Rev Keith Brindle from St James’ in Devizes said on Saturday the church held a 24 hour prayer vigil for knife crime in the community.

However, the vigil initially wasn’t supposed to happen in the building.

“We weren’t supposed to be in the church. We were going to have the knife amnesty in a building 100 metres away, and if it would have been in that building, we wouldn’t have spotted the thieves,” he told Premier.

The vicar added that a church member named Kirsty, who turned up 30 minutes early for her 3am prayer slot, is the one that noticed a loud noise was coming from the church.

Rev Brindle passed it off as a group practising firing guns at the Salisbury Plain Training Area, which sometimes happens in the middle of the night. But Kirsty kept saying the noise sounded much closer.

“We were praying and walking around the church, and we saw feet upon the flat roof through one of the stained glass windows and she turned me and said ‘that isn’t guns…somebody is nicking the lead of our church’.”

Rev Brindle then snuck into another corner of the church and called 999. The two men were caught in the act and arrested on the roof.

“If Kirsty hadn’t got here half an hour earlier, they would have been gone.

“That was first overnight prayer vigil we’ve had in the three and a half years I’ve been priest here. If they would have chosen any other the day, they would have got…

The Communist Party celebrated its 70th year in power on Tuesday as the government takes steps toward continuing to tighten its control over religious minorities.

Christian charity Open Doors said a draft paper has recently been published presenting ideas on how religious groups should conduct their activities in the future.

The document, ‘Measures for the Administration of Religious Groups’, suggests new regulations on financial accounting of day-to-day operations and makes the threshold for the establishment of religious groups even harder.

This is on top of recent crackdowns like under 18s being banned from attending a religious building and banning the sale of Bibles and other Christian literature from shops.

Julia Bicknell, analyst of the Open Doors World Watch List, told Premier suffering is the “DNA of Chinese Christianity” but it has never stopped the growth of the Church there.

“In 1950, they were only several hundred thousand Christians. They suffered all through the Cultural Revolution. Chinese Christians were martyred and they were sent to prison.

“But far from stopping the growth of Christianity, it was almost like people around them saw how they were prepared to put their faith above everything else and it actually prompted a growth in Christianity across China. This was particularly the case in the rural areas.

“China came to open up more to the…

Delivering the sermon during the traditional Judges Service at Westminster Abbey, marking the start of the new legal year, the Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally said: “For all the high points of our British democracy, there are low points too.

“Arguably, our present situation is one of them, filled with chaos and confusion. It is one in which wisdom is required.”

Referring to the ongoing debate over the UK’s departure from the EU, the Rt Rev Mullally said the ceremony took place “at a time when what it means to bring justice to a nation is being severely tested”.

She added: “Some say delaying Brexit is about giving people what they wanted. Others argue the complete opposite, because they didn’t know what the implications really were.

“Whatever our personal view is, there is another question: how to deliver Brexit justly.

“We have heard different voices: the voice of those that want to shut Parliament to prevent debate on one hand, or those that want to force the Prime Minister to listen to Parliament on the other hand.

“But, whatever happens, it seems that many will cry out that justice has not been done.”

The service was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall and the Lord Chancellor read 1 Kings 3:16-28, and the Lord Chief Justice read St Luke 18:1-8. 

Hundreds of judges, including all 12 Supreme Court justices, and senior legal…

On the UN Day for Older Persons, their letter says many old people suffer from other’s outdated attitudes that prevent them living life to the full.

18 councillors have also signed the letter, as well as council leaders and people who work in health and social care.

They state: “Even seemingly casual ageism is deeply damaging both to individuals and to our communities, with recent research suggesting that a quarter of people over 50 have felt discriminated against whilst doing everyday tasks or accessing services. Even seemingly positive phrases like ‘you look young for your age’ can reinforce damaging stereotypes.

“If we are to make real progress towards age equality, we must all work to root out ageism in our own communities and organisations. We will challenge ageism wherever we see it, whether it’s in public or in private, and ensure that the voices of older people are at the heart of our local decision-making.

“As well as making this commitment, we’re asking everyone to join us: we can all re-think our own prejudices, think more carefully about the impact our words can have on others, and be part of a movement to end ageism once and for all.”

Louise Morse from Pilgrim’s Friends Society, and author of What’s Age Got To Do With It? told Premier this is a problem within churches as well.

“In churches older people are not often engaged in church meetings or in…

Canon Keith Ineson has been given the Points of Light award which recognises outstanding volunteers who are making a change in their community and inspiring others

He’s been highlighted for his work setting up the Gay Farmer Helpline which supports men in isolated rural communities struggling with their sexuality.

Despite himself realising he was gay at the age of 14, he only felt able to come out at the age of 50.

After founding Cheshire’s Agricultural Chaplaincy Team, he began working with gay farmers and realised how many people across the country in the same situation must also be hiding their sexuality and consequently facing enormous pressures on their mental health and wellbeing.

In a personal letter to Keith, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “I know you do this with no thought of praise or reward, but allow me to offer my own recognition of how you are using your unique, confidential helpline service to support men across the country who are living in isolated rural communities and are struggling with their sexuality and wellbeing.”

Speaking about the award, Keith said: “Since starting the helpline for gay farmers we have helped nearly 500 farmers, some of who were suicidal, so I am extremely pleased that this work has been recognised in this way.”

Keith is the 1251st winner of the Points of Light award.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a…

Taylor was taken to an intensive care unit after an 8am service at the Hills campus site in Sydney on 18th August it was discovered she had a brain aneurysm, a bulge in a blood vessel that can cause sudden agonising headaches, a stiff neck, sickness and pain when looking at light.

Chelsea Taylor had neck and back pain, making moving around difficult and also had surgery on her brain.

Her friend and fellow singer Emma Fellers wrote on Instagram on 23rd September that she can now walk, talk and drive.

She still needs physiotherapy and recovery time at home but was allowed to leave the High Dependency Unit.

Emma Fellers wrote on Instagram: “COMING HOOOOOOOOMMMEEEE!!!!!!!! 100% healed, able to walk, talk, DRIVE ?? (still needing recovery time at home and continued physiotherapy obviously), but PRAISE GOD, He is FAITHFUL!!!!! LOVE YOU GIRL!!!!!”

 

In a text message screenshotted, Chelsea wrote that she was “reminding my heart that everything is in the Lord’s perfect timing”.

Ten days earlier, Emma had visited her and posted afterwards: “Her sense of humour hasn’t changed one bit, her speech is perfect, almost as though nothing has happened, she can get up and move around (with a bit of help from nurses).”

Others who visited her in the last fortnight acknowledged how she had returned more to her usual character, with Tony Crocker from Hillsong in Sydney writing on…