Best Churches Together In Britain Podcasts (2025)

1
Charlie Kirk, Due Diligence, and State Banquets // In the News 34:06

Play Pause

4h ago34:06

34:06

How can we lead our churches through division? What needs to be considered before appointing someone to a role? What is it like to dine with the king? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in the news over…

1
68: National Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope. A special episode 37:51

2h ago37:51

37:51

Send us a text Episode 68: Following pilgrims walking from four corners of England & Wales, converging in Nottingham. Their pilgrim ways, named for the four evangelists, traced the sign of the cross on the land. The pilgrims speak of Catholic heritage, hospitality, the presence of God in nature, community, hope and love. One said, 'It's really good…

1
67: It's the Holy Spirit that's doing it all 23:14

7d ago23:14

23:14

Send us a text Episode 67: John was first an Anglican and then a Catholic. In this conversation, he gives us glimpses of a life filled with dialogue with people of other faiths, care for creation, an enduring love of music, family, and trying to put the Gospel into practice each day. All these things, John says, are 'joined in my head' with the mis…

1
Making Mistakes, Free Speech, and Gaining Trust // In the News 32:35

6d ago32:35

32:35

What can Angela Rayner's stamp duty mistake teach church leaders? Does the UK have a free speech problem? What does Daniel Levy's exit tell us about trust? In this episode, Adrian Reynolds, Phil Topham, and John Stevens discuss stories in the news and how they relate to church leadership. Show notes FIEC Leaders' Conference 2025 (fiec.org.uk) In:Pr…

1
66: The shadow is only a passing thing. There's this light and hope and beauty that is forever beyond its reach. 30:41

9d ago30:41

30:41

Send us a text Episode 66 David describes a startling experience one Christmas day at Mass that showed him 'the abundance and realness of God's love.' Since serving a prison sentence, it is the charity, beauty and kindness of prisoners for each other that reminds him to 'choose to be a better man every day.' Prison radicalised him, David says. He n…

1
65: Little moments that have somehow been strung together, made up of fragmented conversation, that begin to make sense over a lifetime 29:22

26d ago29:22

29:22

Send us a text Episode 65 In this conversation about conversation, Clare lifts up the grace to be found in our everyday encounters with each other. Conversation is 'that place where we forge together our understanding ... where God makes God's self known.' While truth and joy stand out for Clare in scripture, she says that 'if you really want to kn…

1
Trump & Putin, Crime in Church, and Exam Results // In the News 37:03

19d ago37:03

37:03

Can true peace be found? How should we respond to crimes committed by church leaders? Should we pray for good exam results? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) and Andy Hunter (FIEC Director for Scotland and the North of England) discuss some of the stories in the news and how they might relate to ch…

1
64: Surrounded by people that show you your faith 30:53

1M ago30:53

30:53

Send us a text Episode 64 Nana shares how experiencing the aftermath of armed conflict, and meeting some of the people affected, led her to working at CAFOD. She once vowed, 'There's no way I'm going back into a church.' But here she reflects on how she has moved from anger to recognising that 'we are all peacemakers'. Nowadays people 'absolutely r…

1
63: Living out a call to holiness, with Our Lady’s help 30:34

1M ago30:34

30:34

Send us a text Episode 63 Michael shares his love for Our Lady, for Jesus, and for the Eucharist. In Medjugorje, in response to prayer, he met a ‘ministry buddy.’ Then, he says, 'Our Lady put very strongly on our hearts’ the beginnings of a ministry to the gay community. Continuing this work, despite struggle, judgement and criticism, Michael expla…

1
62: After utter devastation, a symbol of peace, hope and reconciliation 29:29

2M ago29:29

29:29

Send us a text Episode 62: Jim, who is an American professor and a Catholic, tells the extraordinary story of uncovering his grandfather's connection to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This research took Jim to Nagasaki, 'the centre of Catholicism in Japan for centuries.' An awkward question from a Japanese Catholic there - a descenda…

1
61: Coffee with God, Latin Mass, and Sewing for the Church 28:43

2M ago28:43

28:43

Send us a text Episode 61 Anna shares how friends helped her to recognise the presence of God in her life, as a teenager. Through prayer, she finally answered the Lord's 'nudging' and became a Lay Dominican. Her faith is nourished by attending the Latin Mass where she feels she can 'focus' better, and building community through sewing vestments and…

1
Prayer for Gaza, Adult Content Checks, and Exposed Sin // In the News 32:45

2M ago32:45

32:45

How can we pray in light of the images coming from the Middle East? How are new online checks good news for our churches? What does a recent Coldplay concert teach us about sin? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Andy Hunter (FIEC Director for Scotland and the North of England), and John Stevens (FIEC National …

