Podcasts about Canterbury

English Touring Opera has been taking live opera productions and educational and community projects around the UK since 1979. The company has been based in London up to last year, when it began a move to Sheffield, and its spring 2026 season will be its first to open in the South Yorkshire city. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to ETO's Artistic Director and CEO, Robin Norton-Hale, about the three productions about to open as well as about what makes the company unique, the challenges of touring, developing new opera works and about why no one should be afraid or daunted about going to the opera. Ada and the Code Crusaders by Anna Pool visits mainly schools and libraries around the country from 17 March to 23 May. Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci will open at Sheffield Lyceum on 20 and 21 March respectively before touring to Cheltenham Everyman, Hackney Empire, Buxton Opera House, Norwich Theatre Royal, Storyhouse Chester, the Marlowe in Canterbury, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Hall for Cornwall in Truro and Gala Durham. For more information and tickets, contact the theatres themselves or see English Touring Opera's own web site.

The announcement of the new Global Anglican Communion has triggered an extraordinary wave of reaction from evangelical Anglican leaders gathered in Abuja this week. For many delegates, the moment was deeply emotional. One leader described it as “the privilege of crossing the river and entering the promised land,” capturing the sense that years of theological tension and debate have now led to a decisive new chapter for Anglicans committed to the authority of Scripture.Inside the conference hall the mood was striking. African bishops began dancing in praise on the platform and in the aisles — a spontaneous expression of joy and thanksgiving to God.The atmosphere was markedly different from the gathering three years ago in Kigali, where the tone was sombre and reflective as leaders lamented the direction of parts of the Anglican world. In Abuja the feeling was relief, gratitude and renewed confidence about the future.In this special episode of The Pastor's Heart, we bring together reactions from senior Anglican leaders across the global church following the release of the Abuja statement and the establishment of the new Global Anglican Council. The conversation explores why many leaders believe communion must be defined confessionally around the Jerusalem Declaration, and why there is now a call for principled disengagement from the historic Canterbury structures.You'll hear reflections from Miguel Uchoa, Michael Stead, Julian Dobbs, Alfred Olwa, Emmanuel Egbunu, Vaughan Roberts, John Dunnett, Glenn Davies, Darryl Parker and Richard Condie as they respond to what this moment means for their provinces and for the global Anglican movement. The discussion was recorded for Advent Cable Network Nigeria, where host Promise Njoko-Adebe invited Dominic to co-host the panel.This episode is brought to you by Anglican Aid.The Church Cohttp://www.thechurchco.com is a website and app platform built specifically for churches.  Anglican AidTo find out more about supporting Anglican Aid. Advertise on The Pastor's HeartTo advertise on The Pastor's Heart go to thepastorsheart.net/sponsorSupport the show

As the US and Israeli war against Iran enters its sixth day, a bipartisan resolution in the US Senate aimed at limiting President Trump's war powers has failed. Senators voted 47 to 53 to prevent the measure from advancing, dealing a blow to Democrats' efforts to stymie the conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile, US and Israeli strikes across Iran continue, with the capital, Tehran, bearing the brunt of the offensive. Also: Israel launches fresh attacks on the Lebanese capital, Beirut, warning residents to evacuate their homes; a suicide case in the US highlights the risks of AI chatbots interacting with people dealing with mental health issues; clergy from a conservative group of the Anglican Church seek to elect a rival to the first female Archbishop of Canterbury; how businesses are responding to the popularity of weight-loss drugs; and why chimpanzees are fascinated with crystals. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

On this week's episode: America's justification for war has some holeys in it ... Tucker Carlson ramps up his presidential aspirations with a meditation collab ... And we'll watch the only rapture movie that might actually give us nightmares.---To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheistTo buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.comTo check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticratTo check out our sister show's hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-moviesTo check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/To check out our sister show's sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/---Marsh's article in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/03/joe-rogan-podcast-politics-trump---Headlines:U.S. troops were told war with Iran is for "armageddon" and "return of Jesus": https://jonathanlarsen.substack.com/p/us-troops-were-told-iran-war-is-forHemant Mehta skeptical response:https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/before-you-share-that-story-aboutBible sales show sustainable Christian revival: https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/bible-sales-show-sustainable-christian-revival-jdqn52q6p More Bible sales do not equal more Christians: https://humanists.uk/2026/02/25/more-bible-sales-do-not-equal-more-christians/  Transgender Kansans Sue After Driver's Licenses Are Abruptly Canceled: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/us/transgender-kansas-drivers-licenses-lawsuit.htmlMike Huckabee's insane interview with Tucker Carlson about property deeds in the bible: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/22/world/middleeast/huckabee-israel-tucker-carlson.htmlhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/20/mike-huckabee-israel-middle-east-tucker-carlsonNew archbishop of Canterbury not fit for job, says alleged church abuse victim | Sarah Mullally | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jan/08/sarah-mullally-incoming-archbishop-of-canterbury-complaint-dismissed-allegation Gafcon leaders meet in Nigeria as splits widen in Anglican Church over Sarah Mullally - BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrz1rx0ejzo Bishop of Lincoln arrested in sexual assault inquiry: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y5e32vwdwo  Archbishop of York cleared of misconduct over handling of sexual abuse case: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/29/archbishop-of-york-cleared-of-misconduct-over-handling-of-sexual-abuse-caseHallow partners with Tucker Carlson: https://religionnews.com/2026/02/23/prayer-app-hallow-faces-backlash-over-lenten-partnership-with-tucker-carlson/

It's Thursday, March 5th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark 9 Nigerian Muslims on trial for killing 200 Christians Nine Fulani Muslim herdsmen are on trial in Nigeria for participating in the massacre of over 200 Christians in the country last year. Christian Daily International reports this is a rare case of prosecution against the Fulani herdsmen. The prosecution comes as the United States is calling on the country to combat Christian persecution. The U.S. is considering a bilateral agreement with Nigeria to protect Christian communities there and eliminate jihadist terror.  Psalm 7:9 says, “Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; for the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.”  Nigerian Anglicans reject the homosexual agenda of Church of England Speaking of Nigeria, the Global Anglican Future Conference is meeting this week in the West African country.  The movement of conservative Anglican churches, mainly in Africa and Asia, supports Biblical sexuality. The group has effectively broken off from the Anglican Communion led by the Church of England.  Sarah Mullally is set to become the first female archbishop of Canterbury in the Church of England. Sadly, she supports blessings for homosexual couples.  The Global Anglican Future Conference now plans on appointing its own leader who will represent Biblical values. The conservative group says it represents 85 percent of the world's practicing Anglicans. Christian teacher vindicated for refusing to say inaccurate pronouns In the United States, an Indiana school district agreed to pay $650,000 in a religious freedom lawsuit. Brownsburg Community School Corporation forced John Kluge, a Christian music teacher, to resign for not using biologically incorrect pronouns.  David Cortman with Alliance Defending Freedom commented on the case. He said, “After almost five and a half years, common sense has prevailed at Brownsburg. … Schools should learn that refusing to accommodate religious employees can be illegal and expensive.” Red state families having more babies than blue state families The Institute for Family Studies reports that the women in red states are birthing more babies than those in blue states since the COVID-19 pandemic. The 20 states that voted Democrat in 2024 saw a decline in people in their 20s and kids under 10 compared to 2019. Meanwhile, Republican-leaning states often had cheaper housing and tended to attract parents with young kids. States like Idaho, South Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee saw a 10% increase in married families with young children over the last five years. States like California, New York, and Illinois saw a decline in such families.  Trump cut federal workforce by 12% The federal government's civilian workforce shrunk by over 380,000 people during the first year of President Donald Trump's second term.   That's a 12% workforce reduction between September 2024 and January 2026. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management reported the numbers yesterday. Scott Kupor, the director of the agency, said, “This effort ensures taxpayer dollars support a workforce that delivers efficient, responsive and high-quality services.” Mortgage rate fell to 5.98% Mortgage rates fell below six percent for the first time in years. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 5.98 percent last week. It has not been that low since September 2022. Recent rates peaked at 7.8 percent in October 2023. Mortgage rates have been coming down slowly since the Federal Reserve began cutting its benchmark interest rate last year.  Only 4% of American adults have Biblical worldview And finally, Dr. George Barna released his latest survey on Biblical worldview. Sadly, only four percent of U.S. adults have a Biblical worldview. That's unchanged compare to 2023 and down from 12 percent in 1994. Most Americans, over eight in ten, may believe some Biblical principles but often think and live in ways that conflict with the Bible. Also, only two percent of young adults have a Biblical worldview. The survey noted, “Despite the increased attention given to faith matters after the Charlie Kirk murder, and the growth in church attendance and individuals purchasing Bibles immediately after that incident, there is no hint of improvement when it comes to Biblical worldview.” However, Dr. Barna wrote, “We reached a low point—4%— in 2023. The fact that we have not plumbed new depths since then hopefully suggests that we have bottomed out and are in line to experience positive growth in biblical thought and action.” Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, March 5th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

This week we focus on the Iran war; the death of Khamenai;  Iranian celebration; Western protests;  Mothin Ali;  the EU reaction; Rory Stewart and Alaister Campbell; Simon Sebag Montefiore;  German train rules changed after migrant killing;  Immigrant gets sex change treatment on the NHS; the Manchester byelection; Tim Stanley;  Leeds fans boo Ramadan break in match;  Terror attack in Texas; Feedback; Feminist Glaciology; West Midlands Police; Your Party goes for gender inequality; JK Rowling v Nicola Sturgeon; Christian support for the SNP declines; Hamit Coskun wins Islamic blasphemy case; Christian persecution in Ethiopia, Yemen, and Pakistan; Andy Bannister, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Islam; and the Last Word - Psalm 72. with music from Neil Sedaka; Vahid Norouzi; Shania Twain; Lynyrd Skynyrd and Sovereign Grace. 

