In the same week that a new archbishop of Canterbury was installed, YouGov admitted that a poll suggesting there was a “quiet revival” of Christianity was a dud. It had been inflated by fraudulent results and should be ignored.

To those of us who study the bigger picture of religion in Britain, this comes as no surprise. There are good reasons to doubt that Britain is experiencing a Christian revival today – but that does not mean it is dying out.

À lire aussi :
Is there really a religious revival in England? Why I’m sceptical of a new report

To understand what is happening in Britain, it is helpful to compare it with the US, which has has long been viewed as exceptionally religious in comparison. Recent evidence suggests something less clear-cut.

In a major recent study, sociologist Christian Smith assembles the data. In the 1970s and ’80s, only around one in ten Americans identified as “nonreligious”. But from 1991, the proportion of people who identify as such has risen steeply, reaching 29% in 2021.

Today, 43% of young American adults aged 18-29 say they are nonreligious, and only a quarter of generation Z are regular church attenders.

In Britain, being nonreligious was much more common, much earlier. Today, around half the population say they have “no religion” – a proportion that has remained rather stable since the 2010s, according to the reliable British Social Attitudes survey.

By contrast, the proportion saying they are Christian has fallen steadily to around 40% today. Levels of regular weekly churchgoing are around 5%.

In other words, the decline of Christianity started later in the US than in Britain, and has not yet gone as far. But in America, it has been swifter, more dramatic and shows no sign of slowing down.

American-style Christianity can no longer be assumed to be the future for the churches in Britain. Such religion has always been more enthusiastic, congregational and separate from the state.

When Christianity last experienced a revival in the US, with the rise of the New Christian Right and televangelism in the 1980s, conservative and fundamentalist churches were prominent, and megachurches did well. Some blamed the decline of churches in Britain on the fact that they were not more like American ones. They were said to be insufficiently enthusiastic and self-promoting.

Megachurches never really took off in Britain, except for a few examples in big cities that tend to serve diaspora communities. And though the last archbishop, Justin Welby, hoped that an evangelical revival would reverse church decline, this failed to materialise.

The resilience of old churches

But Britain’s churches are not doomed. In light of the recent Christian decline in America, the stately power and traditional ways of the UK’s older churches may turn out to be an asset.

Though few people attend regularly, the Church of England, the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland are still the largest and most powerful of the UK churches. Institutional embeddedness matters.

The Church of England is constitutionally established, and all these churches play a central role in the school system by way of state-supported faith schools. Although the Church of England is not funded through taxation like some of its sister churches in Scandinavia, its considerable wealth – around £11 billion – protects it.

If generation Z show an interest in religion, it is traditional forms that appeal to them as much as the trendier forms that seek the attention of youth. We see this not just in Christianity, where both the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches are reporting new interest, but also in Orthodox Judaism and, to some extent, in Islam.

Still, the traditional churches are unlikely to return to a position like they held in society as recently as the 1980s. Today, revival is virtually impossible. When American evangelist Billy Graham won converts in Britain, he was not winning over people who had grown up nonreligous, he was speaking to people with a Christian background.

It is sometimes suggested that war or social collapse could lead to a revival of Christianity. That is possible, but history suggests that a plethora of different intense, sectarian kinds of religion and spirituality emerge in such situations.

Others argue that the Holy Spirit stirs individual hearts and minds, irrespective of the state of the churches. That is how Protestant Christians have often thought about revival, perhaps recalling Methodist enthusiasm or the chapel movement in Wales.

The striking thing about such revivalism, however, is how quickly it can fade. The chapels are mostly closed now. The Methodists are dying out. “Nonconformity” as a whole, still a major force in England in the 1950s, is almost forgotten.

Though the Christian nationalists on the American right are currently very loud, they have had no impact on the continued decline of Christianity in the US or the alienation of young people. Attempts by some on Britain’s political right to talk up Christianity are even less likely to succeed. They are reviving words, not religion.

