BOOK REVIEW-The Curious World of Samuel Pepys & John Evelyn by Margaret Willes

Margaret Willes’ book provided my first introduction to the life of John Evelyn, weaving aspects of his life alongside that of his friend and (the now arguably more famous) Pepys. The title is a nod to the ‘insatiable curiosity’ that the author states they both shared.

BOOK REVIEW-Walking Pepys's London by Jacky Colliss Harvey

Written during the Covid lockdown, when many of us living in Central London gained a new appreciation for walking in the car-free streets and of the cityscape around us, discovering or rediscovering hidden gems on our doorsteps, Jacky Colliss Harvey’s book offers five walks around “Pepys's London”.

BOOK REVIEW-The Joys of Excess, extracts from the diary of Samuel Pepys

Part of a series of twenty short paperbacks celebrating historical writing on food, “The Joys of Excess” offers selected extracts from the diary of Samuel Pepys that mention food and its effects (particularly excessive quantities of it). The book is arranged into ten chapters each covering one of the years from 1660-1669 that Pepys kept his (first and most famous) diary, every Chapter title a nod to one of the more obscure or eventful entries contained therein.

BOOK REVIEW-Endell Street. The Women who ran Britain’s Trailblazing Military Hospital

Based on research from numerous sources and woven together into an engaging narrative, this former Radio Four ‘Book of the Week’ by Wendy Moore tells the story of the Endell Street Military Hospital – the only hospital in England ever to be run and staffed entirely by women, located in the parish of St Giles-in-the-Fields. Wendy Moore will be giving a talk for The St Giles Society on Wednesday 20th November 2024 at 7pm at St Giles-in-the-Fields. Tickets £5 available at this link.

BOOK REVIEW: Grace is not Faceless - Reflections on Mary by Ann Loades

Grace is not Faceless - Reflections on Mary by Ann Loades, published by DLT Books in 2021

Introduction and Context

Martin Warner, the Bishop of Chichester, introduced ‘Grace is not Faceless’ during a seminar at St Augustine’s College. It was especially interesting to hear his perspective on the text, a collection of essays by Ann Loades published earlier this year, because he was a student of the author and explained that like all the best teachers, she has an infectious energy for her subject which cannot but inspire her students. He explained that Ann Loades was the first British academic to write a book about feminist theology (Searching for Lost Coins, published in 1987).

BOOK REVIEW : Daughter of Jerusalem by Sara Maitland

Written by Sara Maitland and set around the time it was first published (1978), the book is divided into nine ‘months’ and tells the story of Liz and Ian as they struggle to conceive a child; with some passages containing quite graphic detail. 

Each chapter concludes with an imagined account of a biblical story, with no apparent separation in the way the text is set out - no double spacing or page marking - each month of the story of Liz and Ian is meant to be read as one with the parallel narrative, the content of which seems to relate to an event or theme earlier in the chapter. Each of the ‘biblical’ stories has a female character as its principal focus.

This is the first novel I have read by Sarah Maitland, who is a noted writer of what is described by some as “religious fantasy” although this novel seems more “religious reality” to me. Maitland is also known as a feminist author. Daughter of Jerusalem was her first novel. 

I was introduced to the book by Martin Warner, Bishop of Chichester, when he kindly gave a lecture at St Augustine’s College one Friday evening before the summer holiday. The subject of his lecture was Mary, the Mother of God. 

BOOK REVIEW : The Naked God by Vincent Strudwick

The Naked God by Vincent Strudwick was published by Darton, Longman & Todd in 2017

Part autobiography and part theological history, this book by Vincent Strudwick explores questions around the future direction of the Church of England from a historical context, drawing on the author’s long career as a priest, theologian and teacher and his experience working closely with Lambeth Palace and the Anglican Communion. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Canterbury Book of New Parish Prayers & Lighten our Darkness : Discovering and celebrating Choral Evensong

This week I have acquired two excellent and useful books which I highly recommend - the Canterbury Book of New Parish Prayers by Max Kramer and Lighten our Darkness - Discovering and celebrating Choral Evensong by Simon Reynolds.

BOOK REVIEW : Meeting God in Mark by Rowan Williams

A short and rich guide to a short and rich gospel! Rowan Williams explains that the purpose of this book is to “offer suggestions for a slow reading of what notoriously feels like a rushed and packed text" and we used it accordingly, over a six week study group at St Stephen Walbrook this autumn. For those looking for a more formal structure and reading guide, the appendix contains questions for group discussion around the themes covered in each chapter and a weekly reading guide, followed by a short reflection.

BOOK REVIEW : On Priesthood by Stephen Cottrell

On Priesthood is written by Stephen Cottrell who became Archbishop of York this week

Stephen Cottrell was confirmed as the 98th Archbishop of York this week. His latest book “On Priesthood” was published earlier this year; one of many he has written, of which (I am embarrassed to say!) I remember reading very few (except the vivid Lent Book “The Nail”) nor do I remember hearing Stephen Cottrell speak in public. While reading “On Priesthood” I became aware that I was not only interested in his take on the priestly life but also in glimpses in the book of the character of the man himself, who now occupies one of the most important leadership positions in the Church of England (although as the Archbishop states throughout this book - the word ‘leader’ in the context of the church does not have any scriptural foundation).