Firefighters have been tackling a blaze in a derelict building next to Ashford College. Huge plumes of smoke were seen coming from Swanton House in Elwick Road yesterday evening. Hear from our reporter Max Chesson who has been to the scene. Also in today's episode,  a document detailing where 23,000 homes could be built in Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay will be debated by councillors for the first time tonight. It's known as a Local Plan and also sets out where things like roads will need to be constructed to support new developments and growing populations. Our local democracy reporter Dan Esson has more information. The MP for Ashford is warning that exposure to misinformation on social media is damaging children's mental health. It's as TikTok videos have emerged encouraging so called "school wars" across the county, with organised fighting between pupils. A number of schools have sent letters home to parents saying it's already impacting children. We've been speaking to Sojan Joseph. Vouchers will be handed out in schools across Kent as we celebrate World Book Day. It's as recent figures from the National Literacy Trust show daily reading levels for children have reached a 20-year low. Hear from award winning Kent author Annabel Steadman who wrote the Skandar series. And in sport, the Maidstone United manager's admitted he may need to add to his squad due to injury problems. Strike Muhammadu Faal was stretchered off on Tuesday night while goalkeeper Nathan Harness suffered concussion. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The future shape of the Anglican Communion is being debated this week in Abuja, Nigeria.At the GAFCON conference, more than 400 bishops and global leaders are working through the logic of the proposal that could lead to a new Global Anglican Communion — a fellowship grounded in the authority of Scripture and historic Anglican doctrine.On Day 2 of the conference, Dominic Steele speaks with key leaders including Vaughan Roberts (Oxford), Julian Dobbs (ACNA), and Richard Condie (Tasmania), along with presenters from Uganda, Brazil and Nigeria.They discuss: • The implications of the Church of England's current trajectory • The logic behind a reordered global communion • The mission opportunity for global Anglicans • What this could mean for churches in the UK, North America and AustraliaThis episode is part of The Pastor's Heart special coverage of GAFCON 2026 in Abuja.Sponsored by Anglican Aid https://anglicanaid.orgThe Church Cohttp://www.thechurchco.com is a website and app platform built specifically for churches.  Anglican AidTo find out more about supporting Anglican Aid. Advertise on The Pastor's HeartTo advertise on The Pastor's Heart go to thepastorsheart.net/sponsorSupport the show

Parents all over the country will no doubt have experienced irritable teenagers and the problems that arise from the mood swings and instant rage. But could diet be one of the factors causing the issues? University of Canterbury professor of clinical psychology Julia Rucklidge spoke to Corin Dann.

The atmosphere was electric in the cathedral in Abuja, Nigeria as the the Word of God from 2 Corinthians rang out with unmistakable clarity: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers… Come out from them and be separate… Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates.”The preacher was the Archbishop of Nigeria, Henry Ndukuba, and his message landed with force. Many of the Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, Clergy and Laity from across the Anglican world would have preached on that passage in the past, but the Holy Spirit pressed it home in a remarkable way. In this episode of The Pastor's Heart, Dominic Steele speaks with Glenn Davies — former Archbishop of Sydney and now Bishop of the GAFCON Authorised Diocese of the Southern Cross. Together they reflect on the emotional and spiritual tone of the conference as it begins, the shift since the sober mood of GAFCON 2023 in Kigali, and the key questions now facing global Anglican leaders — including the future structure of the communion, the role of the Global South, and the difficult realities for churches seeking faithfulness while still legally tied to Canterbury.PlusBishop of South Sydney Michael Stead outlines the way the conference statement will be formed from the ground up. Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Network in Europe Andy Lines speaks on how the Church of England has failed to repent, despite the clarion call of the Gafcon23 conference. Mwita Akiri is former Bishop of Tarmi in Tanzania and co-ordinator of Gafcon for Tanzania. The Church Cohttp://www.thechurchco.com is a website and app platform built specifically for churches.  Anglican AidTo find out more about supporting Anglican Aid. Advertise on The Pastor's HeartTo advertise on The Pastor's Heart go to thepastorsheart.net/sponsorSupport the show

It's been confirmed work to fix a stretch of the Thanet Way will start this summer. The A299 between the Dargate Services and Roman Galley pub has been reduced to 50 miles per hour since last September after bumps appeared in the surface. The county council say repairs will be carried out over six weeks from June 1st. Also in today's podcast, police have released footage of the moment they found a burglar hiding in the loft of a house in Ashford. Antony Allen, 47, who doesn't have a permanent address, had targeted a home in the town at Christmas while the owners were away. As the conflict in the Middle East continues, holidaymakers in Kent are being urged not to panic if they have got future flights booked to countries like Dubai. Thousands of Brits have been left stranded after the country was caught up in retaliatory strikes over the weekend. Hear from Chris Scoble who owns a travel agents in Tunbridge Wells. Meantime, we're told pupils at a school in Dubai that's partnered with one here in Kent are being offered support during the unrest. Explosions were reported in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday and students at Kent College Dubai are currently doing remote learning to stay safe. A construction graduate from Canterbury says more needs to be done to help women and girls get into the building industry. 25 year-old Jessica Scanlon works on a site in Deal, after getting a degree in project management. She's calling for an end to gender stereotypes when career advice is given in schools. And in sport, Scott Wagstaff has been named as the new manager of the youth team at Gillingham. He takes over from Joe Dunne who left the club last month. The 35-year-old made 66 appearances for the Gills over two years, scoring four goals, and still plays for Tonbridge Angels. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Israeli defence minister says he has told troops to "take control" of new positions in Lebanon. The IDF says it's targeting Hezbollah. Israel says it's bombed Iran's presidential office and the US claims to have destroyed command facilities and missile launch sites across the country. The Iranian response has included missile and drone attacks on several Gulf states. The international prices of oil and gas have risen again, as concerns grow that supplies could be hit by the conflict - we hear how South Korea has been affected. Also, we go to Nigeria to look at deep divisions within the Anglican church over the appointment of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Introducing Deep and Wide — a brand new podcast hosted by Dean Still featuring conversations with influential Christian voices from around the world. Our first episode welcomes Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012, for a thoughtful and timely conversation you won't want to miss.

Jeremy Moses is Associate Professor in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Canterbury in Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand. His broad area of research interest is in theories of international relations, with a particular focus on issues surrounding humanitarianism, war, pacifism, and military technologies. Jeremy joins us tonight LIVE at 9pm to talk about the ethics of war, just war and we look at the current conflict to see who are the good guys and who are the bad. Christopher Luxon has walked back his comments yesterday that NZ would support "any action" to stop the Iranian regime. We look at more of NZ's response from other political leaders today.Donald Trump has struggled to explain why he launched another Middle Eastern war today and informed American's that this war will likely take longer than he first indicated.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

In this episode, RaboTalk's Growing Our Future, host Katie Rodwell talks with Conan Moynihan, an experienced farm consultant from Canterbury. Conan shares insights from his experience as a sheep and beef farmer, environmental engineer, and farm advisor, and has recently stepped into his new role as co-founder and CEO of GroundShift.Conan discusses balancing farm profitability with environmental resilience, and how better grazing management and soil biology can lift long‑term performance.Like what you've heard? Follow our podcast for more great content.Show Notes:From Farm Life to Consulting and BackConan's career has spanned hands-on farming, environmental engineering, and consultancy. Growing up on a South Canterbury sheep and beef farm, he initially explored other career paths before returning to agriculture. Through his consultancy, Conan supports farmers nationwide, focusing on business strategy, soil health, agronomy, and grazing management. His experiences highlight the value of informed decision-making, patience, and long-term planning in farming.Profitability as a Foundation for Environmental and Community HealthA central theme of the discussion is that profitable farms create opportunities for environmental stewardship and thriving rural communities. Conan emphasises that financial performance and ecological function are closely linked. By understanding the ecological limits of a farm and improving soil health, farmers can increase land productivity, reduce input costs, and build long-term resilience. He stresses that these improvements take time but yield compounding benefits similar to investing in a savings account.Soil Health: The Overlooked AssetConan explains why soil biology has historically been undervalued in New Zealand. Unlike minerals, soil biology is complex and difficult to measure or commercialise. Many farmers have been cautious due to past ‘quick-fix' solutions that failed. However, knowledge is growing rapidly, and managing soils as a dynamic, living system can enhance profitability, water retention, pasture growth, and carbon storage.Practical Opportunities for FarmersConan identifies key areas where farmers can make meaningful improvements today:Grazing management – optimising how stock graze pastures improves soil biology, pasture growth, and profitability.Soil biology and carbon storage – building soil health increases productivity and supports climate resilience.Organic farming – potential for higher profitability with lower inputs.Social media and knowledge sharing – building personal and farm brands can create alternative revenue streams, partnerships, and market opportunities.Mindset and CollaborationA recurring barrier Conan sees is mindset. Limiting beliefs about markets, regulation, or conventional practices can prevent farmers from embracing new opportunities. Supporting one another, remaining curious, and learning from diverse experiences are essential for personal and farm growth. Collaboration and openness to innovation are critical to building resilient farm systems.Key TakeawayConan's advice for farmers is to stay curious, continually learn, and explore new ideas. By combining profitable management, strong soil health, and community support, farmers can develop resilient systems that sustain both people and the land for generations to come.

