Day: July 15, 2025

Matthew Drapper at C of E’s St Thomas Philadelphia was told that ‘sexual impurity’ had let demons enter his body

A gay man has been paid compensation from a Church of England parish after he was subjected to an “exorcism” to purge him of his homosexuality, it has been reported.

Matthew Drapper, 37, was a volunteer at St Thomas Philadelphia, a joint Anglican-Baptist congregation in Sheffield, in 2014 when he was invited to an “encounter God weekend” at the “contemporary, welcoming church”, the Times reported.

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US president appears unconcerned about speaking to parliamentarians during September trip to UK

Good morning. Donald Trump has given an interview to the BBC’s chief North America correspondent, Gary O’Donoghue, and, while the most important lines are about Russia, it contains some interesting snippets about the UK. Trump is making an unprecedented second state visit in September and yesterday a mini Westminster row broke out about the timing of the trip (starting just after the Commons starts its conference season recess), and the fact this means Trump isn’t being invited to give a speech to MPs and peers.

No 10 implied yesterday that this was just a scheduling coincidence – and nothing to do with the fact that some parliamentarians are bitterly opposed to hosting Trump, who is widely reviled as a threat to American democracy.

I think let them go and have a good time [ie, let MPs have their recess]. I don’t want that to …

I think just we I want to have a good time and respect to King Charles because he’s a great gentleman.

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