Currently, 20 per cent VAT has to be paid when churches have extensions and refurbishment work done.

The petition states that modifications to church buildings also take place in “deprived areas and the amount taken from any funds raised by the churches makes it, in a lot if instances, difficult to carry out all the work required”.

David John Mason who started the petition gave an example of when a church has struggled to pay VAT.

“Our church in Denton undertook a refurbishment in 2005 which brought many people and groups into the church and its premises, at a time when councils were closing facilities,” he explained.

“Churches help by housing groups that otherwise would have to close, or at least restrict the work that they do. This type of [work] includes working with various health groups, places for the young and old to meet, and much more.

“We are looking at a £1,000,000 project which incurs £200,000 in tax, this mean much of it will not be done.”

So far, 107 people have signed the petition but 10,000 signatures are required for the government to respond. With 100,000 signatures, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament.

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The six-seat, single-engine plane registered to Jeremiah 29:11 Inc, crashed under unknown circumstances killing all five passengers and the pilot.

Mr Valentine founded the company with his wife, which lists on its website the services provided including “pro bono flights for cancer patients, wounded veterans, boy scouts, and other individual and non-profit organizations”.

The Independence Rural Fire Department said in a Facebook post that firefighter Nicholas Warner was also killed in the crash, along with two of his sons and his father, Bill Warner.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol told News 9 that the group flew to Ponca City for breakfast and then crashed around 10:45am in a soybean field before it caught on fire.

Independence Community College head football coach Jason Brown paid tribute to his “friend” Mr Valentine.

Pirate Nation was devastated today with the sudden death of my friend and even better man, deepest condolences to his wife and kids our hearts hurt but he gave our program a great quote which we will never forget “success is not an accident” Fly forever
RIP Tim Valentine pic.twitter.com/sSvEvdrTbU

— Coach Brown (@INDYHEADCOACH1) August 5, 2018

He tweeted: “Pirate Nation was devastated today with the sudden death of my friend and even better man, deepest condolences to his wife and kids our hearts hurt but he gave our program a great quote which we…

The new build is designed to better accommodate Lock Heath Free Church’s activities and serve their wider community.

They have been planning a site move for eight and a half years. Having purchased the land, construction finally started this week.

The new building will have an auditorium which seats 500, a sports hall, a café, large foyer and staff offices. There will also be a separate 180-seat auditorium, several multi-use rooms, a pre-school area and a youth suite.

The project is being funded through personal gifts from the church family, the sale of a church property, fund raising activities, applying for grants and a large mortgage also paid for by the church congregation.

The church’s August newsletter updated the congregation, saying: “After eight years of prayer, planning, giving, fund raising, legal work, meetings, emails, telephone conversations, being overwhelmed, miracles, prophetic words, simply persevering, questions, more meetings and prayer … it has actually started.”

Lock Heath Free Church is also doing a ‘small group challenge’ in which Bible study groups compete to see which one can raise the most money.

They ask for prayer for the team building the church and “that our conversations, hope and focus remain firmly fixed on Jesus”.

Construction is expected to finish around November 2019.

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The seven-year-old, named as Joel Urhie by his father John Uhrie, lost his life in a blaze at a house on Adolphus Street in Deptford.

Speaking to reporters at the scene, he said: “It’s terrible, the pain we cannot forget.”

Vicar of nearby St Nicholas Church, Rev Louise Codrington-Marshall told Premier: “Obviously, we’re all shocked and grieved at this sad news and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time.

“We’ll be praying for them at church and lighting candles and supporting the family the best we can.”

The fire was first reported to emergency services at 3.25am on Tuesday.

Neighbours described hearing screams from the property.

Two women were taken to hospital with non-threatening injuries after jumping from a first floor window.

Rev Codrington-Marshall added: “I’ve spoken to one of my parishioners who lives along that street.

“She said she was out until 3am, lots of people were shouting and trying to assist. The fire was too great so they had to wait for the fire brigade in the end.”

Around 35 firefighters and six engines responded to the blaze, which was brought under control by 4.50am.

Treating the fire as suspicious, the Metropolitan Police has launched an arson investigation.

No arrests have been made.

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The pontiff is due to visit the Republic later this month.

The massive model of Pope Francis in his popemobile was created by a group of men in Durrow, Co Laois, for the popular annual Durrow Scarecrow Festival.

Chairwoman of the Durrow Development Forum, Evelyn Clancy, said there had been a huge amount of interest from across Ireland.

The festival is known for its topical depictions, from Donald Trump to King Kong.

Ms Clancy added: “People expect it, King Kong was higher than a two-storey house, people have that expectation from this group of men.”

The talented and creative group behind the creation includes engineers and carpenters who have put many evenings of work into their scarecrow.

Chairman of the Conahy Vintage Club, Michael Bergin, told the Leinster Express they enjoyed the camaraderie.

“We always think that big is beautiful.

“There was work for everybody in it from steel to straw, overalls, shoes down to making tea and having a chat. You make it up as you go along.”

The group added lights to the popemobile and when you press a button the scarecrowPope waves.

Money raised from visitors to the festival is reinvested in the community, Ms Clancy said.

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Speaking with the New York Times, Bill Hybels’ former executive assistant Pat Baranowski accused the former leader of Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago of sexually and emotionally abusing her during the 1980s.

Lead pastor Heather Larson said the probe would be given “full autonomy” and overseen by an advisory board of “external” Christian leaders from across the US.

In a meeting held in April, Hybels announced he was stepping aside as a leader of Willow Creek with immediate effect.

Addressing his former congregation, the evangelical leader admitted naivety by placing himself too frequently “in situations that would have been far wiser to avoid.”

As many as ten women have now come forward to accuse Hybels of inappropriate behaviour, including prolonged hugs, comments about their appearance and invitations to his hotel rooms during a number of years.

The women took their claims to the press, after two investigations initiated by leaders at Willow Creek found no wrongdoing.

Hybels told the New York Times he denied Ms Baranowski’s allegations. He has refuted previous claims made against him, calling some ‘flat-out lies’.

A member of the Willow Creek leadership team, Rev Steve Carter (pictured above) quit his post on Sunday, citing concerns over how church officials have handled the allegations made against…