Next week, the UK will have a new prime minister - Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the first Catholic to take on this role since emancipation. In this Religion Media Centre briefing, people who know him well described how he embodies Catholic social teaching around the common good, challenging poverty and helping the homeless. Faith leaders from the city said he was a 'convener of the people', seeing faith communities as key partners in bringing people together to build society.

He has forged links with faith communities in Manchester, including a joint visit to Rome to meet Pope Francis, finding common ground on issues such as climate change. Considering whether this interfaith solidarity could be replicated in Downing Street, there were hopes that he was arriving at just the right time, as consultation is underway for RE to be part of the national curriculum, and for a working group to be set up to discuss religious literacy across government departments.

On moral issues, where Catholic social teaching takes politicians into different positions, he has in the past expressed his conflict with the church over issues of sexuality and recently made clear that he is unlikely to support the assisted dying bill in its current form, saying the focus should be on improving palliative and end-of-life care. Andy Burnham has made hope a key theme in his vision for the future, and the people of Manchester in this briefing are placing their hope in him.

Rosie Dawson hosted this discussion with speakers including: Prof Francis Davis, Catherine Pepinster, Bishop David Walker, Mike Kane MP, Rev Ian Rutherford, Rabnawaz Akbar, Nidha Sinha, Sukbir Singh, Rabbi Warren Elf, Joanne Feldman and Farrah Akhtar.

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It's been three years since the outbreak of civil war in Sudan, and in the brutal conflict, the level of human suffering has reached “unimaginable levels”, according to aid agencies in the UK. They have grouped together to raise awareness of the issue and demand that urgent action is taken to address the humanitarian crisis, after millions of people have been displaced, essential services crippled, and communities once living side by side in peace facing hunger, fear and uncertainty.

A petition with 40,000 signatures was handed into Number Ten Downing Street yesterday, demanding a government response and urging international action to address a conflict which is not often reported, and appears to be forgotten. Trevor Barnes hosted with guests including:

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The Bible Society’s report “A Quiet Revival” has been pulled after a review of the data found a number of “fraudulent respondents”. The report was based on a survey conducted by YouGov which found a dramatic increase of 56 per cent in the number of people attending church at least once a month from 2018-2024, with the growth particularly marked among 18-24 year olds. This high increase had not been seen in any other data, and the results were challenged from the outset by pollsters.

YouGov has issued a statement saying it reviewed the data and found specific demographic groups contained a number of respondents which it now identified as fraudulent. It took full responsibility and apologised. The Bible Society said it was deeply disappointed, but continues to maintain that there is a spiritual awakening among GenZ and more people are finding faith today.

In this briefing, we review the fallout from the flawed data and resultant withdrawal of the report, and the lessons for Christians commissioning data, polling companies finding answers, journalists reporting polls and the legacy of distrust. Hosted by Ruth Peacock, the speakers were:

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The green paper on the BBC Charter Review is up for public consultation, and in this Religion Media Centre briefing, faith leaders and media commentators discuss how religious broadcasting will develop in a time of technological and societal change.

Religion has always been embedded in the BBC public service settlement, but in the new media landscape of algorithms and global competition, will there be a demand for such programmes? And how will the BBC's challenges of trust, funding, competition and public service to the nation, impact religious programming?

Our host was Torin Douglas, former BBC media correspondent, and our guests included: Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York; Anna McNamee, Executive Director, Sandford St Martin’s Trust; Alison Green, Head of Digital at CTVC; Bishop John Arnold, Catholic Bishops’ Conference; and Roger Bolton, broadcaster.

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The incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, inherits a daunting in-tray, as faithful congregations keep the show on the road despite crumbling buildings, falling numbers of clergy and financial pressures. Nationally, the church is weary of safeguarding failures and deeply divided over same-sex blessings, with opponents already withholding funding, and plans for a parallel structure of bishops only just pulled back from the brink.

In this briefing, authors of books about the new archbishop describe her character and expectations for her tenure. Members of the Church of England’s parliament, the general synod, discuss the tensions and divisions which will once again come to the fore at next week’s synod meeting in London. Hosted by Ruth Peacock and journalist Tim Wyatt, who has written about the archbishop and the ten urgent challenges for the church, and joined by:

• Dr Andrew Atherstone, also author of a book on Sarah Mullally
• Francis Martin, Church Times reporter
• Rev Alex Frost, from Burnley, campaigning for more working-class clergy
• Rev Dr Charlie Bączyk-Bell, forensic psychiatrist and priest, LGBTQ+ campaigner
• Rev Chantal Noppen, national coordinator Inclusive Church
• Sam Wilson, parish youth minister in Chester Diocese
• Dr Ros Clarke, Associate Director of Church Society
• Susie Leafe, Director of Anglican Futures

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In our first RMC Briefing of 2026, we look at the report "Questions of Hope and Hate: Faith and Faultlines in a Changing Britain", published by the Good Faith Partnership and Hope Not Hate, which explores the reasons for faith narratives being mobilised for causes of division in Britain, and recommends actions to “strengthen the institutions and relationships that allow faith to serve the common good”.

It says there is a "rising visibility and politicisation of religion" in the UK, with "new Christian symbolism of populist movements, the assertive politics of Hindutva, forms of Zionism shaped by existential insecurity, Sikh advocacy of a state of Khalistan and Islamist visions that link faith with power”.

