Sunday

A 19 year old has just taken up her post as a chaplain with the Railway Mission, which aims to support rail staff and passengers who are caught up in accidents on the tracks. Edward Stourton talks to Hannah Tuck about the appeal and challenges of the job.The Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) publishes research into spiritual abuse tomorrow. What is meant by the term? Where is it most prevalent and how can such abuse be prevented?Gavin Drake was expecting to spend Thursday quietly at home remembering his wife, Jill Saward, on the first anniversary of her death. Jill Saward had spent many years campaigning for the rights of rape victims after her own experience of rape in the Ealing vicarage in the 1980s. But the day was given added piquancy with the news that a parole board had decided that convicted rapist John Worboys should be released from jail. Kevin Boquet reports on a training programme for head teachers, devised and run by the Church of England which has received government accreditation. A Kent vicar has found a novel way of getting brides to the church on time; he fines them if they are more than ten minutes late.And - all he wants for Christmas is .......Vladimir Putin celebrates Orthodox Christmas confident of another Presidential term.Producers: Rosie Dawson and Helen Lee.Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

90 years ago listeners to the BBC were for the first time able to tune in to a live daily act of worship. Rosie Dawson has been looking back over the years and catching up with the current team as they celebrate this milestone.Baroness Onora O'Neill, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, talks to William about our ethics and values in the twenty first century.On New Year's eve most of us look forward to the new year according to the Gregorian Calendar but some people also follow a Lunar year. Trevor Barnes asks what's it like living life according to two calendars? He made his way one Saturday evening to the home of Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner as she prepared to see out the Sabbath with her family and her friend, the Muslim journalist Remona Aly and talked to them about living with both calendars.American religious journalist Sarah Posner looks back on President Trump's first year on office and his impact on religion in the USA.Journalists Harry Farley & Sughra Ahmed look forward to 2018 and give their thoughts on what they think the big religious stories will be.The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu talks about the stories that captured his attention in 2017 and his hopes for the New Year.Producers Carmel Lonergan Rajeev GuptaEditor Amanda Hancox.

Yolande Knell soaks up the atmosphere in Bethlehem's Manger Square as Christians worldwide prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.Reporter Vishva Samani talks to women sleeping rough in Manchester and asks why their numbers are increasing.A Muslim, a Jewish and a Hindu family each describe what they get up to on the 25th December.Two years ago, the Butrus family fled persecution Iraq and Syria because of their Christian faith. As they prepare to celebrate their second Christmas in this country, they tell Edward Stourton about their flight and their hopes for the future.In recent years, Islamic extremist such as ISIS and Boko Haram have attacked Christians in the Middle East and Africa but there is growing concern for Christian communities in India, Pakistan and China too. John Pontifex from Aid to the Church in Need tells Edward why persecution against Christians is on the rise.Since 1983, the choir of King's College Cambridge has performed a new carol at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. This year's is by Welsh composer Huw Watkins, Professor of Composition at the Royal Academy of Music, we get a sneak preview.In the early years of the 20th century, 'the wizardry of Mr Marconi' enabled the BBC to celebrate a very British sort of Christmas with the rest of the world. To take a look at those first festive offerings from Auntie Beeb, Edward is joined by Paul Kerensa, author of a new book called 'Hark! The Biography of Christmas'.Sarah Mullally has just been appointed to the one of the top jobs in the Church of England - she is going to be the next Bishop of London. She talks about the challenges ahead and how her background in nursing will impact on her new role.Producers: Helen Lee Lissa CookSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox.

Sunday morning religious news and current affairs programme presented by Edward Stourton.

President Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel sparked a mix of protest and praise this week. Journalist Allison Kaplan Sommer tells Edward why many believe the move was made to bolster support amongst his Evangelical voters in the US. What's being billed as the first ever Muslim panto begins a six day tour of Britain. The actor and comedian Abdullah Afzal is in it and he tells Edward why this pantomime is different.The Australian Royal Commission into child abuse will deliver its report next week. Interim findings have done deep damage to the reputations of many of the country's institutions, especially the churches. Australian writer Thomas Keneally, who himself trained for the priesthood, gives Edward his reaction to the fallout from the inquiry.When traumatic events happen to a community, one of the first people on the scene to organise support will be a local member of the clergy but many have received no specialist training. Sarah Swadling reports on a scheme that aims to address this.Some of the lowest paid workers are cleaners. Many have zero hour contracts and receive no holiday or sick pay. Trevor Barnes reports on a business that calls itself an ethical cleaning company to discover what they are trying to do differently.Last winter more people than ever before used a church night shelter according to research published by the charity Housing Justice today. James Langstaff , Bishop of Rochester is the Chair. ISIS may be losing the war on the physical battlefield but it's their digital strategy that is now believed to be posing the most serious threat according to Haroon Ullah, a former Senior Adviser at the US State Department.Producers: David Cook Rajeev GuptaSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox.

Actor Tamsin Greig talks about her visit to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo as an Ambassador for Tearfund and describes the work being done to tackle sexual and gender-based violence. Martin Bashir on the Pope's visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh.The Department of Education's survey of vulnerable children includes a new category "those vulnerable to abuse linked to faith and belief". How is that to be defined and prevented? Trevor Barnes reports.The story of what happened to the last Jews of Iraq is the subject of a new documentary "Remember Baghdad". Edward talks to David Dangoor about his great grandfather who was a former Chief Rabbi of Baghdad. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are getting married - and the flurry around the news revealed quite a lot of confusion about the status of divorcees in Church of England and the rites of baptism and confirmation. Rev Ian Paul will shed some light on it on the confusion. The Muslim population in Europe could almost double by 2050. Conrad Hackett, from the Pew Research Centre tells Edward about the predictions of their report 'Europe's Growing Muslim Population'. Sheik Ibraham Mogra and Katie Harrison, Director of the Faith Research Centre, discuss the report's findings.Producers Carmel Lonergan Louise Clarke-RowbothamEditor Amanda HancoxPhoto Credit: Geoff Crawford Go to www.tearfund.org/ukaidmatch to find out more.

