Sunday

In the autumn of 1620, 102 passengers set sail from England aboard the Mayflower. Many of those sailing were Puritans, looking for the freedom to practice their religious ideas. Others wanted a fresh start in the New World. The treacherous journey took 66 days and as the Pilgrims established their new colony they battled harsh winters, disease and internal dissent.As the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s journey is about to be commemorated, Emily Buchanan explores the Pilgrim’s journey, their relationship with Native Americans and discovers how their political and religious beliefs helped shape modern America.Producers: David Cook Dan TierneySeries Producer: Amanda Hancox

As we approach Christmas, Emily Buchanan has been to Bethlehem to speak to the Christian community living there. The new Archbishop of York, Rt Rev Stephen Cotterell joins Edward Stourton live to to talk about his plans for his new role.Sue Peart was the Editor of the Mail on Sunday YOU magazine but in 2018 she stepped down from her post and a few months later her mother passed away. Struggling to cope, Sue kept the Samaritans number by her bedside “just in case”. When her life got back on track she decided to volunteer for Samaritans. She talks about the challenges of manning their phones at Christmas.For 37 years, Sir Stephen Cleobury was musical director of one of the world’s most famous choirs - King’s College, Cambridge. He died recently and the Sunday programme pays tribute to his work.Producers: Rajeev Gupta Louise Clarke-Rowbotham Editor: Amanda Hancox

Director Fernando Meirelles discusses his film The Two Popes.The role that religion played in the election has been described as unprecedented and worrying. Edward Stourton hears why with journalist Sunny Hundal and author Ben Ryan.And how to have a green and sustainable Christmas. Producers: Catherine Earlam Carmel LonerganSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox

Megan Phelps-Roper’s grew up in the Westboro Baptist Church. The church is notorious for its preaching against gay people, Jews, Muslims and for picketing the funerals of American soldiers and the American Holocaust museum. Megan has now changed her views and her life. She tells us what made her preach hate and what led to her eventual transformation.A new Netflix documentary charts the rise and fall of one of the worlds foremost Yoga “Gurus’” Bikram Choudhury. The film first traces how Choudhury built his “Bikram” empire of hot yoga studios, training celebrities and amassing devotees. However Bikram has been accused by some followers of sexual assault and his empire appears to be unraveling. Journalist Julia Henderson, a former Bikram devotee herself, uncovered some of the allegations against him and speaks to Edward about what she found.A couple who were rejected by their local adoption service because of their Indian heritage have won their legal discrimination battle. Sandeep and Reena Mander sued The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council after they were turned away from Adopt Berkshire three years ago. We hear their reaction to decision And Professor Keith Brown, Director of The National Center for Post-Qualifying Social Work and Professional Practice speaks to us about his new report on how Christian organisations can be better prepared when working with the vulnerable people in need of care.PRODUCERS: RAJEEV GUPTA PETER EVERETTEDITOR: AMANDA HANCOX

In the aftermath of the attack on London Bridge Southwark Cathedral will have clergy available to listen and talk. Emily asks the Dean of Southwark Cathedral, Andrew Nunn, what the response has been from the community. The dean will also talk about how they will navigate through the weeks building up to Christmas as its the first Sunday in advent and what the plans are. Ahead of UN climate conference COP25 which starts in Madrid next week, Neil Thorns, Director of Advocacy & Communications at Catholic relief agency CAFOD and Chair of The Climate Coalition, talks about hopes and aspirations for the meeting and how the Catholic Church is about to embark on a major push on the environment. Police Constable Marie Reavey, Chair of the Christian Police Association, talks about a new resource to help faith based organisations partner with the police to help tackle social problems such as homelessness, isolation and addiction.Producers Carmel Lonergan Catherine EarlamEditor Amanda HancoxPicture copyright Southwark Cathedral.