What we have in Britain today is a landscape in which the historic churches appear a little stronger than once thought, and revivalist forms of Christianity weaker. Overall, however, Christianity occupies a much diminished space. Other world religions, especially Islam, are stable or growing.

“Nonreligion” is the biggest affiliation after Christianity, but that label hides diversity. Some of the nonreligious are atheist, some agnostic, and some are actively interested in new forms of spirituality, magic and supernaturalism. Although old landmarks remain, like church steeples on the horizon, the religious landscape of Britain is greatly changed.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the UK’s most lethal cancers, with around 10,500 new cases each year

People born before 1966 are being urged to look out for a potentially “serious” warning sign that could indicate a deadly disease. Doctors are warning that one subtle yet significant symptom – frequently overlooked – might point towards pancreatic cancer, which mainly affects those aged 60 and above.

The NHS stresses that identifying symptoms early could prove lifesaving, although the condition is notoriously difficult to detect. This is down to early warning signs being vague, leading to numerous diagnoses happening at an advanced stage.

Dr Asiya Maula, a private GP at The Health Suite, said that pancreatic cancer can readily slip under the radar during its early stages: “Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage because symptoms can be vague or non-specific, which is why understanding the lifestyle factors linked to risk is so important.

“Small, consistent habits over time can have a significant impact,” Dr Maula added, highlighting risk factors including smoking, alcohol consumption and what we eat.

Amongst the less widely known symptoms is a yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, known as jaundice – one of the most visible early signs.

The NHS points out that jaundice is usually more apparent in the eyes, particularly amongst individuals with darker skin. It happens when a substance called bilirubin accumulates in the body, which can result from serious illnesses such as liver disease, gallstones, or pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal cancers in Britain, with approximately 10,500 new cases diagnosed annually, according to Pancreatic Cancer UK. The charity highlights that over half of all diagnoses affect people aged 75 and above, emphasising the importance of greater awareness among older adults.

The prognosis remains bleak, with less than 10% of patients surviving five years or longer, according to Cancer Research UK. Delayed diagnosis contributes significantly to this, as warning symptoms including fatigue, weight loss and digestive complaints can be easily confused with less severe conditions.

The NHS advises watching for additional signs such as loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, continuous tiredness and elevated body temperature. Digestive troubles including nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and indigestion may also present themselves, alongside pain in the upper stomach or back area.

Medical professionals emphasise that while these symptoms are widespread and frequently associated with other conditions, any alterations that seem unusual shouldn’t be dismissed. Individuals are urged to see their GP if symptoms continue, deteriorate or feel abnormal.

The pressing guidance is unambiguous: anyone experiencing jaundice, continuous vomiting or diarrhoea should contact their GP or NHS 111 immediately. Prompt medical evaluation could exclude serious illness – or guarantee quicker treatment if required.

The owner of an average family car could save £15 by filling up at the cheapest forecourt in Cambridgeshire

Advertisement

The cheapest place in Cambridgeshire to fill up your car with petrol is at a Central Co-op garage in Peterborough. According to the latest data supplied by retailers, a driver in an average family car could save up to £15 by filling up at this forecourt, compared to the most expensive petrol station.

The Central Co-op garage at Paxton Road, Peterborough is charging motorists 145.9p per litre, which means it would cost £95 to fill up an average 55 litre tank. This is based on a feed of live petrol prices which is published by the government.

Here are the cheapest places to top your car with petrol in Cambridgeshire

• 145.9p – Central Co-op, Paxton Road, Peterborough, PE2 5LD
• 148.9p – Esso, Murketts Of Stapleford, Cambridge, CB22 5DG
• 149.9p – Karan Thorney Toll Service Station, Thorney Toll Service Station, Wisbech, PE13 4AX
• 149.9p – Highland Group St Neots, St. Neots Service Station, St. Neots, PE19 1PJ
• 149.9p – Tesco, Barford Road, St. Neots, PE19 2SA
• 149.9p – Tesco, Hostmoor Avenue, March, PE15 0AX
• 149.9p – Karan New Toll Service Station, B P Petrol Station Wisbeach, Wisbech, PE13 4AT
• 150.9p – Sainsbury’s, Oxney Road, Peterborough, PE1 5NG
• 150.9p – Esso, Esso, Peterborough, PE1 5XL
• 150.9p – Tesco, Peterborough, PE4 6NA

The most expensive filling station in Cambridgeshire is a BP petrol station at Sawtry Service Area, Huntingdon. The cost of standard petrol at this station is 181.9p, meaning it would cost a total of £110 to fill up an average family car at this forecourt.

