Sunday

Representatives of the UK's faith communities will be joining veterans and dignitaries for this year's Remembrance Sunday commemorations at the Cenotaph. William Crawley speaks to Qari Asim, senior Imam at Leeds Makkah Mosque, who will be laying a wreath on behalf of Britain's Muslims.For many of the soldiers on the frontline during the First World War, the Bible they were issued with offered spiritual comfort. As Hazel Southam reports, one bible did more than that. It saved a life.Why did so many Evangelical Christians vote to elect Donald Trump as the next US President? Author and theologian, Jim Wallis and Charmaine Yoest from the conservative Christian organisation, American Values, debate.How do America's Muslims feel about their future under a Donald Trump presidency? Zainab Chaudry of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and Saba Ahmed, president and founder of the Republican Muslim Coalition, share their views.Terry Waite speaks to Sunday about a new collection of poems, memories and reflections called 'Out of the Silence', to mark the 25th anniversary of his release from captivity in Beirut.A survey conducted for the Chief Rabbi suggests a quarter of Jewish workers are wary of talking openly about their faith at work and some have difficulty getting time off for important religious festivals. Kevin Bocquet reports.Producers: Dan Tierney Catherine EarlamSeries producer: Amanda HancoxPicture courtesy of Bible Society/Clare Kendall.

A senior Church of England Bishop has said we should be "very alarmed" at the way the newspapers reacted to the High Court decision that Parliament needs to vote on the triggering of Article 50 - the process which will take Britain out of the EU. The Bishop of Leeds, Nick Baines quoted a Daily Mail headline that called the judges, 'Enemies of the People." He debates with the Daily Mail's Stephen Glover.Hazel Southam investigates a new scheme to boost the number of chaplains working on Britain's waterways.Thomas Reese of the National Catholic Reporter and Sarah Pulliam Bailey, religion reporter for the Washington Post, discuss the importance of religion in next week's Presidential election, in particular the Catholic and Jewish vote.Police in Bangladesh have arrested dozens more people in connection with what's been called a synchronised attack on members of the Hindu minority. The BBC's Charles Haviland reports.The Church in Wales has appointed Canon Joanna Penberthy as the first woman Bishop of St Davids in Pembrokeshire. She tells Edward about her early days in the church when attitudes to women were very different.This year's remembrance commemorations coincide with the centenary of the Battle of the Somme. A new book compiles some of the epitaphs written by the families of the dead. Edward speaks to Sarah Wearne, author of "Epitaphs of the Great War: The Somme".This week sees the opening of the Tavener Centre for Music and Spirituality. The Director, the Rev June Boyce-Tillman and Dr Brian Inglis, composer and senior lecturer in music at Middlesex University explain why they see the relationship between music and spirituality as an important area for exploration.Producers: David Cook Peter EverettSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox.

William Crawley talks to Archbishop Vincent Nichols about the Santa Marta anti-trafficking conference which brought together police chiefs, the Home Secretary and the Catholic Church in Rome this week. William visits the Muslim Lifestyle Expo to hear how global brands are waking-up to one of the fastest growing consumer markets in the world. Steve Chalke from Oasis UK joins William to discuss how his organisation has set-up what he refers to as a 'safe house' for child migrants arriving in the UK from the Jungle Camp in Calais. Bob Walker reports on the 'Church for Ragamuffins' in Luton which has been set up to support recovering alcohol and drug addicts.Halloween gets bigger every year as a retail event but does it also move further away from it's ancient pagan and religious roots? Professor Ronald Hutton joins William Crawley. One of the largest compensation claims against the Catholic Church begins tomorrow at the High Court in Leeds. Over two hundred men say they were abused at the St William's approved school in in East Yorkshire. The BBC's Caroline Bilton has been following the story. The Protestant Reformation is often dated to 31st October 1517 when Martin Luther is supposed to have nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of a church in Wittenberg. But would the Reformation have happened without Luther? Dr Linda Briggs and Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch discuss.Producers: Catherine Earlam Helen Lee Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