This week the Rt Rev Dr Rose Hudson-Wilkin became the first black woman to be consecrated a bishop in the Church of England. The former chaplain to the speaker of the House of Commons joins Emily Buchannan. A new report released by the Church of England paints a damning picture of the Church's record on anti-Semitism. The report urges Christians to not only be repentant for the “sins of the past” against Jews, but also to challenge active attitudes and stereotypes. We hear from the Bishop of Coventry, Dr Christopher Cocksworth and Dayan Ivan Binstock, Senior Rabbi at St John's Wood Synagogue. As the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong continue, theologian Dr Krish Kandiah has been speaking to Joshua Wong, the secretary-general of pro-democracy party Demosisto about his faith and the tactics of the protest movement. A row has broken out after some members of Churches Together England blocked a Quaker who is in a same sex marriage from becoming a president of the organisation. Emily speaks to Quaker Hannah Brock Womack and the Revd Dr Paul Goodliffe from CTE.PRODUCERS: RAJEEV GUPTA PETER EVERETTSERIES EDITOR: AMANDA HANCOX

A London Church is under investigation for alleged fraud and financial irregularities after church goers claimed they were persuaded to take out large loans. The Sunday programme reports on claims and puts the claims to a representative of the church. Sima Kotecha reports on how religious voting "banks" could influence this year’s general election.And we hear from the Bishop of Hertford, Michael Beasley, a former epidemiologist at Imperial College London, who has been to the Democratic Republic of the Congo where the world's second largest Ebola outbreak continues. He's joined by the United Nations Ebola Emergency Response Coordinator, David Gressly, to talk about the key role Churches are playing in the fight against the disease.ProducerCatherine Earlam Carmel Lonergan Series Producer Amanda Hancox

Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, Paul Mason, the Roman Catholic Bishop for the Armed Forces met his Argentinian counterpart in Rome to return a statue of Our Lady of Lujan. The statue was left behind at the end of the Falklands War and brought back to Britain. In the exchange attended by Pope Francis, the Argentinians presented a replica for the military cathedral in Aldershot. She's been called the 'Trump Whisperer' because of her closeness to the American president. This week the Pentecostal preacher Paula White was named as Advisor to the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative. A well known televangelist - Paula White's new role is seen as a sign that President Trump is keen to keep the support of religious conservative voters. So who is Paula White and how has she forged this preacher - president relationship?This week Cardinal Nichols the leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales was called to give evidence to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. We report on his appearance and hear exclusively from one of the abuse survivors who was referred to in the hearing. Producers: David Cook Rajeev GuptaSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox

The Archbishop of York has said that a slow "environmental genocide" is taking place in Nigeria’s Bayelsa State. Speaking in an exclusive interview with the BBC as part of a commission investigating oil spills in the Niger Delta, Dr John Sentamu said that oil companies needed to end a culture of double standards in Nigeria. The BBC’s Mayeni Jones travelled with the Archbishop to Nigeria earlier this year, ahead of the publication of the commission’s interim report this week. She spoke to him about what he found there. Women aren't allowed to be ordained as monks in Thailand but some women have instead been ordained abroad, and have returned to the country to live as female monks. It began with Dhammananda, who was the first woman in Thai history to be ordained as a female monk. She is being celebrated as a member of the BBC 100 Women list this year. Aurora Almendral met her and heard her story. The Catholic Church is the focus of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) this week. Donna Birrell reports on what the inquiry has heard.To mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Edward hears from a couple with an extraordinary story to tell.Producer:Catherine Earlam Peter Everett Series Producer:Amanda Hancox

From this weekend there’s a ban on climbing ‘Uluru’ in Australia’s Northern Territory. Anthropologist Professor Veronica Strang tells William Crawley why the site is so sacred to the aborigines.In the wake of the deaths of 39 people in a lorry William hears from the Salvation Army’s Kathy Betteridge about their work with victims human trafficking. Dr Carrie Pemberton Ford from the Cambridge Centre for Applied Research in Human Trafficking tells him about the numbers of people caught up in this trade – and some of the stories behind them. To mark the 100th anniversary of the confirmation of the theory of relativity, Professor Alister McGrath talks about Eistein's religion and his quest for a theory of everything.As the Vatican’s ‘Amazon Synod’ comes to an end we hear about the issues that were discussed and the decisions reached.Childlessness is on the rise in the UK due to infertility but also to choice. What are the implications of this for the practice and theology of the churches? William discuss this with Dr Dawn Llewellyn from Chester University who has studied Christian attitudes to childlessness and Sheridan Vosey, the Christian writer and speaker, who has been unable to have children with his wife.Producers: Amanda Hancox Rosie Dawson