“In Winter Light” was a composition for St Stephen’s Church Choir written last year by me (words) and Steve Barker (music). It seems much more appropriate this year!
In Winter Light : The Choir of St Stephens Church, Canterbury; dir Stephen Barker [ 5:42 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (80)As the man in treehouse has already said, I am off to see Ian Anderson and Friends play a concert in the nave of Canterbury Cathedral tonight: “The Christmas Jethro Tull”. It is a long held ambition of mine to … Continue reading
As Stanley Hauerwas says, when you meet a church in paroxysms about “the family”, you have met a church which no longer believes in God. What about the Church agonising about its ministry to the individual? Not long ago there was a … Continue reading
In a letter to Eberhard Bethge, written from Tegel Prison on 8 June 1944, Dietrich Bonhoeffer explored the roots of individualism, personal autonomy and its expression in twentieth century European culture. It is very much an improvised excursus (look at the … Continue reading
The new issue of Private Eye is out, with the usual incisive examination of the publishing world, published under “Literary Review” (pp. 26-27). There we find a curious bottom-of-the-column filler, “How bestsellers are made”: Take one chunky Victorian thriller. Add … Continue reading
Today is the feast of Holy Cross, commemorating the “Invention” of the Cross by the Empress Helena in Jerusalem in AD 335 (the feast marks the anniversary of the dedication of the basilica built to house the true relic of … Continue reading
It would seem appropriate to offer an attention deficit reflection on the biggest attention deficit Christian festival in the country. So, what did I make of GB10? Remember to set aside the momentary panic that comes with arriving at GB. … Continue reading
It was once a powerful expression. It once said something new, and exciting, and dangerous, and true. Now it is hackneyed. How many times have you heard the exhortation to “speak truth to power”? In how many inappropriate situations have … Continue reading
“No!” the usual answer goes. “Why should we vote for the man or woman who remains faithful to their spouse? How does that help the deficit down and the aeroplanes back into the sky?” Alasdair MacIntyre would beg to differ: … Continue reading
Apologising is a good thing, isn’t it? Not when it is a substitute for the harder, more searching work of reflection, contrition and restitution.