1
Moving Towards Intercultural Church (with Tim and Justin Gill) 33:21

2M ago33:21

33:21

What do we mean by 'intercultural church ministry'? What steps can churches make to move from being 'mono-cultural' towards being 'inter-cultural'? Each group of people shares a pattern of doing things: its culture. As cultures from around the world mix more and more, communities can be mono-cultural or multi-cultural. When we read about the great …

1
60: With the Lord, I can be who I was made to be 24:47

2M ago24:47

24:47

Send us a text Episode 60: Speaking from Wales, Joan describes with unflinching honesty how she is learning to understand God as friend and Father. Through prayer and daily journalling, she explains how her relationship with God is deepening and her life is changing. Joan has encouraging words for listeners, 'You are what He's interested in and tha…

1
59: My faith has grown because of other people's faith 26:30

2M ago26:30

26:30

Send us a text Episode 59: Helen reflects on being a lay Catholic woman in ministry, engaged in practical activities like accompaniment, and ecumenical and interfaith dialogue. There are rich, hard-won insights here. Helen describes embracing new opportunities because 'This sounds important even though I haven't really got time,' and sitting with u…

1
58: Sometimes you need to let baggage go 24:27

2M ago24:27

24:27

Send us a text Episode 58 Jude talks about journeys, from Nigeria to the UK, from Paris to Lourdes to Rome, and his 'very beautiful' ongoing faith journey. He shares how setbacks have been transformed by trying to understand what God is saying to him. 'And now I focus on living simply,' he says. Find out more National Justice and Peace Network Conf…

1
57: I only did one thing. I only loved God. 23:03

3M ago23:03

23:03

Send us a text Episode 57: Olimpia's story begins in Romania in the Communist era. A setback in life has taught her to trust God more deeply - and she welcomes 'the peace and joy we feel when we pray.' The title of this episode is a quote from Venerable Mary Potter. Olimpia explains how this woman's resilient service inspires her faith today. Find …

1
Rumours of War, Abortion & Assisted Suicide, and Festival Season // In the News 32:31

3M ago32:31

32:31

How do we lead our churches through a time of uncertainty? What do votes for abortion and assisted suicide tell us about society? How can festivals remind us of the glorious normal? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director), …

1
56: Missionary of the Sacred Heart: bringing the compassion of Christ 27:49

3M ago27:49

27:49

Send us a text Episode 56: An episode for the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Fr Giacomo shares how he responded at last to the Lord calling him to religious life and how he is now living his faith as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart. 'Our motto is to bring the love of the heart of God into the world, or to be on earth, the heart of God.' Find out more …

1
55: My faith has been forged in a fire 31:52

3M ago31:52

31:52

Send us a text Episode 55: Antonia speaks frankly about her faith being 'forged in a fire' - as she came to terms with abuse scandals in the church and elsewhere. Convinced that, 'You don't have to choose between the practice of your faith and your care for people who've suffered abuse,' Antonia shares her understanding of restorative justice in th…

1
Reviewing Spending, Leading Through Tragedy, and Obituaries // In the News 31:04

3M ago31:04

31:04

How do we lead our churches well in the use of money? What happens when a tragedy affects the church? What do recent deaths teach us about the changing world? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss stories in the news and what we can learn from them abou…

1
10 Minutes on the Comprehensive Spending Review: Insights and Implications 11:34

3M ago11:34

11:34

Join Alex Clare-Young and Paul Morrison from the Joint Public Issues Team as they delve into the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) and its impact on government departmental budgets over the next three years. The episode explores the implications of the CSR on poverty, local government funding, and international development, highlighting the signi…

1
54: I met holy people 25:39

3M ago25:39

25:39

Send us a text Episode 54: Serving as a hospital chaplain is a path Christina 'didn't expect to be on.' In this conversation, she describes the blessings and challenges of walking alongside people at difficult times in their lives. 'It's a ministry of presence,' she says. Find out more Turvey Abbey image of the Risen Lord Student Cross A new episod…

1
Supporting Planters' Wives // Siân Robinson 16:22

3M ago16:22

16:22

Life as a planter's wife can be stressful, lonely, and tiring. How can they maintain their joy and continue to thrive in their relationships with God, their husband, and others? Relationships within the church, pressures on their husband, and spiritual exhaustion can make life as a ministry wife - especially in a church plant - stressful and diffic…