The report analyses the reasons behind this shift, suggesting that democratic fatigue, global conflict, internal religious change, and weakened interfaith structures are reshaping civic life. Among its recommendations are the creation of stable long-term mechanisms for government and faith relations, embedding religious literacy across institutions, and renewing national narratives of belonging. Ruth Peacock hosted with guests:

• Report author Paul Bickley, independent researcher and consultant
• Lord Russell Rook, member of the House of Lords, founding partner of the Good Faith Partnership and priest in the Church of England
• Carrie Alderton, Interim CEO Faith and Belief Forum
• Ed Pawson, RE adviser to a number of SACREs in SW England and member of the RE Council's Policy Unit
• Amardeep Bassey, journalist, RMC communities reporter

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Bishop Richard Moth, the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, has been chosen as the next Archbishop of Westminster, taking over from Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who has held the role for 16 years.

In his first press conference, he introduced himself to the public, mentioning his years as Bishop to the Forces, and his work in prisons, commitment to social justice and initiatives with mental health issues.

In this briefing, guests spoke of his character and their experience of working with him. They spoke of his pastoral strengths and calmness, and the issues which will face him in his in-tray. Ruth Peacock hosted with guests including:

• Catherine Pepinster, journalist and author
• Professor Anthony McClaran, Vice-Chancellor St Mary’s University, Twickenham
• Prof James Kelly, Associate Professor in the History of Catholicism, University of Durham
• Prof Stephen Bullivant, Professor of Theology and the Sociology of Religion, Benedict XVI Centre for Religion, Ethics and Society
• Liam Allmark, Head of Communications, Jesuit Refugee Service
• Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, Parish Priest at Farm Street Church
• Sister Gemma Simmonds, Senior research fellow of the Margaret Beaufort Institute in Cambridge

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This Religion Media Centre briefing is an annual review of religion in the headlines in 2025. The deadly attack on Jews at Bondi Beach came at the end of a year that saw antisemitism rise across the globe. Britain also saw an increase in hate crime against Muslims, while at the same time, there were new initiatives to build bridges and strengthen community relations.

The Church of England experienced major change, with one Archbishop of Canterbury resigning and another appointed — the first woman to hold the role. The Catholic Church marked the death of Pope Francis and the surprise election of an American successor, Pope Leo XIV.

The government’s Faith Minister lost his job and was replaced. Yet amid institutional change, faith communities on the ground remained active: alleviating poverty, delivering aid, helping to broker peace, and engaged in vigorous internal debates.

In the UK and the US, Christian nationalism moved into sharper focus, while talk of a “Quiet Revival” — particularly among Gen Z — gathered momentum. Ruth Peacock hosted with guests reflecting on what the year has meant, and how it may be remembered:

• Jewish community: Simon Rothstein, comms for The Movement for Progressive Judaism; Victoria Lisek, Board of Deputies
• British Muslims: Dr Azim Ahmed, General Secretary Muslim Council of Wales; and Akeela Ahmed, CEO and founder, British Muslim Trust
• Religious Education: Sarah Lane Cawte, Chair of the REC Council
• Hindus in Britain: Tilak Parekh, PhD student in the Faculty of Divinity
• Interfaith: Rebecca Collins, Faith and Belief Forum
• US and religion: Melissa Deckman, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute; and Bob Smietana, national reporter for Religion News Service
• Catholic Church: Ruth Gledhill, Assistant Editor at The Tablet; and Sr Gemma Simmonds, Senior Fellow and Director of Religious Life Institute
• Church of England: Tim Wyatt, freelance religion reporter; Rev Alex Frost, vicar of St Matthew the Apostle, Burnley
• Action for Peace and Justice: Simeon Mitchell, team leader of Joint Public Issues Team (Baptist, Methodist, URC)
• Aid: Peter Robertson, Humanitarian journalist at Christian Aid

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Conversations between Jews and Muslims in Britain have been “very difficult” over the past two years since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. But community leaders taking part in a Religion Media Centre briefing said that, two years on, there is a growing desire to rebuild good relations — despite continuing anxiety and mistrust.

The renewed dialogue comes after the ceasefire in Gaza and amid rising Islamophobia, antisemitism, and attacks on synagogues and mosques. New structures have been created to support local discussions, while at grassroots level “brave souls and heroes” continue to engage, encouraging small, informal meetings that help people to “disagree well.” Speakers described the task as urgent — “a fight for the soul of the nation” — and appealed to the government to “lean into this” by offering consistent support for interfaith initiatives.

The discussion was hosted by Ruth Peacock, with guests:

• Phil Rosenberg, President of the Board of Deputies
• Jonathan Boyd, executive director of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research
• Rabbi Warren Elf, from Manchester
• Imam Qari Asim, Head Imam at Makkah Mosque Leeds and Chair of Mosques & Imams National Advisory Board
• Hasan Moosa Reza, chief of staff, office of the Chief Imam (Scotland), who was instrumental in the signing of the Drumlanrig Accord
• Dr Adeela Shafi, founder of the Bristol Muslim Strategic Leadership Group

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The decision to place Religious Education in the national curriculum in England has delighted RE teachers and campaigners who have been seeking improvements for years. The recommendation was made by the government’s curriculum and assessment review, after the panel heard evidence that RE was not being taught very well, and in some cases, not taught at all.

In this Religion Media Centre briefing, we hear from a member of the review panel and campaigners who have been fighting for years to raise the status of RE, introduce national standards and enable schools to teach the subject well.

Ruth Peacock hosted this discussion with guests:

• Dr Vanessa Ogden, panel review member and CEO of the Mulberry Schools Trust
• Dr Richard Kueh, former Inspector and Subject Lead for Religious Education, now a leader with the Cam Academy Trust and member of the RE Council
• Deborah Weston, from the RE Policy Unit
• Dr Kathryn Wright, CEO of Culham St Gabriel’s Trust
• Dr Sarah Lane Cawte, chair of the RE Council
• Ed Pawson, former deputy chair of the RE Council
• Prof Susannah Cornwall, Exeter University, Professor of Constructive Theologies

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