For the owners of diesel cars, the cheapest place to fill up is the Central Co-op garage at Peterborough. The cost of a litre of standard diesel at this forecourt is 171.9p, according to prices supplied by retailers.

Here are the cheapest places to fill up your car with standard diesel in Cambridgeshire this weekend.

• 171.9p – Central Co-op, Paxton Road, Peterborough, PE2 5LD
• 174.9p – Bp, Whittlesford Bridge, Pampisford, Cambridgeshire, CB22 3HD
• 177.9p – Tesco, Hostmoor Avenue, March, PE15 0AX
• 178.9p – Tesco, Serpentine Green Shopping Centre, Peterborough, PE7 8BD
• 178.9p – Tesco, Peterborough, PE4 6NA
• 179.9p – A&a Chapman Ltd Ta Acorn Garage, Acorn Garage, Cambridge, CB21 6BN
• 180.9p – Sainsbury’s, Oxney Road, Peterborough, PE1 5NG
• 180.9p – Tesco, Tesco Stores Ltd, Ely, CB7 4DJ
• 181.9p – Tesco, Barford Road, St. Neots, PE19 2SA
• 181.9p – BP, 33 Peterborough Road, Peterborough., Cambridgeshire, PE7 1NJ

You can use our interactive widget to find out the price of fuel at the petrol stations near you.

UK drivers are currently paying 154.5p per litre of petrol, while people who own diesel vehicles are paying 186.2p on average. In Cambridgeshire owners of petrol cars are currently being charged 0.3p more than the national average of 154.5p.

Diesel car drivers in Cambridgeshire are paying 1.2p less than the national average.

The cheapest place to buy petrol in the country is at a Tesco garage in Swansea where a litre of standard petrol is 140.9p. The most expensive petrol station in the country is a Cluanie Inn Hotel garage in Inverness where motorists are charged 188.4p a litre.

The prices quoted are for standard grade petrol (E10) and for standard grade diesel (B7). The figures are supplied by the major retailers under a scheme operated by the government to ensure motorists are given a fair deal at the petrol pumps.

The prices quoted are those supplied by retailers as of Thursday, April 2, at 4:45am.

“Petrol and diesel prices across the north have risen by between 20% and 40% in just a matter of days”

Stormont’s Economy Minister has urged the UK Government to immediately slash fuel duty as prices spiral.

Caoimhe Archibald said she raised concerns over the impact of petrol and diesel prices during discussions with the Cabinet Office on Thursday morning, and also in a letter to Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle.

She pointed to action which has been taken by the Irish government to temporarily reduce excise duty for motor fuels as the impact of the war in the Gulf continues.

READ MORE: Mapped: The areas of Northern Ireland where petrol prices have increased the mostREAD MORE: Minister says ‘fuel continues to be delivered as normal’ amid concerns of shortages

“Fuel duty must be reduced as a matter of urgency,” she said.

“Petrol and diesel prices across the north have risen by between 20% and 40% in just a matter of days, creating sudden and unmanageable costs for households and businesses.

“The Irish government has already acted by reducing Mineral Oil Tax across petrol, diesel and marked gas oil.

“That action has been widely welcomed by consumers and businesses in the south.”

Ms Archibald said the UK Government “must now act with the same urgency”.

“Alongside an immediate reduction in fuel duty, the planned fuel duty increases due to come into effect from September must be withdrawn if fuel prices remain elevated,” she said.