Monsignor Nizar Semaan of the Syriac Catholic Church speaks to Edward Stourton about the hopes and fears of displaced Iraqi Christians as the operation to retake Mosul from the so-called Islamic State continues.The link between freedom of religion or belief and the prevention of violent extremism was the subject of a conference hosted by the Foreign Office this week. Trevor Barnes went along to hear the arguments.This half term, an estimated 13 thousand meals will be served to children who would usually have free school lunches. Rachel Warwick, founder and director of 'Make Lunch', the Christian Charity behind the scheme, explores the notion of 'holiday hunger' and the impact of the rising cost of living on the UK's poorest households.The political machinations of the Vatican have inspired HBO's new 10-part series, 'The Young Pope', starring Jude Law. The Tablet's arts editor Joanna Moorhead and Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith from the Catholic Herald discuss the continuing appeal of the Church as a subject for film-makers and authors. Tensions between the Chinese government and the country's expanding Christian population remain acute and many Chinese Christians meet and worship in secret. Danny Vincent has been travelling round China to find out why.Journalist Steve Cannane shares some of the revelations from his new book about Scientology.And Radio 2's Faith in the World Week explores the theme of beauty and our relationship with it. The Bishop of Gloucester Rachel Treweek speaks to Sunday about the work she is doing with young people on the subject of body image and self-esteem.Producers: Dan Tierney David CookEditor: Christine Morgan.

Patriarch Kirill is in the UK to mark 300 years of the Russian Orthodox church in Britain. However his audience with the Queen has been criticised by those who see him as an ally of President Putin at a fractious time for Anglo-Russian relations over Syria. Trevor Barnes reports.In Aleppo, Sister Annie Demerjian and her volunteers risk their lives as they deliver aid to the sick and elderly. She tells Edward how airstrikes make life there unbearable for those unable to leave.Within a year or so, the majority of Catholic Cardinals, who will elect the next Pope, are likely to have been appointed by Pope Francis. Veteran Vatican journalist Marco Politi tells Edward that recent appointments point towards a conclave composed of fewer traditionalists than ever before.Rahul Tandon reports on proposals by the Indian government to end the practice of triple talaq, which allows Muslim men to divorce their wives by saying "talaq" three times.Simon Jenkins has been on a tour of 53 Anglican and Catholic cathedrals. He tells Edward about his favourite buildings and how he went about ranking the cathedrals for his new guide, 'England's Cathedrals'.York Minster has the largest number of bells of any English Cathedral but this week it was announced they are to remain silent. Edward finds out why.While Donald Trump's campaign battles with allegations about his attitude towards women many high profile evangelicals have withdrawn their support. Sociologist Prof Tony Campolo and Jan Harper-Hayes from Republican Overseas give their views on whether evangelical Christians should continue to support Trump.Producers: Amanda Hancox Peter EverettImage: kremlin.ru.

It's the 40th anniversary Prison's Week, a Christian initiative to support all those affected by prisons. As reoffending rates continue to rise Bob Walker reports on the many faith based groups working in this field and explores their effectiveness.As the death toll continues to rise in Haiti following the devastating impact of Hurricane Matthew. Edward Stourton hears from John Hasse of faith-based charity World Vision who is working on the ground in Haiti.Leading Sikh groups have voiced disappointment after Defence Secretary Michael Fallon ruled out creating a Sikh regiment in the armed forces. Jay Singh-Sohal and Gurdinder Singh debate whether a return to Sikh regiments, once revered for their gallantry in battle, would be step forwards or a step back.Devout Catholic and world renowned composer Sir James MacMillan tells Edward Stourton what inspired him to compose a piece of music based on the Stabat Mater, a 13th century poem about the suffering of Mary as she stands at the food of the Cross.Charles Caroll talks to two 'Hibakusha' - survivors of the two atomic bombs that fell on Japan in 1945 - as they docked in London on the Peace Boat, a Japanese ship which carries a message of peace around the world.Rev David Primrose tells Edward Stourton about a trailblazing project to help churches become 'dementia friendly' and the unique role church communities can play in support people living with dementia.Producers: Catherine Earlam Peter EverettSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox.

It is 80 years since anti-fascist demonstrators took on the police and Oswald Mosley's Black Shirts in the East End of London. Trevor Barnes reports on The Battle of Cable Street.The Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome - The Most Reverend Sir David Moxon - joins William Crawley to celebrate the Centre's 50th anniversary and to talk about his role as the Archbishop of Canterbury's Representative to the Holy See. Rabbi David Rosen - Director of the American Jewish Committee's Department of Interreligious Affairs - pays tribute to the former Israeli Prime Minister and President Shimon Peres. Why is 15 year old Rayouf Alhumedhi campaigning for a hijaj emoji? This week, the Archbishops of Armagh and Canterbury issued a joint statement welcoming the end of a three-year stand-off between Catholic residents and a protestant group who want to march through their neighbourhood. William talks to Professor John Brewer, an expert in post-conflict peace-building in Northern Ireland. Catholic aid agency Progressio is to close after 75 years, we discuss why. Today is Animal Welfare Sunday when children across the country will be taking their pets to church. Samantha Chandler of the Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals believes that animals go to heaven.Exorcists are reporting a rise in demand for their services. To discuss why this might be the case, William is joined by Myles Dempsey, a Catholic with experience of 'deliverance' and exorcism, and by Professor Les Lancaster, Director of the Alef Trust which offers postgraduate courses in spiritual psychology.Producers: Helen Lee and Dan Tierney Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

