Neil Rees
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Articles by Neil Rees
St Martin’s Day: The soldier who renounced war
11 November is St Martin’s Day, or Martinmas, which recalls a former soldier who pursued peace, and also Armistice Day, when the First World War ended. This is the story … Discover more Christianity Today Magazine (Note: Mid 3260226 has no content, but this is a relevant product for the entity itself) Christian Today App Christian Media Directory Martin the soldier Martin was born in the Roman province of Pannonia, probably in AD 316, at Sabaria, which is now called Szombathely in modern Hungary.
The inspiring story of St Luke: the man who wrote a quarter of the New Testament
18 October, 2026 14:15 BST A stained glass window depicting Saint Luke the Evangelist in the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold in Mechelen, Belgium. 18 October is St Luke’s Day. This year’s observance has particular significance, marking the 500th anniversary of the first printed publication of Luke’s Gospel in English.
The London church that helped shape a nation: 300 years of St Martin-in-the-Fields
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The book that changed Sweden: 500 years of the Swedish New Testament
2026 is the 500th anniversary of the first New Testament in Swedish. This is the story … Summary This year marks the 500th anniversary of the publication of “Thet Nyia Testamentit på Swensko” (The New Testament in Swedish), which was the first complete New Testament printed in the Swedish language. The book helped lay the foundations of the modern Swedish language, accelerated the spread of the Reformation, and contributed to the emergence of Sweden as a unified nation.
800 years on: Why St Francis of Assisi still captivates the world
4 October, 2026 09:42 BST A statue of St Francis of Assisi 4 October is St Francis’s Day, when Christians around the world remember the life and witness of Francis of Assisi. This year’s observance has particular significance, marking the 800th anniversary of his death. This is the story … 800th anniversary Eight hundred years after his death, St Francis of Assisi remains one of the most loved figures in Christian history.
New pilgrimage route follows in the footsteps of the Manx Bible translators
The trail follows in the footsteps of the men who translated the Bible into Manx. A new pilgrimage route has been launched on the Isle of Man, following in the footsteps of the men who translated the Bible into Manx. This is the story … Manx Christianity Christianity spread across the island through the work of St Maughold in the fifth century. He is the patron saint of the Isle of Man.
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First Cornish musical setting of the Eucharist receives cultural award
The Cornish People’s Mass, a Eucharistic service entirely in the Cornish language, has been recognised with a prestigious award for its cultural significance. This is the story … Cornish language service Cornish – called Kernewek by its speakers – is the ancient native language of Cornwall, a region in the far southwest of Britain. It is a Celtic language related to Welsh and more closely linked to the Breton language spoken in parts of Brittany.
Welsh Christians launch the Gospels in Pembrokeshire dialect
A translation of the four Gospels into the Welsh dialect spoken in north Pembrokeshire has been launched at one of Wales’ largest cultural events. This is the story … Pembrokeshire Welsh While south Pembrokeshire is largely English-speaking, the north of the county has developed its own distinctive dialect of Welsh.
Who was St Olaf and how did he become patron saint of Norway?
29 July, 2026 10:32 BST St Olave Window, Ramsey is from St Olave's Anglican Church, in Ramsey, on the Isle of Man. 29 July is St Olaf’s Day, the feast day of the patron saint of Norway. But who was St Olaf, and what do we know about him? This is the story … Christianity in Norway Christianity reached Norway in AD 995, when it was introduced by Olav Tryggvason to the island of Moster in Vestland, in southwest Norway, where the first church in Norway was built.
Celebrating 500 Years of the English New Testament
A first edition of the Tyndale New Testament is on display at St Paul's Cathedral until February 2027. Churches, cathedrals and Christian groups across England are marking the 500th anniversary of the first printed English New Testament. This is the story … Quincentenary This year marks the quincentenary, or 500th anniversary, of William Tyndale’s New Testament, which was published in 1526.
The story of St Maughold, patron saint of the Isle of Man
25 July, 2026 08:21 BST St Maughold depicted in a stained glass window. St Maughold was the patron saint of the Isle of Man. But who was St Maughold, and what do we know about him? This is the story … The Isle of Man The Isle of Man lies in the Irish Sea, midway between England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. It has its own language, called Manx, which is related to Irish, and a rich spiritual heritage with many Celtic saints.
Why do American dollar bills say 'In God We Trust'?
4 July, 2026 08:20 BST The phrase “In God We Trust” appears on American money. This year, as Americans celebrate 250 years of Independence, it is worth reminding ourselves that this is a fairly modern tradition rooted in the American Civil War. This is the story … Isaac Watts The words of the phrase “In God We Trust” go back to Isaac Watts (1674–1748), who was born in Southampton in southern England.