A spokesperson for the Treasury said: “We have the right economic plan for a more volatile world, taking a responsible approach to supporting working people in the national interest.

“Fuel duty is frozen until September and we’re enabling targeted support for those facing higher heating oil costs. We’re also acting to protect people from unfair price rises if they occur and to bring down food prices at the till.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The Fish Shack in the coastal town of Amble, Northumberland was approved by Si King from County Durham and the late Dave Myers during their visit in 2021, which featured on their self-titled BBC series Go North.

The foodie duo tucked into a platter of fresh seafood from the North Sea as part of their Northumberland adventure, just a few years before Dave sadly passed away.

As they chatted to owner Martin Charlton at the time, regular customer Si shared: “I’ve been in here hundreds of times, it’s fabulous.”

Northumberland seafood restaurant loved by The Hairy Bikers

Also revealing why The Fish Shack is one of the best fish and chip spots in the county, Visit Northumberland details: “As reviewed by The Hairy Bikers themselves, The Fish Shack in Amble provides passersby with fish and chips, locally smoked seafood, and freshly steamed mussels overlooking Amble’s beautiful harbour.

“It’s rustic and cosy, offering beautiful views, high-quality service, and a relaxed atmosphere.

“If you’re looking to go all-out on your visit, they even offer ‘The Fish Shack Seafood Sharing Platter’.

“You’ll find a selection of dressed crab, roasted sea bream, tiger prawns, cod goujons, mackerel pate, north Atlantic prawns, furikake squid, Lindisfarne oysters, Scottish mussels, along with hot and cold smoked salmon.

“That’s without the included sides, sauces and dips!

“Don’t worry — they also offer small plates, big plates, and even pizza, so you can take the whole family knowing they’ll be well-fed.”

Just one menu offering fish lovers can tuck into is the prime fillet of North Sea haddock, beer battered with local Buston Farm twice-cooked chips, with mushy peas and homemade tartar sauce (a gluten-free alternative is available on request).

On its website, The Fish Shack says: “From fish and chips, locally smoked seafood and freshly steamed mussels to an array of delicious seasonal specials, Fish Shack welcomes all.

“Situated on Amble’s beautiful harbour, Fish Shack is a cosy, rustic eatery that was purpose built using the old ‘Sea Quest’ boat.

“Fish Shack boasts amazing views and great service in a relaxed atmosphere.”

You can’t beat a view like this with your fish and chips (Image: Tripadvisor)

Visitors have praised The Fish Shack over on Tripadvisor, and it currently boasts a “good” 4.2 rating based on 1,379 reviews – 841 of which are rated as “excellent”.

Someone who stopped by after seeing The Hairy Bikers’ review wrote: “I discovered the Fish Shack last year while searching for good fish and chips in Northumberland.

“After reading a review by The Hairy Bikers, I decided to give it a try.

“I don’t usually eat fish and chips these days, the vile stuff served up by so many ‘chippies’ I find to be inedible.

“So I felt some trepidation when we arrived at The Fish Shack last year.

“I need not have worried because the food was an absolute delight.

“The batter was crispy and light and full of beautifully moist fish.

“Gorgeous homemade tartare sauce and delicious chips. The only problem was, I couldn’t eat it all, it was so huge.”

They continued: “The staff are lovely and service was quick.

“The whole place has a good, buzzing atmosphere, honest, down to earth and no gimmicks.

“Set on the harbour, with views of brightly coloured fishing boats and seabirds all around. I love it.”

Another put: “Lovely place – hairy bikers visited, so we thought we should pop in for a coffee… will be back for some of the amazing looking food later!

“Great service, friendly staff – perfect stuff!!!”

One happy customer complimented: “As fab as the Hairy Bikers promised!

“Gorgeous seafood restaurant! Had the seafood platter and it didn’t disappoint!

“The chips also reminded us of our grandparents chips and were delicious.

“Would definitely return and recommend.”

Meanwhile, this person agreed: “Having seen it on the Hairy Bikers Go North we were excited about going and we’re expecting a no-frills eatery that focuses on quality fish.

