Sunday

Churches across the country are bracing themselves for a significant new financial challenge. Until now, they’ve been able to reclaim VAT on essential repairs for everything from leaky roofs to dilapidated towers. But from April, that protection goes, and they'll have to pay a 20-per-cent tax to the government. William Crawley speaks to Sir Philip Rutnam, Chair of the National Churches Trust. At the start of the year, the Jamia Usmania mosque in Bradford posted a video on social media of its pilates class for older men, and it went viral. William hears from the mosque’s general secretary Mohammed Ilyas and pilates instructor Zafar Kayani and tries a few pilates moves in the studio. Over the past few weeks, we’ve devoted a series to faith and Gen Z: rising Bible sales, social media influencers, and the online “orthobro” phenomenon. We've also previously reported on the battle between statisticians about whether or not the data points to a "quiet revival". But this week, Humanists UK offered a new analysis of the British Social Attitudes Survey which, they say, ends the debate once and for all. To explore what’s really going on, we hear from Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK and Linda Woodhead, professor of Theology and Religious Studies at King’s College London.PRESENTER: William Crawley PRODUCERS: Katy Davis & James Leesley STUDIO MANAGERS: Mike Smith & Lyndsey Akehurst EDITOR: Dan Tierney

People are facing increased financial strain as funeral costs rise, according to the Quaker Social Action charity. One of the unexpected bills that hits people at this vulnerable moment is the high burial charge some local authorities demand if the person who has died lives in another borough, even if they are geographically close by. As part of our series on young people and religious revivals, we are looking at the increase in new members of the Orthodox Church in the UK and ask whether online influencers or 'Orthobros' are one of the reasons behind the rise. As Brooklyn Peltz Beckham says he doesn’t want to reconcile with his family, we explore what faith leaders say about forgiveness, reconciliation and familial estrangement. His parents, Sir David and Lady Victoria Beckham, haven't officially responded. PRESENTER: EMILY BUCHANAN PRODUCERS: KATY BOOTH & BARA'ATU IBRAHIM STUDIO MANAGERS: BECKY MARCUS, GEORGE WILLIS, SAM BIDDLE & AMY BRENNAN EDITOR: CATHERINE MURRAY

The capture of the Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro, the attacks on alleged drug-running boats off the Venezuelan coast, the threats to strike the regime in Iran, the determination to take Greenland even though it is the territory of a fellow NATO member, the musings about invoking the 1807 Insurrection Act so that active-service troops can be deployed on the streets of Minneapolis - all of these things raise profound legal and moral questions. Edward Stourton speaks to the Catholic archbishop Timothy Broglio who leads the United States Archdiocese for the Military Services.Sales of the Bible have rocketed according to data from Britain's biggest Christian publisher, SPCK. For most of the 2010s they ran at a reasonably steady rate - between two and a half and three million a year - but they began to take off in 2021, and last year they hit over six million three hundred thousand. This comes amid claims of a religious revival being led by younger people. We begin a mini-series of reports devoted to Gen Z believers. There has been a huge increase in the proportion of imams in this country who are British born, according to new research. A study nearly two decades ago found the figure was just eight percent - a new study, due to be published this autumn, concludes the figure has increased to forty eight percent, or nearly half. The findings form part of Cardiff University's 'Understanding British Imams' research project.PRESENTER: Edward Stourton PRODUCERS: Dan Tierney & Katy Davis STUDIO MANAGERS: Chris Mather, Luke Holmes & Phil Booth EDITOR: Tim Pemberton

As protests in Iran continue into their 16th day, Emily Buchanan asks Prof Ali Ansari whether the country is ready to end almost 50 years of clerical rule. Elegy from a Scottish church, as parishioners say goodbye to the Holy Family Parish in Inverclyde, one of more than 300 that have closed in Scotland since 2020.We hear about 'Born in Bethlehem' the BBC documentary that tracked the lives of Palestinian women giving birth in a Catholic-run hospital in the West Bank. Should the C of E foot the bill for lower income couples to encourage marriage? Church wedding costs are under scrutiny after a centre-right think tank, the Centre for Social Justice made the recommendation aimed at promoting marriage to improve outcomes for boys. The Universities of Leeds and Cambridge team up to train UK Muslims how to spot the moon themselves and end the so called 'moon wars' that often mark the end of Ramadan. Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: Catherine Murray & Bara'atu Ibrahim Studio Managers: Paul Everatt & Helen Williams Editor: Chloe Walker

