Sunday

The British raid of 1897 on Benin City in the Southern Nigerian State of Edo, saw thousands of looted items end up in galleries and Museums across the UK. One recipient was the Horniman Museum and Gardens in South-East London. Only this week, they returned six out of seventy-two items, to Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments. The remainder will remain on loan for now. Among those items returned are two Benin Bronze Plaques from the Royal Palace of Benin. The BBC’s Peter Macjob tells William Crawley about the spiritual significance of these Plaques for the community of Benin.This week’s Census results drew out some surprising revelations including a ten-fold rise in those identifying themselves as Shaman. But one particular statistic which grabbed a lot of media attention was that for the first time, fewer than half of people in England and Wales described themselves as Christian. William asks what determines whether Britain is or is not a Christian country with guests Dr Scot Peterson, Lecturer in Politics at the University of Oxford, and Rt Revd Dr. Helen-Ann Hartly, Bishop of Ripon. All through Advent we are teaming up with BBC Radio 3 Saturday Breakfast to bring you some of the nation’s favourite Christmas Carol’s. This week Presenter Elizabeth Alker meets with one of the original members of The Temptations, Otis Williams, to discuss ‘Silent Night’. And we want to hear from you, what's your favourite Carol and why is it so important to you. Email us at Sunday@bbc.co.ukPhoto: Benin Bronze plaque of Oba Orhogbua (circa 1550-1578) holding a staff representing authority and power and with Iwu, royal tattoos. Photo Credit: Horniman Museum and Gardens Producers: Jill Collins and Helen Lee Editor: Tim Pemberton

Islam has given the world some exquisite and spectacularly beautiful art. Now, modern Islamic Art is being celebrated at Bayt Al Fann, a two-day international digital festival on 28-29 November. The event will showcase contemporary artists from across the world, who have been inspired by the Islamic tradition. It will also explore how Islamic art might evolve in the future. William Crawley meets two of the artists, British-Bahraini poet Taher Adel, who is a spoken word performer and Samira Mian who uses watercolours to paint sacred Islamic geometry. There are more details about the Bayt Al Fann website at https://www.baytalfann.com/Can faith and politics really mix? William speaks to Tim Farron, the former Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party and sitting MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale about his new book ‘A Mucky Business’ Why Christians Should Get Involved in Politics. What is your favourite Christmas carol, and why do you love it so much? During Advent, we are teaming up with the BBC Radio 3 Saturday Breakfast team to celebrate some of the nation's most popular carols. Today, presenter Elizabeth Alker meets composer and conductor John Rutter, to discuss Once In Royal David's City. Email us and tell us about your favourite carol and why it's important to you: sunday@bbc.co.ukProducers: Jonathan Hallewell and Louise Clark-Rowbotham Presenter: William Crawley(Image courtesy of Samira Mian)

Albania’s Catholic Bishops have raised concerns about the depopulation of their country through migration. Edward Stourton explores the impact of this with Sister Imelda Poole, who works much of the year in Albania and is President of RENATE, an organisation dedicated to combatting human trafficking. Jazz musician Courtney Pine is back on tour across the UK performing material from his new album ‘Spirituality’. He tells the Sunday programme how religion, spirituality and jazz have all come together in this latest work. The National Association of Muslim Police is calling for the word ‘Islamist’ to be dropped from Counter-Terrorism Policing, they say it reflects negatively on Islam in general. Edward explores the nuances with Alexander Gent, Chairman of the National Association of Muslim Police and Dr Stephen Jones from the University of Birmingham Bishop Jude Arogundade, from the Diocese of Ondo in Nigeria, tells Edward of his concerns for the Christian community across the country. Harry Farley reports on ‘ANie’ the breakaway network of churches creating its own formal Anglican denomination, as an alternative for conservative members of the Church of England. Catholic Priest, Father Ray Kelly tells about his ambition to represent Ireland at next year's Eurovision Song Contest.And as the World Cup kicks off in Qatar, we ask whether the FIFA President's claims about the moral hypocrisy of western Journalists in their reporting on the country's human rights record, hold any weight? Our guests Jonty Langley, writer on faith and politics and co-presenter of the Beer Christianity Podcast and journalist Amardeep Bassey, media trainer and consultant.Photo Credit: Alfred BaileyProducers: Jill Collins and Rosie Dawson Editor: Tim Pemberton

