As I write the world has been shocked and saddened by the death on Easter Monday of Pope Francis. Like his namesake, Francis of Assisi,...

The past few days have been warm and sunny and as I write this I can hear birds singing and see daffodils, hellebores and hyacinths...

'Living Hope’ At 8.30pm on 23rd March 2020 Boris Johnson announced a stay-at-home order effective immediately. I recall it vividly...

As I write this the January freeze is losing its icy grip and new shoots are pushing through the soil. I peer hopefully at the clumps of...

'Oh COME let us adore HIM' Many of us are familiar with the carol, “O come all ye faithful”. The chorus urges us, “ O come, let us adore...

Last year, in an article on the life and spirituality of trees, Rev Christine drew our attention to the iconic Sycamore tree in the gap...

"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness" Autumn has always been my favourite season; laden hedgerows, leaves beginning to turn...

‘May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the...

Finding God in Silence Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before...

Witness In Conversations Last time I wrote the clergy newsletter, nearly a year ago, I shared my experience of being priested. A lot can...

When I last wrote in March, I was anticipating the birth of my first grandchild. Little Levi William kept us all waiting. He was due on...

A very Happy Easter to you all! Or as we will declare in all our Churches Christ is risen! This climax of the Christian calendar is...

March is dominated by lengthening daylight and by LENT (old English for ‘lengthen’), with its air of austerity, fasting or giving-up...

A Fusion of Festivals I recall one of our pre-school children saying at Easter, as we told the story of Jesus dying on the cross…”But...

Christmas is coming! At least if you read this in the first part of December. My hope is that you are able to enjoy the traditional...

This tree at Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall stood for over 200 years – witnessing life events from marriage proposals to the scattering...

On our recent visit to the island of Jura in Scotland, I chanced upon a Craft Fayre in their tiny community hall in the village of...

Childs Ercall Sunday school – on their Summer Outing to Hodnet Hall Gardens – ‘A memorable moment’ perhaps reminiscent of the ‘Wise man...

Could you do with a REST? Reading an interview in the Church Times last weekend, I came across this line: ‘Bible meditation is allowing...

We have just celebrated Ascension Day. What is Ascension Day? It happens 40 days after Jesus’ resurrection. He rises into the air and...