Sunday

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

The British Library is hosting an exhibition on the Anglo Saxons, looking at 600 years of art, war and religion. Harry Farley speaks to lead curator Dr Claire Breay about the role of faith between the fall of Roman Britain and the Norman Conquest. David Neuberger, former President of the Supreme Court, opens up about his regrets, concerns and the difficulties facing the judiciary as part of a new...

In this special programme commemorating 100 years since the armistice was signed, Edward Stourton looks at the commonwealth contribution to the war effort , the impact of the war still felt across the globe today and we hear the thoughts of young people on the importance of remembrance. Also to mark 100 years on from the end of the First World War, the poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, has written a...

Bishop Michael Curry became a household name when he preached at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. He talks about his new book ‘The Power of Love’. In anticipation of the worldwide Intersex Day of Remembrance on the 8th November, Edward chats to Sara who was born intersex. She describes how she has been treated by church congregations. Vishvapani talks about the life of Sangharakshita...

Hindu women have been fasting for the festival of Karva Chauth. Traditionally women keep the fast to bless their husbands with good health. But now more Hindu men are deciding to keep the fast along side their wives. AJ and Reena tell us why they have broken from tradition and have been fasting together. The Museum of the Bible said this week that five of its 16 famous Dead Sea Scrolls fragments a...

For many years concerns have been raised over the eroded pilgrim path of Croagh Patrick; from where the fifth century Saint Patrick allegedly banished the snakes from all Ireland. Tracey Logan visits a new kind of path built near the summit using only materials found on the mountain, will the path still feel sacred? Labour MP Diana Johnson debates the benefits of her ten-minute rule bill to decrim...

Former Olympic champion Tommie Smith speaks to Rajeev Gupta about how his Christian faith inspired his iconic fist raised protest on the podium at the Mexico City Games 50 years ago this week. A court in Turkey has freed US pastor Andrew Brunson in a case that badly strained ties between the US and Turkey. We bring you the latest on his release. As the canonisation of the assassinated archbishop O...

As Archbishop John Sentamu announces his retirement, we look at the significance of the role of Archbishop of York in the Church of England. Trevor Barnes visits the winners of the first Green Health Awards, a collaboration of health care professionals and churches. The morality of killing with Drones - Dr Peter Lee, author of "Reaper Force: Inside Britain's Drone Wars" talks to William Crawley ab...

When four girls were killed by a racist bomb in an Alabama Baptist Church 1963,the late Welsh artist John Petts raised funds for the Church and created a stain glass window depicting Jesus as black. Now the window is in need of protection. Theodore Ted Debro Trustee, a Church Trustee, tells Edward why. A letter by the Italian astronomer Galileo challenging the official view of cosmology has been d...

Sunday reveals the results of the biggest ever UK survey into how people of different faiths cope with death, dying and bereavement. Co-op funeral care Managing Director David Collingwood and theologian Douglas Davies discuss the results. The Archbishop of Canterbury has been accused of 'hypocrisy' this week for his criticism of Amazon, a company the Church of England has shares in. Edward Stourto...

Sara Alfageeh, an American illustrator and comic fan, annoyed by the tight costume worn by Marvel's Muslim superhero Dust she redesigned the niqab hero's attire and her designs have gone viral online. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks gives his first broadcast interview after his comments on Jeremy Corbyn and anti-Semitism and he talks to Edward about his new Radio 4 series "Morality in the 21st Century". The...

As hundreds of people take part in the annual pilgrimage in the French city of Valenciennes, John Laurenson joins the pilgrims to find out why pilgrimages are becoming so popular in secular France. Usama Hasan, Head of Islamic Studies at Quilliam, gives his reaction to the release of Amjem Choudary. And where politics and morality clash - Edward discusses the cut in funding for Palestinian project...

As Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing comes to an end, the BBC's White House reporter Tara McKelvey talks to William about his religious background and how it might appeal to the religious conservatives. Should Religious Education be renamed Religion and Worldviews and include non-religious perspectives such as Humanism and atheism? A major commission on RE has urge...