1
53: Put your faith and trust in God. No matter what. 21:31

4M ago21:31

21:31

Send us a text Episode 53: Speaking from his home in Canada, Francisco shares how daily Eucharistic Adoration helped him to find his faith as an adult, 'It was a wonderful feeling.' And it is his faith, he says, which 'helps me to hang in there when everything seems lost.' Find out more Article in The Guardian Online Divine Mercy Chaplet at St John…

1
Intercultural Church Planting // Rick Raja 14:17

4M ago14:17

14:17

How do we appropriately reflect and embody the different cultures in our churches? Jesus' commission to the church was to make disciples of all nations, to the ends of the earth. To reach all nations, and to serve all nations, we need to better reflect the diverse cultures represented. But, our cultural lies, blind spots, and biases can be barriers…

1
Trump's Tariffs, Masculine Church, and the Professor of Dishonesty // In the News 34:19

4M ago34:19

34:19

How can Donald Trump help us to be aware of overstepping? What is the place of masculinity in church? How does integrity affect our ministry? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss stories in the news from the past…

1
A Helpful Feedback Culture // Josh Monteiro 8:46

4M ago8:46

8:46

How can we create good feedback loops and avoid feeling overly sensitive to criticism? The book of Proverbs encourages us to get wisdom and feedback (Proverbs 15:22, 15:31). It is important to cultivate a culture of feedback in church life to benefit from the wisdom of the whole body of the church. Such a culture creates an environment where people…

1
52: What it means to wrestle with the Catholic Church 25:47

4M ago25:47

25:47

Send us a text Episode 52: Maria describes her Korean Catholic heritage and how in Korea, perhaps unlike Britain, the Church is seen as progressive. Finding ways to 'stay connected with the church' while living as a queer Catholic, she says, 'has brought me close to the Catholic faith... and closer to God.' Find out more The Catholic Church in Kore…

1
51: Will this community help me? 21:34

4M ago21:34

21:34

Send us a text Episode 51: Martin shares how he became first an Anglican, then later a Catholic, drawn by Ignatian practices of 'deeper, imaginative prayer.' He speaks thoughtfully of his lived experience as a gay Christian who has managed, through God's grace, to overcome hurt and resentment, and to 'keep my mind and my heart open.' Find out more …

1
Immigration Rhetoric, Assisted Dying Bill, and AI Hallucinations // In the News 32:53

4M ago32:53

32:53

How should church leaders think and speak about immigration? How should we engage with the Assisted Dying Bill votes? What does AI teach us about being human? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director), discuss some of the sto…

1
Church Without Borders 30:37

4M ago30:37

30:37

The world is changing and the way we reach the world with the gospel is changing. In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director) and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) discuss the importance of world mission and how this year's Leaders' Conference can help church leaders get it on the agenda in church life. …

1
50: Walking in the footsteps of the generations before us 28:08

4M ago28:08

28:08

Send us a text Episode 50: For Thomas, 'Our faith isn't a dusty old thing. It's a living faith which has been passed down from generation to generation.' His grandmother helped to shape the way he puts his faith into action, working in the criminal justice system where 'we have something really important to bring as Catholics and as Christians.' A …

1
Planning Your Training // Graham Beynon 12:05

4M ago12:05

12:05

The more training and knowledge you have, the more helpful you will be as you serve those in your church. So what kind of training should you do? This talk is one of the Snapshots from Journeys 2025, addressing what it's like to be in ministry and the skills required. Graham Beynon is FIEC's Head of Local Ministries, helping churches and their lead…

1
Choosing Church Roles // Ray Evans 11:48

4M ago11:48

11:48

Finding the right role to serve in at church is important. What do we need to think about as we consider what role is right for us? The SHAPE acronym can help when considering roles in the church: Spiritual gifts; Heart; Abilities; Personality; Experiences. Finding a role that plays to your strengths in these areas will enable you to be most effect…

1
Dealing with Change // Dawn Thomson 10:21

5M ago10:21

10:21

Church ministry is always changing, and we are always changing too. How can we embrace and enjoy change as it happens? This talk is one of the Snapshots from Journeys 2025, addressing what it's like to be in ministry and the skills required. Dawn Thomson serves as the Outreach and Women's Worker at Spen Valley Church in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire,…

1
49 : A thousand people in the building, all singing this hymn 27:49

5M ago27:49

27:49

Send us a text Episode 49: Paul describes how and why, as an adult, he rediscovered and fell in love with his Ukrainian Greek Catholic heritage and the Byzantine (an Eastern) rite. He draws on St Paul to sum up 'the Christian faith and the Christian ethos' and especially to explain how the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church continues to flourish despi…

1
Reaching Catholics, Transgender People, and Liverpool FC Succession // In the News 30:43

5M ago30:43

30:43

How do we reach Catholics with the true gospel? How should Christians respond to the Supreme Court ruling on gender? What can we learn from Liverpool FC? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss the stories in the ne…

