The London landmark is playing host to a passion play, like it has over the past 9 years, but the group behind it is taking things up a notch in 2020.

Performances will take place across the country with Bath, Liverpool, Horsham, Bishop Auckland, Hamilton and Worcester already confirmed.

The Wintershall Estate has licensed its Passion Script, written by Peter Hutley, to allow local artists to come together and share the gospel message with their communities.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby said “Passion Plays have been a feature of the life of our country since the Middle Ages, and for good reason

“There is no greater story than that of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I hope and pray that this Easter, you can be caught up in the story of the love of God for the world in the person of Jesus.’

Leader of English and Welsh Catholics, Cardinal Vincent Nichols said: “This Good Friday, I recall some of the last words of Pope St Paul II: “We adore and bless the mystery of the Cross of the Son of God, because it was from his death that new hope for humanity was born.”

“I warmly commend this performance of The Passion of Jesus to you and thank all those who have had a part in bringing it about.”

The Wintershall Estate says these plays are for everyone to learn more about the Easter story and it hopes the nationwide productions will inspire unity…

He included those borne by migrants who find doors closed due to “political calculations” and children who are harmed in their “innocence and purity”, in a reference to paedophiles in the clergy.

From a canopied platform on the Palatine Hill, Francis watched the traditional Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) torchlit night-time procession at the Colosseum in Rome, which solemnly recalls the crucifixion of Jesus.

Along with thousands of pilgrims, tourists and Romans, he listened to reflections that were composed by an elderly Italian nun, who for 25 years has gone out to the city’s streets to bring comfort and hope to migrant women who were trafficked into prostitution.

Francis prayed to Jesus to help “us to see in your cross all the crosses of the world”.

The pope cited persons starved for food and for love, and those “abandoned even by their own children or parents”.

Then he touched on two issues heavily marking his papacy – how to promote the cause of often rejected migrants and to deal with a sea of scandals over Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse of children.

Francis said migrants “find doors closed because of fear and hearts hardened by political calculations”.

He also decried the “cross of the little ones, wounded in their innocence and their purity”. Francis did not directly cite the Church scandals.

The nun, Eugenia…

Lyra McKee, 29, was fatally shot while she was stood by a police van during riots on Thursday.

Detectives have released CCTV of the suspected gunman, dressed in black, who they think is linked to the dissident republican group – the New IRA.

Responding to news of the award-winning journalist’s death, Bishop Donal McKeown said: “This Good Friday morning there is a deep air of sadness hanging over this city. The murder of journalist Lyra McKee is causing widespread shock and revulsion.

“Our first thoughts and prayers are with Ms McKee’s family and friends who are terribly grieved by her killing.

“I have every confidence that the wider community will come together at this time to make clear our conviction that violence solves nothing.

“You cannot claim to love your country and, at the same time, cause death and pain to the people who live here. All who live here deserve to be cherished equally.

“That spirit of coming together against violence has brought us a long way in the last twenty years. It will continue today for we believe the original Good Friday message that love is stronger than hatred.”

An 18-year-old and 19-year-old have been arrested in connection with the murder under the terrorism act.

Meanwhile, former US President Bill Clinton has said he’s “heartbroken” by…

Their crimes were only discovered when one of their daughters fled their home and pleaded for help to a 911 operator.

The sentencing of David and Louise Turpin was preceded by the first public statements from some of the children, who alternately spoke of love for their parents and of what they had suffered despite it as the couple wiped away tears.

The Turpins pleaded guilty in February to neglect and abuse.

“I’m sorry for everything I’ve done to hurt my children, I love my children so much,” Louise Turpin said.

The parents told ABC News last year they were “surprised and shocked” by the allegations and couldn’t understand “any of it”.

They said that they are considered to be a good Christian family in their community and that added that “God called on them” to have as many children as they did.

The pair also said their grandchildren had “very strict home-schooling,” and they would memorise long passages of the Bible – some of them aimed to learn the entire Bible.

None of the children have been publicly identified.

One of the adult children walked into court already in tears just after the hearing began, holding hands with a prosecutor.

Louise Turpin appears in court in Riverside, Calif. in January

A daughter said: “Life may have been bad but it made me strong.

“I fought to become the person that I am. I…

Members of Christian Climate Action (CCA) sat around a banner that stated “Flying Crucifies Creation”, sang hymns, read about the crucifixion of Jesus and prayed.

They aimed to join efforts in calling for government action on climate change and to highlight the impact of the aviation industry on the environment.

After the service, two members of CCA – Phil Kingston, 83, and Sheila Kingston, 80, crossed the barriers and sprayed the Heathrow Express train with chalk paint, XR symbols and climate change messages.

Police escorted both of them off the premises while a ten year old girl, Elsie Luna, stood at the barriers with a sign that read: “Thank U for giving up your freeness for my laterness.”

Phil Kingston, a grandfather and former parole officer from Bristol said in a statement: “This act is for my grandchildren.

“They mean the world to me and my heart breaks for the terrible inheritance that we are leaving them. Why are we expanding Heathrow when we are in a climate emergency?”

Sheila Kingston, a grandmother and retired teacher added: “It is crucial that governments hear this important message this Easter.

“We are doing this because we are desperate. I don’t know what else to do to make them listen.”

Close to 700 arrests have been made in London as climate change protests continue.

On Friday a pink boat used by XR to…

The Foreign Secretary has written 40 letters to Christians, faith groups and leaders to mark the end of Lent.

Mr Hunt said he was “appalled” that 245 million Christians worldwide faced persecution as a result of their faith.

Some 300 Christians are killed every month because of their beliefs, the Foreign Office said.

Mr Hunt’s first letter was to 90-year-old Dutchman Andrew van der Bijl, who smuggled bibles into the communist Eastern bloc during the Cold War and founded the Open Doors charity.

In his letter to the missionary, known as Brother Andrew, Mr Hunt said: “As a man of faith, free to practise in line with my conscience, I am appalled at the plight of the 245 million Christians worldwide currently facing persecution as a result of their belief.

“I want you to know that the UK stands in solidarity with persecuted Christians around the world.”

The Foreign Office acknowledged that the UK has not always reflected the suffering of persecuted Christians in its foreign policy.

Mr Hunt has launched a review into the issue, led by the Bishop of Truro the Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen.

At the time of the review’s launch in January, Mr Hunt suggested that sensitivity around Britain’s imperial legacy may have hampered efforts to address the issue.

He said: “We want to – if I can put it this way – banish the hesitation…