William Crawley presents a special programme from Phoenix Park, Dublin: Pope Francis is in Ireland for the World Meeting of Families. What sort of welcome will Pope Francis receive amid global allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church? Over fifty thousand people are expected, and William Crawley will give a taste of the atmosphere as people flock to Dublin from across Ireland and beyond. He will...

We reflect on the deep Christian faith and gospel roots of Aretha Franklin with music, archive and the reflections of biographer David Nathan. American pastor Andrew Brunson is at the heart of a trade war between Turkey and the US. Emily Buchanan talks to Pastor Ryan Keating, who was himself deported from Turkey on charges of being a threat to national security about the place of Christianity in T...

Hundreds of people have died after a devastating earthquake hit the Indonesian Islands of Lombok and Bali this week. As Hindus on the islands start making preparations for the cremations of loved ones, Maria Bakkalapulo reports on the rituals and the significance of food during the ceremonies. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) accused two Catholic schools of allowing abuse to...

Poonam Taneja reports on the Empire of the Sikhs exhibition, a rare collection of stunning objects and works of art that reveal the remarkable story of the Sikh Empire and the European and American adventurers who served it. BBC Religious Affairs Editor Martin Bashir looks ahead to this week's review by the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA) of the case of Peter Ball, the former B...

We are familiar with yoga and mindfulness but now there's growing interest in an old Chinese practice called Qigong. 5000 years old, it was used by Kung Fu masters to increase their strength. One of the best known Malaysian Chinese Grandmasters is Wong Kiew Kit. Emily Buchanan met him to learn more about this ancient practice. The Church of England has announced plans for 100 new churches in Engla...

The government announced plans to end conversion therapy this week after a survey showed most instances of attempted conversion therapy occur in a religious context. Harry Farley reports on the impact of this controversial practice and what it might mean for religious organisations that carry it out. Trevor Barnes is at the Church of England's General Synod in York reporting on the key issues and...

The nave of Chester Cathedral has been transformed into a huge theatre set for the performance of medieval mystery plays which take place in the city every five years and are running now. Rosie Dawson has been to a rehearsal. Nigel Lawson once likened the NHS to a religion; Trevor Barnes explores whether people think the NHS is a religion. After several years of mental illness, Guy Stagg set off o...

Police are treating the vandalism of a Jewish cemetery in Manchester this week as a hate crime. It follows a spate of other attacks on religious sites across the UK. Dr Chris Allen, Associate Professor in Hate Studies at Leicester University, explains why these attacks are happening now. Armed police officers have arrested at least 20 Jehovah's Witnesses in raids across Russia this week. Anastasia...

Is this what God Looks Like? Psychologists at the University of North Carolina have put together a photo-fit image of what American Christians think God looks like - it's younger and more feminine than the Sistine Chapel's version. Bishop Joe Aldred and Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin join Edward to discuss how the churches responded to the Windrush generation and how it shaped worship in the UK today. Aus...

Thirty years since the start of construction began on the largest regeneration project Britain has seen in modern times - Canary wharf - the area's former vicar and now Bishop of Salisbury, Nicolas Holtham, returns to find out what's changed and meet some old friends still working in the community. The Government have announced funding to increase security at places of worship at risk of hate atta...

On Monday religious think tank 'Theos' will publish a report, on how faith based organisations responded to the fire in Grenfell Tower. Report author Amy Plender, Muslim Aid's Jehangir Malick, and the Rev Mike Long from Notting Hill Methodist Church talk to Edward about what lessons can be learned. There's scant reference to Phoebe in the New Testament. A former slave who became a wealthy deacon i...

It's a year since the bomb attack on the Manchester Arena. In the aftermath, the actions of one young Muslim man captured the imagination of artist Ghislaine Howard. Her paintings of Baktash Noori offering hugs to strangers near St Anne's Church have just gone on display there. David Cook has been hearing their story. Dan Hett's brother Martyn was one of the 22 people killed in the Arena. He tells...