The citizens of Caracas in Venezuela were woken in the early hours yesterday by airstrikes and later discovered that President Maduro and his wife had been captured and taken for trial to the US. Presbyterian minister, Rev Ricardo Corzo is in Caracas and has been speaking to the programme following a night of little sleep.Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy has announced a recruitment drive for more magistrates to help deal with the huge backlog in the courts, which follows his controversial proposal to abolish jury trials in all but the most serious cases. He and cabinet colleague Wes Streeting have made no secret of their Christian faith - a change from the Blair years when Labour famously 'didn't do God'. David Lammy is asked about his faith and its fundamental role in justice. Gospel musician Richard Smallwood, has died at the age of 77. He is known for hits such as Total Praise and The Centre of My Joy. His work has also been covered by artists including Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder. Founder and conductor of the Kingdom Choir, Karen Gibson, speaks about the influence Richard Smallwood had on her and the gospel genre.Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: Katy Booth and Katy Davis Studio Managers: Olivia Miceli, Mike Smith and Phillip Halliwell Editor: Dan Tierney

Of all living composers, perhaps none are more closely associated with the sound of Christmas than John Rutter and Bob Chilcott. Earlier this year, both marked milestone birthdays - Rutter turned 80 and Chilcott 70. A few days before Christmas, we caught up with them to talk about carols, choirs, and the enduring magic of the season.Jimmy Lai is one of Hong Kong’s most prominent critics of the Beijing government: a media tycoon, democracy campaigner, and a Roman Catholic. The 78-year-old British citizen has been in prison since December 2020 and is now, after last week's guilty verdicts, facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison. In her first interview with UK media, his daughter Claire Lai, tells the BBC's Danny Vincent she fears her father may become a martyr. 'Before The Millennium'- a Christmas production by Karim Khan. It's set in a Woolworths store in 1999, the year Ramadan and the Christmas season coincided. It explores the friendship between two migrant women during the festive season. Muslim writers and performers like Karim are telling stories of faith, friendship and everyday life as British Muslims, and fringe theatre has become an increasingly important platform for them.Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & Catherine Murray Studio Managers: Mike Smith & Patrick Shaw Editor: Tim Pemberton

The Catholic Church in England and Wales has a new leader - Richard Moth has been named as the new Archbishop of Westminster, succeeding Cardinal Vincent Nichols who turned 80 last month. We hear from Ruth Gledhill, Assistant Editor at the Catholic weekly The Tablet. A new song from the singer-songwriter and political activist Billy Bragg is called "Put Christ back into Christmas". The title is a reference to the current campaign by the far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Last weekend we reported on the Robinson-inspired carol service in London; Billy Bragg turned out for a rival carol service orgainsed by Stand up to Racism. He explains why. Today is the winter solstice - the shortest day of the year when, as the priest poet John Donne put it, the "whole world's sap is sunk". At three minutes past three this afternoon the earth tilts furthest from the sun, and from that moment the days begin to lengthen. It is a moment marked in pagan tradition, and we are joined by Erin Johansen, the first pagan chaplain at Sussex University who is also training to be a Priestess of Avalon.Presenter: Edward Stourton Producers: Katy Davis and James Leesley Technical Producers: Isabelle Whitehead & Sharon Williams Editor: Tim Pemberton

Should the confirmation of Bishop Sarah Mullaly as Archbishop of Canterbury be postponed whilst a complaint against her for the alleged mishandling of a sex abuse case is investigated? We talk to Donna Birrell, who broke the story and to Rev Robert Thompson, a priest in the London diocese.The mystery of the star of Bethlehem - has it been finally solved? NASA Planetary scientist Mark Matney discusses his theory that it could have been a comet recorded by Chinese astronomers in 5BC.If it wasn’t for Jane Austen’s brother her novels would never have been published. So claims Christopher Herbert, former Bishop of St Alban’s, whose new book “Jane Austen’s Favourite Brother: Henry” tells the story of their close relationship.“Put the Christ back in Christmas” was the title of the carol concert organised by Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom in central London yesterday. We hear from one of the organisers, Pastor Rikki Doolan, and from Nick Spencer, senior fellow at the Christian think tank Theos, who is studying the rise of Christian Nationalism in the UK.Presenter: William Crawley Producers: Amanda Hancox and Rosie Dawson Technical Producers: Sharon Hughes, Isabelle Whitehead & Amy Brennan Editor: Tim Pemberton

Explore the dramatic rise of Evangelicalism in Venezuela amid a backdrop of political pressure and impending US strikes. Hear insights from Dr. Fernando Mora on the transformation of the nation's religious landscape and the surprising political alliance between Maduro and evangelicals. Delve into the history of Advent traditions with Dr. Colin Donnelly, tracing their evolution over centuries. Reflect on the life of Tom Stoppard, whose late discovery of his Jewish heritage profoundly influenced his creative work, as discussed with biographer Ira Nadel.

Keith Getty, a renowned Northern Irish composer famous for co-writing 'In Christ Alone', shares insights into the hymn-writing process. He reveals the origins of his hit melody, crafted under unusual circumstances, and discusses family collaborations on new projects. Alim Makbul, BBC Religion editor, provides on-the-ground updates on the Pope's significant visit to Turkey, highlighting interfaith dialogues and pressing issues in the region, including the Pope's message of unity amid religious tensions. Together, they explore the intersection of faith, culture, and community.