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God and Mr Churchill, COP21 and the critics of Operation Christmas Child.

God and Mr Churchill, COP21 and the critics of Operation Christmas Child are some of the stories this week presented by Edward Stourton.

It's become as much a ritual as putting out sherry and mince pies for Santa. Every year thousands of school pupils up and down the country fill shoe boxes with Christmas gifts for needy children overseas. But, as Trevor Barnes discovers, questions have been raised about the agenda and ethos of the organisation, Samaritans Purse, behind this philanthropic endeavour.

The Rev Val Bexton set off on foot for Paris a fortnight ago with a group of Christian campaigners concerned about climate change. Within hours they learned of the terrorist attacks and the city they arrived in this weekend was a far more sober one than they had anticipated. She sends us her audio diary. Meanwhile Christoph Nuttall, director of the R20 Regions of Climate Action, set up by Arnold Schwarzenegger, tells Sunday what he thinks can and cannot be achieved at COP21.

The Pope's trip to Africa draws to a close with a visit to a mosque in the troubled Central African Republic. The 大象传媒's Religious Affairs correspondent Caroline Wyatt is with him.

Churchill historians have tended to paint a picture of the Wartime Leader as an agnostic, even atheist. A new book written by his great grandson and a former White House aide tells a different story.

Producers: Rosie Dawson
Zaffar Iqbal

Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

Available now

45 minutes

Clip

Chapters

  • Pope in Africa

    Caroline Wyatt is travelling with the Pope on his three nation tour of Africa

    Duration: 04:08

  • Religious Education Report

    A three year study into RE has been published. Prof Adam Dinham discusses its findings

    Duration: 05:11

  • God and Churchill

    Did Churchill go God?

    Duration: 06:51

  • Colorado

    Author Frank Schaeffer on Friday鈥檚 attack on the Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado

    Duration: 05:23

  • Samaritans Purse

    What is the ethos of Samaritans Purse? Trevor Barnes reports

    Duration: 07:41

  • Syria

    Lord Harries of Pentregarth on potential military action in Syria

    Duration: 04:29

  • Paris Diary

    Revd Val Bexton and her pilgrimage to Paris with Christian climate change campaigners

    Duration: 03:26

  • Christophe Nuttall

    Edward speaks to the Executive Director of climate action group R20 Regions

    Duration: 04:26

Broadcast

  • Sun 29 Nov 2015 07:10

All the colours of the rainbow

All the colours of the rainbow

The Covid-19 rainbows painted by children today are part of a rich and ancient symbolism.

Podcast