book-reviews

Identifying the main things in life and keeping them the main things is essential in a distracted world. Among these main things is humble confidence in God. We have a Pope who is an evangelist keen to put this main thing across. Pope Francis’s booklet ‘C’est la Confiance’ is a ‘tour de force’ putting into […]

Former Chichester diocesan spirituality adviser Canon Andrew Mayes, who has worked in the Holy Land, draws us into marrying our experience with what the Bible says and how saints through the ages have interpreted its relevance here and now, in regard to climate change. I was drawn in his new book to recurrent references to

Imagine a church capturing both charismatic and sacramental streams through recapturing God’s grace. Sussex-connected Andrew Wilson coins the amalgam ‘eucharismatic’, playing on the Greek ‘gracious’ origin of both ‘eucharist’ and ‘charism’, to bid expansion of narrowness in both traditions. Liturgical churches resonate with the worship of the church through the ages but can lack exuberant

Justin Welby’s book ‘The Power of Reconciliation’, published today in conjunction with the Lambeth fnce, has the Stalingrad Madonna on its inside page. The book went to print just before the invasion of Ukraine so its celebration of a Russian aspect of peacemaking is poignant. The Archbishop writes about reconciliation ‘in the sense of seeking

What I found striking about this book was its heart for the suffering yoked to the joy of God’s presence alleviating anguish. ‘A Gift of Joy and Hope’ describes the Christian good news in six words. Its 209 pages represent Francis’s reflections over the isolating COVID lockdown. As Christians we are never isolated from God’s

Kevin Goodrich’s daily readings from Walter Hilton’s Scale of Perfection aims to serve his readers coming closer to God whilst introducing them to Hilton who gave counsel during a remarkable 14th century spiritual renaissance. I was struck by Hilton’s assurance of salvation and commending that as a necessity for his readers. Head knowledge of God

How wonderful to read ‘a case for Faith which will trouble the doubting with reason’s light’ (A.N.Wilson). Rupert Shortt, religion editor of the Times Literary Supplement has experience scrutinising writings about religion. This serves tackling over hasty verdicts on faith from our secular intellectual establishment. The book presents the main lines of Christianity, a humbling

Brighton-based priest Martin Poole is founder of Beyond Church with a vision for helping introduce people to God in public spaces through art. When I was diocesan mission & renewal adviser I recall celebrating his 2009 initiative making Hove Beach Huts into an Advent Calendar bringing prayer onto the promenade. ‘Church Beyond Walls’ is from

How curious are we about where those who disagree with us are coming from? Mindful of breakdown of dialogue in both Church and society two Dominican friars present an intriguing resource built around 18 Biblical conversations between the Lord and humanity entitled ‘Questioning God’. Biblical Scholar Łukasz Popko from Poland in his 40s and well

‘’Ow about a lifetime of being asked whether budgies go to Heaven by strangers on buses?’ This is not the most attractive challenge of priestly ministry but it is part of a witty, readable capturing of it by a young priest whose ministry is sadly now on hold. ‘Touching Cloth’ as a title builds from