Latest news with #churches
BBC News
12 hours ago
- BBC News
Essex church crime figures prompt security funding call
A campaign group has called for continued security funding for churches after figures revealed the number of crimes affecting places of was in the top 10 worst-affected policing areas in the UK with 500 reported crimes at churches during 2022, 2023 and 2024, according to figures obtained by the Countryside Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs at the organisation, called for existing government schemes providing support with repair and security costs, including the Listed Places of Worship (LPW) Grant Scheme and the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme, to be made Home Office and Essex Police have been contacted for comment. The Countryside Alliance obtained the figures via Freedom of Information requests to every local police force in the it published its church crime report, the Essex figures were not available, but have since been the three years in question, Essex Police revealed 213 reported thefts, 159 reported cases of criminal damage, and 128 reported cases of violence at included two cases of lead being stripped from church Yorkshire was the most severely affected with 1,121 recorded crimes, followed by Kent (655) and Greater Manchester (642).Mr Metcalf-Fisher told BBC Essex: "If I think about my parish church outside Saffron Walden in Ugley, it's a beautiful church, but it is isolated."Lots of people, for a number of years, have had concerns about the security of their local church, whether it's anecdotal stories about lead being taken from the rooftops to donation tins being stolen."He said community awareness could also play a huge part in prevention."We need any dog walkers, people out in the area, just keeping an eye on their churches, and that piece of intelligence to police could go a long way in protecting the future of those churches," he said. The Reverend David Ibiayo said he was "pained" when vandals broke in and damaged St Margaret's Church in Bowers Gifford, near Basildon, last year, causing damage estimated at £15, said "luckily" passers by heard a noise a reported it."We were thinking 'We're a small church, how are we going to survive?', but we had a GoFundMe page and the local community raised £10,000 for us," he said."So, yes, we're pained by the news, but it just goes to show the beauty of the local community."The Grade II-listed Anglican church, which dates back to 1450, used its funds to install CCTV. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Inside the state's best church conversion properties
They were once Houses of God – now they're home to a big spending elite seeking luxury living with a divine twist. A growing number of historic churches across NSW have undergone jaw-dropping makeovers into up-market homes with cathedral ceilings, stained-glass windows and alters turned into showpieces for big screen TVs. The former churches – many buildings that once housed large congregations before falling out of use – have become a magnet for developers cashing in on the city's hunger for character homes. It's a real estate resurrection powered by both shifting values and brutal economics. As congregations dwindle and church attendance drops across Australia, many religious institutions are left grappling with the rising cost of maintaining ageing buildings. Dozens of churches, particularly in regional NSW, have been quietly sold off over the past decade, attracting builders with bold visions and big budgets. Real estate agent Holly Newbigging of One Agency, who has sold church conversions, said buyers were drawn to many aspects of owning one. 'There's something truly special about them,' she said. 'The character, the history, the sense of space you simply can't recreate with a standard build. 'Homes like this offer a rare opportunity to own a piece of architectural history, transformed for modern living.' One of the most recent sales was one of two residences converted from the old Mill Hill church in Bondi Junction. The home sold for $4.25 million in February. A previous owner, Julie Phillips, told The Sunday Telegraph shortly before selling the home in 2021 that she had been 'intrigued' by the 'dramatic' style of the church-turned-home. She revealed that the home had a 'wonderful atmosphere' and that occasionally she would get people knocking on her door wondering when church proceedings would start. Out in Downside, just north of Wagga Wagga, an old Presbyterian Church remodelled into a modern five-bedroom, three-bathroom residence is now up for sale. Ms Newbigging said the home on Downside Rd was an 'exemplary blend' of past and present. 'The main living, dining, and kitchen area occupies what was once the Downside Presbyterian Church, built in 1937,' she said. 'Original brickwork and soaring ceilings have been beautifully preserved, creating a sense of space and grandeur.' The home is listed for $2.4 million, $1.7 million above the median house price in Wagga Wagga. MORE: Brutal reaction to 3D printed public housing In Waratah, a northwestern suburb of Newcastle, a church on Station St built in 1955 has been converted into a home, now up for sale. No price guide has been released but an automated valuation on estimated the home to be worth about $2.6 million. Once used by Uniting Church, the property comprises the church and hall next door. The former nave is now a living area which maintains its high cathedral ceilings and a centrepiece stained glass window. In Orange, a church at 1 Bathurst Rd that was operational for over 100 years is being offered as a potential conversion site. The church, which held its last service in 2018, is up for sale with McGrath Orange director Scott Petersen. 'I've had a huge amount of interest from far and wide,' Mr Petersen said. 'The recent DA approval opens up options such as a wine bar, cafe, restaurant or small events venue.' According to Churches Australia, it was the site of the declaration of Orange as a city in 1946. Returning to Sydney, a striking sandstone church on Mocur St in Woollahra remains one of the oldest churches to be converted into a residence. Built in 1877 by architect Benjamin Backhouse, the revamped gothic cathedral turned luxury house sold for a cool $4.8 million.
