Joanna Bogle reflects on John Paul II’s papacy and its ongoing legacy in light of his recent beatification A spring morning in Rome, and by 7am the crowds have already packed out St Peter’s Square, and are filling the long [...]

Richard Grigson remembers an inspirational friend, mentor, priest To be the assistant curate of Fr Alan Jones at St Francis of Assisi, Friar Park, was to have an experience which is unique in the Church of England. Recently I was [...]

Alan Smith considers the political spectrum Much political discussion concentrates on where the participants are placed on the “Left-Right continuum”.  Is Brown to the Left or the Right of Jones? Such a question can divert attention from the merits of [...]

David Fisher expounds on the merits of chilled wine About I decade ago I was travelling through France using Alistair Sawday’s guide, French Bed and Breakfast. This was how I came upon a couple of nights in a chateau near [...]

Ann George finds a stranger sitting on her doorstep I was continually being amazed at the number of languages that Auntie had at her disposal. Apart from her native Lebanese Arabic, she was also fluent in Jerusalem Arabic (a very [...]

Thurifer sings Ave Can you hear the birds singing Te Deum to welcome Mary’s month of May? In a pleasing symmetry it opens with the Society of Mary (SOM) Festival and ends with the National Pilgrimage to Walsingham. They are [...]

Tom Sutcliffe reflects on a changing scene Age brings change we don’t like. The past beckons attractively. The future threatens. Friends die. Shops one counted on close. Shoes one always trusted are no longer being made. Changes in the language [...]

Geoffrey Squire encourages us to re-assess our distinctive mission We all know the history of the Anglican Catholic movement and what has happened to it in recent years; but what of its future, if indeed there is a future for [...]

Art All too human Bacon, Freud and a century of painting life Tate Britain until 27th August   It’s not entirely clear what the title of this show refers to. Probably it’s the human bodies painted by the artists. It [...]

Christopher Smith on ministries presbyteral and episcopal I can’t imagine many of our readers follow terribly closely the comings and goings among the group of seventy-odd holders of the office of suffragan bishop in the Church of England; I certainly [...]