Methodist Recorder

Now that the days are longer and (hopefully) a bit warmer, if you are planning a trip anywhere, why not take a picture there with your Methodist Recorder  and send it to us for “Where do you read yours?”

As St George’s Day approaches, questions about England’s patron st invite a look at the man behind the myth. This week Gavin Drake examines the earliest evidence for St George’s veneration in Lydda and traces how a little-known martyr became a warrior saint and national symbol

Methodist charity Action for Children (AfC) is to expand its work tackling criminal exploitation after securing almost £5 million from the National Lottery Community Fund. See Page One for full story.

In this month’s Faith on the Tracks, John Singleton looks at the “Bow Curve”.

In the latest in our series “Methodism and Me”, Stephen Poxon reveals the influence of the Methodist Church on his Salvation Army upbringing.

Christians from many different denominations took part in a London march opposing Christian nationalism as part of a wider demonstration against far right politics organised by the Together Alliance. See Page One for full story.

The Methodist Recorder is celebrating its 165th anniversary this week and we have a special four-page feature to mark this milestone.

This week we have a reflection for Easter by the President of the Methodist Conference, the Rev Richard Andrew.

Christians in Jerusalem are celebrating Easter this year amid severe restrictions on public gatherings and events, which mean that all significant liturgical and processional events in the Old City have been cancelled. See Page One.

Plastic eggs, silk roses, donkeys and scraps of wool. Can God really use these to help the blind to see? So asks Sue Pegg in this month’s Rural Church Matters.

This week we have a special short story by Veronica Heley.

The President-Designate of the Methodist Church has spoken of the mix of “weariness and hope” he witnessed in Israel and Palestine during a 12-day visit. See Page One.

Leslie Griffiths reveals what he misses most about active ministry in this month’s column.

Methodist and Anglican leaders are reopening theological discussions on bishops, ordination and apostolic ministry — issues that have historically been among the most difficult barriers to closer unity between the two traditions. See Page One for full story.

In this month’s Faith on the Tracks, we meet some Railway Mission chaplains.

The President of the Conference, the Rev Richard Andrew, has revealed that he is living with prostate cancer and was initially told that he might only have two to three years to live, before further tests revealed that the disease could be treated. See Page One.

Reform UK has pledged to ban former church buildings from being converted for use by other faith groups as part of plans to “restore Britian’s Christian heritage” if the party wins a general election. See Page One for full story.

In a special feature, Alan Sharp looks at the way that folk music has influenced much of our hymnody down the years.

The Chair of the Yorkshire North and East District, the Rev Leslie Newton, offers his reflections on “Flourish”, the weekend-long all-age festival focusing on worship, creativity and exploring faith through “Woven Threads” to help the community flourish.

The chief executive of MHA (Methodist Homes), Sam Monaghan, has issued an appeal to the Government to rethink elements of its immigration reforms, warning that proposed changes risked treating social care staff as “second-class” workers. See Page One.