The letter comes a day after the Archbishop of Canterbury confirmed he would be willing to chair a citizens’ forum on Brexit “in principle” after being approached by senior MPs. 

But the Most Rev Justin Welby said conditions to him accepting the role “have not yet been met”. He told MPs they must not use a public forum as a way of attempting to stop Brexit. 

He said: “It is an unexpected privilege to be asked to chair this proposed citizens’ forum on Brexit.” 

The bishops said in their letter they “support this move to have all voices in the current Brexit debate heard”. 

25 Bishops have signed the letter, in which they raise concerns about the potential cost of a no deal Brexit to those least resilient to economic shocks. 

In the letter they said as bishops with pastoral responsibilities in communities across urban and rural England, “we respond to the call by Jesus to tell the truth and defend the poor. We also recognise that our obligations go beyond England and impact on relations with the wider UK and our neighbours in the EU. 

“Exiting the EU without an agreement is likely to have a massive impact on all our people and the Government is rightly preparing for this outcome. 

“The Government believes that leaving the EU on 31 October is essential to restoring trust and confidence. It is unlikely, however, that leaving without an…

2,100 made commitments at the events which were the last ever of their kind.

After 27 years, Soul Survivor will no longer run the festivals with organisers saying God was calling them to “hand over the baton”.

Over 30,000 attended over the summer, marking record attendances at the events in Peterborough, Stafford and Kinross.

Founder Mike Pilavachi told Premier he has no regrets about the decision to make this year the last.

“I’m not at all sad,” he said. “Only because we know God has spoken to us. We’re looking forward to the future – we know it’s right.

“It’s been an utter privilege and a joy to serve Jesus and to serve the young people for these years and we’ve got so many memories that we’ll take with us to heaven – it’s been wonderful.

“People have been texting saying, ‘Are you feeling sad? Is there a bit of you that’s going to die? Is there a bit of you missing?’ What I want to say is it’s been such a privilege and honour but Soul Survivor has never been my life – Jesus is my life and he’s not going anywhere.”

Tom Smith attended the events as a teenager and now leads worship there.

Speaking about his experience this summer, he said: “It’s been one of my life’s greatest privileges just to see and lead this tribe of people into the presence of God and just see God move in so many ways.

“Even just this week, we’ve seen two people walk out of their wheelchairs….

The charity’s annual report revealed that nearly 250,000 youngsters say they are unhappy and that kids overall wellbeing is at its lowest level since 2009. 

Spokesperson Matt Hussey told Premier the Children’s Society is “deeply concerned” by the results of the 2019 survey.  

He said the findings reveal a growing level of anxiety among today’s youth: “Children are particularly worried about the future – about things like Brexit and climate change all the way to more personal issues, such as not having enough money in the future and not being able to find a job. 

“It’s really worrying that children feel weighed down by these big issues of the day.” 

The study found that factors like friendship, school and body image were also contributing factors to their self-esteem, with nearly one in 12 boys aged 10 to 15 saying they didn’t like their appearance. 

“Boys are feeling increasingly under pressure, to go to the gym, to look a certain way, to follow fashion. So what we’re seeing is an unfortunate downward trend in the way that boys are feeling about the way they look.” 

Body confidence is still a bigger issue among young women, but the gap between boys and girls on this topic is narrowing, according to the report. 

Hussey says children are feeling more isolated and alone in their problems: “Substantial numbers of children feel like they have nobody they can turn to and nobody they can talk to. A really good way of building friendships, is…

The Church of England bishops wrote in an open letter: “Exiting the EU without an agreement is likely to have a massive impact on all our people and the Government is rightly preparing for this outcome.

“It is unlikely, however, that leaving without an agreement, regardless of consequences, will lead to reconciliation or peace in a fractured country.”

The Prime Minister’s decision on Wednesday to close parliament between mid-September and the Queen’s speech on 14th October was also referenced, with them saying: “The sovereignty of Parliament is not just an empty term, it is based on institutions to be honoured and respected: our democracy is endangered by cavalier disregard for these.”

Sir Desmond Swayne, a Christian and pro-Brexit Conservative MP for New Forest West, told Premier’s News Hour he was in favour of Mr Johnson’s latest move, saying: “I think it’s longer overdue and as for the hot air and the outrage – it’s bogus nonsense. The fact is that a session of Parliament normally lasts a year, this one has lasted over double that. It is high time that we had the prorogation that normally preceeds the new session of Parliament so that the government can set out its agenda. As for taking away the opportunities of those who are opposed to Brexit to do what they want to do, a mere three sitting days are being lost, three sitting days. The rest is just hyperbole…

Pastor Alain Toledano Valiente, leader of Emanuel Church in Santiago de Cuba was first summoned by police last Thursday for not having permission to hold a youth event, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).

When asked to sign a pre-arrest warrant, which threatened him with arrest if the activity went ahead he refused and was summoned a second time by authorities.

Valiente, who is a prominent leader in the country’s apostolic movement told CSW he was concerned that the actions of the police were an attempt to provoke him.

On Monday, Valiente was instructed to the visit the Department of Physical Planning’s office, where he was told an inspection would be carried out on a plot of land where Emanuel Church is constructing a new building.

The owners of the land where the church currently meets were also threatened and forced to sign a document prohibiting church services on their property and threatened to confiscate the property if they refused.

Emmanuel Church has been subjected to a series of threats by the government to prevent the construction of the property.

In February 2016, Emanuel Church’s building had been demolished by authorities and hundreds of church members were detained.

Toledano Valiente told CSW: “They are looking to throw us into the street again.

“The intention of what they are doing, attacking the two locations where we are today and where we could be tomorrow…is to block both places. They don’t want me to continue the…