Alternative option: as CofE has now demonstrated that they are incapable of addressing safeguarding issues, the should be compelled to cease all activities involving the young and vulnerable, their involvement in education prevented, their schools handed back to LA control, and youth clubs closed.

Any other organisation with such continuing safeguarding failures would be banned from contact with the young and vulnerable. Why not the church? Why do we tolerate them running schools and having unfettered access to children?

It is quite simple. These are often magnificent buildings that it would be great to preserve, but if the church can't/won't fund the upkeep then transfer them to other agencies for secular use, with the church losing all priority or say over their use. Taxpayers shouldn't fund private clubhouses!

That is utterly appalling, but not surprising. Faith groups have a long history of taking advantage of the vulnerable.

It would be tragic if these magnificent buildings were lost. However, if the church can't afford them they should be handed over for secular use. You can't reasonably expect tax payers to fund your infrastructure.

What is deeply worrying is children
singing hymns. It demonstrates a failure of safeguarding and education.

This nasty and unwanted interference in education by CofE really must be stopped.

Is this age restricted to over 18s only? If not, ask yourself, how would you feel if, say, scientologists were openly targeting the young this way. Pretty worried and appalled I imagine. You are no different, this is shameful proselytising, taking advantage of childhood innocence.

For such an important issue, I hope that her work will be guided by evidence, and not what the imagined will of a hypothetical deity is. Religious mythology has no part to play in these matters.

There are few things quite as heartbreaking as seeing young children taken advantage of like this. Time society started to properly protect the young and vulnerable from religious groups and proselytising.

Even if the prayer story was true, it would be no worse than the compulsory Christian assemblies schools are supposed to hold. That said, a member of reform lying to stir up tension, imagine my surprise ......

Except the claims of a "quiet revival" have now been thoroughly debunked. The claim was based on one very flawed survey. Wider data sets show that religious belief continues to fall, especially amongst the young. Now that, for society as a whole, is something to celebrate.

Imagine the outrage there would be if scientologists used cutsie stories to entice children into their cult. Now realise you are doing the same appalling thing, and taking advantage of childhood innocence.

Few things are quite as heartbreaking as children praying. So sad that the church uses their innocence to recruit. To close young minds to reality and teach them an abhorrent doctrine really is cruel.