Top Religion Journalists in UK (2025)

As CNN's Vatican Correspondent based in London, Lamb specializes in decoding the intersection of faith, power, and media. His 16-year career combines theological training with investigative rigor, producing award-winning analyses of papal diplomacy and institutional reform.

Key Coverage Areas

• Papal Health & Succession Planning: Tracked 14 papal hospitalizations since 2015 with exclusive mortality protocol insights
• Ecumenical Diplomacy: Documented 23 interfaith initiatives across 15 countries
• Journalism Ethics: Publishes annual guidelines for reporting on sacramental matters

Pitching Preferences

• Actionable interfaith collaboration proposals
• Vatican policy changes with historical precedents
• Profiles of lay reformers under age 40

Notable Achievements

• 2023 Edward R. Murrow Award for South Sudan coverage
• 11 authored books bridging religious and media history
• Regular commentator for BBC, ABC, and Al-Jazeera

As lead editor at The Church of England Newspaper, Blakely specializes in:

• Ecclesiastical Policy: Tracks General Synod decisions and their societal impacts
• Interfaith Relations: Analyzes collaboration models between Abrahamic faiths
• Religious Urbanism: Examines faith communities' role in city planning

Pitching Guidelines

• Focus on structural reforms rather than personal narratives
• Include quantitative data from reputable theological institutes
• Avoid pitches about American evangelical movements

Damian Thompson is a leading voice on religious geopolitics and cultural criticism, currently serving as associate editor at The Spectator. With over three decades of reporting experience, his work bridges Vatican diplomacy, classical music analysis, and investigations into religious persecution.

Key Coverage Areas

• Vatican-China Relations: Documents the Catholic Church’s complex negotiations with authoritarian regimes.
• Sacred Music Politics: Explores how classical compositions reflect ideological struggles across eras.
• Global Religious Persecution: Exposes state-sponsored suppression of faith communities in Asia and Africa.

Pitching Guidance

Thompson prioritizes deeply researched stories with historical context and verifiable conflict. Successful pitches often include:

• Leaked government documents on religious suppression tactics
• Longitudinal studies of denominational demographic shifts
• Archival materials linking sacred art to political movements

Notable Recognition

• 2024 Templeton Religion Journalism Award for Uighur persecution coverage
• 2018 Orwell Prize shortlist for addiction crisis reporting
• Author of five books analyzing apocalyptic belief systems

Senior Writer at the UK's premier Anglican publication, Church Times, Davies has redefined religious journalism through:

• Policy Impact: Her 2024 series on clergy housing allowances directly influenced General Synod reforms
• Global Reach: From Colombian peace communities to Kenyan FGM prevention programs, she maps faith's role in social change
• Data-Driven Storytelling: Pioneered FOIA-based investigations into church financial allocations

Pitching Priorities

• Focus: Institutional decision-making processes with measurable community outcomes
• Avoid: Personality profiles lacking systemic analysis

"The best stories reveal how our creeds become concrete" – Davies on her methodology

Key Achievement: Her book Lights Through the Path (SPCK) remains required reading in bereavement ministry training programs across four denominations.

Paul Hobson brings two decades of experience examining how faith communities navigate modern challenges. As editor of The Baptist Times, he oversees coverage of religious movements shaping British civil society while maintaining a distinctive voice in sports journalism.

Key Coverage Areas

• Religious Innovation: Profiles faith groups implementing measurable social programs
• Sports Sociology: Analyzes amateur athletics as community cohesion tools
• Ethical Photography: Contributes wildlife imaging guides emphasizing habitat preservation

Pitching Preferences

• Prefers data-rich stories over opinion pieces (83% of recent bylines include original statistics)
• Seeks underreported interfaith collaborations outside London
• Open to multimedia proposals aligning with his wildlife photography expertise

Recent recognition includes shortlisting for the 2021 Interfaith Media Prize and praise from the UK Religious Press Association for his provincial focus. His work remains essential reading for understanding non-institutional religious life in contemporary Britain.

Ruth Gledhill is assistant editor at The Tablet, where she analyzes religion's evolving role in public life. With particular focus on institutional reform and religious persecution, her work bridges theological scholarship and contemporary sociopolitical analysis.

Key Coverage Areas

• Ecclesiastical Governance: Tracks power dynamics within global Anglican and Catholic hierarchies
• Faith & Technology: Examines digital media's impact on religious practice and community building
• Persecution Patterns: Documents 21st-century challenges to religious freedom across ideological regimes

Pitching Insights

• Do: Frame stories through historical religious precedents
• Avoid: Parish-level events without broader institutional implications

"The most compelling stories reveal how ancient faith traditions navigate modern conceptions of justice and human rights."

Gledhill's career-defining recognition includes the 2004 Andrew Cross Award for her analysis of Anglican property disputes, establishing her as a leading voice in religious journalism.

As senior reporter at The Jewish Chronicle, Rocker specializes in the intersection of religious tradition and modern institutional dynamics within UK Jewish communities. His work consistently drives national conversations about:

• Orthodox Judaism’s Evolution: Track record of reporting on gender roles, leadership reforms, and demographic shifts within Britain’s largest Jewish denomination.
• Educational Policy: From Ofsted inspections of faith schools to curriculum debates, Rocker’s 18-year tenure includes groundbreaking investigations into funding and academic standards.
• Transatlantic Jewish Politics: Analyzes how UK Jewish organizations navigate relationships with Israeli governments and American Jewish institutions.

Pitching Recommendations

• Lead with Data: Rocker prioritizes studies showing trends in synagogue attendance, school enrollment, or charitable giving patterns.
• Highlight Institutional Innovation: Successful pitches often focus on new approaches to age-old challenges, like tech-driven kosher certification or youth engagement programs.
• Avoid Speculative Angles: Steer clear of op-ed-style pitches lacking concrete examples or verifiable sources within established Jewish organizations.