BOOK REVIEW : Phoenix at Coventry. The Building of a Cathedral by Basil Spence

One of the great joys of Bloomsbury is the number of second-hand bookshops to explore. It was wonderful to discover this book recently. Written four months before the consecration of Coventry Cathedral on 25th May 1962, Basil Spence guides us through his eleven years of “toil, frustration, hope and ecstasy” as the cathedral was designed and built. My own office has not (yet) had the opportunity to work on such a prestigious commission but what is striking from Spence’s account of the design and development process is that we often share many of the same challenges, frustrations and joys – albeit on a much more modest scale.

BOOK REVIEW : Augustine of Canterbury, Leadership, Mission and Legacy by Robin Mackintosh

Leading worship is always a great privilege whatever the time or day, but I was especially pleased to be asked to lead Night Prayer on the Patronal festival of my college. Whilst there is (usually) no sermon given during this service, I thought I should find out a bit about St Augustine of Canterbury, to do justice to the occasion.

BOOK REVIEW : Rehearsing Scripture by Anna Carter Florence

In this book, Anna Carter Florence, (Professor of Preaching at Columbia Theological Seminary), encourages us to use techniques from the world of theatre to help us “find the script in scripture.” Intended as a tool for group-work, the techniques can also be used individually. The purpose is to help us “encounter” scripture rather than just read it - “The Word needs a body” - and to use this experience of encounter to “say something true” to others.

BOOK REVIEW : Barabbas by Pär Lagerkvist

Barabbas, a novel by the Swedish Author Pär Lagerkvist written in 1950, tells the story of the man held captive at the same time as Jesus but released by Pontius Pilate at the Passover feast - thus avoiding crucifixion.

BOOK REVIEW : Saying Yes to Life by Ruth Valerio

Saying Yes To Life - The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book 2020 by Ruth Valerio

Ruth Valerio uses the Days of Creation (Genesis 1) to form the seven chapters of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s 2020 Lent Book, which ends with a large bibliography and is accompanied by a website that contains five fifteen minute video clips and links to further resources associated with each chapter - which will be helpful for those using the book in the context of a weekly study group during Lent.

BOOK REVIEW : The Man who Listens by Janet Taylor Caldwell

Recently I was fortunate to have the chance to speak with The Very Reverend David Ison, the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, who has had a great deal of experience training both priests and lay people. We talked about different aspects of what it means to be a priest and what I have learnt so far from my experience at St Stephen Walbrook - the birthplace of the Samaritans. Amongst the great deal of wisdom he imparted was a recommendation to read this book - and I am very glad I was able to find a second hand copy.

BOOK REVIEW - The Childhood of Jesus by J.M.Coetzee

This mysterious novel follows the story of a young boy of unknown parentage given the name David by the officers of a state-run reception centre in an unnamed but Spanish speaking country. We first meet David when he arrives on a boat accompanied by a man given the name Simon, who seems to feel a connection with the boy and takes it upon himself to act as his guardian and begin the search for his mother, who is apparently already living there.

BOOK REVIEW - Job - The Story of a Simple Man by Joseph Roth

There is a long list of novels which have been inspired or influenced by scripture, but Phoebe by Paula Gooder is, I think, the first time I have consciously read a work of fiction which is based on part of (and named after someone in) the bible! I found it a fascinating book (described here) and I wondered whether there were other, similar novels. I haven't found anything quite like Phoebe yet but the search led me to Job - The Story of a Simple Man, by Joseph Roth.

BOOK REVIEW - Four Ministries, One Jesus : Exploring your vocation with the four gospels by Richard A. Burridge

I was given this excellent book by Fr Chrichton, my last vicar in Southgate. I think it helped (but was not essential) that I had read “Four Gospels : One Jesus” (by the same author and considered to be a modern classic) before reading this book.
‘Four Ministries’ draws on the theme of the earlier (1994) text, using the four symbols now associated with the evangelists to describe a different area of mission and ministry. As in the earlier book, in which Richard Burridge makes clear that the four portraits of Jesus offered by each gospel help to provide a different picture of the same man (in the same way that at Chartwell, different photographs on the walls in different rooms show different aspects of the life of Churchill), so this text, divided into sections examining each gospel, describe different aspects of the one mission and ministry of the church.

BOOK REVIEW - A Grief Observed by C.S.Lewis

A Grief Observed by C.S.Lewis (First published 1961)

In the 1994 introduction to this book written in 1960 and originally published under a pseudonym, Douglas H Gresham, the step-son of C.S.Lewis, issues a note of caution. He explains that this is a description of the grief experienced by C.S.Lewis following the death of his wife. The title “A” Grief is therefore important - this is a personal account - not an attempt to define - or explain - grief universally. Despite this, I recognised much of what Lewis describes, either from my own (limited) experience of bereavement, or from what other people have told me about theirs.