C of E’s Cringe World Cup Prayer + Starmer’s Social Media Ban

Rev. Jamie Franklin is back with a no-holds-barred roundup of the biggest stories in church and state.

He tears into the Church of England’s official “Prayer for the World Cup 2026” — calling it poorly written, theologically shallow, embarrassingly unserious, and a perfect symbol of the institution’s current woes.

He also reacts to Keir Starmer’s plan to ban social media for under-16s, dissecting the authoritarian tone, questioning the real motives behind it, and exploring the deeper issues around parenting and technology and the spiritual battle of the internet, attention and addiction.

Plus: Psalm 148, live event details, and a powerful Hymn of the Week — Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens, Adore Him set to Haydn’s majestic Austria.

Note: We apologise for the loud audio spike during the Starmer clip — technical issues with the new setup!

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🎟️ Tuesday 23rd June, 7pm – Holy Trinity Church, Winchester
Link: Tickets here

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Come on England! ⚽

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