(LONDON) – The Church of England Newspaper (CEN), one of the oldest evangelical publications in the Anglican world, has suspended its print editions following the recent death of its long time backer, Keith Young. The paper’s editorial team announced the decision this week, saying they are reviewing the future of the publication while seeking a path forward.
The newspaper traces its roots back to 1828 when it was first launched as The Record by a group of evangelical clergy. It soon gained influence within the Church of England, attracting the interest of prominent church figures, including the then young John Henry Newman, before his later involvement with the Oxford Movement. The paper became known for championing evangelical views and was a prominent voice in opposing Tractarianism.
In the 1950s, The Record merged with The Church of England Family Newspaper to form what is now known as CEN. Over the decades, the paper contributed significantly to the growth of evangelical institutions and values within the Church of England. Its editorial vision supported a thoughtful, orthodox, and generous evangelicalism, which many believe remains essential in the current religious and cultural climate.
Editor Andrew Carey announced that the sudden passing of Keith Young, who owned Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd, has left the paper without its primary source of financial support. Young had been funding the newspaper’s operations independently, making its continued publication uncertain.
“We are now exploring all options to secure a future and hope that you will bear with us as we seek an orderly transition to serve our readers and subscribers, our advertisers, and all other partners,” Carey said in a statement.
While no printed editions will be released “until further notice,” the editorial team has committed to continuing a weekly digital newsletter in the meantime. The paper’s management has assured readers, advertisers and subscribers that they will be kept informed of any changes or decisions in the coming weeks.
The temporary closure of CEN highlights the financial challenges facing independent faith based journalism in the modern media landscape. It also comes at a time when many within the global Anglican community, including leaders from South Sudan, are calling for renewed engagement with evangelical tradition and media as the Church of England faces doctrinal divisions and identity debates.