“Sure enough, the food is a fish lover’s paradise and the atmosphere is also a delight; the place is cosy, really friendly and somewhere we can’t wait to go back to. Fantastic!”

Will you be heading to The Fish Shack anytime soon or have you already been? Let us know in the comments below.

Yellow warnings for wind and snow have been issued for Saturday night and Sunday with a deep area of low pressure expected to pass across the north-west of the country.

Damage, power cuts and travel disruption are likely.

It is just one part of a very mixed Easter forecast which will bring heavy downpours alongside spells of warm sunshine.

Huge temperature contrasts across the USA and Canada have helped to supercharge the jet stream – the flow of strong winds high in the atmosphere that spins up weather systems and guides them around the globe.

And confidence is growing that this will propel a deep area of low pressure towards the UK on Saturday.

Numerous yellow warnings have been issued by the Met Office for Saturday and Sunday (Image: Social media)

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for wind covering all of Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as large swathes of northern England and north Wales.

The warnings are valid at various times on Saturday afternoon, overnight and into Sunday.

Widespread gusts of 50-60mph (80-97km/h) are expected with the chance of 70mph (113km/h) gusts in exposed areas, especially around coasts.

Central and northern parts of Scotland could see winds peaking at 80-90mph (129-144km/h) with large waves bringing dangerous conditions along the coasts.

Winds as strong as these bring the threat of damage, power cuts and significant travel disruption.

Some roads and bridges could close, which could have major impacts on what is predicted to be the busiest Easter in four years for drivers

Disruption to train and ferry services is also possible.

Numerous yellow warnings have been issued by the Met Office for Saturday and Sunday

A Met Office warning for snow has also been issued for parts of north-west Scotland during Saturday evening and overnight.

5-10cm (2-4in) of snow may accumulate, mainly over high ground above 200m (650ft) elevation, with a small chance of 20cm (8in) in a few locations.

Coupled with the strong winds this could give blizzards, drifting and blowing snow, and very poor visibility on the roads.

Crumbs Cupcakery, in College Street, has announced it will be closing its doors next month after owners – twin sisters Charlotte and Jennifer Davison – have sold the business.

First opening its doors in 2018, the bakery specialises in cupcakes but offers a range of bakes including custom wedding and birthday cakes, alongside a range of gluten-free options.

RECOMMENDED READING:

In a Facebook post, the sisters shared news of the closure and thanked customers for visiting the shop over the years. She said: “After eight amazing years, it’s time for us to say goodbye.

“What started as two twin sisters with a love for baking turned into something we could have only dreamed of. From early mornings to late nights, thousands of cupcakes, and so many memories with all of you — this little shop has meant everything to us.

“We wanted to let you know that we’ll be selling the business, with our final day being tentatively the 31st of May.

College Green, outside York Minster (Image: Google Maps)

“This isn’t an easy decision for us to make, however we’re so grateful for every single person who has supported us, visited us, and been part of our journey over the years.
We’d love to see as many of you as possible before we close this chapter.”

The post has attracted hundreds of reactions with people wishing them the best and sharing how much they will miss their cakes.

Before Donald Trump delivered his prime-time address to the American people on April 1, many commentators predicted he would claim victory and signal that the US air campaign against Iran would be wound down – even without a deal with Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz. As it turned out, Trump said he would double down on the violence, promising to hit Iran “extremely hard” in coming weeks.

The White House simultaneously released a document headlined: President Trump’s Clear and Unchanging Objectives Drive Decisive Success Against Iranian Regime. “From day one,” it stated, “the objectives have been clear: obliterate Iran’s missiles and production, annihilate its navy, sever its support for terrorist proxies, and ensure it never acquires a nuclear weapon.” These objectives, Trump said, were nearly complete and he expected to finish the job “very fast”.

For the US president, the key marker of the success or otherwise of this foreign policy gambit will come in November’s midterm elections. So his strategic decisions are likely to be heavily influenced by the need to be able to claim victory, while also limiting any negative outcomes from the energy price shock engulfing the world. To do this, he must declare victory fairly soon.