Following the deadly attack on a mosque in northern Sinai, the Egyptian government have launched air strikes against those responsible. We look into what motivated the attack with Scott Lucas from the University of Birmingham.St Francis is the first purpose built Anglican church to open in 40 years. Bob Walker asks if a new church on a North London housing estate can really make a difference to inner city communities.As Pope Francis prepares to fly to Myanmar and Bangladesh we hear from Catholic commentator Tom Reese who believes he shouldn't be going. Chris Bain, Director of the Catholic Aid agency, CAFOD will tell William Crawley what the Pope's likely to see on the ground.Do you prefer gin or champagne in your advent calendar? And then there's the question of what your cat should have in theirs. Alternatively you could do a Reverse Advent Calendar and make donations to a foodbank. Churches have an abundance of land that could be turned over to environmental projects to help local communities increase biodiversity in their neighbourhood. Sarah Swadling reports from two schemes that are making the most of the land around churches in the south west of England.Hindu nationalists in India have threatened actors and the director of a Bollywood film which they claim distorts the past and hurts Hindu sentiments. Rahul Tandon tells William threats have been extended to cinemas in the UK to prevent the film being screened here. As Zimbabwe's new President takes office, we explore what role the Churches will have as the country moves forward. We hear from two religious leaders there and from Christopher Chessun, the Bishop of Southwark whose diocese has links with country.Producers: David Cook Peter EverettSeries Prodcuer: Amanda Hancox.

Writer Mark Vernon has been to see the Roman Temple of Mithras that has been restored in the City of London. He joins Edward to discuss who the deity Mithras was and what the cult's followers believed. While many Hindus avoid eating beef because they consider the cow as sacred - milk and clarified butter are regularly used in religious worship. But a campaign's been launched by a Hindu vegan calling on temples to abolish all use of dairy. Vishva Samani reports.A new report from the University of Exeter says religious education teaching is 'incoherent, confused and outdated.' Professor Rod Freathy, and Ben Wood, vice chair of the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education debate.The Voce Chamber Choir has released a new disc "99 Words" a tribute to the late Sir John Tavener. It features a number of works by him and by composer Roxanna Panfunik. Roxanna explains why she is inspired by Tavener. Shingai Nyoka reports from Harare on the latest situation in Zimbabwe. Madeline Davies from The Church Times tells Edward why the Greek Orthodox Church is selling it's land in Israel. A British citizen Jagtar Singh has been arrested in the Punjab over allegations he was involved in funding the killings of Hindu nationalist leaders. Dr. Jasjit Singh researcher of Sikh religion at Leeds University and journalist, Amardeep Bassey discuss Sikh fundamentalism in the UK and the impact it's having in India.Producers Carmel Lonergan Rajeev GuptaEditor Amanda HancoxPhoto Credit: Temple of Mithras dig 1954 photo by Robert Hitchman (c)️MOLA.

This Remembrance Sunday we are looking at the life of the only soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice during World War One. He was a doctor, a sportsman and the son of a former Bishop of Liverpool. His name was Noel Chavasse. He's still revered in his home city and Kevin Bocquet has been to Liverpool to hear about the man.In her book 'The Keys and the Kingdom', Catherine Pepinster looks at the relationship between the papacy and the British. Edward asks her how have things changed in the last 25 years.On November 15, the results of Australia's postal ballot on same sex marriage will be announced. Phil Mercer reports from Sydney on how religious groups there are reacting ahead of the results.Satnam Sanghera is the author of 'The Boy with the Topknot'. He talks to Edward about the BBC 1 adaptation, as it dramatises his story of growing up as a second generation Sikh in the UK , not having an arranged marriage and discovering secrets about his family. All week revelations from the 'Paradise Papers' have given an insight into the tax affairs of individuals and institutions. Many of the tax arrangements are legal but are they 'morally criminal' as the Methodist Tax Justice Network claim? Barbara Ridpath, Director of the St Paul's Institute and Laura Taylor, Head of Advocacy at Christian Aid debate.What was the contribution of Muslim soldiers during World War One and why is knowing this important to British Muslims? Hayaan Bhabha, from the All Party Parliamentary Group of British Muslims tells us about new figures he's uncovered and their relevance to Muslims in Britain today.Producers: David Cook Lissa CookEditor: Amanda HancoxPhoto of Noel Chavasse & Doreen the horse courtesy of Liverpool Scottish Museum Trust.

Abbey House, retreat centre in Glastonbury is closing after 80 years. Despite a growing interest in pilgrimage, Sarah Swadling explores why a growing number of venues are shutting their doors.Bishop James Jones reflects on his time listening to and supporting the families of the 96 unlawfully killed at Hillsborough. This week the Bishop released his report which recommended how public institutions should treat the relatives of people killed in tragedies. The church played an important role in drawing up the 2005 Gambling act but what influence can they have on legislation tackling "Fixed Odd Betting Terminals" Bob Walker reports. Humanists say Lords reform proposals give more voting power to Bishops at a time when their significance in society is diminishing. Andrew Copson the Chief Executive of Humanist UK and Lord Richard Harries debate this and the role of other faiths in the House of Lords. First lady of Zimbabwe Grace Mugabe will be attending "Super Sunday" rally with religious groups. Shingai Nyoka reports from Harare on the implications of her presence at the rally and tells us who the religious group are? Producers Carmel Lonergan Rajeev GuptaEditor Amanda Hancox.