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Continue reading →: Ice
I enjoy looking at lists of books. There seem to be no end of them being produced. Lists of prize winning books, lists of influential books, lists of forgotten books, and so on. All very interesting, I find. I have a record of all the novels I’ve read since I…
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Continue reading →: Say one for me
Just before I began my pilgrimage to Lourdes last September I was celebrating Mass in a church not far from home. After the intercessions in the Mass had been said I mentioned to the people that the following day I was setting out on a pilgrimage which would culminate at…
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Continue reading →: Mungo and the Robin
The Times published this iconic painting in Glasgow by the street artist Smug On St Mungo’s Day (January 13th). The painting honours the patron saint and alleged founder of the city, St Mungo. It portrays the saint in modern dress and illustrates a legend told of him in his youth.…
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Continue reading →: 20+C+M+B+25
One aspect of christian life and practice which I feel churches, especially the Church of England, could help people to explore and develop more is visible expression of faith in the home. Sometimes this can be done by drawing on old traditions and expressing them in ways fitting to life…
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Continue reading →: Christians awake!
Sergeant Frank Naden of the 6th Cheshire Territorials described how he kept Christmas Eve 1914 in the trenches of northern France. “On Christmas Eve fireballs went up from the German lines and we shouted ‘Hurrah’ and ‘Let’s have another’. We sang Christians Awake and other Christmas hymns.’ One Christmas Day, William Brown, of Richmal Crompton’s wonderful William books,…
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Continue reading →: Kafka’s Church
Professor Helen King, Emerita Professor of Classical Studies at the Open University, (and a member of the Church of England’s General Synod) and Andrew Graystone, author of Bleeding for Jesus, who as a survivor advocate, has recently done so much in bringing into the light the horrific abuse of John…
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Continue reading →: ‘Hymn number 207’ Advent
I enjoyed choosing hymns for worship when in parish ministry. I enjoyed introducing hymns not in the usual repertoire, including some older hymns well worth singing. One hymn I introduced in the first parish I served as Rector, in County Durham, was There’s a light upon the mountains by Henry…
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Continue reading →: The Peace of Wild Things
Several years ago I was inspired by an interview, on the BBC World Service, with Joshua Dubois, a faith advisor to the then US President, Barack Obama. The BBC commented: ““Every morning, one particular email pinged into the inbox of President Barack Obama, it was sent by a young pastor…
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Continue reading →: ‘Tragedy’
During my curacy in Barnard Castle I visited my old art teacher, Douglas Pittuck (1911-1993), who was retired and living in the town. Although I am not an artist he made art lessons at school a special time for me. He was a cheerful and personable man and a dedicated…
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Continue reading →: Called to be kind
“As Jesus followers we’re called to be kind and forgiving to one another. On #WorldKindnessDay, let us be inspired to embody kindness in all we do. A small act can help transform a person’s day and the world around us.” The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, posted these words, with…
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A Retired Rector's Reflections 