Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

Over the last years praying ‘Thy kingdom come’ has become an important part of church life for the days between Ascension and Pentecost. It has been promoted by church leaders, who have encouraged Christians to follow the pattern of Mary, the mother of our Lord, and the disciples. St Luke tells us in Acts how...

For anyone interested in Christian mysticism, Evelyn Underhill may be a good place to begin.   She died on 10th June 1941 after a life full of remarkable achievements:  author of more than 30 books that explored the intersection between the spiritual and the physical, the first woman ever to lecture to the CofE clergy, the...

The housing crisis is to be the subject of a major new Commission, recently launched by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. Academics, housing experts and theologians are to meet over an 18-month period to examine how the Church of England can build on its own work in housing and contribute to the national debate...

(Mt 26:71-75, John21:15-18)   I don’t know the man. I don’t know Him. I don’t know Him.   But I did. From the moment I turned to Him, That day by the Sea, I knew Him, Knew He was the Lord.   I so wanted to serve Him, Speak for Him, Follow Him, Fish for...

Trying to explain the doctrine of the Trinity has kept many a theologian busy down the centuries.   One helpful picture is to imagine the sun shining in the sky.  The sun itself – way out there in space, and unapproachable in its fiery majesty – is the Father.  The light that flows from it, and...

If you are visiting Oxford this summer, it is well worth making time to visit Pusey House, a library that specialises in the works of the Church Fathers, Anglican Church History, and Catholic theology. Pusey House was named after Edward Bouverie Pusey (1800-1882), who was Professor of Hebrew and Canon of Christ Church Cathedral in...

“In the US you have to be religious to be elected, in the UK you increasingly have to pretend not to be.”  So says Fraser Nelson, editor of The Spectator. In a recent newspaper article* he pointed out in the UK, “an MP is quite at liberty to talk about their faith, but they ought...

Church of England bishops have welcomed the recent publication of a Government White Paper, including plans to impose substantial fines against social media companies that breach their duty of care towards the vulnerable. The Bishop of Gloucester, Rachel Treweek, who in 2016 launched a campaign (#liedentity) to encourage a safer online environment, said: “The new...

It was: 200 years ago, on 12th June 1819 that Charles Kingsley, British clergyman and writer was born.  Best known for his historical novels Hypatia, Westward Ho! And Hereward the Wake. 175 years ago, on 6th June 1844 that the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) was founded in London. 125 years ago, on 18th June...

A new online poll has revealed the top five problems facing the UK’s church buildings. In the poll, run on the National Churches Trust’s website, people were asked to identify what they thought was the biggest problem facing the UK’s church buildings. The top problems were identified as: Not enough money available for repairs – (identified...

There is brutal persecution of Christians today in many parts of the world. To them the prayer of a man who died nearly 18 centuries ago would be very relevant…. Cyprian of Carthage was martyred during the terrible persecutions of the Roman Empire in 258. We believe and trust, Lord, that at the time of...

What do you call the church service where Jesus’ last meal with His apostles is re-enacted? And does it matter what we call it? The word ‘Eucharist’ comes from the Greek word eucharistia, which is itself a translation of the Hebrew word berekah. All three words have the meaning of thanksgiving, or praise for the...