In this week's episode, I take a historical digression to look at the four major Thomases of the English Reformation - Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer. This coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in the Dragonskull series at my Payhip store: QUEST25 The coupon code is valid through March 9 2026. So if you need a new ebook this winter, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 292 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is February 27th, 2026. Today we are taking a digression into history by looking at the four Thomases of the English Reformation (with one bonus Thomas). We'll also have Coupon of the Week and a progress update on my current writing and publishing projects. First up, let's do Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in the Dragonskull series at my Payhip store. That coupon code is QUEST25 and as always, the links to the store and the coupon code will be available in the show notes of this episode. This coupon code is valid through March 9th, 2026. So if you need a new ebook this winter, we have got you covered. Now for an update on my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. I am very nearly done with Cloak of Summoning. As of this recording, I am 35% of the way through the final editing pass. This episode should be coming out on, let's see, March the 2nd. I'm hoping Cloak of Summoning will be available a few days (hopefully like one or two days) after this episode goes live, but we'll see how things go. In any event, it should be out in very early March, which is not far away at this point. I'm also 14,000 words into Blade of Wraiths, the fourth book in my Blades of Ruin epic fantasy series. Hopefully that will be out in April, if all goes well. That's my secondary project right now, but once it gets promoted to primary project once Cloak of Summoning is available, my new secondary project will be Dragon Mage, which will be the sixth book in the Rivah Half-Elven Thief series. I'm looking forward to that since it is going to bring to an end a lot of ongoing plot threads. So it should be quite a fun book to write and hopefully to read. That should hopefully be out in May or possibly June, depending on how things go. In audiobook news, Cloak of Titans, the audiobook narrated by Hollis McCarthy, should be available in more audiobook stores than it was this time last week, though it's still not on Amazon, Audible, or Apple. Brad Wills is working on recording Blade of Storms and I think the first six chapters are done. Hopefully we should have those audiobooks available to you before too much longer. So that is where I'm at with my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. 00:02:18 Main Topic: The Four Thomases of the English Reformation Now without further ado, let's get to our main topic and it's time for another of my favorite topics overall, a digression into obscure points of history. I've mentioned before that Wolf Hall (both the TV show and the book) is a lot easier to understand if you are at least passingly familiar with the key figures of the English Reformation, which happened during the reign of King Henry VIII. But who were these key figures? I had a history professor who said that to understand the English Reformation, you need to know about the four Thomases of the English Reformation: Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer, since each one of them altered events in a major way. Fun fact: only one of the four died from natural causes and right before he was about to go on trial for treason, which would have likely ended with his execution. The English Reformation was a tumultuous time and the Tudor court was not a place for the faint of heart or the morally scrupulous. So let's talk about the four Thomases and one bonus Thomas today. But first to understand them, we should look at three background trends that converged and boiled over during their lifetimes. #1: Henry VIII needs an heir. King Henry VIII was quite famously married six times and executed two of his wives in his quest for a male heir. To the modern era, this sounds odd and chauvinistic, but one of the errors of studying history is assuming that the residents of the past had any interest in 21st century standards of behavior. By the standards of Henry's time, having a male heir to assume the kingdom after his death was absolutely vital. In fact, an argument could be made that Henry was attempting to act responsibly by going to such lengths to father a male heir, though naturally he went about it in a spectacularly destructive and self-absorbed way. Remember, Henry's father, Henry VII, came to the throne after a 30-year civil war, and there were noble families that thought they had a better claim to the throne than Tudors and would be happy to exercise it. A good comparison is that the lack of a male heir for Henry VIII was as serious a crisis as a disputed presidential election in 21st century America would be. You can see evidence for this in Henry's famous jousting accident in 1536. For a few hours, people were certain that he was dead or was about to die, and this incident caused a brief constitutional crisis. If Henry died, who would rule? His daughter, Mary, who he had just declared a bastard? His young daughter Elizabeth from Anne Boleyn? His bastard son, Henry FitzRoy? A regent? One of the old families who thought they had a claim to the throne? Now, these are the sort of questions that tend to get decided by civil wars, which nobody wanted. So Henry needed a male heir and it weighed on him as a personal failure that he had been unable to produce one, which was undoubtedly one of the reasons he concluded that several of his marriages had been cursed by God and needed to be annulled. Though, of course, one of Henry's defining traits was that his self-absorption was such that nothing was ever his fault, but a failing of those around him. #2: The Reformation is here. At the same time Henry was beginning to have his difficulties, the Protestant Reformation exploded across Europe. The reasons for the Reformation were manifold. There was a growing feeling across all levels of society that the church was corrupt and more concerned about money than tending to Christ's flock, a feeling not helped by the fact that several of the 15th and 16th century popes were essentially Renaissance princelings more interested in luxury, money, and expanding the power of the papal states than in anything spiritual. Many bishops, archbishops, abbots, and other high prelates acted the same way. The situation the early 16th century church found itself in was similar to American higher education today. Many modern professors and administrators go about their jobs quietly, competently, and diligently, but if you want to find examples of corruption, folly, and egregious waste in American higher education, you don't have to try very hard. Reformers could easily find manifold examples of clerical and papal corruption to reinforce their arguments. Additionally, nationalism was beginning to develop as a concept, as was the idea of the nation state. People in England, Scotland, Germany, and other countries began to wonder why they were paying tithes to the church that went to build beautiful buildings in Rome and support the lavish lifestyle of the papal court when that money might be better spent at home. For that matter, the anti-clericalism of the Reformation was not new and had time to mature. At the end of the 14th century, Lollardy was a proto-Protestant movement in England that challenged clerical power. In the early 15th century, the Hussite wars in Bohemia following the teachings of Jan Hus were a preview of the greater Reformation to come. Papal authority had been severely damaged by the Great Schism at the end of the 14th and the start of the 15th century when two competing popes (later expanded to three) all tried to excommunicate each other and claim control of the church. In the aftermath, Renaissance Humanists had begun suggesting that only the Bible was the proper source and guide for Christianity, and that papal authority and many of the church's practices were merely human traditions that had been added later and were not ordained by God. A lot of the arguments of the Reformation had their earliest form from the writers of the 15th century. Essentially, the central argument of the Reformation was that the believer's personal relationship with God is the important part of Christianity and doesn't need to be mediated through ordained priests in the official sacraments of the church, though such things were still important. Of course, all the various reformers disagreed with each other about just how important and what the nature of that relationship was, how many sacraments there should be, and what the precise relationship between the individual, the church, and the state should be (and that argument got entangled with many other issues like nationalism), but that was a central crux of the Reformation. So all these competing pressures have been building up, and when Martin Luther posted his statements for debate on church reform in October of 1517, it was the equivalent of lighting a match in a barn that had been stuffed full of sawdust and was suffering from a natural gas leak. #3: The printing press. So why did Luther's action kick off the Reformation as we know it and not the other proto-Protestant movements we mentioned? I think the big part of that is the printing pass, perhaps the biggest part. The printing press did not exist during the early proto-Protestant movements, which meant it was a lot harder for the ideas of reform to spread quickly. The Lollards in particular wanted to translate the Bible into English instead of Latin, but the Bible is a big book and that is a lot of copying to do by hand. In 1539, after a lot of encouragement from Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII decreed that an English Bible should be placed at every church in England. In 1339, that would have been an impossible amount of copying by scribes. In 1539, thanks to the printing press, it was essentially on the scale of the government embarking on a mid-sized industrial project, perhaps a bit of a logistical and organizational challenge and you have to deal with contractors, but by no means impossible. The printing press made it possible for the various arguments and pamphlets of the Reformers to spread quickly throughout Europe. Luther published tracts on a variety of religious and political topics for the rest of his life, and those tracks were copied, printed, and sold throughout Europe. In fact, he had something of a flame war with Thomas More over Henry VIII's "Defense of the Seven Sacraments". Kings and governments frequently tried to suppress printers they didn't like, but the cat was out of the bag and the printing press helped drive the Reformation by spreading its ideas faster than had previously been possible. AI bros occasionally compare modern large language model AIs to the printing press as an irreversible technological advancement, but one should note that the printing press of the 16th century did not require an entire US state's worth of electricity and an unlimited supply of water. So those were some of the undercurrents and trends leading up to the English Reformation. With that in mind, let's take a look at our four Thomases. #1: Thomas Wolsey. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was Henry's right hand man during the first 20 years of his reign and essentially the practical ruler of England during that time. He started his career in Henry's reign as the almoner, essentially in charge of charity, and it ended up becoming the Lord Chancellor of England. Since Henry was not super interested in actually doing the hard work of government, Wolsey ended up essentially running the country while Henry turned his full enthusiasm towards the more ceremonial aspects of kingship. Wolsey was an example of the kind of early 16th Century church prelate we mentioned above, more of a Renaissance princeling than a priest. However, as Renaissance princelings went, you could do worse than to have been ruled by someone like Wolsey. And if you were a king, you would be blessed to have a lieutenant as diligent in his work as the Cardinal. Granted, Wolsey did amass a large fortune for himself, but he frequently patronized the arts, education and the poor, pursued some governmental reforms, and deftly maintained England's position in the turbulent diplomacy of the time. He was also much more forgiving in questions of religious dissent than someone like Thomas More. Wolsey was the most powerful man in England at his apex, and the nobility hated it for him because his origins were common. So long as he had Henry's favor, Wolsey was untouchable and the nobility couldn't move against him. But the royal favor came to an end as Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon was unable to produce a son. Since Catherine had previously (and briefly) been married to his older brother Arthur before Arthur's death, Henry became convinced (or succeeded in convincing himself) that his marriage was cursed by God for violating the prohibition against sleeping with your brother's wife in the book of Leviticus. His eye had already fallen on Anne Boleyn and Henry wanted an annulment and not a divorce in his marriage with Catherine. In the eyes of God, he would never have been married at all, and then he could marry Anne Boleyn with a clear conscience. Here, Wolsey's gift for diplomacy failed him, but perhaps it was an impossible task. Catherine of Aragon was the aunt of Emperor Charles V, who at the time was the most powerful man in Christendom. All of Wolseley's efforts to persuade the pope to annul the marriage failed, partly because the pope had already given Henry VIII dispensation to marry his brother's widow. Wolsey's failure eroded his support with the king. Anne Boleyn likewise hated Wolsey partly because she believed he was hindering the annulment, and partly because he had blocked her from marrying the Earl of Northumberland years before she had her eyes set upon Henry. Finally, Henry stripped Wolsey of his office of Lord Chancellor, and Wolsey retired to York to take up his role as archbishop there. Wolsey's popularity threatened Henry and Anne, so Henry summoned him back to London to face treason charges. Perhaps fortunately for Wolsey, he died of natural causes on the journey back to London. His replacement as Lord Chancellor was Thomas More, the next of our major for Thomases. #2: Thomas More. More was an interesting contrast-a Renaissance Humanist who remained a staunch Catholic, even though Renaissance Humanists in general tended towards proto-Protestantism or actual Protestantism. He was also in some ways oddly progressive for his time. He insisted on educating his daughters at a time was considered pointless to educate women about anything other than the practical business of household management. Anyway, More's training as a lawyer and a scholar led him to a career in government. He held a variety of posts under Henry VIII, finally rising to become the Lord Chancellor after Wolsey. In the first decades of his brain, Henry was staunchly Catholic and despised Protestantism, in particular, Lutheranism in general and Martin Luther in particular. In 1521, Henry published "Defense of the Seven Sacraments" against Luther, and More helped him write it to an unknown degree. In their dislike for all forms of Protestantism, More and Henry were in harmony at this point. More was involved in hunting down heretics (i.e. Protestants) and trying to convince them to recant. During his time as the Lord Chancellor, More ended up sending six people to be burned at the stake for heresy, along with the arrest and interrogations of numerous others. This rather clashes with his "humanist man of letters" aspect, but More was undoubtedly convinced he was doing the right thing. And while he might have believed in education, he most definitely did not believe in freedom of conscience in several areas. To be fair to More, in the view of many at the time, Protestants, especially Anabaptists, were dangerous radicals. Likely More viewed hunting heretics in the same way as some modern politicians view hunting down covert terrorist cells or surveilling potential domestic terrorists. Harsh measures true, but harsh measures allegedly necessary for the greater good of the nation. However, the concord between More and Henry would not last. Henry wanted to set aside Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn, which More staunchly opposed. More especially opposed Henry breaking away from Rome and becoming head of an independent English Church. At first, More was able to save himself by maintaining his silence, but eventually Henry required all of his subjects take an oath affirming his status as head of the church. Thomas Cromwell famously led a deputation to try and change More's mind, but he failed. More refused, he was tried on specious treason charges, and beheaded in 1535. Later, the Catholic church declared him the patron saint of politicians. This might seem odd given that he oversaw executions and essentially did thought police stuff against Protestants, but let's be honest-it's rare to see a politician even mildly inconvenience himself over a point of principle, let alone maintain it until death when he was given every possible chance to change his mind. Probably the most famous fictional portrayals of More are A Man For All Seasons and Wolf Hall. I would say that A Man For All Seasons was far too generous to More, but Wolf Hall was too harsh. #3: Now for the third of our four Thomases, Thomas Cromwell. After Wolsey's fall and More's refusal to support Henry's desire to either annul his marriage to Catherine or to make himself head with the church so he couldn't annul the marriage, Thomas Cromwell rose become Henry's new chief lieutenant. Cromwell is both a fascinating but divisive figure. For a long time, he was cast as the villain in Thomas More's saga, but Hillary Mantel's Wolf Hall really triggered a popular reevaluation of him. Like A Man For All Seasons was too generous to More, I would say Wolf Hall was too generous to Cromwell. Nonetheless, I suspect Cromwell was and remained so divisive because he was so effective. He got things done on a scale that the other three Thomases of the English Reformation never quite managed. Cromwell's origins are a bit obscure. It seems he was either of non-noble birth or very low gentry birth and his father Walter Cromwell was a local prosperous tradesman in a jack of all trades with a reputation for litigiousness. For reasons that are unclear, Cromwell fled his birthplace and spent some time in continental Europe, possibly as a mercenary soldier. He eventually made his way to Italy and started working for the merchant families there, gaining knowledge of trade in the law, and then traveled to the Low Countries. When he returned to England, he became Cardinal Wolsey's right hand man. After Wolsey's fall, Cromwell went into Parliament and defended his master whenever possible. This loyalty combined with his significant talent for law and administration caught the eye of Henry and he swiftly became Henry's right-hand man. Amusingly, Cromwell never became Lord Chancellor like More or Wolsey, but instead accumulated many lesser offices that essentially allowed him to carry out Henry's directives as he saw a fit. Unlike More and Wolsey, Cromwell had strong Protestant leanings and he encouraged the king to break away from the Catholic Church and take control of the English Church as its supreme head. Henry did so. His marriage to Catherine of Aragon was nulled. The rest of Europe never accepted this until Catherine died of illness and it became a moot point. In 1533, he married Anne Boleyn. Like Cromwell, Anne had a strong Protestant bent and began encouraging reformers to take various offices and began pushing Henley to make more reforms than he was really comfortable doing. For example, Cromwell was one of the chief drivers behind the English Bible of 1539. This, combined with Anne's inability to give Henry a son, contributed to Anne's downfall. Unlike Catherine, she was willing to argue with Henry to his face and was unwilling to look the other way when he wanted a mistress, and this eventually got on Henry's nerves. Events are a bit murky, but it seems that Henry ordered Cromwell to find a way he could set aside Anne and Cromwell complied. Various men, including her own brother, were coerced and confessing to adultery with Anne on charges that were most likely fabricated and Anne's "lovers" and Anne herself were executed for treason in 1536. Cromwell had successfully used a technique that many modern secret police organizations and dictatorships employ- if you want to get rid of someone for whatever reason, accuse them of a serious crime, coerce them to a confession, and then have them executed. Joseph Stalin did basically the same thing when he purged the Old Bolsheviks after Lenin's death. Henry married Jane Seymour shortly after Anne's execution, and she finally gave Henry his long-waited son, though she died soon afterwards of postpartum complications. Cromwell also oversaw the dissolution of the English monasteries in the 1530s. Monasticism had become quite unpopular even before the Reformation, especially among humanist writers. The concentration of property in the hands of monasteries made for a ripe target. Using Parliament and with Henry's approval, the monasteries of England were dissolved, the monks and nuns pensioned off, and the various rich properties held by the monasteries were given to the king and his friends. Cromwell himself profited handsomely. This was essentially legalized theft, but there was nothing the monasteries could do about it. Cromwell pushed for more religious reforms, but that combined with the dissolution of the monasteries caused "The Pilgrimage of Grace" in 1537, a rebellion that Henry was able to put down through a combination of lies, stalling, outright bribery, and brutal repression under the Duke of Norfolk (more about him later). Cromwell was at the zenith of his power and influence, but his reformist bent and made him a lot of enemies. For that matter, Henry was increasingly uncomfortable with further religious changes. He wanted to be head of his own church, but essentially his own Catholic Church, not his own Reformed or Lutheran one. Cromwell's alignment with the reform cause gave his more traditionalist enemies a tool to use against him. Cromwell's foes had their chance in 1540 when Henry married his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. Cromwell had heavily pushed for the match, hoping to make an alliance with the Protestant princes of Germany against the Catholic Holy Roman Emperor. For whatever reason, Henry took an immediate dislike to Anne and never consummated the marriage, which was swiftly annulled and Anne pensioned off. Henry blamed Cromwell for the failed marriage and Cromwell's enemies, particularly Duke of Norfolk and Bishop Gardiner of Winchester, were able to convince Henry to move against him. Cromwell was arrested, stripped of all the titles and property he had amassed, and executed in July of 1540. The sort of legal railroading process he had born against Anne Boleyn's alleged lovers and numerous other enemies of Henry's was used against him. This was one of the very few executions Henry ever regretted. Within a year, the French ambassador reported that Henry was raging that his counselors had misled him into putting to death the most faithful servant he had ever had. Once again, nothing was ever Henry's fault in his own mind. The fact that Henry allowed Cromwell's son Gregory to become a baron and inherit some of his father's land shows that he likely changed his mind about the execution. For once in his life, Henry was dead on accurate when he called Cromwell his "most faithful servant". He never again found a lieutenant with Cromwell's loyalty and skill. The remaining seven years of Henry's reign blundered from setback to setback and all the money Henry obtained from the dissolution of the monasteries was squandered in indecisive wars with France and Scotland. I think it's fair to say that the English Reformation would not have taken the course it did, if not for Cromwell. As ruthless and as unscrupulous as he could be, he nonetheless did seem to really believe in the principles of religious reform and push such policies whenever he could do so without drawing Henry's ire. #4: Now the fourth of our four major Thomases, Thomas Cranmer. If Thomas Cromwell did a lot of the political work of the English Reformation, then Thomas Cranmer wrote a lot of its theory. Cranmer was a scholar and something of a gentle-minded man, but not a very skillful politician. He seemed happy to leave the politicking to Cromwell. I think Cranmer would have been a lot happier as a Lutheran pastor in say, 1950s rural Nebraska. He could have married a farmer's daughter, had a bunch of kids, and presided at weddings, funerals, and baptisms where he could talk earnestly about Jesus and Christian virtues, and he probably would have written a few books on obscure theological points. But instead, Cranmer was destined to play a significant part in the English Reformation. He started as a priest and a scholar who got in trouble for marrying, but when his wife died in childbirth, he went back to the priesthood. Later, he became part of the team of scholars and priests working to get Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled. While he was at university and later in the priesthood, he became fascinated by Lutheran ideas and became a proponent of reform. As with Cromwell, Henry's desire to marry Anne Boleyn gave Cranmer his great opportunity. Anne's family were also in favor of reform, and they arranged for Cranmer to become the new Archbishop of Canterbury. The new archbishop and the like- minded clerics and scholars laid the legal and theological groundwork for Henry to break with Rome and become head of the English church with Cranmer and the rest of the reform faction wanted to be used to push for additional church reforms. He survived the tumults of Henry's reign by total loyalty to the king – he mourned Anne Boleyn, but didn't oppose her execution (though he was one of the few who mourned for her publicly), did much the same when Cromwell was executed, and personally sent news of Catherine Howard's adultery to the king. Because of that, Cranmer had a great chance to pursue the cause of reform when Henry died and his 12-year-old son Edward VI became King. Edward's uncle Edward Seymour acted as the head of the King's regency council, and Seymour and his allies were in favor of reform. Cranmer was at last able to steer the English church in the direction of serious reform, and he was directly responsible for writing the Book of Common Prayer and several other key documents of the early Anglican church. But Cranmer's of luck ran out in 1553 when Edward VI died. Cranmer was part of the group that tried to put the Protestant Lady Jane Grey on the throne, but Henry's daughter Mary instead took the crown. Mary had never really wavered from her Catholicism despite immense pressure to do so, and she had last had a chance to do something about it. She immediately brought England back to Rome and started prosecuting prominent reform leaders, Cranmer among them. Cranmer was tried for treason and heresy and sentenced to be burned, but that was to be commuted if he recanted his views in public during a sermon, which he did. However, at the last minute, he thunderously denounced his previous recantation, asserted his reformist faith, and vowed that he would thrust the hand that signed the recantation into the flames first. Cranmer was immediately taken to be burned at the stake, and just as he promised, he thrust his hand into the flames, and his last word is that he saw heaven opening and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Cranmer had spent much of his life trying to appease Henry while pushing as much reform as possible, but in his final moments, he had finally found his defiance. When Mary died and Elizabeth took the throne, she returned England to Protestantism. Elizabeth was much more pragmatic than her half siblings and her father ever were, so she chose the most expedient choice of simply rolling the English church back to as it was during Edward VI's time. Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer and religious articles, lightly edited for Elizabeth's sensibilities, became the foundational documents of the Anglican church. So these four Thomases, Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer were central to the events of the English Reformation. However, we have one bonus Thomas yet. Bonus Thomas: Thomas Howard, the Duke of Norfolk. Thomas Howard was a powerful nobleman during the reign of Henry, and the Duke of Norfolk was frequently Henry's lieutenant in waging various wars and putting down rebellions. He was also the uncle of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, Henry's second and fifth queens. He was also involved in nearly every major event of Henry's reign. So with all that, why isn't Norfolk as remembered as well as the other four Thomases of the English Reformation? Sometimes a man would be considered virtuous by the standards of the medieval or early modern age, yet reprehensible in ours. For example, for much of the Middle Ages, crusading was considered an inherently virtuous act for a knight, whereas in the modern age, it would be condemned as war mongering with a religious veneer. However, by both modern standards and Tudor standards, Thomas Howard was a fairly odious character. For all their flaws and the morally questionable things they did, Wolsey, More, Cromwell, and Cranmer were all men of conviction in their own ways. More and Cranmer explicitly died with their faith. Cromwell's devotion to the Protestant cause got him killed since he insisted on the Anne of Cleves match. Even Wolsey, for all that he enriched himself, was a devoted servant of Henry after his downfall never betrayed the king. By contrast, Norfolk was out for Norfolk. This wasn't unusual for Tudor nobleman, but Norfolk took it to a new level of grasping venality. He made sure that his daughter was married to Henry's bastard son, Henry FitzRoy, just in case FitzRoy ended up becoming king. He used both his nieces, Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard, to gain power and lands for himself, and then immediately turned against him once he became politically expedient. In fact, he presided over the trial where Anne Boleyn was sentenced to death. After the failure of the Anne of Cleve's marriage, Norfolk made sure to bring his young niece Catherine Howard to court to catch Henry's eye, and to use the Anne of Cleve's annulment as a lever to get rid of Thomas Cromwell. Both stratagems worked, and he attempted to leverage being the new Queen's uncle to bring himself to new power and riches, as he had with Anne Boleyn. Once Henry turned on Catherine Howard, Norfolk characteristically and swiftly threw his niece under the bus. However, as Henry aged, he grew increasingly paranoid and vindictive, and he had Norfolk arrested and sentenced to death on suspicion of treason. Before the execution could be carried out, Henry died, and Norfolk spent the six years of Edward VI's reign as a prisoner in the Tower of London. When Edward died and Mary took the throne, she released Norfolk since she was Catholic and Norfolk had always been a religious traditionalist suspicious of reform. He spent the remaining year of his life as one of Mary's chief advisors before finally dying of old age. As I often say, history can be a rich source of inspiration for fantasy writers, and the English Reformation is full of such inspiration. Wolsey, More, Cromwell, and Cranmer can all make excellent inspirations for morally ambiguous characters. For that matter, you can see why the reign of Henry VIII has inspired so many movies, TV shows, and historical novels. The real life events are so dramatic as to scarcely require embellishment. So that's it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show and thank you for listening as I went on one of my little historical digressions. I hope you found the show enjoyable. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes on https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy, and we'll see you all next week.

