The series of targeted attacks by Islamic extremists killed more than 250 people and left 300 injured in churches and hotels across the country.

Catholic charity, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) have reported that many believers fear further violence despite an increase in security.

ACN spokesperson Citra Abbott told Premier: “The community is definitely scared. And not least because a number of the attackers remain at large and add to that the fact that the government failed to act on intelligence prior to the attacks.”

Concerns of religious persecution continues to grow within the Sri Lankan Christian community, following confirmation from the Supreme Court that the right to share your religion is not protected by the country’s constitution.

Ms Abbott said: “Military presence is actually huge, especially in churches. But people don’t trust the government because violence against Christians by Hindu and Buddhist extremists in any case, is by and large ignored by the government.”

She added: “In spite of the fear, the faith there is strong and many feel that their faith has been strengthened despite being either victims themselves in the attack or losing friends and family.”

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, an outspoken critic of the Sri Lankan government’s apparent failure to act on Indian government intelligence ahead of the Easter attacks, has…

Richard Page lost his role on the bench in 2015 after 15 years of service for stating that a child up for adoption would be better looked after by a man and a woman rather than a same-sex couple.

He was also later stopped from returning to his position as a non-executive director of the Kent and Medway NHS Trust after expressing the same opinion during a BBC interview.

The then Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Lord Thomas said his comments to the media suggested he was “biased and prejudiced against single sex adopters”.

In the second judgement given on Wednesday morning, Mr Justice Choudhury upheld the finding that LGBT people suffer disproportionately from mental health illnesses and might be dissuaded from using the trust’s services because of the high profile coverage of Mr Page’s beliefs.

Andrea Williams, director of the Christian Legal Centre who have been supporting Mr Page explained to Premier why she wasn’t surprised by the judgements “given the current climate in our nation, given the current climate in our culture and certainly in the culture of the courts”.

“There’s a reality that speaking out as a Christian, as Richard Page has done, means increasingly that we are being prohibited from the public space, prohibited from working and taking part in certain professions,” she said.

“And that’s exactly what has happened to Richard Page. He’s been pursuing…

The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle will succeed the Very Reverend Dr John Hall when he retires after 13 years at Westminster Abbey on All Saints’ Day, November 1.

Dr Hoyle, 61, is currently Dean of Bristol and chairs the Church of England’s
College of Deans.

He will be installed as the 39th Dean of Westminster on November 16, overseeing the spiritual life of Westminster Abbey and leading the Abbey community, which includes 350 staff and 400 volunteers.

Dr Hoyle said: “Westminster Abbey is a wonderful place. It reminds us of our past, speaks of our present identity as a nation and a monarchy, and sets before us the kingdom we can be under God.

“It is a huge privilege to be given the opportunity to work there.

“Dr John Hall is completing an immensely distinguished ministry as Dean.

“Succeeding him, it will be important to sustain the Abbey as a place of pilgrimage and outstanding worship.”

Dr Hall said: “It has been, for me, an immense pleasure and privilege presiding over the worship and mission of the Abbey.

“I wish Dr Hoyle every joy and success in his leadership of the Abbey community.”

Westminster Abbey is a Royal Peculiar under the jurisdiction of the Dean and Chapter subject only to the sovereign.

Dr Hoyle’s appointment was approved by the Queen following an open application process.

He studied history and then theology…