Free Church consider halting magazine publications
Because the circulation of the Free Church of Scotland publications – ‘The Record’ and ‘Free’ the youth magazine – are at best static or in decline – the Communications Committee is asking the Church to tell them whether they should continue with printed magazines in this electronic age. The issue is raised in the Communications [...]
Catholics urged to spread the word on Facebook
Catholicsw have been hurt and embarrassed by the “shameful revelations” surrounding the church’s leading figure in Scotland, according to the head of the faith’s biggest congregation in the country. In a message to parishes read at churches yesterday, Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia said the fall-out from the Cardinal Keith O’Brien scandal had highlighted how [...]
James Young Simpson ‘used spin’ to promote chloroform
Sir James Young Simpson, one of Scotland’s most famous doctors, over-spun religious objections to his ground-breaking use of chloroform in childbirth in order to promote the technique, a new study claims. Academics studying the life of Simpson believe that the Victorian physician was a gifted self-publicist who manufactured a ferocious row with the Church by [...]
Free Kirk responds to ‘false claims’ in The Herald
A letter in a national newspaper today hit back at false claims from a “leading Church of Scotland source” that the Kirk’s evangelicals have more in common with gay ministers than the Free Church. Gordon Bell, communications officer for the Free Church, described the allegations by the source as “astonishing and totally ill-informed”. In an [...]
Free Church College student through to BBC’s ‘The Voice’ talent show
One of the students at the Free Church College in Edinburgh has made it through to the main rounds of a BBC singing competition. Lachie Macdonald, who is in his final year training for the Free Church ministry, will appear on the live rounds of BBC One’s The Voice programme on 31 April. The Voice’s [...]
Archbishop of Canterbury: Why I don’t listen to Thought for The Day
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has insisted he has “nothing against” Thought for The Day even though he virtually never listens to it. Delivering his first address on the Radio 4 Today Programme slot, he was tackled by the presenters Evan Davis and Sarah Montague about recent comments that he never listens to it. [...]
‘Gentle mockery or sharp satire aimed at Christians and their leaders has been replaced by abuse of Christianity itself’
Our Man at St Marks, All Gas and Gaiters, The Vicar of Dibley, Father Ted, Rev. Some of the finest comedies have chosen the Church as its subject and would indeed make most Christians laugh, give or take the occasional wince as a barb goes home, writes Ann Widdicombe. I have very fond memories of [...]
Life & Work launches dedicated website
Editor Lynne McNeil highlights a landmark moment in the history of Life and Work, as the 134-year-old magazine launches its own website as part of its development for the future. “The site will allow us to share more images, additional news and features with our readers and allow us to engage with a new audience [...]
Priest who allowed Muslims to pray in his church is hit by abuse from internet trolls
A priest who has allowed Muslims to pray in his church told today how he has been hit by a barrage of abuse by internet ‘trolls’. St John’s Episcopal Church became the first church in the UK to share their building with Muslims after Rev Isaac Poobalan saw members of a neighbouring mosque praying outside [...]
Rowan Atkinson's Archbishop sketch for Comic Relief is blasted by his brother
Rowan Atkinson’s parody of the Archbishop of Canterbury in a foul-mouthed Comic Relief sketch left the BBC embroiled in controversy. But the fiercest criticism was delivered yesterday … by the comedian’s brother. Economic commentator Rodney Atkinson attacked his sibling’s performance on the BBC’s pre-watershed Comic Relief programme last Friday, branding the six-minute sketch ‘appalling’ and [...]