Associated Press
08-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Kaleo AI Launches Revolutionary Real-Time Translation Platform for Churches, Breaking Language Barriers in 150+ Languages
Toronto, Canada, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kaleo AI announced the official launch of its groundbreaking real-time translation platform designed specifically for churches, enabling congregations to instantly translate their services into more than 150 languages and dialects. With this solution, churches can finally reach diverse communities with the gospel, removing language as a barrier to worship and discipleship. Kaleo AI enables churches to translate their services into 150+ languages in real-time Unlike generic translation services, Kaleo AI has been custom-trained on theological terminology and Bible names, ensuring that the richness and accuracy of scriptural teaching is preserved across every language. This specialized approach addresses a critical need in increasingly multicultural communities where churches often struggle to minister effectively to non-English speakers. 'Language should never be a barrier to hearing the gospel,' said Aidan Britnell, founder of Kaleo AI. 'We've built this platform from the ground up with the local church in mind, creating a solution that combines theological accuracy, proven effectiveness, and unprecedented affordability, making your ministry accessible to everyone.' The platform is already transforming worship experiences across Canada, with churches of all sizes - from portable church plants to multisite churches with thousands in weekly attendance - leveraging Kaleo AI to create truly inclusive worship environments. Key features of Kaleo AI include: 'The response from churches has been overwhelming,' added Aidan. 'Church members are bringing family members who've never attended because of the language barrier - and they're staying. We're also hearing from English language learners that they can finally grasp the full depth of the sermon instead of catching just bits and pieces. This is truly a great day for the Church.' Churches interested in expanding their multilingual ministry can sign up for a free trial at and experience four hours of real-time translation at no cost. About Kaleo AI Kaleo AI is pioneering multilingual accessibility for the global church with its revolutionary real-time translation platform that breaks down language barriers in worship services. By instantly translating sermons and church content into over 150 languages, Kaleo AI empowers local churches to fulfill the Great Commission and reach diverse communities with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Purpose-built for ministry, the platform combines cutting-edge artificial intelligence with a deep understanding of church needs, making it possible for congregations of any size to reach every person, tribe, and tongue with the most important message they will ever hear: the gospel of Jesus Christ. Press inquiries Kaleo AI Aidan Britnell [email protected]
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Churches can endorse political candidates and keep tax-exempt status, Trump's IRS says
The Internal Revenue Service under Donald Trump's administration will now allow churches and other houses of worship to endorse political candidates from the pulpit without losing their tax-exempt status, upending decades of federal law intended to prevent campaigns from using the pulpit as a political tool. The statements were included in a court filing on Monday night as part of a settlement with two Texas churches and Christian broadcasters, which sought an even wider exemption that would open the door for any nonprofit groups to endorse politicians. Those groups initially filed their lawsuit last year during Joe Biden's administration. At the time, the Department of Justice emphatically rejected claims that tax laws violate churches' First Amendment rights. But under the Trump administration, government lawyers compared campaigning from inside a church to 'a family discussion concerning candidates.' 'Thus, communications from a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its usual channels of communication on matters of faith do not run afoul of the Johnson Amendment as properly interpreted,' according to Monday's filing. The Johnson Amendment, introduced by former President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1954 when he was a senator, prohibits tax-exempt charitable organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates in an attempt to prevent those groups from being driven by partisan pressure. Trump wants to get rid of it. The president has long promised his evangelical base that his administration would repeal the Johnson Amendment, which would require an act of Congress or aggressive executive actions that would almost certainly face another wave of legal challenges. Repealing the amendment would allow churches to not only openly endorse candidates but turn them into potential fundraising powerhouses. Churches, unlike other nonprofit groups, are not required to file 990 forms that disclose key financial information to the IRS, allowing them to operate with a lower degree of financial oversight — opening the door for houses of worship to function more like political action committees. 