The study, conducted by Christian Research panel Resonate surveyed over 5,000 Christians across the UK and found 74 percent believed hell existed while 10 per cent did not, and a further 16 per cent said they were uncertain.

The report also revealed that 15 percent believed the topic of hell was of little relevance to modern day life.

Author Matt Adcock, who commissioned the study ahead of the launch of his new book Complete Darkness told Premier he was surprised by the findings.

“I thought hell perhaps was even less of an issue for people now. It seems like a very harsh doctrine,” he said.

Adcock who is in the ten per cent that doesn’t believe in hell, went on to say that he thought teaching on the subject was becoming out-of-date and less “favourable” within the Church.

“People want to believe in heaven and a positive God of love that’s gonna love you forever. I think it’s a harder doctrine to say, you know, you’ll be judged and accountable for everything you’ve done on Earth.

“I think churches are adapting their message to attract people who have a more liberal mindset,” he added.

The study also revealed that the number of people who believed in hell varied greatly to the number of people who believed in heaven, particularly within the Methodist Church.

Adcock says there is a mystery around the concept of hell which makes it more difficult to understand and suggested more teaching on the subject was needed.

“There’s only 15 verses in the Bible that…

Archbishop Eamon, the Archbishop of Amargh, told Premier: “It was a good meeting. It was a frank discussion, we were very clear with the Secretary of State how frustrating it is for the members of our parish communities in our congregations that we still haven’t had the restoration of the Northern Ireland executive and of course we were particularly exercised about the issue of abortion and the impending legislation, which will be coming into effect in Northern Ireland on the 21st of October, should the assembly not be up and running again.

“The meeting was clear, straightforward. The Secretary of State listened carefully and we certainly got the impression that he too shares our frustration at the uncertainty which there is at the moment in the country, particularly with the whole question of Brexit and how it’s going to impact on us here on this island.”

The government in Northern Ireland broke down in 2017 when the representatives from the two main parties failed to agree, leaving the power-sharing set up in Northern Ireland defunct and unable to pass any new laws.

This summer, Westminster passed the Northern Ireland Executive Formation Bill, aimed at restoring the power. However, it was agreed that if the Executive cannot be restored by 21st October, abortion and same-sex marriage would be legalised because of the urgent desire for both by some in Northern…

In 2014, Louy and his wife, Huda, left the town Bartella with their son, Sharbel, and respective parents, leaving behind their home and most of their possessions.

At first, they stayed in a tent at a church compound in Erbil. They later rented somewhere to live.

Louy said: “In the beginning we expected to stay for only two or three days, but the days became weeks and, we knew that it would be much longer. But we always believed that one day we would return.”

When they did, they said their house was almost unrecognisable. IS painted their slogans on the walls and raided the house. The doors were stolen and windows were broken.

Christian charity Open Doors said the family wept as the sight of the house but Louy said there was a silver lining.

“They didn’t burn the house down and it wasn’t bombed,” he said.

Louy’s house is one of the 1,274 houses in the Nineveh Plain that Open Doors’ local partners have been able to fully restore.  Around 300 of these are in Bartella.

The town is recovering from the trauma it experienced after being overrun by IS.

Thousands of Christians have been able to come home, but there are still security issues and the need for redevelopment.

“It would be terrible to see the region without Christians. Iraq without Christians? That would be impossible. That means that you won’t feel love anymore,” Louy said.

Iraq is number 13…

Mike James, who has organised the Cotswold Ghost Tours in Prestbury, Gloucestershire for four years, said he was forced to end the tours after being harassed by Rev Nick Bromfield.

James said the vicar, who’s the rector of north Cheltenham, left numerous voicemails and emails complaining about the tours. In one email, Rev Bromfield, said he “no longer wished to have St Mary’s [church] associated with the promotion of ghost tours”.

Rev Bromfield told the BBC James hadn’t asked permission to use “numerous photographs” of the church on the tour’s website.

He added: “Several people spoke to me about their concern that they are unchristian and bordering on the occult.

“I agree with those concerns.”

The tour’s website promises customers “gripping stories of the paranormal” and a tour that brings to life “the mesmerising, but creepy myths and fables” of the area.

The vicar also raised the concern tour guides possibly not having the right documentation to work with minors.

James said the photos of the church are only a “small part of the website” and “we make it clear we don’t take unaccompanied minors”.

Rev Bromfield has denied harassing James and said that his calls and emails were met with no response.

A statement on the tour’s website said: “There has been some concern from the local parish church in Prestbury about the proximity of our…

According to new figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) last week, there were an estimated 726 deaths of homeless people in England and Wales registered in 2018. It represents a 22 per cent increase, which is the largest rise since the figures began in 2013.

The ONS said a key driver of the change is the number of deaths related to drug poisonings, which are up by 55 per cent.

Rev Mike Long, Minister of Notting Hill Methodist Church and Chair of Shelter’s Commission, called ‘A Vision for Social Housing’, said: “These deaths represent the tragic tip of the iceberg in terms of the suffering that homelessness causes.

“Hundreds of thousands of people are classed as homeless in Britain today, having to cope with ‘temporary’ accommodation that in many cases is harmful to physical and mental health. This makes no economic sense nor is it morally acceptable.”

Roger Clark, CEO of West London Mission (WLM), which has supported thousands of homeless and vulnerable people since 1887, called the issue “an absolute scandal”.

He added: “Those that have passed must not be forgotten for whom they were and their legacy must be action.”

At WLM, a range of services prevent homelessness through helping people to make changes in their lives.

“At present we are focused on getting our centre at Seymour Place, Marylebone refurbished and relaunched to give people a route…

In a video posted on Twitter on Thursday for World Mental Health Day he said he realised last year that he was depressed.

“One of my children who has been very public about it understands these things, and had taught me that there’s no stigma to this, it’s just life. I went and got help,” he said.

“It’s not always easy but it made a huge difference.”

I wanted to share something about my experience with depression – and my hope that we continue to break down the stigma around mental health. #WorldMentalHealthDay pic.twitter.com/9h3Vzq0Sm0

— Archbishop of Canterbury (@JustinWelby) October 10, 2019

He encouraged people who feel like they’re “walking in darkness” to not walk alone.

“We need people to know that their friends will go on loving them, that’s it’s not a disgrace to suffer from mental ill health”.

Archbishop Justin referred to Psalm 88,which he described as a psalm of someone who was “really severely depressed”.

“It’s tough, but they’re still looking outwards,” he said.

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