issues without splitting?

2025-03-03T13:02:00+00:00By

As debates over sexuality intensify, most people in the CofE are nevertheless desperate to avoid a break-up, says Bishop Martyn Snow. He’s suggesting two new approaches which might help the Church better imagine its future

2ST46N8

The ARC conference conflates religion and politics. And that’s a dangerous game

2025-02-28T17:12:00+00:00By

Judeo-Christian values are good – but they are not an umbrella term to be used to support your own politics, says Pat Finlow. The gospel stands alone, and crosses all political boundaries

2025-02-26T223657Z_2023353072_RC251DAUWRK3_RTRMADP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS-BRITAIN-STARMER

Cutting aid to fund defence won’t help us build a better world

2025-02-27T15:48:00+00:00By

In light of President Trump’s proposed peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced cuts to foreign aid in order to boost defence spending. But ignoring the plight of the poor is a zero-sum game, says George Pitcher. Just look at the biblical story of the rich man and Lazarus

Alex Frost

The Church needs more working-class leaders

2025-02-27T10:13:00+00:00By

Fr Alex Frost left school at 15 and enjoyed a successful career in retail. But when he wanted to retrain as a CofE priest, his lack of academic qualifications was a huge problem. Now, he campaigning to get that changed

2023-08-26T213022Z_1610495487_MT1CVMD52983504_RTRMADP_3_COVER-IMAGES

Sam Fender is praying he’ll see his loved ones again. So am I

2025-02-26T09:58:00+00:00By

Sam Fender’s third album, People Watching, sees the “Geordie Bruce Springsteen” asking big questions of himself, society and God. But when it comes to the loss of loved ones, Max Avard says he’s praying Fender also finds the hope in Jesus that held him fast through grief

2S8648T

Does God care who wins and loses?

2025-02-25T11:19:00+00:00By

Does God care who wins in sports? Jonny Reid believes the answer is yes, though maybe not for the reasons you’d expect