A total of 18,422 entries were recorded in 2018.

Despite the drop, the number is still up by 65 per cent on the number of entries in 2003.

Those working within religious education say they’re concerned by the declining numbers at a time where community cohesion is needed more than ever.

The decline is being attributed to schools and government not prioritising the subject.

Ben Wood, Chair of the National Association of Teachers of RE (NATRE), said: “It is very disappointing to see that the number of entries has dropped by over 20 per cent.

“This devastating fall has been expected given successive policy decisions that have failed to maintain and support the position of RS as part of a broad and balanced curriculum.”

Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, Chief Executive of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales (REC): “At a time when our increasingly diverse society makes high quality religious education more important than ever, it is deeply concerning to see such a dramatic fall in the number of Religious Studies A level entries.”

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Since the singer – often referred to as the Queen of Soul – died following a battle with pancreatic cancer, tributes from fans have been made all over the world, including at places where the legendary singer performed.

Flowers and memorabilia have been placed at her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and dozens of people danced and sang her hits outside Harlem’s Apollo Theatre in New York on Thursday night.

Tributes have continued to flood in from stars including Dolly Parton, Sir Elton John and Oprah Winfrey.

Evangelist Franklin Graham tweeted: “She began singing Gospel music as a child at her church in Detroit where her father was a pastor. Our prayers are with her family.

“Aretha Franklin once said, ‘Being a singer is a natural gift. It means I’m using to the highest degree possible the gift that God gave me to use’.”

US presidents have also been paying tribute to Franklin.

Barack Obama – whose inauguration she sang at – described her as “divine and unmatched”, while Donald Trump said her voice was a gift from God.

Civil rights campaigner Reverend Al Sharpton says she was the soundtrack of the movement.

Franklin’s death was confirmed by her long-time publicist, Gwendolyn Quinn, on behalf of her family, who said she died “surrounded by family and loved ones”.

Franklin’s ex-husband, Glynn Turman, has said the singer was…

Mimi Smith, who brought up Lennon as a child in Liverpool, wrote: “I don’t understand why they need an Indian, or India to meditate. That can be done here without any fuss. The basic teachings of their church will give them all they seem to be looking for.”

Her reply was part of her regular correspondence with prolific letter writer Eileen Read and was sent on September 7 1967 – less than a fortnight after the death of the Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein.

The band had taken a keen interest in the teachings of the Maharishi, the founder of the transcendental meditation movement, and had joined him at a conference in Bangor, North Wales, in August 1967, along with Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones and his then girlfriend Marianne Faithfull.

After listening to a lecture on the form of silent mantra meditation, the Beatles held a press conference at the venue in which they renounced the use of drugs.

They cut short their stay when the death was announced of Mr Epstein, aged 32, at his London home following an overdose of sleeping pills.

Both topics were covered in Mrs Smith’s letter which goes on sale at auction in Liverpool next weekend.

She wrote: “I haven’t seen John. The sad loss of Brian has upset them greatly & altered their plans. He will be sorely missed as a good friend and advisor to them. It was a great shock…

Colm O’Gorman said: “It is staggering on the part of the Vatican, they can’t even be bothered to go through the motions of making it appear that this matters to them.

“It’s become a trope, he goes to a country and has a confidential meeting and releases a statement about how moved he was by victim testimony, expresses sorrow and regret and we move on.

“I’m not sure that meeting would’ve had any value anyway, but the idea that it’s an afterthought, that is utterly unacceptable.”

Mr O’Gorman was repeatedly raped by a local priest in Co Wexford for three years, beginning just a year after Pope John Paul II’s visit to Ireland in 1979, when he was 13.

He said: “When I heard Pope John Paul’s quote: ‘Young people of Ireland, I love you’, it sickened me, he didn’t.

“It’s important that all that has happened here over decades isn’t just swept aside of convenience of the Vatican.

“I respect people’s desire to have faith, I would never deny people their opportunity to profess their faith, but it cannot be at the cost of people all over the country struggling with the hurt and the trauma the church has caused.”

The event, to be held in the Garden of Remembrance on Sunday August 26 at 3pm, invites anyone who has been hurt by the church, and those who support them, to attend.

“The response I have had has been extraordinary, so many people have come to me to tell me their stories,…

Nadia Eweida won a claim of religious discrimination against BA in the European Court of Human Rights in 2013 after being sent home for wearing a silver cross around her neck.

She had been locked in the highly publicised legal dispute since falling foul of a new employee clothing policy in 2006 – a case that ignited debate, but was rejected by the British courts.

The airport check-in worker, who still works for BA, alleges the publicity singled her out for mistreatment when she returned to her role in 2007.

In a new employment tribunal claim, airline managers are accused of victimisation, harassment and punishing the 67-year-old for whistleblowing.

It is alleged they treated her rudely and harshly in the wake of the furore.

Among the reported episodes was an incident in March 2017 when Ms Eweida was denied a break after experiencing strain on her eyes in the wake of an operation.

She was instead told to cover a flight gate – and given a written warning by management when she refused to do so.

A further uniform policy introduced in July 2017 required female staff to tuck their cravat in their blouse, meaning Ms Eweida had to wear her crucifix on top of her cravat – a move she claimed was designed to affect her.

She hopes to win compensation, a declaration and recommendations from her claim, which is due before Watford Tribunal Hearing Centre on October 26 for a…

Mr Trump used Twitter to further show his support for North Carolina missionary, Andrew Brunson, who was recently transferred from jail to home detention in Turkey for health reasons.

The president tweeted: “Turkey has taken advantage of the United States for many years. They are now holding our wonderful Christian Pastor, who I must now ask to represent our Country as a great patriot hostage. We will pay nothing for the release of an innocent man, but we are cutting back on Turkey!”

A Turkish court rejected the release appeal made by Mr Brunson’s lawyer on Wednesday, ruling that he should remain under house arrest.

Washington has demanded that the pastor be fully exonerated and allowed to return to his home country. The document filed by the US government on Wednesday to the Turkish government requested that the court “prevent unlawful political interventions by lifting judicial control provisions on the defendant”.

Mr Brunson – who has been in detention for 22 months, faces 35 years in prison if found guilty of the terrorism charges linked to the 2016 attempted coup in Turkey.

His case now lies at the heart of a diplomatic row between Turkey and the US that has seen the Turkish lira drop to record lows in recent weeks, having fallen some 42 per cent so far this year.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from…

The singer, whose career has spanned seven decades, died at her home in Detroit, Michigan, at 9.50am on Thursday, her publicist said.

A statement from Franklin’s family, via the singer’s long-time publicist Gwendolyn Quinn, said that she died “surrounded by family and loved ones”.

The statement continued: “Franklin’s official cause of death was due to advance pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type.

“In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bounds.

US gospel artist Jocelyn Brown joined in with tributes being made around the world and told Premier she was hoping that Franklin wouldn’t die yet.

Speaking to Lady D on Premier Gospel, she said: “I wanted more from her but God has his own way.”

She added that she was comforted knowing that the star “knew prayer” and was “with the Lord”.

The family’s statement thanked people for their support since news broke that the singer was seriously ill.

“We have been deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love and support we have received from close friends, supporters and fans all around the world,” the family said.

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