Churches

Pictured at the launch of the study were Mrs Diane McClelland ,research team member; Dr Peter Hamill, Church of Ireland; Dr Anita Gracie, lead researcher; Professor Noel Purdy, head of research, Stranmillis, and Dr Ken Gibson, team member

Stranmillis College study says churches must meet community and family needs

The Supreme Court - in a November 2025 ruling on a case known as JR87 - framed the current RE syllabus as amounting to indoctrination

Ian Ellis: New era in RE would demand new steps from churches

Churches were instrumental in drawing up the current RE syllabus

Ian Ellis: Churches should keep close watch on new RE syllabus

As Jeffrey Donaldson rose through the political and Loyal Order ranks, his Fish buttonhole badge became a trademark symbol of his Christian faith. Even during the weeks of his trial, as he arrived at court each morning, his lapel would sport the Fish badge

John Coulter: Challenge of undoing damage done by Donaldson's conviction

This week is National Blood Week

Ad Feature Survey reveals the real reason people don’t give blood

The civil war in Sudan has led to the displacement of a reported 12 million citizens and devastating famine conditions

Ian Ellis: In time of war, churches have important roles to play

The soapbox race attracted thousands to Stormont on Sunday

Letter: Lessons must be learnt from traffic chaos at race

Letters to editor

Letter: Dreaming of better - and more innocent - times

Rev Dr Norman Hamilton OBE, Presbyterian Church

Thought for the week: Importance of seeking truth in the Bible

Existing legislation requires that RE is based on the Holy Scriptures

Letter: Ruling's impact on controlled schools will be more complex

Supermarkets may be full in the West, but millions face food poverty around the world

Ian Ellis: Churches reflect on how they can help tackle world hunger

A poll has revealed the attitudes of Catholics, Protestants and the non-religious towards religion, Christianity and the individual Churches in Northern Ireland

Major new poll reveals attitudes are changing towards religion in NI

I went to the Trentino region of Italy and explored The Dolomites

I saw a new side to Italy during a brilliant adventure holiday

Political and religious commentator Dr John Coulter.

Christian Churches need to get ready for a Prime Minister Farage!

Dr John Coulter, religious commentator.

Christian Churches need to be more pro-active in defending veterans

Bushmills woman Kaye Steele recently took up a new post as Christian Aid Ireland’s Church and Community Manager.

North Coast woman to head up Christian Aid’s church team
Bushmills woman Kaye Steele has been appointed to a key role in an overseas aid agency.
Lisa Fagan

Lord Eames had absolute credibility in terms of administering justice fairly, possibly related to his impeccable academic legal credentials

Letter: Churches need more leaders like Eames

Letters to editor

Letter: Prime minister talks the talk over Easter but he doesn't walk the walk

Dr John Coulter, religious commentator.

Churches have key role in reducing racial tensions

The Oval Office spat between Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump was shocking

Ian Ellis: Churches have role to play in restoring needed global trust

Rev Dr Houston McKelvey, OBE, Church of Ireland

Thought for the week: Churches should have more influence on parliaments

An amendment to the legislation would require an "expert panel" to approve each assisted death, following the sign-off of two independent doctors, ruling out a direct sign-off by a high court judge in each individual case

Churches remain united against 'Assisted Dying' bill

Stormont's Executive Office committee is divided over religious exemptions in proposed changes to equality law.

Christian Institute warns equality proposals could tie churches up in legalities

The shops will soon be unleashing their Boxing Day sales - yet another victory for financial commercialism

John Coulter: Putting Christ back into Christmas festivals

Loneliness, which is often highlighted as a cause for concern at this time of the year because of Mary and Joseph's experience of trying to find accommodation in Bethlehem, is a great scourge

Ian Ellis: Christmas reminds us that there is always room for hope

A study by the National Churches Trust reveals that UK churches save the NHS £8.4 billion annually by providing essential services like addiction recovery, mental health support, youth groups and food banks

Churches deserve more recognition from Stormont - research

The joys of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, with Liam Kennedy and Tui. (pic by Dominic Scurr).