1
Bonus Episode: The Pope who serves the moment 19:22

5M ago19:22

19:22

Send us a text Bonus Episode: Previous guests from four continents share their appreciation for the legacy of Pope Francis in their own lives - and their hopes for the new pope. Lots of focus on the work of the Holy Spirit and a call for Catholic people to pray. Find out more Pray for one of the Cardinals A new episode, a different conversation, ev…

1
Reaching the Lost in Rural Places (with Rob Scothern) 31:44

5M ago31:44

31:44

10.6 million people live in rural communities in Great Britain. If we want to reach all of the country for Christ, we need to reach rural areas. Whether you live and serve in an urban city, a rural community, or anywhere in between, we need to be thinking about reaching people in rural places. In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC…

1
48: Yes. My faith has saved me. 28:07

5M ago28:07

28:07

Send us a text Episode 48: Felicity shares movingly how and why she worked for decades in a job she found very stressful while also feeling it was a vocation and 'God's work'. She speaks about the death of her husband and the friends and practices that are helping her to find a way through a series of bereavements. Felicity recommends being Christ-…

1
47: A prophetic role - in our actions and our words 30:00

5M ago30:00

30:00

Send us a text Episode 47: Naoise shares how he understands trying to live virtuously in a broken world - personally and professionally. He describes his belief that by our lives, we Catholics can 'have a transformative and transfigurative effect on the world around us.' Find out more Henri Nouwen's book The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England …

1
46: Holy Week allows you to live that real emotion of what Christ did for us 23:29

5M ago23:29

23:29

Send us a text Episode 46: In this special Holy Week episode, Jim, a scientist and a theologian, shares how he makes sense of the strong emotions of Holy Week. 'I don't see any contradiction between my science and my faith or my vocation and my faith...One has driven the other.' Since childhood, he explains, the practices of Holy Week help him to, …

1
Joys and Sorrows // Adrian Reynolds 10:39

5M ago10:39

10:39

Church ministry is the best work in the world. But in a sense it is the hardest work in the world too. The nature of Christian ministry is a mixture of the sound of the shouts of joy with the sound of weeping (Ezra 3:13). Sometimes in the same person and even in the same event. It is a Christian discipline to seek out the joys whilst being realisti…

1
Growing in Godliness // Josh Monteiro 10:46

5M ago10:46

10:46

Serving in ministry can be a threat to our godliness. We must keep growing and take care not to wither. In his pastoral letters, Paul often urges gospel ministers to be godly in their conduct and lives. Being a church leader doesn't mean we stop needing to grow in godliness. Yet, church ministry itself can make it harder to grow in godliness. It ca…

1
The Value of Friendship // Elinor Magowan 11:40

5M ago11:40

11:40

Church ministry can be isolating and lonely. But true friendship strengthens us, lifts us, and brings us joy. True friendship is valuable because it is faithful, truthful, intentional, forgiving, and joyful. We have the truest friend in Jesus: the one who is with us through ups and downs, and who gives joy that can't be taken away. Elinor Magowan w…

1
Trump's Economics, Freedom of Speech, and a Quiet Revival // In the News 33:44

5M ago33:44

33:44

What can church leaders learn from Trump's economic u-turn? How can churches freely preach in public? Can we be gospel optimistic for the UK? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss stories in the news over the past…

1
45: Making sure I don't get in the way 24:24

6M ago24:24

24:24

Send us a text Episode 45: Deacon Paul explains his unusual work at Harvington Hall, offering prayer and pilgrimage alongside showcasing Catholic Tudor history for tourists. After taking 15 years to discern the Lord's call, he shares how he understands his role as a deacon. 'God put me there to be the conduit for his love in that moment. My job is …

1
10 minutes on The Spring Statement 15:26

6M ago15:26

15:26

In this episode of 10 minutes on (or 16 minutes on!) Florence interviews Paul Morrison about the Spring Statement. They focus on the changes to the Benefit System and the impact on poverty in the UK. For more on the Spring Statement head to our blog: https://jpit.uk/response-to-the-spring-statementBy JPIT

1
Why Bi-Vocational Ministry? (with Rob Scothern) 32:48

6M ago32:48

32:48

Leading a church alongside another salaried job can open opportunities for church planting, smaller church ministry, and more. In this episode, Adrian Reynolds (Head of National Ministries) is joined by Rob Scothern, pastor at Peak Trinity Church in Bakewell, Derbyshire. Rob was involved in planting Peak Trinity whilst also working as a teacher in …