Dominic Steele reports from Abuja, Nigeria, as nearly 500 Anglican leaders gather for GAFCON 2026 in what many believe could prove a decisive moment in the reshaping of the Anglican Communion. Delegates have arrived from across Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australasia, despite significant travel disruption caused by the US–Iran conflict and Middle Eastern airspace closures. For many Australians, flights were cancelled only hours before departure. This preview episode of The Pastor's Heart sets out what is expected in the coming days: proposals for the structure and operation of a new Global Anglican Communion, distinct from Canterbury. The story stretches back through the Jerusalem Declaration of 2008 and the strong Kigali statement of 2023, in which leaders representing the majority of the Communion expressed no confidence in the existing Instruments of Communion. This week, foundations for a renewed and confessionally orthodox global fellowship are anticipated to be agreed.Steele outlines the program for the week, including plenary sessions, presentations and votes on doctrine, fellowship and leadership structures. Particular attention will be given to the biblical basis of communion, the failures of current Canterbury-centred mechanisms and how future alignment will be defined. Questions around governance, canonical relationships and financial partnerships are also expected to be addressed.Over the next five days, The Pastor's Heart will release daily 30-minute reports with interviews from primates and key leaders, alongside full-length conversations on YouTube. Coverage is brought in partnership with Anglican Aid. This episode provides essential background to what may become a defining chapter in modern Anglican history.The Church Cohttp://www.thechurchco.com is a website and app platform built specifically for churches.  Advertise on The Pastor's HeartTo advertise on The Pastor's Heart go to thepastorsheart.net/sponsorSupport the show

