1. Churches back plan to unite under Pope > 250,000 Page views

The Times gets exclusive leak of a top report into what Anglicans and Roman Catholics have in common, and how the two churches can work more closely together in future, particularly at the grass roots, in February.

2. US is worst imperialist says Archbishop >200,000 Page views

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, got debate going in November with his assertion that America’s foreign policy was worse than Britain’s at the height of colonialism.

3. Muslim world inflamed by Rushdie knighthood >190,000 Page views

The decision to knight controversial author, Salman Rushdie, caused violent outrage in Islamic countries across the world in June.

4. If it isn’t Roman Catholic it’s not a proper church Pope tells Christians >70,000 Page views

Pope Benedict XVI asserted the supremacy of the Catholic Church in a document released in July.

5. Hardline takeover of British mosques >61,000 Page views

An investigation by The Times into the Deobandi sect sparked interest in September.

6. Church row evolves over fossil boy >55,000 Page views

Kenyan creationists opposed to an exhibition of one of the first human fossils drew the wrath of evolutionists worldwide in November.