Back in September violence spread between Hindu and Muslim groups on the streets of Leicester. An inquiry was swiftly set up to look into the unrest, but the academic chosen to lead the review has had to step down just days after being appointed. William Crawley and guests examine the issues. With a week to go until the World Cup kicks off in Qatar, what is life like for women there? BBC presenter Salma El Wardany has been finding out for a World Service documentary, along with Yousra Samir who spent her adolescent years in the Gulf state.Is there a church sign that's caught your eye, with a quotation that made you think, a joke that made you smile, or a pun that made you grimace? We explore the phenomenon of the wayside pulpit. Email us: Sunday@bbc.co.uk or tweet us @R4Sunday if you’ve seen some particularly good ones! Producers: Dan Tierney and Jonathan Hallewell Editor: Helen Grady.

It's an issue which has divided the Church of England for decades, and now the Bishop of Oxford, the Right Reverend Dr. Steven Croft has become the most senior cleric in the Church to speak out in favour of same-sex marriage. But will the growing support for the bishop's stance make any difference to the future direction of the church? Ed Stourton explores the issue with Dr Andrew Goddard, he was on the Steering Group for the church's Living and Loving in Faith Project and is a member of the Church of England Evangelical Council, and Ben Bradshaw, a former Labour cabinet minister and practicing Anglican who sits on parliament's Ecclesiastical Committee.Could the Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat on Friday have an impact in tackling climate change? A new study suggests it could potentially reduce carbon emissions. Edward assesses the details with Professor Shaun Lacrom, from the Department of Land Economy at the University of Cambridge, and Bishop John Arnold, the environmental lead for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. 'Ring for the King' is the campaign to recruit and train thousands of new bellringers ahead of next year's Coronation of King Charles on 6 May. Reporter Mark Hutchings joined a team of bellringers to find out what it takes to become expert in pulling the ropes. And as Remembrance weekend draws near, Major Daljinder Singh Virdee from the Defence Sikh Network explains how he was inspired to develop a version of the Nitnem Gutka Sahib, or daily Prayer Book for Sikhs in the military, after seeing an image of a Sikh soldier in the trenches during the Great War.Photo: Bellringers from St. Woolos Cathedral at St. Basil's Church, Newport. Producers: Jill Collins and Fiona Leach Editor: Tim Pemberton

We have a new Hindu Prime Minister! It's the first time this has happened in the UK. So how will Rishi Sunak's faith inform his leadership? We find out from two experts.Many are dreading the cost of fuel bills this Winter - but a new faith-led campaign is offering people the chance to use free, safe, warm spaces across the UK. The Warm Welcome campaign, set up by the ChurchWorks Commission, has signed up more 2,200 organisations to the scheme and has an interactive map on its website showing where they are. We hear from one organisation and a young mum who uses it.The trial of Cardinal Zen, the former Catholic bishop of Hong Kong, is re-opening. It comes days after the renewal of the Vatican's provisional agreement with Beijing over the appointment of bishops - a deal which the 90 year old Cardinal has openly criticised. We hear the views of Lord Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, who is himself a Catholic. And, in what's believed to be the first time in the UK, a cathedral has hosted a performance of Islamic nasheeds. The Bradford Nasheed Choir, which is made up of boys aged between six and 14, combines the Islamic tradition of nasheed, sung with one line of harmony, with the Western tradition of polyphony, so that nasheeds are sung in two, three or four-part harmony. Hussnain Hanif, a well-known nasheed artist, joins us to tell us how the performance went.Presented by Emily Buchanan. Produced by Julia Paul and Fiona Leach.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has published its final report. One of the key recommendations is for mandatory reporting of child sex abuse, even if that abuse is disclosed to a priest in a confessional. So, what are the implications for those churches with a confessional tradition where confidentiality is sacrosanct? William speaks to bishop Paul Mason, the lead on safeguarding for the Catholic Church in England and Wales. The Sikh community kitchens known as ‘Langar’ are coming under pressure in the current cost of living crisis. As energy and fuel prices continue to rise, so does the demand for free food. Our reporter Nina Robinson visited a Gurdwara in Coventry to see how they are coping as they prepare to feed more than five thousand people over Diwali.The theologian, poet and former archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Rowan Williams has gathered together one hundred poems from the last one hundred years which explore the themes of faith and belief, in ‘A Century of Poetry’. He discusses with William how can poetry help us in our spiritual journeys.And as the Conservative Party get set to appoint a replacement to Liz Truss as the next prime minister, William considers whether the notion of the common good has been lost in the melee of competitive politics, with Daniel Greenberg, the newly appointed Parliament commissioner for standards, Ann Widdecombe, former MP and Dr Alan Smith, bishop of St. Albans and convenor of the Lords Spiritual Producers: Jill Collins and Louise Clarke-Rowbotham Editor: Helen Grady