The story of the last Lollard martyr
30 May, 2026 10:10 BST 30 May marks the anniversary of the execution of the last Lollard martyr before the creation of the Church of England. Thomas Harding, a humble man from the Chilterns, was found reading books by William Tyndale when they were still regarded as heretical. This is the story ... The Lollards The Lollards were England’s first evangelical movement, shaped by the reforming teaching of John Wycliffe. They wanted Scripture in the language of the people.
Who was the first Archbishop of Canterbury?
26 May, 2026 09:10 BST The ruins of St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury. 26 May is the day to remember St Augustine, who was the first Archbishop of Canterbury 1,400 years ago and who started a tradition that continues today. This is the story … Background The story goes back to the time of Pope Gregory the Great in the AD 590s. Pope Gregory worked to spread Christianity beyond the borders of the Roman Empire. He sent missionaries to pagan Gaul, Lombard Italy, Spain, and North Africa.
What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit?
24 May, 2026 08:03 BST 24 May 2026 is Pentecost Sunday, when Christians recall the importance of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit are the virtues that are produced in the life of a believer through the work of the Holy Spirit. This is the story … The Fruit of the Holy Spirit The analogy of the fruit of the Spirit comes from when Jesus said that prophets are recognisable as true or false by their fruit (Matthew 7:15–20).
The Bohemian queen who was a catalyst for the English Reformation
11 May, 2026 07:55 BST 11 May 2026 is the 660th anniversary of the birth of Anne of Bohemia, wife of King Richard II of England, who played an important role in the history of the English Bible. This is the story … Anne of Bohemia Anne was born in the beautiful city of Prague in 1366, the daughter of Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, known as Karl in German and Karel in Czech.
Who was Mother Julian of Norwich and why is she important?
8 May, 2026 05:30 BST An icon of Julian of Norwich. 8 May is the traditional day to remember Mother Julian of Norwich. She is important because her book remains a classic of Christian spirituality and is the first book in English known to have been written by a woman. This is her story … Anchorites One class of hermit was the reclusive anchorites, who took a vow of poverty, a vow of chastity, and a vow to be anchored to one place.
The backstory to St George and his flag
23 April marks St George’s Day, which often passes unnoticed. But who was St George and why is he England's patron saint? This is the story … Who was St George? St George might be the patron saint of England, but St George himself was not English. Tradition places his origins in Cappadocia in what became the Byzantine Empire, and which today is in modern-day Turkey. He was not Turkish, because the Turks had not settled that region then.
How the moon sets the religious calendar
Mankind has always been drawn to look at the moon. The Moon's creation was explained in the book of Genesis, and the moon plays a vital role in setting the dates of religious festivals. This is the story ... The word "moon" The word moon is Anglo-Saxon in origin (mōna) and gives us the words moonlight, moonbeam, and moonstruck. Originally, the word moon just referred to the lunar object visible in the Earth's night sky.
Quoting the Bible from space
Recently, Christian astronaut Victor Glover was reminded of the memorable Christmas Eve reading from Genesis on Apollo 8 in 1968, and he was asked to give an Easter message from Artemis II. This is the story ... The space race The 1960s was the time of the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States. The Cold War was a clash of ideologies, with rivalry between communism and capitalism played out in space and on Olympic playing fields rather than in military conflict.
The biblical backstory of Iran
Iran is back in the headlines. The word "Iran" does not appear in the Bible, but the names of preceding peoples and empires occupying that land today are written into the biblical narrative. This is the story ... The Name "Iran" Modern-day Iran consists of many peoples speaking many languages, but the main language is called Persian, or Farsi.
Was there an eclipse at the Crucifixion?
The Gospels describe three hours of darkness from noon at the crucifixion of Jesus, prompting debate over whether this was an eclipse. This is the story ... The Crucifixion account The story of the crucifixion is so important that it is covered in all four Gospel accounts in the New Testament. Three of them, known as the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, all describe a darkness over the land.
Why is the British monarch also called Defender of the Faith?
The British monarch traditionally bears the title "Defender of the Faith" which also appears on British coins as "F.D." As it's been back in the news lately, now's a good time to consider it in more detail. Defender of the Faith Defender of the Faith is a title originally given by popes to various monarchs who rendered service to the faith. The first British monarch to be given the title was actually a king of Scotland.
The backstory to Palm Sunday most evangelicals miss
29 March is Palm Sunday, or the sixth Sunday in Lent, which kicks off Holy Week. The events of this day echo a historical episode from Jewish history which most evangelicals miss. This is the story ... Palm Sunday Events Falling on March 29 in 2026, Palm Sunday marks the sixth Sunday of Lent, and it starts the Holy Week which leads up to Easter. On Palm Sunday, named after the palm branches in the story, churches recount Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
The dilemma of war for Christians
With wars constantly in the news, it is good to reflect on the biblical ethics of conflict. Old Testament In the Old Testament, one of the Ten Commandments was, "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13). The conundrum is that in the Old Testament there was the death penalty, and the kings of Israel went to war, although the Levites who served at the Temple were exempt (Numbers 1:49).
