There was a review of If You Meet George Herbert on the Road, Kill Him: Radically Re-thinking Priestly Ministry in the Church Times two weeks ago (which has now emerged from behind the CT’s subscriber cordon— read it here). Not a wholly flattering account, but it’s never a good idea to review the reviews (!).

The review drew out a letter to the editor in the following week’s edition, of which the only thing I will say is never let actually reading a book interfere with your opinion of its contents.

In the meantime, I have been receiving some unsolicted comments from those clergy who, foolishly according the CT, have put the book at No. 2 in the CT’s best-seller list.

A priest of Coventry diocese:

Congratulations and many thanks for your brilliant book & title. Your book makes what I do seem legitimate.

A (retired) priest of Bradford diocese:

I felt I must write and say after just a brief examination of your If you meet Geo Herbert on the road … it’s a book I have been waiting for all my ministry.

A priest of Peterborough diocese:

I just emailed you to tell you how good I thought your book ”If you meet George Herbert …” I too am very fond of G Herbert, sometimes quote him, but I think that your book is excellent, honest and an accurate portrayal of the way things are for so many of us, including me.

A dean of a cathedral:

It’s a fascinating analysis…¹

A priest of London diocese:

I have a couple of chapters left and have so far found it encouraging, challenging and funny!

A priest of Birmingham diocese:

Thank you for your book. It’s helping me get through a hard time in my ministry.

A priest of Bury St Edmunds diocese:

I am really enjoying your book. It says so many things I have thought for years.

A priest of Derby diocese:

… I particularly found the idea of the “Cult of Nice” to be a very powerful way of understanding parish life…

1. And yes, I realise that this can be interpreted in all sorts of ways! [↩]