Local churches have been backing five Irish traveller families living on an unofficial site in Wickford, Essex, who now face eviction because the land they bought is within a green zone area. They have lodged an appeal.

The recent growth in humanist marriage ceremonies in Scotland means they have overtaken Episcopal ceremonies for the first time. Since they were first made legal their number rose from 82 in 2005 to 710 in 2007.

The Methodist Church in Britain has welcomed the UK government’s decision to make education in schools about sex and relationships compulsory for children of all ages.

A leading Christian social action charity, Faithworks, has announced that it is restructuring to focus on new ways of achieving its strategic priorities in the current difficult funding climate - including a new Charities Paliament.