The United Reformed Church has joined a coalition of faith groups and leaders in writing to Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, to urge her to rethink the government's proposed New Plan for Immigration, which they say “lacks humanity and respect for human dignity.”

Signatories include the Jesuit Refugee Service, Caritas, Welcome Churches, the Salvation Army, Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network, UK Welcomes Refugees, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the United Free Church of Scotland and many others.

The next session in the United Reformed Church (URC’s) Black History Monthly initiative takes place on 17 May from 7.30-8.30pm.

This month’s theme is ‘Black Voices Speak Out’ and a selection of poems by Black writers through the ages – from slavery to the present day – will be reflected on. The session promises to be poignant, challenging, inspiring, humorous.

A 145-year-old time capsule, containing ten coins and a rolled-up newspaper, has been discovered in the foundations of a United Reformed Church (URC) primary school.

As reported on BBC News, the glass jar was found "by complete accident" while workers renovated the chapel at Barrow URC Primary School in Clitheroe, Lancashire, built in 1876.

The artefact had been placed inside one of the chapel's foundation stones.