The Church of England wants to attract a more diverse range of people into the vocations. William Crawley is joined by Rev Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy and Rev David Isiorho to discuss why, despite repeated efforts, the Church remains a predominantly white institution.Trevor Barnes has been delving into the fascinating and sometimes controversial world of religious tattooing.After the bombing of a humanitarian aid convoy in Syria the United Nations has suspended all further aid convoys to Aleppo. William talks to Christine Latif from the Christian aid agency World Vision about the current crisis.500 years ago Venice established the world's first Ghetto. Although it was the place where Jews were forced to live, it became a cultural crossroads. Judi Herman reports on events marking the anniversary.According to theologian Harvey Cox, business and theology aren't so far apart. The Harvard Divinity professor discusses his new book, 'The Market as God', with William.The "biggest and most important" changes in 100 years to cremation laws in England come in to force next week after it came to light that some families were denied their baby's ashes. William Crawley talks to Glen Perkins about what happened to his daughter's ashes and whether the new laws will prevent it happening again.Has Pope Francis finally opened the way for divorced and remarried Catholics to take communion? It might depend on who you listen to. Vatican watcher John Thavis gives us his verdict.The idea of mosques run by women is still something of a novelty in many parts of the world but in China women have been running mosques for over 300 years. Dr Maria Jaschok explains their unique history to William Crawley.Producers: Catherine Earlam and Peter Everett Series Producer: Amanda HancoxTattoo: Anton Ivkin Photograph: Alexander Kuzovlev.

Edward Stourton talks to The Tablet journalist Christopher Lamb about Pope Francis' visit to Assisi 30 years after Pope John Paul II attended the historic meeting for the first World Peace Day; Trevor Barnes looks at the row over mixed-faith weddings in Sikh temples; Jewish students fight the movement for sanctions against Israel; Rahul Tanton tells Edward about the growth of 'cow vigilantes' as the Indian government cracks down on the illicit cattle trade; putting God into London Fashion Week - as the Church of England releases the video "God and Fashion", Edward asks Simon Ward, author of "The Character of Fashion" what God has to do with fashion; Bob Walker walks with Satish Kumar as he sets out on his 50 mile pilgrimage at the age of 80 and are 'human rights' a Christian concept? Nick Spencer and Julian Baggini discuss. Producers; Peter Everett, Dan Tierney Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

On 'Ability Sunday', Gordon Gill discusses the churches' attitudes to disability and specifically how congregations can make people with learning disabilities welcome. Reporter Sarah Major talks to disabled people about the difficulties they encounter when trying to attend church services.Kevin Bocquet reports on the £1million fund raised by ultra-orthodox Jews to fight custody cases (and prevent mothers from taking their children out of the faith when they divorce their husbands). Are Church of England bishops too 'safe'? Following the death of the former Bishop of Durham, David Jenkins, a number of obituaries have claimed that we will "never see his like again" (i.e. outspoken and willing to question scripture). The Rev Adrian Alker claims that bishops today are too concerned with "putting bums on seats". He is in discussion with the Bishop of Burnley - Philip North.Ahead of the College of Bishops meeting on Monday, the Rt Revd Gregory Cameron, Bishop of St Asaph talks about his decision to appoint a Chaplain for the LGBT community in North Wales.Following a series of 'mishaps', road builders in Iceland have had to dig out an elfin rock to placate the elves. Terry Gunnell, Professor of Folkloristics at the University of Iceland, talks about Iceland's elfin population and why over half of his countrymen believe in 'the hidden people'.Teresa May has announced that oversubscribed Catholic schools are to be allowed to choose 100% of their pupils on faith grounds. Edward Stourton discusses this decision with Paul Barker, director of the Catholic Education Service. Jonathan Romain explains why he does not agree.Producers: Helen Lee Peter Everett Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.