Sunday Folgen

It's 50 years since homosexual acts were partially decriminalised in England and Wales. To mark the anniversary, Rosemary Bailey has rereleased the biography of her brother Simon. He was a gay priest in the Church of England and died from AIDS in 1995.In the aftermath of the Grenfell fire, local churches and mosques rallied to support the community. They continue to help, mediating between residents and the authorities. The Rev Mike Long from Notting Hill Methodist Church and Abdurahman Sayed from al-Manaar Mosque tell Edward how pastoral support will be required for many more months.On Thursday, India elected a new president, Ram Nath Kovind. He's a Dalit, India's lowest and poorest caste. Michael Safi, from The Guardian explains the significance of the appointment.It's turning out to be a 'difficult' period for Pope Francis. Francis replaced the Vatican's top theologian and some say there has been veiled criticism from Pope Emeritus Benedict. Edward asks journalist and author Austen Ivereigh just how much trouble the Pontiff is in.St Mary's Cathedral in Glasgow is the first Anglican church in the UK to accept bookings for same-sex weddings. Edward speaks to the Rev Kelvin Holdsworth who is the first celebrant registered to hold the ceremony.In Saudi Arabia, a woman named Khulood was interrogated for wearing "indecent" clothing. She was later released without charge. Rothna Begum from Human Rights Watch explains the wider implications of this incident.In the 2nd of his reports on the traditions of stained glass making, Trevor Barnes visits Canterbury Cathedral which boasts the country's largest collection of medieval glass.Producers: David Cook & Helen LeeEditor: Christine MorganPhoto: John Angerson.

In the first of a three part series, Trevor Barnes explores the history, art and religion behind some of the stained glass windows in the cathedrals and churches of the UK.William Crawley speaks to Guli Francis-Dehqani, who fled Iran at the age of 14 with her family she has been named the first Bishop of Loughborough.The Court of Appeal is considering whether gender segregation in a state-funded Islamic school in Birmingham amounts to unlawful discrimination against girls Amina Lone and Shelina Janmohammed discuss the issues. A recent survey of 2000 young people reports that one in five of those questioned said that they self-identified as followers of Jesus. Jimmy Dale is the Church of England's National Youth Evangelism Officer and explains how they are trying to encourage this age group to attend church. Seven Hindu pilgrims have died in a firefight between militants and police in Kashmir during a highly sensitive religious procession. Rahul Tandon reports on the tension in the area.Archaeologists say they have identified the remains of the cell of St Columba on the Scottish island of Iona, we hear about the significance of the finding for historians and Christian's visiting the island today.More than 200,000 children were married in the US over the past 15 years, new figures from the campaigning charity Unchained at Last have revealed. Sunday hears from the founder Fraidy Reiss about who the victims of child marriage in the United States are and the legal loopholes that allow it to happen. Photo Credit: James O. Davies & Rebecca LaneProducers: Carmel Lonergan Peter EverettEditor Christine Morgan.

Sunday this weekend is presented by William Crawley.The Church of England and the Methodist Church in Britain are considering proposals that would bring them into a new relationship of full communion, after 200 years of formal separation. What would John Wesley think? Warwickshire allotment holders are up in arms about a proposal from Coventry diocese to sell off their land. Historian Andrew Bradstock finds resonances between their battle and that of the 17th century Diggers led by Gerrard Winstanley. A major evangelical event - JustOne - held at London's Emirates stadium on Saturday 8th July - was the first evangelistic stadium gathering since October 2012 - and 26 years since the American evangelist Billy Graham last filled stadiums in the UK. It was organised and led by the preacher J.John. Is this style of mission still effective?It's "Sea Sunday" when Catholic churches will hold special services to remember seafarers the world over.Trevor Barnes went along to one of Britain's largest ports - Immingham on the Humber Estuary - to see how port chaplains seek to meet the needs of those who work at sea. "Two communities going in very different directions" is how one rabbi has described the latest findings of a report into synagogue membership. What are the implications for British Judaism?And the Church of England's General Synod meets this weekend, where talk in the bar is likely to dominated by discussions of the fall-out from the Gibb enquiry into the handling of the Peter Ball case and the Church's safeguarding record . Producers: Rosie Dawson Louise Clarke-Rowbothom The Church of England's General Synod meets in York this weekend.