The £3.5 billion gift from the churches to our communities
This Friday will see Jake Berry MP's private member's Local Government (Religious etc. Observances) Bill go to Committee stage in the House of Lords. Assuming this goes through (and the…
Secularism
Secularists must not be allowed to distort the argument for faith schools
Today a new book, The Ins and Outs of Selective Secondary Schools, by the think-tank Civitas is being launched in Parliament. I will be there alongside David Davis MP, Tristram Hunt MP and other leading figures from the world of education. I…
#PastoralLetter (3): a plea for religious liberty in an era of secularity
Having responded to the Preface of the Pastoral Letter from the House of Bishops “to the people and parishes of the Church of England for the General Election 2015″;…
Without Christian vision the future of politics looks bleak
A couple of days ago my NASUWT magazine dropped through the letterbox and, as always, it makes for pretty depressing reading. If the contents are to be believed, most…
Meaningful chocolate – The Real Easter Egg spreads the gospel
I have a question. Who on earth actually buys Easter eggs in January? I'm not talking about Creme Eggs (now no longer made with Dairy Milk and forever ruined),…
Ukip ban on non-stun slaughter will affect Jews more than Muslims
When David Cameron spoke at the Knesset almost a year ago, he was unequivocal in his opposition to anti-Israel boycotts; his support for a two-state solution; and his denunciation…
Farage is right to defend our Judæo-Christian heritage
Some things in politics are so utterly predictable that we can guess what our politicians are going to say with a high degree of certainty before they open their…
Jake Berry reminds politicians of accountability to the Prince of Peace
"I am delighted to be able to take the Bill through Parliament and to protect people’s freedom to pray, because it is an important issue. As we approach Christmas, the…
Church of England to spend £2m on "new approach" to leadership
Politicians are out of touch. We know that, because we constantly hear about the 'Westminster bubble' or the 'Westminster Village', and Nadine Dorries once told us that neither David…
Surely Jesus would approve of 'Christmas with the Aliens'?
I distinctly remember my very first school Nativity play. Being a rather quiet and unassuming child, I was bypassed as the major roles were cast and left with the…
Countering the warped Christianity of the far right
Once upon a time around 15 years ago it was impossible to go to any Christian youth event without seeing a swathe of bracelets marked with 'WWJD?'. 'What Would…
Black Friday demonstrates that greed is now the god of Christmas
There's that classic moment in Monty Python's Life of Brian when the People's Front of Judea, during their meeting to discuss the overthrow of the accursed Romans, end up getting into…
Jake Berry MP seeks to extend the freedom of public bodies to pray
When Councillor Clive Bone of Bideford Town Council attempted to put a stop to the despicable discriminatory practice of formally beginning their meetings with prayers, the council dismissed his…
The persecution of Christians increases, but politicians don't care
In theory our parliamentarians should have a better grasp of the realities of religious persecution around the globe than possibly any other group of people in this country. Since…
How to prevent the extinction of the Church of England
If anyone isn’t aware that the Church of England is slowly walking down the statistical road to oblivion, the publication of the 2015 British Election Study last week should…
God who made thee mighty?
Doe wee not remember, that this Kingdome [England] was divided into seven little Kingdomes, besides Wales? And is it not now the stronger by their Union? And hath not the…
Welcome to the new Archbishop Cranmer Blog (mergers and acquisitions..)
It has been six months in gestation - planning, preparing, pondering, praying, pleading and protesting (not necessarily in that order). And here, at last, it is. You are most welcome…
Eric Pickles: Jihad will be defeated by the "guiding principles of the English Reformation"
Since Sayeeda Warsi left the Government, the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP has assumed direct responsibility for matters of faith. They were, of course, always under the aegis as Secretary…
The difficulties of dialoguing with Islam
"What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?" asked Tertullian in his Prescription against Heretics (VII), as he sought to defend the purity of the gospel of faith from the faithless…
As long as Obama spouts the fallacy that the Islamic State "speaks for no religion", we will never kill the root
It would appear that the barbaric Islamist who decapitated US journalist James Foley was a dude named John, probably from East London, who took a brief sojourn in Syria with…