I visited Egypt's desert jewel and left with smile wider than Sinai
I travelled with TUI to visit Sharm El Sheikh and one of Egypt’s BEST all-inclusive spots for 2024 - here’s what I thought.
Liam Kennedy

Our unionist politicians, betrayed by Britain, are preaching a false message, and promoting a lost cause, writes Clive Maxwell

Letter: Ulster is losing its soul – you can see it everywhere

PABest Campaigners protest outside Parliament in Westminster, London, ahead of a debate in the House of Commons on assisted dying. A petition for a debate gained more than 200,000 signatures and has been backed by Dame Esther Rantzen. Picture date: Monday April 29, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story POLITICS AssistedDying. Photo credit should read: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

Clerics call for more palliative care instead of 'assisted suicide' bill

The Moderator with one of Roddensvale School's teachers, Jane Montgomery, with Charlie

Moderator’s praise for SEN schools as he hears of ‘difficult times’ on school vi...

The Christian churches are facing so much competition for the hearts, minds and time in today’s increasingly secular and pluralist society; again, especially among the youth, writes John Coulter

John Coulter: The big challenge for churches is to get young people into pews

A return of traditional evangelical missions could help churches reassert themselves in their communities

John Coulter: Churches should bring back traditional revivalist missions

The event is an opportunity to share current issues in relationship between Christian faith and education

Events set to discuss church's role in local schools

An Easter Sunday dawn service will be held at the Giant's Causeway at 7.00am

A full list of times and locations for Easter dawn services on Sunday

The Bible says there is a time for everything, a time to be born and to die

Letter: Churches could focus less on gender-sexuality, more on abortion

A Palestinian man sits in an armchair outside a destroyed building in Gaza City on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Mohammed Hajjar)

The Church of Ireland Bishops’ appeal provides Middle East aid

Floral tributes to victims of Manchester Arena bombing cover St Ann's Square, Manchester on in 2017, five days after the attack killed 22 people. A victim of the blast was Martyn Hett, whose name has been given to legislation to require social venues and local authorities to have preventative plans against possible terror attacks

Ian Ellis: Churches will need contingency plan for eventuality of terror attack

First Armagh Presbyterian church. Picture: Billy Maxwell

Billy Kennedy's Churches: Theological differences over women in the pulpit

St Anne's Church of Ireland cathedral

Churches: St Anne's Church of Ireland cathedral set to mark milestone

Church of the Holy Trinity, Waringstown County Down. Photo: Michael Cousins

Northern Ireland churches are listed for UK awards

Letters to editor

Letter: Sport on the Sabbath is a breach of the fourth commandment

Churches should not simply leave sex education to teachers in the classroom, writes John Coulter, instead they should be prepared to have debates on Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in their Sunday schools, Bible classes and youth clubs

John Coulter: Churches should deliver their own sex education to children

£397,000 was given to help people displaced by the ongoing war in Ukraine

Churches: Huge response to Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal

Moneymore parish church, Co Londonderry Picture: Billy Maxwell

Billy Kennedy's Churches: Presbyterian witness beyond the boundaries in Ireland

The main Protestant churches in Northern Ireland say the Human Rights Commission’s sex education findings are 'paper based only'.

Churches reject Human Rights Commission’s sex education findings

Aghadowey Presbyterian church, Co Londonderry. Picture: Billy Maxwell

Scottish church opens up debate on euthanasia or assisted dying

: Members of the General Synod react after blessings for same-sex couples was approved in a vote by the General Synod at The Church House.

Church of England votes to offer blessings to same sex couples

The Most Reverend Eamon Martin, Roman Catholic Primate of All Ireland (seated left) says churches could play a role in legacy truth recovery. Also pictured other church leaders (left to right) Right Reverend Dr John Kirkpatrick, Presbyterian moderator, Right Rev Andrew Forster, President of the Irish Council of Churches, Rev David Nixon, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland. Seated (left) the Most Reverend John McDowell, Church of Ireland Primate of All Ireland

Churches right to seek legacy role but we can't say sorry for what we didn't do

Rev Dr William Morton

Thought for the Week: ‘Churches must be places of welcome, acceptance and inclus...

Letters to editor

Letter: Churches fail to criticise world governments' disobedience to God’s word

The leaders of the largest churches in Ireland issued a joint new year’s message for 2023, which will see the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement

Church leaders' concern at ‘fragile peace’

Innocent Victims United has made its position clear to Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris

Churches promote false narrative in legacy debate

Slavin Parish Church

Moves to restore normality in Northern Ireland churches after Covid pandemic

Letter to the editor

Churches and politicians must resist pagan values in Northern Ireland

Very Rev Dr Houston McKelvey. Picture By: Arthur Allison.

Churches must keep faith role in Northern Ireland schools

News you can trust since 1737

© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Terms and Conditions Privacy notice