Gyles talks the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and as this is a Rosebud conversation, we begin by hearing about Justin's fascinating family story. We hear about Justin's father - the charming, but alcoholic, Gavin Welby. About his mother, Jane Portal, who had worked as Winston Churchill's secretary and also struggled with alcohol addiction. About how, in the midst of chaos at home, Justin found solace in books, school, his grandmother, and eventually, in God. We hear about Justin's spiritual journey, about reading the Bible from cover-to-cover by the light of an oil lamp, about 'coming to faith' and about meeting his wife, Caroline, through the church. We hear about the birth of their first daughter, Johanna, and her tragic death in a road accident at only seven months old. We hear about Justin's career - first in the oil industry, and later in the Church of England. We hear about becoming the one hundred and fifth Archbishop of Canterbury, and some of the high points of that job. We hear about the shocking discovery Justin made about his family history in 2016.Gyles also talks, in some detail, to Justin about his resignation in 2024 - about his regrets, his learnings, and how that chastening experience has affected him. This is a long, thought-provoking and we hope, interesting conversation about failure, humanity and the possibility of redemption.Our thanks to Justin Welby.Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here. Join The Rosebud Family here. And visit our website here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watching his father lead the rebuild of his hometown in Macedonia (now called the Republic of North Macedonia), after it was destroyed by an earthquake, inspired Misko Cubrinovski's 40-year career as an engineer. Professor Misko Cubrinovski is retiring after 20 of those years with the University of Canterbury. 