But Trump’s partner in the war, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has a markedly different set of strategic priorities (although electoral politics will also play a big part in his thinking).

Launching Israel’s air campaign on February 28, Netanyahu said the goal was to “put an end to the threat from the Ayatollah regime in Iran”. He framed this as having been an existential threat to Israel for all of the 47 years that the Islamic Republic had been in existence, insisting that regime change was “not the objective, but … could certainly be the result”.

In the five weeks of the conflict, Israel’s strategic goals have both widened and lengthened. In Iran, while clearly working in partnership with the US, it wants to reserve the right, unilaterally, to “go back and hit Iran every time the nuclear and missile programmes are being rebuilt”.

Meanwhile, Israel has responded to attacks from Hezbollah forces in Lebanon by occupying the southern part of the country up to the Litani river. This area was designated by UN security council resolution 1701 in 2006 as a buffer zone in which only the Lebanese national army and UN peacekeepers were authorised to operate.

The Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, has warned that Lebanese citizens who had fled would not be allowed to return “until the safety and security of northern Israeli residents is ensured”.

It appears that Israel plans a long-term occupation of the region. It already maintains a buffer zone in southern Syria, which it occupied after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. This, it says, is also to deter Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel.

Netanyahu’s war aims

The focus of Netanyahu’s security policy has consistently been directed at Iran and its proxies. My research with Amnon Aran has demonstrated that in perpetuating an “Iran-as-evil” framing, the Israeli prime minister effectively precluded any possibility of engaging with the regime diplomatically.

Netanyahu’s political worldview has been enormously influenced by the founder of Revisionist Zionism, Ze’ev Jabotinsky. Under Jabotinsky’s “Iron Wall doctrine”, reinforcing the might of Israel is the only responsible response to the threat posed by Iran and its proxies. It is a strategy of strength first, diplomacy second.

In the past, Netanyahu has talked of defeating Israel’s enemies as his “supreme objective”. But more recently, analysts are describing what they refer to as the “Netanyahu doctrine”. According to this security stance, Israel must be prepared to launch “pre-emptive” attacks against any perceived threats, maintaining a permanent readiness for war.

So regime change of the Islamic Republic is not a direct goal – even if, as noted, the Israeli prime minister believes it might result from the pressure he is putting on Tehran. He is aiming to “create conditions that will enable the brave Iranian people to cast off the yoke of this murderous regime”.

But there is another important dimension to this “permanent conflict”. Netanyahu must call a national election before October. Polls suggest Israeli public support for the war in Iran could give him a boost in time for the election. Unlike the war on Gaza, which polls showed a majority of Israeli citizens wanted to end, there has been overwhelming support in Israel for the war on Iran.

Even ministers in Netanyahu’s government recognise that domestic politics has formed a big part of his motivation for launching this conflict now, saying that – as far as Netanyahu is concerned – “the road to the polling stations runs through Washington and Tehran”.

So far, however, there is little evidence that support for the war is translating into electoral support for Netanyahu. A lot depends on how the conflict plays out. A long war with heavy casualties and significant damage to civilian areas in Israel has the potential to damage Netanyahu’s election chances.

A poll taken on March 19 found that while the prime minister’s Likud party would receive the most votes, he would find it difficult to form a ruling coalition. And if he loses power, there is the prospect of his corruption trials proceeding.

So, a lot hangs on the outcome of this conflict. An early and decisive victory might have given Netanyahu the confidence to call a snap election. But this now looks unlikely. And if Trump decides to bring an end to hostilities without achieving the far-reaching change Netanyahu has promised, things could go badly for Israel’s longest-serving leader.

Last Friday, the Defence Forces confirmed it carried out an operation to transport key battalion personnel to UN Post 2-45 in Lebanon, known as Camp Shamrock, and to return communications specialists who had been performing critical maintenance to communication systems and infrastructure.