'This court filing is deeply concerning, furthering an assault on the bedrock principle that charitable organizations must remain nonpartisan in law, fact, and purpose in order to serve their missions and communities,' according to Diane Yentel, president of the National Council of Nonprofits, which represents 30,000 groups, 'This action — long sought by President Trump — is not about religion or free speech, but about radically altering campaign finance laws,' she added. 'The decree could open the floodgates for political operatives to funnel money to their preferred candidates while receiving generous tax breaks at the expense of taxpayers who may not share those views.' More than three-quarters of Americans say churches and other houses of worship should not get involved with political endorsements, according to the results of a Pew Research Center survey from 2022. That figure includes a wide majority of worshippers across the ideological spectrum, including 62 percent of white evangelical Protestants, 63 percent of Black protestants, as well as 70 percent of Republican voters and 84 percent of Democratic voters. Nothing in the Johnson Amendment prevents churches and nonprofits from addressing political issues, but the National Religious Broadcasters association, the lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit, argue that the law forces 'self-censorship' in violation of their First Amendment rights. 'For too long, churches have been instructed to remain silent on pressing matters of conscience and conviction' during election cycles, according to the group's president Troy A. Miller. 'We believe that all nonprofits should have the constitutional right to freely express their point of view on candidates, elections, and issues on the ballot,' he said in a statement announcing the lawsuit last year. 'Our challenge to the Johnson Amendment is about securing the future of free expression for all Americans, particularly those standing in the pulpit.' Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, an advocacy group that supports a firewall between government and worship, called on the IRS to 'enforce the law, not to abandon it.' 'If the lawsuit were to succeed, it would have profound and overwhelmingly negative effects on our political system,' according to the group. 'Neither church nor state would benefit.'
New York Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
I.R.S. Says Churches Can Endorse Candidates From the Pulpit
The I.R.S. said on Monday that churches and other houses of worship should be allowed to endorse political candidates to their congregations, carving out an exemption in a decades-old ban on political activity by tax-exempt nonprofits. The agency made that statement in a court filing intended to settle a lawsuit filed by two Texas churches and an association of Christian broadcasters. The plaintiffs that sued the I.R.S. had previously asked a federal court in Texas to create an even broader exemption — to rule that all nonprofits, religious and secular, were free to endorse candidates to their members. That would have erased a bedrock idea of American nonprofit law: that tax-exempt groups cannot be used as tools of any campaign. Instead, the I.R.S. agreed to a narrower carveout — one that experts in nonprofit law said might sharply increase politicking in churches, even though it mainly seemed to formalize what already seemed to be the agency's unspoken policy. The agency said that if a house of worship endorsed a candidate to its congregants, the I.R.S. would view that not as campaigning but as a private matter, like 'a family discussion concerning candidates.' 'Thus, communications from a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its usual channels of communication on matters of faith do not run afoul of the Johnson Amendment as properly interpreted,' the agency said, in a motion filed jointly with the plaintiffs. The ban on campaigning by nonprofits is named after former President Lyndon B. Johnson, who introduced it as a senator in 1954. President Trump has repeatedly called for its repeal. In the filing, the I.R.S. and the plaintiffs asked a federal judge to enter an order barring the Trump administration — and any that came after it — from enforcing the ban against the groups that sued. Neither the I.R.S. nor a lawyer for the plaintiffs responded to a request for comment on Monday evening. For years, the I.R.S. has seemed deeply leery of punishing religious leaders for political statements made during worship. But the experts said this was the first time that the agency had formally said such statements were not just tolerated but explicitly legal. 'It basically tells churches of all denominations and sects that you're free to support candidates from the pulpit,' said Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer, a law professor at the University of Notre Dame who has studied regulation of political activity by churches. 'It also says to all candidates and parties, 'Hey, time to recruit some churches.'' Ellen P. Aprill, a professor emeritus at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said she believed that the I.R.S.'s decision would set off new debates about its limits. What if a church posts endorsements online? Communications meant for congregants could easily reach people unconnected to the church family. 'It's not going to be limited to just their membership,' she said. 'Even Las Vegas doesn't stay in Las Vegas these days. Everybody has a web page.' Seamus Hughes contributed reporting.