Which type of tree did Zacchaeus actually climb?
20 April, 2026 05:53 BST 20 April is the feast day of Zacchaeus of Jericho. We all know the account of Zacchaeus climbing a tree to see Jesus. However, it turns out not to have been a sycamore tree at all. This is the story … Story of Zacchaeus Zacchaeus is the Greek version of the Jewish name ‘Zaccai’ found in Ezra 2:9 and Nehemiah 7:14. The story of Zacchaeus is only recorded in Luke 19:1–10 and is well known to Sunday School children.
The little-known story of the woman who rescued Mothering Sunday
15 March 2026, or the fourth Sunday in Lent, is Mothering Sunday in Britain and Ireland. The tradition nearly died and was rescued by a determined vicar's daughter about a hundred years ago. This is the story ... Constance Adelaide Smith In 1878, Miss Constance Adelaide Smith was born in the small Buckinghamshire village of Dagnall. Dagnall lies in the Chiltern Hills, near the border with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, and since 1926 has been near Whipsnade Zoo.
The story of the Bible's female leaders
8 March is International Women's Day. In the Bible we can read about the roles that many women played in leadership and ministry. This is the story ... Female Kings In the Old Testament, before kings ruled Israel, it was the time of the Judges, as told in the Book of Judges. Among the Judges was Deborah (Judges 4:4-5:31), who was a leader and a prophet. Later, when the kings are listed in the First and Second Books of Kings, some of those 'kings' are female.
Who was St Piran and why is he the patron saint of Cornwall?
5 March is St Piran's Day, the feast day of the patron saint of Cornwall. But who was St Piran, and what do we know about him? This is the story. Piran in Cornwall Piran, historically spelt Perran, is said to have been born in Ireland during the fifth or sixth century. He was a holy man who is credited with bringing Christianity to Cornwall, soon after the Romans left Britain. One story relates that he was a disciple of St Patrick, but fell out with a king in Ireland and went into exile.
How Greenland got the Bible
Greenland has been in the news recently. Despite a Christian presence for a thousand years, Greenland has only had the whole Bible since 1900. This is the story ... Greenland Greenland is a large island at the top of the Atlantic Ocean. The northern part lies within the Arctic Circle, and the southern tip is in the Atlantic Ocean. It lies between Baffin Island in Canada and Iceland.
How digital technology is bringing the Welsh Bible to more people
1 March is St David's Day, the national day of Wales. Ever since the time of St David, the Welsh have engaged with the Bible, and this continues into the digital age. This is the story ... Background At the time of Dewi Sant (St David), in the sixth century, the Bible was only available in western Europe in Latin. Copies were kept in beautiful, hand-illustrated manuscripts in monasteries.
Who was Matthias and why is he called the thirteenth apostle?
24 February is St Matthias's Day. Matthias is known as "the 13th apostle", but who was he and what do we know about him? This is the story ... The name Matthias Matthias is a name derived from the Greek Ματθαίος and has a similar origin to Matthew, which means "gift of God". The name has never been particularly popular in English-speaking countries, but is fairly common in German-speaking lands, where it is often shortened to Matze.
The groundbreaking BBC series that brought Jesus to TV screens
Seventy years ago, in February 1956, the BBC aired the mini-series "Jesus of Nazareth", which was the first filming of the life of Jesus to be created for television. This is the story ... History The first television broadcast in the world was made by the BBC in 1936. Few people owned televisions at the time, but sales shot up dramatically before and after the Queen's Coronation in 1953.
What is the biblical basis of Ash Wednesday?
18 February 2026 is Ash Wednesday, which traditionally starts the season of Lent. This is the story ... Origin of Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the forty-day season of prayer, self-examination, and fasting that leads to Easter. The forty days of Lent echo Jesus' forty days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-2). The English term 'Lent' originates from the Anglo-Saxon word 'Lencten', from which we get the word lengthen, referring to the start of spring when the days lengthen.
Why do Christians observe Shrove Tuesday?
17 February 2026 is Shrove Tuesday, the traditional day for eating pancakes before the start of Lent. This is the story ... Meaning of Shrove The word "shrove" comes from the Old English verb "to shrive", which means to hear confession and pronounce absolution. The term derives from Old English "scrīfan", which is rooted in ecclesiastical Latin "scriber", meaning to scribe, and refers to the act of hearing confession, assigning penance, and granting absolution.
Who were Saints Cyril and Methodius?
Everyone associates 14 February with Valentine's Day but did you know it is also the day to remember Saints Cyril and Methodius, who created the Cyrillic alphabet used in many eastern European countries. This is the story ... Monastic Brothers Two brothers called Constantine and Michael were born about 815 and about 826 in Salonica, today the port of Thessaloniki in Greece. Here they grew up amid Byzantium's blend of Greek learning and Slavic neighbours.