Although the Middle East may not currently be high on the prime minister's list of priorities, faith leaders have increasingly been speaking out about her controversial proposal to move the British Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital, and it’s one of the most sensitive issues in their long running conflict. As the BBC's religion reporter Harry Farley explains, if the British Embassy was relocated, it would break with decades of UK foreign policy, which until this point has been that the divided city should host consulates, rather than embassies, until a final peace agreement is reached.Thousands of Ukrainians who fled the war and came to live in the UK with host families for six months are now having to find somewhere new to live. For many host families, it's been a positive experience, but others have found it really difficult sharing their home with their Ukrainian guests. We hear from one refugee who now has to find a new home, and the charity that's helping.In Iran the authorities are doing everything they can to suppress the protests that have blown up since a young woman died after being arrested for - allegedly - violating the law on hijab-wearing. But it hasn't worked. We discuss what the continuing protests mean for the Iranian regime.And across the UK, Hindus, Sikhs and Jains are busy preparing for the festival of Diwali which is just over a week away now. Diwali means 'a row of lights' in Sanskrit and symbolises good over evil and inner light over spiritual darkness. We hear a selection of musicians who will be featured on Radio 3 as part of a special celebration of the festival. Presented by Edward Stourton. Produced by Julia Paul and Amanda Hancox.

Photos emerged this week of a couple renewing their marriage vows in a Star Wars-themed ceremony in Wales. William Crawley explores the implications of themed weddings in churches.A new research project will investigate why some Muslims find it hard to access mental health services, and how more could get the help they need. We consider some of the barriers to effective treatment.The poet-singer Jake Thackray rose to fame on prime time Saturday night TV in the 1960s and 1970s with his unique style of funny, wry and bitter-sweet songs. 20 years after his death, his first full biography reveals how his working-class Catholic roots shaped the themes of social justice in his parable-like songwriting.Producers: Dan Tierney and Jill Collins Editor: Helen Grady.

For the first time in Northern Ireland’s one hundred and one year history, Census figures reveal there are more people from a Catholic background than there are Protestants. Emily Buchanan looks at what this moment means for the future of the Province. How do you engage post-millennials in the subject of Theology? Two of the finalists in this year’s ‘Theology Slam’, a competition to find new voices who think theologically about the modern world, enlighten us.The death in custody of 22 year-old Mahsa Amini has sparked waves of protest across Iran. Mahsa was arrested by the country's morality police for the way she wore her hijab. We explore how the country's strict dress code for women is igniting calls for change. C.B. Newham spent the last twenty five years documenting and photographing the contents of more than nine thousand rural Parish Churches. He explains how shifts on the world stage from politics to war to religion, helped shape the fashion for those sculptures.Leicester’s Muslim and Hindu Community Leaders are calling for peace after weeks of unrest amongst mainly young men from both faiths. We look at what’s behind the tensions in the City, usually noted for it's strong sense of interfaith harmony.In a recent meeting with a group of Faith Leaders, King Charles confirmed his commitment to the Christian faith and described Britain as a ‘community of communities’. Guests from different faith denominations discuss what the Monarch’s future relationship with religion could look like.Producers: Jill Collins and Louise Clarke-Rowbotham Editor: Dan Tierney*Photograph courtesy of C.B. Newham, author of 'Country Church Monuments'.