One of Kent's most popular visitor attractions has been revived, with its new bosses promising a spectacular, immersive experience. It follows a million-pound makeover of The Canterbury Tales - which tells Geoffrey Chaucer's much-loved stories of a medieval cast of pilgrims on their journey from London to Canterbury Cathedral. Also in today's podcast, we've spoken to a Kent homelessness charity as new figures show there's been a rise in the number of people sleeping rough on our streets. A government snapshot shows 174 were counted on a single night last autumn – that's an increase of 17%.  You can also hear from the neice of a Rainham man who died from a rare cancer at just 55 who's hoping to raise money so other people can be tested for it. Andy Bird initially thought a lump on his leg was an insect bite - but it turned out to be epithelioid sarcoma. A transport boss is ditching the Middle East to come back home and get back behind the pumps at an award-winning pub. New licensees have taken over the running of The Admiral's Arm in Queenborough - which was previously named Kent pub of the year as well as one of the top 16 pubs in Britain. And you can hear from a Kent family who were left stunned as their dog gave birth to a record-breaking 17 puppies. The owner, who lives near Canterbury, has told us how the adorable Irish Doodles “just kept coming” after her pet went into a 13-hour labour. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 1538, a man named Geoffrey Pole was arrested and taken to the Tower of London. He hadn't plotted against Henry VIII. He hadn't raised an army. He'd written letters to his brother and said, once, that he wished he could see him. That was enough. What followed was one of the most psychologically devastating interrogations of the Tudor period, and one of the least talked about. Over seven sessions, Geoffrey gave evidence that brought down his entire family: his brother Lord Montagu, his cousin Henry Courtenay the Marquess of Exeter, and eventually his 67-year-old mother Margaret Pole, the last surviving Plantagenet. He survived. He was pardoned. He spent the next twenty years in exile carrying what he'd done. This is not really a spy story. It's a story about what surveillance states actually run on, not information, but fear. And about the brother who burned the family from a safe distance in Rome and somehow came out of it as Archbishop of Canterbury. Tudor history has been calling Geoffrey Pole weak for five centuries. I want to make the case that we don't get to say that from here.

In 597, a party of forty missionary monks, led by St Augustine of Canterbury (May 28), was sent to Britain by the holy Pope Gregory the Great, to bring the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ to the English people. Aethelberht, who had been King of Kent for thirty-six years, received the monks favorably, allowed them to preach in his kingdom, and invited them to establish their headquarters in Canterbury, his capital city, which already contained a small, ruined church dedicated to St Martin of Tours in Roman times.   The king himself was converted and received holy Baptism at the hands of St Augustine; a crowd of his subjects followed his example. When St Augustine was consecrated bishop, Aethelberht allowed him to be made Archbishop of Canterbury and gave his own palace to serve as a monastery. The king worked steadily for the conversion of the neighboring kindoms, and in 604 established an episcopal see in London. Unlike some Christian rulers, he refused to see anyone converted forcibly.   Saint Aethelberht reposed in peace in 616, after reigning for fifty-six years. He was buried in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, which he had established. Many miracles were worked at his tomb, where a lamp was kept lit perpetually until the monastery was disbanded by the Protestants in 1538.

NRL is here in Vegas with three games on Saturday February 28 at Allegiant Stadium. Canterbury-bankstowns vs. St. George Newcastle against North Queensland  Super League HULL HR vs. Leeds Rhinos  Tickets are just $29. NRL.com/Vegas   And the Aussie food menu is ready to go: -Garlo's Beef pie -Tri-line lamb burgers -Proper Pitchside Bangers and Mash .. -High Roller Potato -The Halfback Hot Dog -Tim Tam brownies  

Adam Woolnough spoke with Steve Cofield about NRL in Vegas. The food! The Culture! The events in downtown Vegas and at Resorts World. Plus Friday games locally as well. And don't forget on Wednesday, NRL and the Raiders have partnered with Clark County School District to host over 500 CCSD students who will be participating in rugby and flag football on the Sam Boyd Soccer Fields. Then there's the big event with three games on Saturday February 28 at Allegiant Stadium. Canterbury-bankstowns vs. St. George Newcastle against North Queensland Super League HULL HR vs. Leeds Rhinos Tickets are just $29. NRL.com/Vegas   And the Aussie food menu is ready to go at Allegiant Stadium: -Garlo's Beef pie -Tri-line lamb burgers -Proper Pitchside Bangers and Mash .. -High Roller Potato -The Halfback Hot Dog -Tim Tam brownies There's NRL events all over Vegas starting tomorrow. Including Team USA's rugby match at Coronado HS on Friday night.

Send Us A Message! Let us know what you think.The New Zealand property market is showing signs of life, but the real story lies in the regional data and current mortgage trends. In this episode of New Zealand Property Insights, Paul and Debbie Roberts unpack the new Cotality Decoding 2026 Report and the record-breaking surge in bank switching.In this episode, Paul and Debbie cover:The 2026 Market Outlook: A deep dive into the latest Cotality report. While 71% of respondents expect house prices to rise in 2026, the data reveals a mood of cautious optimism rather than a massive boom. The hosts discuss the significant regional split, contrasting Canterbury's strong confidence against Wellington's lagging market.The Danger of "Free" Advice: Debbie explains why "free" financial plans from property companies are often designed purely to sell commission-based properties. She highlights why securing independent financial advice is crucial to ensure you aren't paying top dollar for an underperforming investment.The Great Bank Switch: In December 2025, a record-breaking $5.8 billion in lending was driven simply by borrowers switching banks to chase cashback deals. Paul and Debbie explore whether these cashbacks actually save money, warning investors about hidden break fees and clawback periods. They also share actionable tips on how to negotiate better rates with your current bank using a mortgage adviser.Whether listeners are looking to refinance or wondering where the property market is heading next, this episode cuts through the noise to provide the facts.Resource Links:

We trace a working life in New Zealand journalism with Yvonne Van Dongen, exploring how subs, travel desks, and lively disagreements shaped stronger reporting, and why today's monoculture and omissions threaten trust. We compare shoe-leather craft with hot takes and argue for free speech as the backbone of credible media.• Amsterdam detour to newsroom doors and a bruising AUT interview culture• Canterbury training, shorthand, and the saving grace of sub-editors• Weekly-paper freedom, travel budgets, and difficult colleagues with bite• Building a biography when the subject resists access• Free speech then as default norm, now as a contested stance• Monoculture in media, stories not told, and quiet censorship by omission• Desk takes versus door-knocking: why leaving your seat still matters• Talking with Tamaki supporters and other unfashionable audiences• Fire and Fury, awards culture, and credibility gaps• New platforms, changing minds, and ethics over gotchasIf you have any questions, feedback, or suggestions, you can contact us at podcast@fsu.nzSupport the showhttps://www.fsu.nz/https://x.com/NZFreeSpeechhttps://www.instagram.com/freespeechnz/https://www.tiktok.com/@freespeechunionnz

The Canterbury preserves company wants to spray wastewater - which contains cleaning chemicals - onto a neighbouring DOC reserve. It's a stark difference to the way the company deals with wastewater at its French plant. The Barkers jam maker is already in trouble with its neighbours over stinky wastewater ponds, and now it wants to dump the waste onto DOC landFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

On today's episode of The Agenda, Matt Heath joins ACC Head G Lane to discuss Kiwi golfing legend Michael Campbell's life as a cage dancer before turning pro in golf (00:00)... WATCH THE FULL EPISODE ON YOUTUBE!Next, the fellas recap the latest round of Super Rugby and how things have gone from bad to worse for Crusaders fans (05:05) and Canterbury cricket fans (10:00)...Then, they get into the absolute abomination that is the Wellington Phoenix. Have Auckland FC gone too far with their humiliation of the Nix (12:45)?Also, the Breakers win the Ignite Cup (21:20), the Black Caps get rained out (22:30), and the Winter Olympics are done (24:30).Finally, they get to your feedback in 'Yours Please' (34:55)... Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE! Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A school in Chatham has been placed in special measures by inspectors who found staff physically intervened with pupils. Ofsted found safeguarding measures at Wayfield Primary were not being met, and demanded urgent improvements be implemented. School bosses and the trust running it, say they take the report very seriously and have already been implementing a robust programme of improvement. Also in today's podcast, a father and son accused of murdering a four-year-old boy in a hit-and-run in Southfleet have been found not guilty. Peter Maughan was in a Ford Ranger which was "clipped at speed" by another vehicle on New Barn Road last June. Hear from a detective who reacted to the verdict outside court. We've been hearing from a business owner in Canterbury who's still unable to trade, days after a devastating fire nearby. The Odeon cinema in St George's Place caught alight last Saturday afternoon and we've been chatting to Louise Jones-Roberts who runs Tokyo Tea Rooms. Young people in Kent are being encouraged to show their love for nature by taking part in a hedge planting campaign. Tomorrow is being dubbed Hedgentines Day and is being celebrated with a planting event in Chislet near Canterbury as part of a joint project between the Campaign to Protect Rural England and Youngwilders. In sport, Chatham Town are getting ready for a big weekend - they're playing in the fifth round of the Women's FA Cup. They'll be the underdogs tomorrow as they take on WSL 2 side Birmingham City at St Andrew's. And, the Gillingham boss is looking for a response from his squad in this weekend's league two clash with Oldham Athletic.  The Gills suffered another defeat away at Chesterfield during the week - hear from Gareth Ainsworth. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A massive clean-up is underway on Canterbury's Banks Peninsula, which remains in a state of emergency after a wild storm. The main highway from Christchurch to Akaroa has reopened, but people are still dealing with power and telecommunications outages. Anna Sargent reports from Little River.