Why is 1 Corinthians 13 often read at weddings?
St Paul wrote a timeless definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13, known as the "love chapter", which is one of the most famous chapters in the Bible and is often read at weddings. This is the story ... Background Paul wrote a number of letters to the Christian congregation in Corinth, and two survive in the New Testament. Corinth was (and still is) a busy port in southern Greece. The church seems to have had issues with immorality and leadership rivalries.
What we don't know about Noah's Ark
The story of Noah's Ark is one of the most well-known Bible stories and has been retold in songs, children's storybooks, cartoons, and films. Many people think they know the story; however, there are many things we simply do not know. This is the story ... What is an ark? The story of Noah and his ark is found in chapters 6, 7, and 8 of the book of Genesis. The word "ark" comes from the Latin arca, meaning a box or chest.
The story of New Year's resolutions
1 January is when people traditionally start the new year with a fresh resolution. This is the story ... The year A literal day is the time it takes for the planet to make a full rotation on its axis as it is in orbit around the sun. A literal year is the time it takes for the earth to make a full rotation around the sun.
The pope that is remembered each year on December 31
In many European countries, December 31, also known as New Year's Eve, is better known as St Sylvester's Day or simply Sylvester, named after a pope from the time of the Council of Nicaea. This is the story ... New Year's Eve Around the world New Year's Eve is marked by parties and fireworks at midnight. However, what is called New Year's Eve in the English-speaking world is better known as Sylvester by people from across many European countries, especially those of largely Catholic heritage.
Who were all the Herods in the New Testament?
When you read the New Testament, you often come across the name Herod. There were different rulers called Herod who formed part of the background history of Jesus and the New Testament. This is the story ... King Herod the Great The name Herod does not refer to one king but to a family line of rulers installed and sustained by Rome. We first read the name Herod in the New Testament at the start of Matthew and Luke.
Who was St Stephen and why is he remembered on December 26?
The carol says, "Good King Wenceslas last looked out on the Feast of Stephen." In many countries, December 26, also known as Boxing Day, is better known as St Stephen's Day. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. This is the story ... The name Stephen The name Stephen in English comes from the Greek Στέφανος (Stephanos), where it means wreath or crown. In English use, variants include Steven and Stefan, and it is often abbreviated as Steve. The female version is Stephanie.
A brief history of Christmas bans
These days, Christmas is hard to miss and nearly impossible to avoid. But at various times it has been banned in different countries, including Britain. This is the story ...
The first Christmas song to be sung in churches
Every Christmas, people sing the song "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night". Unlike many other songs and carols that include elements of non-biblical tradition and myth, this song is pure Scripture. It was the first Christmas song authorised to be sung in the Church of England. This is the story ... Brady and Tate The song "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night" was written by Nahum Tate. It recounts the angelic announcement to the shepherds from Luke 2:8-14.
The story of the Christmas Truce of 1914
On Christmas Eve in 1914, many men were in the trenches fighting the war, but the spirit of Christmas halted the conflict for a brief period. This is the story ... The Great War The trigger for the Great War was the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, Bosnia. What began as a local Balkan conflict escalated as a network of alliances across Europe led countries to come to each other's aid.
What we don't know about Christmas
Every Christmas people are bombarded with images of the Nativity in Christmas cards, the lyrics of songs and Nativity plays. Yet many of the images embedded in our minds are pure tradition. In fact, there is a lot that we do not know. This is the story ... Background Every December, churches across Britain light candles, sing carols and songs, and retell the story of Christ's birth.
The mystery of the Wise Men
The carol assures us that "We three kings of Orient are..." and tells us they were "following yonder star". Can we be sure there were three of them? Were they kings? Where in the Orient were they from? What was the star they followed? In fact, there is a lot that we just do not know. This is the story ... What was the Star? Many Christmas cards show kings in splendid oriental costumes riding on camels and then kneeling alongside shepherds, guided by a single bright star.
The little-known prayers written by Jane Austen
It is now 250 years since the birth of Jane Austen whose books and their many screen adaptations are beloved around the world. Not many people know that she was a devout Christian who also wrote devotional prayers. This is the story ... Jane's Prayers Jane Austen is most famous for her novels, "Sense and Sensibility", "Pride and Prejudice", "Mansfield Park", "Emma", "Northanger Abbey", and "Persuasion" - which were written in that order.
The Anglican worldview of Jane Austen's life and novels
16 December 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of novelist Jane Austen, who was born in southern England in 1775. Her novels are steeped in biblical analogy and practical theology. This is the story ... Family Background Jane Austen was from a clerical family. Her parents married in 1764 and her father was Rev George Austen (1731-1805), rector of the twelfth-century Anglican church of St Nicholas at Steventon, near Basingstoke in north Hampshire.
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