Very Rev Trevor Morrow, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland also said he was “sad but not surprised” by polling data which suggests widespread support for change. It was later confirmed the country had voted decisively to remove a bar in the constitution on abortions.

He told Premier: “The indications were that there was going to be a substantial number of people who would vote for repeal.

“I thought the difference would be probably about ten points but this is almost seismic, an extraordinary result.”

Surveys by the national broadcast RTE and the Irish Times suggested 70-per-cent and 68-per-cent of voters respectively back relaxing the nation’s relatively strict legislation governing terminations.

The Republic voted overwhelmingly in favour three years ago of legalising same-sex marriage.

Referring to Ireland’s strong Catholic history, Very Rev Morrow continued: “You can tell by the response to the gay marriage referendum and again here you see it in this debate on abortion, there is a real strong reaction against what we have inherited from the past.”

A referendum held on Friday effectively asked voters whether to repeal or retain the state constitution’s Eight Amendment – legislation which prohibits terminations unless a mother’s life is at risk.

The Irish Government had indicated that it would…

Birgitte, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, attended the concert within the ballroom of the royal residence in central London.

The event highlighted the work of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a Catholic charity supporting believers living under pressure for their faith around the world – particularly in the Middle East.

UK National Director, Neville Kyrke-Smith said: “This concert is a great sign of support, not just for Christians in the Middle East, but for all communities who are trying to rebuild and who want to deepen bonds of trust and understanding.”

Also in attendance was the leader of the Syriac Orthodox Church in the UK Archbishop Athanasius Toma Dawood and Syriac Orthodox priest Father Aphram Ozan.

The two choirs also performed at an Evensong service led by Canon Paul Wright, Sub-Dean for Her Majesty’s Chapels Royal at the Chapel Royal of St James’s Palace.

ACN has been helping support 120,000 Christians and other communities forced out of the Iraqi areas of Ninevah and Mosul by Islamic State (IS).

With IS now driven out of those places, the charity is focused on helping families return to their homes – by rebuilding houses, churches and clinics.

In neighbouring Syria, ACN has been offering emergency and pastoral help to families in areas worst affected by violence – including Damascus, Aleppo…

Thousands of people defied warnings of potential thunderstorms to attend the event – now in its tenth year – at the 16th century Winston House estate near Worthing.

Performances were hold across five venues, including at the Main Stage where acts including Guvna B, Lucy Grimble, LZ7 and Britt Nicole took to the stage.

John Castle, 32, from north London was among the guests who camped overnight at the festival, despite warnings of poor weather.

He told Premier: “Despite the forecast, the rain held off until very late and the thunder only got close around midnight – when I was going to bed.

“One of my highlights has been the Stavanger Gospel Company’s (from Norway) late light worship in the Kingdom Come tent; it was peaceful and reflective.”

 

Aside from music, attractions included inflatable bubble football, a Mission Aviation Fellowship flight simulator, a Ferris wheel and food court. Big Church Kids held morning worship celebrations for children under the age of eleven.

Speaking with Premier, guest Jill Williams, 58, from Worthing described the festival as “a joyous celebration of the power, grace and goodness of God – bathed in sunshine.”

Next weekend, the event shall move to Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire.

 

John Castle added: “The Main Stage worship has been great, with Hillsong London and the headliner Kari Jobe being my highlights.

“There was a great time of…

Catholics for Choices welcomed a decision by two-thirds of voters to repeal the state constitution’s Eight Amendment – legislation which prohibits terminations unless a mother’s life is at risk.

President, Jon O’Brien said: “The ‘yes’ vote to repeal the eighth was a historic step for Ireland and women’s rights and dignity.

“As a Dubliner from Drimnagh, I came of age in an Ireland where the heavy hand of the Catholic hierarchy kept women from taking control over their bodies and their lives.

“This victory shows the Irish nation is at peace with its Catholic identity and its prochoice position.

“Now, it is simply up to the politicians to do their jobs and bring this vote into legislative reality.”

Ministers previously indicated that they would follow a ‘yes’ vote by aiming to introduce more relaxed abortion laws by the end of the year.

The Irish Government expressed support for allowing women to end a pregnancy within the first twelve weeks, subject to medical advice and a cooling-off period.

It also backed terminations being allowed between twelve and 24 weeks in exceptional circumstances.

The proposals met resistance from the four main Christian denominations in Ireland – The Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Church in Ireland (Anglican) and the Methodist Church.

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland…

Fr Ray Kelley from Oldcastle in County Meath and the DMU Gospel Choir are each among 35 acts selected for the competition’s penultimate stage.

Speaking to the priest as she referred to his successful fellow competitors, show judge Amanda Holden told Fr Kelley: “You better thank him upstairs [an unorthodox reference to God] sir, because you are all through to the next round.”

Last month, the 64-year-old moved members of a television audience to tears and drew a standing ovation from the judging panel when he performed REM’s Everybody Hurts.

Speaking backstage before the decision was revealed on Saturday night, Fr Kelley told the ITV show: “I have visions of going home to my parish and telling them, you know, I got through to Britain’s Got Talent.

“That would blow their mind, you know.”

Ladies and gentlemen… YOUR #BGT SEMI-FINALISTS! ✨✨✨✨✨✨ pic.twitter.com/74T441lhS2

— Britain’s Got Talent (@BGT) May 26, 2018

The DMU Gospel Choir’s audition – which featured a compilation of Gospel tracks including Edwin Hawkins Singers’ Oh Happy Day – during the first week of the contest has since been viewed 430,000 times on YouTube.

Rise, a dance troupe which includes a 13-year-old survivor of the May 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, is also through to the live semi-final stage.

The semi-finals will be staggered during each evening next week.

Stay up to date with the…