Christian Today staff writer

• Celtic bell with Columba connection stolen from Scottish church

  A 1,200-year-old Celtic handbell has been stolen from a Perthshire church leaving local people 'devastated'.

• Strictly Come Dancing should introduce same-sex couples, says Rev Richard Coles

  The popular broadcaster and cleric the Rev Richard Coles had suggested it's time for same-sex dancing couples to be introduced on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, in which Coles stars this year.

• CofE's floating church to take the Gospel to London's canals

  The Church of England has launched a pioneering new initiative to bring its message to a sometimes forgotten demographic in London – those who dwell not on land, but on the water.

• 

  Threefold role for new Lambeth bishop includes Falklands and Armed Forces

  The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby has commissioned and licensed Bishop Tim Thornton as the new Bishop to HM Forces, Bishop for the Falkland Islands and Bishop at Lambeth.

• 

  When repentance becomes possible: How these Christians learned to love one another

  At first, the church leaders in this community thought these Christians setting up a new community were members of a cult. This is the amazing story of what happened when they realised they were wrong – and were led to repentance

• 'Satanic' fake rosaries are bringing evil spirits into Catholic homes, says exorcist

  An exorcist in the Philippines has warned against the circulation of fake 'Satanic' rosaries and crucifixes he said were designed to 'deceive Catholics...so that evil spirits will haunt them'.

• 'Give until it hurts': The Christian wisdom of Mother Teresa in 9 quotes

  Today marks the Catholic feast day for Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, best known of the world as Mother Teresa. St Teresa of Calcutta died on this day in 1997, but not before living an iconic life of ascetic, selfless service to the world's poor.

• Keswick Convention will change dates following local protests

  Keswick Ministries has announced it is changing the dates of its annual Convention next year to reflect concerns raised by local people about the impact of the event on the town.

• How Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor helped engineer Pope Francis' election

  Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, who died last week, helped engineer the election of Pope Francis through an astute manipulation of the Vatican social scene.

• Evangelicals and the Nashville Statement: What is the point?

  The authors of the Nashville Statement knew outrage, hostility and counter-statements would be the result. They knew it would elicit rebukes and draw harsher boundaries. Perhaps that was their intention.

• Hajj 2017: Ten things you need to know as two million pilgrims flock to Mecca

  Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage, begins August 30 with two million Muslims arriving in the holy city of Mecca.

• 'This is not a court of religion': Judge orders Muslim man to stand in court

  A Muslim man accused of preaching sharia law on the streets of London was ordered to stand in court after the defendant initially refused to stand for the court's judge.