Sunday

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the first female ordinations in the Church of England. Rosie Dawson reports on the struggle women faced to become priests and the opposition that still exists in some segments of the Church.

Amanda Spielman is Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of schools and she has angered some conservative religious groups by saying all children must learn about same-sex couples, regardless of their faith background. She responds to parents at Parkfield Community School in Birmingham who have withdrawn their children in protest at lessons about LGBT issues.

Producers: Harry Farley

Editor: Amanda Hancox

94 year old Helen Taylor-Thompson talks to Emily Buchanan ahead of International Women's Day. She was a member of Churchill’s ‘Secret Army’ during World War 2 and went on to found Europe’s first AIDS hospice in the 1980's. She talks to Emily about how her Christian faith has helped her through.

A new service in Farsi is launched at Wakefield Cathedral to cater for a growing number of Iranians who have become Christians in the last 5 years.

Andrew West in Sydney reports on Cardinal Pell's challenge of his child abuse conviction and one survivor of abuse by a teacher in a Catholic School in Lancashire criticises the Catholic Church in England and Wales over its attitude towards survivors. Christopher Pearson, Chair of the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission responds.

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Tania Joya is a former ISIS bride and now lives in the US and works in de-radicalisation. She talks to Edward Stourton about the Shamima Begum case.

Sunday's Harry Farley reports on how some Orthodox Jews state they will leave the country if new Government plans on Relationship education are implemented.

Martin Bashir reports from Rome on the final day of a major summit on clergy sexual abuse, as the Pope calls for "concrete measures" and not only "simple and obvious condemnations".

US comic writer Mark Russell talks to Edward Stourton about his comic about Jesus called ‘Second Coming’ and controversy around it.

Producers: Catherine Earlam and Helen Lee

Buried within medieval archives is the story of Joan of Leeds – a nun who faked her own death in order to run away and live a wanton life. Professor Sarah Rees Jones of York University tells Edward the story. And why not everyone wants to be cremated even though we’re running out of space for burials - Professor Douglas Davies, director of Durham University’s Centre of Death and Life Studies and Mohamed Omer, board member of ‘Gardens of Peace’ the largest dedicated Muslim cemetery in the country discuss the theological reasons for burial. Following our special programme from Lagos last weekend we hear the latest results and predictions from Mayeni Jones in Nigeria.

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Photo credit: Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York.

Nigeria’s presidential elections on February 16 will decide who leads Africa’s most populous nation for the next four years.

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The Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, talks to Emily Buchanan at the launch of his review into the persecution of Christians around the world.

The Bishop of Liverpool Paul Bayes is one of the most vocal advocates of LGBTI inclusion in the House of Bishops. He tells Emily Buchanan about his new book The Table and why he believes the Church needs to be open to all those on the margins.

And - its the largest gathering of humanity on the planet but Rahul Tandon tells Emily how the Hindu pilgrimage, Kumbh Mela, is being used as a political platform ahead of upcoming Indian elections.

Producers: Catherine Earlam; Louise Clarke-Rowbotham

On this Holocaust Memorial Day, Edward talks to Hannah Lewis who survived a Nazi labour camp.

Olivia Marks-Woldman joins Hannah to discuss new figures on British attitudes to the Holocaust.

Composer Will Todd talks about his new CD of jazz/gospel 'Passion Music'.

Further allegations against the late Bishop of Chichester - George Bell are "unfounded" according to a new CofE report. The current Bishop of Chichester - Martin Warner - explains why.

Professor Raphael Luciani describes the unrest in Venezuela.

'Hate preachers' - we discuss whether or not their speeches at British universities are being properly monitored.

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Editor: Amanda Hancox

Amit and Naroop have photographed world famous musicians including 50 Cent and Tinie Tempah but this week launch a book of striking images of Turban wearing Sikhs. They talk to William Crawley about the project.

The remains of six unidentified victims of the Holocaust, sent to the Imperial War Museum 20 years ago, will be given a Jewish burial on Sunday. William Crawley speaks to the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, who is officiating at the service.

In the week that up to fifteen Catholic churches received bomb and stabbing threats, we speak to Nick Tolson from National Churchwatch and the Reverend David MacGeoch, about whether enough is being done to protect clergy.

The New Room in Bristol is Methodism's oldest chapel, built by John Wesley in 1739. Bob Walker reports after an 18-month, multi-million pound renovation that includes a new stained glass window telling the story of Wesley's life.

The Church of England has faced criticism for its investments in Amazon and Google but it is also using its financial weight to pressure oil companies such as ExxonMobil to disclose greenhouse gas reduction targets. Loretta Minghella is First Church Estates Commissioner, in charge of the Church’s £8.3bn investment fund. She speaks to Edward Stourton.

More than 130 people were killed through violent crime in London last year. This week Jaden Moodie, 14, was murdered after being knocked off a moped in Waltham Forest. He is believed to be the youngest victim to die on the capital’s streets in the past year. Tobi Adegboyega is lead pastor of Spac Nation Ministries, a church in south London that uses former gang members to show others caught in crime a different way of life.

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For more than three centuries, St. Bride's Church in Fleet Street has had a close connection with the newspaper industry. The saddest services are funerals of journalists killed in the line of duty. Between 1st January and 14th December 2018, at least 53 journalists were killed around the world. Standing in front of the journalists’ altar, Edward meets two veteran journalists - the BBC’s Lyce Doucet and the photojournalist Sebastian Rich to discuss the changing nature of war zone reporting.

Later today, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will officially gain its independence from the Russian Orthodox Church. Jonathan Luxmoore explains the importance of the split.

As new figures reveal an influx of lone child refugees amongst the boatloads of people crossing the Channel, the Bishop of Dover talks about the need to show greater compassion for those risking their lives to get to the UK.

James Cary is a sit-com writer who also sits on the Church of England’s General Synod. He says that Christians have lost the ability to see the humour in the Bible. He talks to Edward about his new book ‘The Sacred Art of Joking’.

Indian women have been demonstrating in Kerala against their exclusion from the Sabarimala Temple. The BBC’s India correspondent Yogita Limaye explains why.

Jair Bolsonaro was sworn in as president of Brazil on New Year’s Day. What impact is his faith going to have on his country now that he holds the reins of power? The BBC’s South America correspondent Katy Watson reports.

Producers: Helen Lee and Catherine Earlam