With increasing severe weather events, we are seeing landslides happen around the country. Dr. Tom Robinson is a senior lecturer in Disaster Risk and Resilience at University of Canterbury. He spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Canterbury has been hammered by heavy rain as the storm that caused havoc in the north swept along the South Island's east coast today, with more than 300 millimetres falling in some areas. A local state of emergency has now been declared for Banks Peninsula and State Highway 75 between Christchurch and Akaroa is still closed. People have been asked to conserve water on the peninsula and boil water notices are in place for Little River and Wainui. Samantha Gee reports.

The heavy rain that battered the North Island has now slammed Canterbury. Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger spoke to Corin Dann.

The wild weather that caused chaos in the North Island has turned its attention South and Banks Peninsula seems to be bearing the brunt. A Local State of Emergency has been declared there but widespread flooding and gusts over 100km/h have been reported in Canterbury. We go to Wainui, a small settlement in Banks Peninsula where local resident Lawrence Smith is locate

Richard Litt's entry into the Sydney training ranks materialised under very sad circumstances. He'd barely settled into a training partnership at Warwick Farm with his father Jim when news came from NZ of the premature death of his older brother Jay. Jim Litt made an immediate decision to return to NZ but resolved to leave his small team of horses in Sydney.  Richard was quickly granted a training licence by Racing NSW and launched his training career under less than ideal circumstances. Some months later he paid his first visit to the winner's circle when a mare called Klissta won the Braidwood Cup. As Richard gratefully received the Cup trophy he couldn't have imagined that just two years later he'd be on the dais at Royal Randwick receiving the trainer's trophy after the Gr 1 Champagne Stakes.   That  trophy was won by Castelvecchio, the Dundeel colt who'd catapulted Richard Litt to racing's biggest stage. He joins us on the podcast to talk about his first magical decade in Australian racing.  He talks about an encouraging first half of the current season and his expectations  for the promising Caffe Florian. The trainer looks back on early Sydny stints with trainers like Graham Rogerson, Bart Cummings and John O'Shea.  Richard looks back on his father's decision to try his luck in Sydney with a small team of NZ horses. He remembers the impact of his brother's sudden death in Hawera. Richard says he won't forget the thrill of his Braidwood Cup win in 2017. He looks back on the thrill of landing his first city win albeit a midweek event. His first Saturday metro win was another special occasion. Richard reflects on the luck he's had with a string of online purchases from the Godolphin operation. The trainer shares the story about the beginning of his association with owners Ottavio and Wendy Galletta. He was given the formidable task of winning a race or two with a horse previously trained by Chris Waller.  Richard says he was surprised and delighted when Ottavio and Wendy gave him their new Dundeel colt to train. Castelvecchio began with a flourish by winning first up at  Canterbury before repeating the dose in spectacular fashion in the Inglis Millenium. He looks back on Castelvecchio's wins in the Champagne Stakes and Rosehill Guineas and his stunning second in the Cox Plate. Richard looks back on a monumental disappointment when Castelvecchio was brought undone on a very heavy track in the ATC Derby. The trainer was humbled when the Gallettas gave him the job of training the $1.9 million colt known as Profondo. Richard talks about the highs and lows of the Deep Impact colt's short career. He talks of Ottavio's acquisition of the Victory Lodge training stables at Warwick Farm, formerly home to several Gr 1 winners trained by Clarrie Conners. Richard acknowledges a few more handy winners for the stable in recent years.  

Much of Banks Peninsula has been cut off this morning after flooding and slips closed State Highway 75.

As many regions move into recovery mode - parts of Canterbury continue to be hit by intense wind and rain. RNZ reporter Anna Sargent spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Weather update for Banks Peninsula.

As many regions move into recovery mode - parts of Canterbury continue to be hit by intense wind and rain. RNZ reporter Anna Sargent spoke to Corin Dann.

But is the space in space infinite? What happens when satellites stop working? As the saying goes, what goes up, must come down, so will we see more space junk landing on earth? Here to help answer those questions and more, Jesse is joined by Dr Samantha Lawler, professor of astronomy at the University of Regina in Canada, and Erskine Fellow for the University of Canterbury.

A driver has issued an urgent warning to Kent residents selling vehicles online after ruthless “black oil” scammers sabotaged his car.The Folkestone man says conmen posing as buyers distracted him while secretly pouring oil on the engine of his Mercedes in a calculated bid to convince him it was worthless.Also in today's podcast, an inquest has heard a much-loved dad died after being crushed by a concrete drain at the construction site he was working on. Joe Heath was helping build a new logistics centre for COOK Classic in the Eurolink Industrial Estate in Sittingbourne when his death occurred. Angry residents say their new-build homes have been “ruined” by a spiked metal fence installed just feet from their windows.Homeowners and council tenants at the Woodlands development in Broad Oak, near Canterbury, told KentOnline they now feel like prisoners.People living in a country lane are fed up with flooding on the road outside their homes – but there's no obvious cause. There is a section of Vicarage Lane in East Farleigh that floods every time it rains and then remains flooded for days afterwards.And in sport, Tunbridge Wells' Matt Weston is a double Olympic champion - and a history maker twice over - after steering Team GB to victory in a dramatic inaugural team skeleton event at Milano Cortina.Following a record-breaking victory in the men's event, Weston once again proved he is the world's best with a storming run with he and his partner topping the podium in a landmark moment for British sport. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"I've always focused on what I've been called to do and how I do that in partnership with others." Aleem Maqbool speaks to Dame Sarah Mulally, shortly before being confirmed as Archbishop of Canterbury. She's the first woman ever to lead the Church of England. It's a tough time for the Church and its leader who has to hold together people with a broad range of opinions across the Anglican Communion, one of the largest Christian communities in the world. Dame Sarah's election has upset some traditionalists who have threatened to leave the church because they are against the role of women in leadership. And, with her predecessor leaving because of his failings over abuse in the church, her stance on safeguarding, along with reparative justice and the blessings in church of same sex couples, are all in the spotlight. A former nurse, Dame Sarah rose to become England's chief nursing officer before being ordained. She says that there are strong links between nursing and being a priest - not always finding a cure, she says, but trying to heal. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Hind Kabawat, Syria's only woman minister, and Nigel Casey, the UK's ambassador to Russia. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Aleem Maqbool Producers: Clare Williamson Editors: Justine Lang and Damon Rose Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Dame Sarah Mullally Credit: Ray Tang/Anadolu via Getty Images)

In this episode of Pod Save the King, Russell Myers and Jennifer Newton dive deep into the ongoing fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and its impact on the Royal Family. They discuss the latest revelations from the Epstein files, including damaging new information about Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's ties to the disgraced financier. The hosts also examine how the Royal Family is navigating the public backlash, with members facing hecklers and tough questions during public engagements. Beyond the Epstein saga, the podcast covers other important royal news, including the Princess of Wales opening up more about her personal cancer journey, and the significance of the new Archbishop of Canterbury for the future King William. Russell and Jennifer also preview Prince William's upcoming diplomatic trip to Saudi Arabia, as well as a new documentary featuring King Charles III discussing his passion for the environment and sustainability. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Send us a textWhat if the most political act in history was God taking on human flesh? In this episode, Bishop Wright has a conversation with former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to explore what it means to follow Jesus in a complex, pluralistic, and politically charged world. Drawing on the Incarnation, John 14, and decades of global ministry, Welby reflects on human dignity, solidarity with all people, and why an apolitical Jesus is no savior at all. From interfaith neighborliness to immigration, public witness, and the courage required of the church today, this episode invites listeners to imagine a faith rooted in Christ, lived boldly in context, and marked by hope, humility, and love. The claim is simple and bracing: following Jesus means honoring the dignity of every person and showing up where life is fragile, complicated, and real. Listen in for the full conversation. Justin Welby was Archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the Anglican Communion from 2013 to 2024. Born in London in 1956, he was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied history and law. For 11 years—five in Paris and six in London—he worked in the oil industry; his booklet, Can Companies Sin?, drew on this corporate experience and evolved from his dissertation at theological college. He was Bishop of Durham, Dean of Liverpool Cathedral, and Canon of Coventry Cathedral, whose international reconciliation work he led for five years. As Archbishop of Canterbury, he set three priorities for his ministry: a renewal of prayer and religious communities across the Church; supporting churches and Christians to be agents of reconciliation and peace-making in places of conflict; and encouraging and inspiring Christians to share their faith. Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

