Christian Literature Crusade (CLC) has announced its store in Ipswich shall cease trading from Wednesday 30th January.

Commercial director Jamie Hill told the East Anglian Daily Times: “We are not finished with Ipswich yet but, for now, things have to change and the store must close which really saddens me.”

CLC said reduced footfall had made things “hard” for the store, with more people using the internet to peruse Christian books and study materials instead.

Workers at the branch, which opened on St Matthew’s Street during the mid-1980s, have waivered salaries to help run the shop.

CLC also suggested a shortage of volunteers – with one worker set to retire – also contributed to the decision to close.

Jamie Hill added: “Penny is one of those volunteers who has waived her salary to run the shop and has done an amazing job.

“But with no one to take her place we have to shut, we will be looking down other avenues.”

Numerous bricks-and-mortar Christian bookshops across the UK have closed during recent years. The Wesley Own chain closes its last physical branches in 2014.

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Tracey Allen, lay chaplain at the University of Suffolk, bought the game over Christmas.

She said on Twitter that she was disappointed to find it showed men in mortarboards and gowns walking through Oxford’s streets, and women in a punt being pushed along by a man.

She accused the board game’s makers of “everyday sexism” and asked, “do women not graduate from Oxford?”

She called on the makers to update the game.

Players of Monopoly have previously complained that some aspects of the game were outdated – for example, its Star Wars edition in 2015 was criticised for not including Rey, a central female character.

Hasbro makes Monopoly but the Oxford edition is made in partnership with another games company, Winning Moves and has been on sale since 2001.

A spokesman for Winning Moves told the Times the pictures supplied were random and from an agency and it would be looked at.

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The rugby player, regarded as one of England’s best, made his return to the sport over the weekend after suffering three arm breaks in just over a year.

Despite scoring a try he was unable to prevent his club side, Saracens, losing to Sale.

Vunipola says on previous returns from injury his confidence was counter-productive and often saw him injured straight away.

Speaking to the Telegraph, he said this time it was different: “I was a bit tentative and anxious – I readily admit that now.

“Before I was a bit naive that I could fall straight into it, whereas now I am a bit more prepared. And scared as well. Not of being injured, but the process of coming back is the hardest thing. Hopefully this weekend I can be better, then next weekend, then see when you go from there.

“That is probably my faith. I think God wanted me to be afraid. Before I was so confident I would be all right. I guess a bit too confident to the point that ‘I’m invincible’. That’s why I got injured again. So I’m trying to find my feet.”

Vunipola’s return to rugby is timely for the national team as they head into the Six Nations tournament in February.

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Over 100 church leaders have written a response to four bishops in the diocese about their advice on welcoming LGBT people and the bishops have written a joint response back.

The original document, ‘Clothe Yourselves With Love’ written in October 2018 by Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft (Oxford), Rt Rev Colin Fletcher (Dorchester), Rt Rev Dr Alan Wilson (Buckingham) and Rt Rev Andrew Proud (Reading) says: “we want to encourage, above all, an attitude of inclusion and respect for LGBTI+ people across the Diocese of Oxford” and acknowledges that many have different views on the matter.

It reads: “We are concerned to listen well to LGBTI+ people from a variety of perspectives including both those seeking change in the Church of England’s polity and those seeking to to live faithfully within it”.

The response, called ‘Letter from Concerned Anglicans in the Oxford Diocese’ is signed by clergy such as Vaughan Roberts and Sam Alberry, who would say they experience same-sex attraction but remain celibate, as well as other ministers, lay people and retired clergy.

They said they have concerns with what they see as ambiguous language in the letter, such as whether ‘inclusion’ means welcoming people who act on an LGBT identity into leadership at every level and what it means in terms of the teaching of the Church of England.

They say: “We cannot see how it is right to accept as…

A source has been quoted by a US celebrity magazine as saying preparation are underway for a celebration with friends and family but no date has been set.

They told People: “They’ve been figuring out the perfect time to do it, and they both feel like the sooner, the better. They’re still figuring it out.”

“They’re working with the schedules of all their friends and family to make sure they can be surrounded by the people they love.

“There’s no real rush. They’re already legally married, but they’re very excited about throwing a celebration with their loved ones.”

The Christian couple reportedly tied the knot during a civil courthouse ceremony in New York City last September.

Bieber, 24, became a believer in the apartment of Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz and chose to be baptised immediately in a bath tub.

 

Confirming the news of his engagement to model Baldwin, 22, the singer told fans last summer that God’s timing is “literally perfect”.

Bieber has spoken publicly about his Christian faith, quoting Bible verses and sermons on his social media pages.

 

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