In a week where the biggest artists in the music industry were recognised at the Grammys, and Dame Sarah Mullaly officially became the Archbishop of Canterbury, we’re going to be talking about some of the other stories that entertained and interested The Week Junior team.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Church of England revs with a difference, Jamie Franklin and Thomas Pelham sit down to talk about the biggest news in Church and state. This time: The Prince of Darkness, Peter Mandelson, is in the news with further revelations of the leaking of confidential files to Jeffrey Epstein during Mandelson's time in government.It's a toss up for Plank of the Week between Zack Polanski - who wants to reform NATO whilst leaving it and creating something new - and Leo Varadkar - who wants to return Ireland to its traditional feminist pagan roots by merging the feasts of St Brigid and Imbolc. (No, this is not a joke.)Meanwhile, in the Church of England, the Diocese of London have somehow found the best part of a million pounds to start a new antiracist diversity drive whilst Sarah Mullally is confirmed as Archbishop of Canterbury. Mullally has also thrown her weight behind the controversial £100 million slavery reparations scheme, Project Spire, claiming that it is congruent with the Church's true mission. We review these claims plus commentary on the best way forward for Mullally regarding the vexed question of human sexuality.All that and much more as always. Please enjoy!You make this podcast possible. Support us and get episodes early, bonus Uncollared audio podcasts, monthly epic chats between Jamie and Nick Dixon and more!On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/irreverendOn Substack - https://irreverendpod.substack.com/Buy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irreverend To make a direct donation or to get in touch with questions or comments please email irreverendpod@gmail.com!Notices:Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/IrreverendPodBuy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNDaniel French Substack: https://undergroundchurch.substack.com/Jamie Franklin's "Good Things" Substack: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Substack: https://irreverendpod.substack.comFind me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Support the show

It's Friday, January 30th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Nigerian activists call for self-defense measures for Christians In the middle of the night, Islamic Fulani militias brutally killed seven Nigerian Christian men in a coordinated attack on a mining site in the Plateau State, reports International Christian Concern. The incident has reignited long-standing fears of targeted violence against Christian communities and intensified calls for lawful self-defense amid persistent insecurity. Military sources confirmed that the attack occurred at about 1 a.m. last Thursday when Islamic Fulani militias stormed the site, opening fire on miners who had remained overnight. At the graveside, grief gave way to anger, frustration, and an unmistakable sense of abandonment. Weeping relatives and neighbors spoke of fathers and sons lost — not in open combat, but while struggling to survive in an economy that has pushed many into mining at night which has been banned. Human rights advocate Alex Barbir said, “This is no longer just about illegal mining. It is about our people being hunted in the night, killed without mercy, and buried without justice. How long do we continue to die quietly?” He argued that communities must be empowered to defend themselves where the state has repeatedly failed to provide adequate security. Rev. Dachomo agreed, saying, “We preach peace, but peace must not mean surrender to slaughter.  The right to life is sacred, and protecting that life is not a crime.” Anglican pastor protests confirmation of woke female Archbishop of Canterbury The formal confirmation of Sarah Mullally as the new Anglican archbishop of Canterbury was interrupted when a bold pastor publicly objected and was forcibly removed from the service, reports LifeSiteNews.com. On Wednesday, during the Confirmation of Election service for Sarah Mullally at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Anglican pastor Paul Williamson stood up and shouted his objection after the officiant falsely declared that no opposition had been presented, leading to his restraint and removal from the cathedral by security personnel. Listen. OFFICIANT: “Endorsed on this mandate is a certificate which verifies that public notice was duly given as required and that no person has appeared in opposition to the confirmation.” WILLIAMSON: “I did!” (rest of audio undiscernible) Williamson claimed he was "nearly pushed down the stairs" outside by "four heavies" during his removal from the cathedral on Wednesday. Williamson's protest highlighted ongoing divisions over Mullally's appointment within the Anglican Communion, which has been fracturing for years over sexuality and gender.  1 Corinthians 14:24 says, “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.” On January 26, 2015, during the consecration service at York Minster for Libby Lane, who was to become the Church of England's first female bishop, Williamson was the lone dissenting voice when the gathered clergy were asked whether she should be ordained. And, in 2005, Williamson protested against the legality of the marriage of Charles, Prince of Wales to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, reported The Guardian. Trump warns Iran 'time is running out' as US military builds up in Gulf President Donald Trump has warned Iran that "time is running out" to negotiate a deal on its nuclear program following the steady build-up of US military forces in the Gulf, reports the British Broadcasting Corporation. The US president said a "massive Armada" was "moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose" towards Iran, referring to a large US naval fleet. In response, Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the country's armed forces were ready "with their fingers on the trigger" to "immediately and powerfully respond" to any aggression by land or sea. Trump's latest warning follows his promise that Washington will intervene to help those involved in the brutal and unprecedented crackdown on protests in the country earlier this month. Demonstrations began after a sharp fall in the value of the Iranian currency, but swiftly evolved into a crisis of legitimacy for the country's clerical leadership of the Islamic regime. Apple cider vinegar was sprayed on Rep. Ilhan Omar A man accused of attacking Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, a Somali-American, during a town hall event on Tuesday reportedly sprayed apple cider vinegar on her, reports Fox News. Anthony James Kazmierczak, age 55, was seen on video lunging at Congresswoman Omar while spraying an unknown substance on her shirt out of a syringe. Right before the attack, Omar called for the resignation or impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, following two fatal shootings involving federal immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis. Listen to the lead up to the attack. OMAR: “DHS Secretary Kristi Noem must resign or face impeachment.” (audio of attack) At the time of the attack, Kazmierczak said, “She's not resigning. You're splitting Minnesotans apart,” according to The Western Journal. Man paints over heretical billboard to read 'Jesus is God' A viral video shows a man painting over a heretical billboard campaign in California, altering the message to read, “The Bible says … Jesus is ___ God,” reports The Christian Post. The undated video shows an unidentified man atop a billboard platform with the Los Angeles skyline behind it as he paints over the word “Not” in the ad which had initially stated “Jesus is Not God”, transforming the billboard into a proclamation of faith.  World's Last Chance, the group behind the billboard, claims the message is part of “four billboard themes that dare to shatter the chains of long-held misconceptions.” In addition to the Jesus billboard, which adds the text, “Jesus did not pre-exist in Heaven,” the group's website lists three others, including one that attacks Trinitarian theology and another promoting the so-called “flat earth” theory. In addition to the billboard campaign, the World's Last Chance website features several videos purportedly “debunking” the deity of Jesus and the Trinity.  The billboard campaign has been reportedly spotted in California, Georgia, and other states. In a January 21st video, author and Living Waters founder and CEO Ray Comfort responded to the billboard remodeling job with a stark warning about the impact of false teaching in the public square. Listen. COMFORT: “These signs have been erected by a strange sect that claims to believe the Scriptures, yet openly denies the deity of Christ -- a contradiction the Bible doesn't permit. “Scripture plainly teaches that God was manifest in the flesh [1 Timothy 3:16] and that Jesus Christ is ‘the image of the invisible God' [Colossians 1:15] and ‘the express image of His person.' [Hebrews 1:3] Jesus Himself said, ‘I came down from Heaven,' [John 6:38] and ‘Before Abraham was, I am' [John 8:58], a direct claim to deity that His hearers understood clearly. “He is not merely a moral teacher or a created being, but the Creator Himself. ‘For all things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made.' [John 1:3] The Bible warns that any teaching that denies the Son is not from God.  ‘Who is a liar? He that denies that Jesus is the Christ, he is the Antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son.' [1 John 2:22]. This is the spirit of antichrist, which John says was already active in his day and continues now.” [1 John 4:2-3] Updated link to children's book on Martin Luther's wife And finally, yesterday, as we noted the 427th anniversary of the birthday of Martin Luther's wife, Katherine von Bora, I referenced a beautifully illustrated children's book entitled Katharine von Bora: The Morning Star of Wittenberg. Written by twins Jenna and Shanna Strackbein, I initially linked to Amazon if you wanted to purchase it.  However, because they have not restocked the book, you can get a copy through Generations. Scott Brown, Director of Church and Family Life, wrote, “When I read it to my grandchildren, I choked up a few times encountering the beauty of marriage and the wonderful way Katy served the Lord in her generation. Now she was inspiring the rising generation of my own family. What a blessing!" Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, January 30th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is in China on a three-day visit, the first of its kind by a British PM since 2018. The UK government views it as an opportunity to strengthen trade and cultural ties between the two nations after years of acrimony. For China, this is part of a charm offensive in the hope that some will now look at Beijing as a stable, predictable partner - in contrast to the US.Also: the body of the last remaining hostage held in Gaza has been laid to rest in Israel. In a historic change for Anglicans worldwide, the first woman to be appointed Archbishop of Canterbury is officially confirmed. Several countries in Asia have begun tightening health surveillance and screening at airports, after two cases of the highly contagious Nipah virus were confirmed in India. Kim Keon Hee, the former first lady of South Korea, is found guilty of bribery charges. How conservationists in England turn old barges that once transported coal into habitat for endangered wildlife. And we learn about the two-year-old snooker prodigy Jude Owens who's already secured two Guinness World Records.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

It began as part of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement to stop the war in Gaza. But the "Board of Peace," a brainchild of US President Trump, has morphed into something with more grand ambitions, at least rhetorically. Also, police in Nigeria's largest city fired tear gas on people protesting the ongoing demolition of Makoko, an enormous informal settlement that stretches out into the Lagos Lagoon. And, fighting continues in Syria between Kurdish forces and the central government. Plus, the Most Reverend Sarah Mullally was formally confirmed as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury at a ceremony held at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices