Anglican and Episcopalian Churches Books

Book SynopsisA compilation of the Books of Homilies, collections of model sermons produced by the Church of England during the 16th century, and which offer an enduring insight into Anglican doctrine of the period.Trade Review"The Homilies are of major significance for understanding Church of England doctrine and discipline at the Reformation. We are in Gerald Bray's debt for this new critical edition for a modern readership, which at last moves us beyond the familiar Victorian reprints. It is a perfect combination of careful scholarship and accessibility, and essential reading for every serious student of Anglicanism." Andrew Atherstone, Latimer Research Fellow, Wycliffe Hall, Oxford "Gerald Bray deserves thanks for producing in a modern critical edition The Books of Homilies, one of the key texts from the English Reformation, and making it more accessible for those interested in the Anglican tradition, homiletics, theology, and history." -Jane E.A. Dawson, The Expository Times, Vol. 128 No. 3, December 2016 "[This book] offers a valuable insight not only into the relative doctrinal positions of those on both sides of the English Reformation divide, but also into the various social ills of the period." -Paul F. Bradshaw (University of Notre Dame), Worship, Book Reviews, Volume 91, May 2017 "Gerald Bray's critical edition of the Book of Homilies is a welcome addition to the few modern texts available. Bray provides a concise and detailed discussion of the expected critical issues related to all three books of homilies." Benjamin J. Snyder, Asbury Theological Seminary, July 2018 On one point is his edition clearly superior to the old (on the internet thought google books freely available) Griffiths eidition: It makes the Homilies Collection available, it's squeezed in between the first and second book of Homilies -Martin Ohst, Theologische Literaturzeitung, June 2019Table of ContentsBiblical and Other Ancient Names Introduction The First Book of Homilies Bishop Bonner's Homilies The Second Book of Homilies Subject Index Names Index Scripture Index Author Index

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Book SynopsisSelected from sermons delivered by C. S. Lewis during World War II, these nine addresses show the beloved author and theologian bringing hope and courage in a time of great doubt.Addressing some of the most difficult issues we face in our day-to-day lives, C.S. Lewis's ardent and timeless words provide an unparalleled path to greater spiritual understanding.Considered by many to be Lewis's finest sermon of all, and his most moving address, The Weight of Glory' extols a compassionate vision of Christianity an dincludes lucid and compelling discussions on faith.Also included in this volume are Transposition, On Forgiveness, Why I Am Not a Pacifist, and Learning in War-Time.Trade Review“I read Lewis for comfort and pleasure many years ago, and a glance into the books revives my old admiration.” – John Updike “If wit and wisdom, style and scholarship are requisites to passage through the pearly gates, Mr. Lewis will be among the angels.” – The New Yorker “C. S. Lewis is the ideal persuader for the half-convinced, for the good man who would like to be a Christian but finds his intellect getting in the way.” – New York Times Book Review “Lewis, perhaps more than any other twentieth-century writer, forced those who listened to him and read his works to come to terms with their own philosophical presuppositions.” – Los Angeles Times

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Book Synopsis“This is a book about getting, and staying, involved with God—what it takes, what it costs, what it looks and feels like, why anyone would want to do it anyway. It is at the same time a book about reading the Old Testament as a source of Good News and guidance for our life with God. The key piece of Good News that the Old Testament communicates over and over again is that God is involved with us, deeply and irrevocably so.” —from the Introduction With sound scholarship and her own vivid translations from the Hebrew, Old Testament professor Ellen Davis teaches us a spiritually engaged method of reading scripture. Beginning with the psalms, whose frank prayers can be a model for our own, Davis reflects on the stories of the patriarchs and the pastoral wisdom of the book of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs in helping us cultivate those habits of the heart that lead to a rich relationship with God.Trade ReviewEllen Davis continues the core task of biblical exposition for the sake of the church. . . . Through it all Ellen Davis utilizes her considerable gifts of sensitivity to the text, attentiveness to the spirit at work in the text, and care for the church that it may grow closer to the God given in the text. Of special interest to me was her fresh reading of the Song of Solomon, which offers ‘the ecstatic aspect of the love that is the main subject of the whole Bible.’ Readers will dip in at any point in this book and be invited to thinking and praying again and obeying differently and freely. -- Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological SeminaryEllen Davis’ work in this dazzling book can be compared to that of an exceptional rock climber putting up new routes on the world’s most challenging walls. Combining ease with skill and nerve with artistry, she tackles some of the most difficult portions of the Old Testament. Professor Davis is working on the razor’s edge of current hermeneutical practice, but she knows exactly how to speak to the ordinary Christian in a sparkling prose style. If you want to be up to date on the very latest developments in postmodern biblical interpretation and at the same time be thrilled and delighted with rich insights into the life of faith, this is the book to have right now. -- Fleming RutledgeEllen Davis has recovered a long-lost theological genre: brilliant, probing, scholarly interpretation of the Bible that flows into proclamation and challenges us to return to the text itself in a continuing engagement with the God who shares our pain. -- Brevard S. ChildsTable of ContentsPart 1 Introduction Part 2 Pain and Praise: The Psalms as Common Prayer Chapter 3 Improving Our Aim: Praying the Psalms Chapter 4 “With My Tears I Melt My Mattress”: The Psalms of Lament Chapter 5 “But Surely Not Those!”: The Cursing Psalms Chapter 6 “Lamenting into Dancing”: The Psalms of Praise Part 7 The Cost of Love Chapter 8 “I’ve Got to Turn Aside”: The Burning Bush Chapter 9 “Take Your Son”: The Binding of Isaac Chapter 10 “The One Whom My Soul Loves”: The Song of Songs Part 11 The Art of Living Well Chapter 12 Wise Ignorance: The Book of Proverbs Chapter 13 Simple Gifts: The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 14 The Sufferer’s Wisdom: The Book of Job Part 15 Habits of the Heart Chapter 16 Desirable Discipline: Proverbs 8 Chapter 17 A Fool for Love: Exodus 33 Chapter 18 “Like Grass I’m Dried Up”: Psalm 102 Chapter 19 Voluntary Heartbreak: Psalm 51 Chapter 20 Serving in the Shadows: Isaiah 49 Part 21 Torah of the Earth Chapter 22 “Good-Faith Springs Up from the Earth”: An Essay in Biblical Ecology Chapter 23 Greed and Prophecy: Numbers 11

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Book SynopsisIncludes general hymns; hymns for feasts, seasons and saints' days; office hymns for the liturgical year; an enlarged eucharistic section; responsorial psalms and a new English folk mass setting.

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Book SynopsisThis book was born in solitude on a quiet summer morning on the coast of Maine. . . .” So begins Christopher C. Moore’s exploration of solitude as a neglected path to God. Often we fear loneliness and isolation so much that we risk forgetting that in scripture and Christian tradition, solitude has always been a significant way of drawing closer to God and discovering the truth about ourselves. In exploring solitude as a spiritual path to God, Moore believes that our human need for solitude is often left unmet; even the church places great value on constant activity and personal involvement. Our spiritual lives dry up because we cannot pay attention to the insights that well up in solitude and silence. Moore considers a variety of factors that affect the quality of our solitude, as well as both the dangers and healing power of solitude. Finally, he shows us practical ways to reclaim the experience of solitude as a spiritual and personal discipline, no matter how busy and demanding our lives may be.Trade ReviewThere is a message in this book to challenge all people, especially leaders in the church, to pay greater attention to the inner life of the spirit. * Anglican Theological Review *

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Book SynopsisAn outreach edition of the New Testament, using the ESV translation in British English perfect for church groups and to give away at events.Passing on the Christian faith is at the heart of our calling, and this outreach edition of the New Testament means that there is a cost-effective way to share the Gospel, using a translation you can trust.Created by a team of more than 100 Evangelical Bible scholars, the ESV is the fastest-growing translation, and is the go-to Bible for church leaders and ministries around the world.More evangelical churches than ever before are using the ESV. Now you can reach out beyond your church with this attractive and affordable New Testament, bringing the life-giving Gospel to your friends and neighboursTrade Review‘An accurate, consistent, and readable Bible translation is essential. The ESV is all those things.’- William Taylor, St Helen’s Bishopsgate ‘It provides the continuity and modern accuracy I longed for.’- John Piper, desiringgod.org ‘Confidence. That’s what every Christian can have when they use this version.’- Steve Timmis, Acts 29

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Book SynopsisHymns A&M was first published in 1861. The new standard edition was introduced in 1983 containing 533 hymns including 333 from the 1950 Revised Edition plus 100 Hymns for Today and More Hymns for Today.

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Book SynopsisRowan Williams is the Archbishop of Canterbury. In this collection of pastoral sermons and addresses, Williams shows how the faith of the creeds can still equip Christians for a vigorous and critical engagement with the world of today. In his often poetic, sometimes scholarly, and always thoughtful and engaging style, Williams reflects with wisdom and empathy on the gospel connections to issues of peace, war, justice, sexuality, wholeness, suffering, loneliness, vocation, and mission. Sermons from the church year and practical matters of Christian spirituality such as intercessory prayer and Bible study are also included; still others celebrate great Christian figures across the centuries, from the Anglo-Saxon saints to Michael Ramsey and T. S. Eliot. Also, published for the first time are Williams’s addresses on Mission and Spirituality delivered at Yale in 1991, a sharp but sympathetic perspective on evangelism in the church today.Trade ReviewWilliams’ standpoint is that of Catholic and critical orthodoxy . . . with an originality reminiscent of such recent Anglican divines as Austin Farrer and Donald MacKinnon. These sermons also reveal a bishop who is at the same time a serious theologian and a sensitive pastor. * Church Times *This book of addresses and sermons given to particular congregations is accessible and sometimes very moving. His thinking is always original and deep, combining erudition and personal spirituality. There are many good things in this nutritious book. * The Julian Meeting *These sermons aimed at deepening understanding of the faith of believers and enriching their spirituality certainly merit a place in the best Anglican tradition of preaching. * Theologia Cambrensis *Books of sermons, meditations, ‘reflections,’ etc., that actually instruct the preacher are rare indeed. What is not so rare is that these books often arise from the distinguished Anglican tradition of theology and preaching. Rowan Williams’ new book, A Ray of Darkness, is one of them. It is a hefty collection of 45 pieces. The work is filled with sensitive theology, spirituality, and erudition. The book makes one want to be a better preacher. “There is great variety in these pieces, but the variety, significantly, is largely in the range of ‘occasions’ for which Williams is able to shape gospel. For example, there is a jewel of a short wedding sermon here, well worth emulation. There is a striking piece here on the relation between music and the gospel titled ‘Keeping Time,’ preached, we are told, ‘For the Three Choirs Festival.’ There is a profound university sermon preached ‘at the outbreak of the Gulf War.’ There are what appear to be tributes to ‘saints’ such as John Wesley, T. S. Eliot, and Michael Ramsey; but they are, instead, gospel statements, some would say sermons, framed in a highly original and provocative manner. One comes away from the volume wanting to speak on ‘special occasions’ and charged with a new sense about how to do so. . . . “Williams’ book treats each Scripture text like an old grime-covered window. For him, the preacher’s task is to rub a small clearing on the window through which to peer, with face pressed to the glass, into an obscure and shadowy room. Sermons have a probing, searching quality when texts are treated in this manner. As to the difficult matters of doctrine and creed, Williams demonstrates how one can explore the metaphorical, even mythic, dimensions of creedal ideas while, at the same time, affirming those ideas in fresh form for the church’s life and health. -- Joseph Webb, the School of Theology at Claremont

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Book Synopsis"Curiously few people think of Britain’s cathedrals as being among our most impressive museums. This book should change that." — The Telegraph The cathedrals of England and Wales are remarkable buildings. From the centuries leading up to the Norman Conquest to the tumults of the Reformation to the devastating wars of the 20th century, they carry traces of our nations’ darkest moments and most brilliant endeavours. This beautifully illustrated new volume tells the stories behind 50 remarkable artefacts – one for each cathedral – that have been preserved by the cathedrals of the Church of England and the Church in Wales. Featuring the Magna Carta of Salisbury Cathedral as well as the oldest book of English literature in the world, an Anglo-Saxon portable sundial, and Pre-Raphaelite glass, painting and embroidery, these local and national treasures are a vital part of our heritage, testifying to the powerful and enduring links between cathedrals and the wider communities of which they are part. Trade Review"Curiously few people think of Britain’s cathedrals as being among our most impressive museums. This book should change that." - The Telegraph"The booklet Cathedral treasures of England and Wales is richly illustrated and that makes it a pleasure to read." [Translated via Google Translate from original Dutch] - Bazarow

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Book SynopsisTHE INSTANTLY ICONIC NO. 1 BESTSELLER''Devotees of Midsomer Murders and Agatha Christie''s Miss Marple stories will feel most at home here'' Guardian''I''ve been waiting for a novel with vicars, rude old ladies, murder and sausage dogs... et voila!'' Dawn French''Cosy crime with a cutting edge'' Telegraph''Whodunnit fans can give praise and rejoice'' Ian Rankin''Charming and funny'' ObserverEven better than I knew it would be'' India Knight''Quintessentially English'' Sunday Express''An absolute joy'' Adam Kay''''Wry, tongue-in cheek and whimsical'' Daily Mail''Glorious'' Robert Webb ''Beautifully written, charming, funny, intelligent and mordant too'' Sunday Times''Pitch perfect'' Philip Pullman''A cunning whodunnit'' Daily ExpressCanon Daniel Clement is Rector of Trade ReviewI've been waiting for a novel with vicars, rude old ladies, murder and sausage dogs ... et voila! * Dawn French *The Reverend Richard Coles gives us a serpent in England's pastoral Eden - and whodunit fans can give praise and rejoice. * Ian Rankin *Cosy and charming, Murder Before Evensong is less about the shock and gore of murder than its ripple effect on a small, close-knit community. Devotees of Midsomer Murders and Agatha Christie's Miss Marple stories will feel most at home here. -- Fiona Sturges * GUARDIAN, Audiobook of the week review *Britain's favourite vicar might be hanging up the dog collar, but in Murder Before Evensong he proves to be the unlikely heir to Barbara Pym...Coles is free here to unleash a splendidly caustic wit on those parishioners who deserve it... as Daniel locks horns with his flock over the matter of whether the vintage pews in St Mary's can be moved to make way for a new lavatory, Coles rivals Barbara Pym in his ability to make supremely low-stake conflict gripping... Like all the best cosy mysteries, this is comforting but not anodyne. And the style suits the content perfectly: wonderfully feline when it comes to jokes, but moving easily to unselfconscious wisdom when required. Auden would have admired this novel for meeting his requirements for the classical detective story: but he might also have recognised Coles as being, at his best, a fellow artist with words. -- Jake Kerridge * THE DAILY TELEGRAPH *Even better than I knew it would be. Really well plotted... beautifully written, charming without being twee, funny, intelligent and mordant too. It's cosy, yes, but waaay better than "cosy crime" suggests. -- India Knight * SUNDAY TIMES *Murder Before Evensong is like a walk in the country on a warm summer's evening... one during which your fellow ramblers can be murdered horribly at any moment. Canon Daniel Clement is an inscrutable and erudite detective, while four-legged sidekicks Hilda and Cosmo are his delightful foils. You'll want to take a front row pew in Champton while this delicious series unfolds. * Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal *An absolute joy from cover to cover - funny, clever and wonderfully plotted. Praise be! * Adam Kay *Beautifully written and a warm funny joy from start to finish. * Sarah Millican *Perfect for those who like their cosy crime to have a cutting edge. * Ben Aaronovitch *Glorious. * Robert Webb *Champton joins St Mary Mead and Midsomer in the great atlas of fictional English villages where the crimes are as dastardly as the residents delightful. Canon Daniel Clement must solve mysteries temporal and theological while surviving his parishioners tender ministries. Delightful! And only Richard Coles could pull this off so joyfully and with such style. Biscuit-thieving Cosmo, too, will soon have his own fan club. * Damian Barr *Coles has a gift for subtle comic writing... beyond the fascinating story with its rich characters, the real discovery here is the sniffing out of the author's formidable talent for writing about English life with English humour. Roll on the rest of the series! -- The Reverend Jonathan Aitken * THE OLDIE *Coles does a wonderful job of bringing his congregation to life... [and] moves seamlessly between humour and something deeper... Charming and funny, it is just what you'd expect from the excellent Coles. -- Alison Flood * THE OBSERVER, Thriller of the Month *Coles' murderous take on a quintessentially English parish makes for a likeable, cosy crime caper. -- Jon Coates * SUNDAY EXPRESS *Cosy crime with a cutting edge. * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *A good old page-turner with brilliantly drawn characters, from the aristocratic de Floures to Daniel's astute, snobbish mother, and dachshunds so real you can almost smell them. -- Rose Shepherd * SAGA, Book of the Month *[A] cunning whodunnit... This wise and often beautifully written novel remains most memorable as a sharp but sympathetic portrayal of everyday life in a small community and a clergyman's role within it. -- Jake Kerridge * DAILY EXPRESS *Richard Coles is one of the most sparkling, entertaining, clever and lovable people in public life, as rare and precious to British culture as a Norman cathedral. * Victoria Coren Mitchell *Murder Before Evensong has all the elements that make up a classic detective story: a pitch-perfect setting, a genuine puzzle, a gruesome murder (or more) and engaging characters. I enjoyed it very much. * Philip Pullman *Coles' rendering of his fictional church, St Mary's, in the village of Champton, twinkles with quirky detail and sharp humour. -- Paul Connolly * METRO *A wry, tongue-in cheek and whimsical debut with more than a trace of G. K. Chesterton's Father Brown... charming. -- Geoffrey Wansell * DAILY MAIL *Violent deaths aside, it's a cosy world of Desert Island Discs, flower rotas and walnut cakes, beautifully written and evocative, run through with the comforting, ancient liturgical rhythms that transport you to Evensong and gentle organ music in a cool country church on a summer's evening. -- Kate Green * COUNTRY LIFE *This has all the ingredients of a brilliant new cosy crime series. -- Susan Watson * MY WEEKLY *A brilliant crime romp set in a village full of gossip and secrets. -- Zoe West * WOMAN'S WEEKLY *A deliciously thrilling murder mystery. -- Susan Watson * WOMAN'S WEEKLY SUMMER SPECIAL *He's very good on the nitty-gritty of a clergyman's life. His likable protagonist Canon Daniel Clement's struggle to get parishioners to accept the installation of a new church toilet is every bit as gripping as his investigation of the inevitable series of mystifying murders. -- John Williams * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Coles is a sharp observer of human nature, but his observations are tempered with both humour and compassion, and much of the pleasure in the book lies in the incidental asides. -- CAROLINE CHARTRES * CHURCH TIMES *Coles adds another string to his bow with this witty, Barbara Pym-ish village whodunnit about a crime-solving cleric. * THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, Best Holiday Reads *

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Book SynopsisThe eighteenth-century bishops of the Church of England and its sister communions had immense status and authority in both secular society and the Church. They fully merit fresh examination in the light of recent scholarship, and in this volume leading experts offer a comprehensive survey and assessment of all things episcopal between the ‘Glorious Revolution’ of 1688 and the early nineteenth-century. These were centuries when the Anglican Church enjoyed exclusive establishment privileges across the British Isles (apart from Scotland). The essays collected here consider the appointment and promotion of bishops, as well as their duties towards the monarch and in Parliament. All were expected to display administrative skills, some were scholarly, others were interested in the fine arts, most were married with families. All of these themes are discussed, and Wales, Ireland, Scotland and the American colonies receive specific examination.Table of ContentsPreface Introduction –Nigel Aston & William Gibson THE POLITICS OF CHURCH AND STATE 1. Securing the Mitre: the promotion and progress of a Bishop, Nigel Aston, University of Leicester 2. Lord Bishops: the episcopate in national politics, Ruth Paley, History of Parliament 3. Bishops and the monarchy, Grayson Ditchfield, University of Kent PERFORMANCE 4. Pastors of their flock: visitation, ordination, confirmation, Colin Haydon, University of Winchester 5. Authority, conflict, and consensus: bishops, their clergy, and diocesan government, William Gibson, Oxford Brookes University 6. Bishops and patronage, Daniel Reed, Oxford Brookes University CULTURES 7. Wives and families: the domestic life of bishops, Nigel Aston, University of Leicester & William Gibson Oxford Brookes University 8. Bishops and eighteenth-century intellectual life, Robert Ingram, University of Ohio 9. Bishops, taste and culture, Matthew Craske, Oxford Brookes University BEYOND ENGLAND 10. Anglican bishops in Wales, John Morgan-Guy, University of Wales: Trinity St David. 11. The other establishment: bishops in the Church of Ireland, Toby Barnard, University of Oxford. 12. Episcopacy in Scotland, Rowan Strong, Murdoch University 13. Anglican Bishops, the wider world and the other Christian churches, Ted Campbell, Southern Methodist University Appendix: Episcopal Incomes by Ruth Paley

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Book SynopsisA charming and witty history of the quirky - but surprisingly widespread - craft of embroidering kneeler cushions. The perfect gift book this Christmas, for those who love kneelers and those who don't!'A lovely look at a not-quite-vanishing craft that lies, literally, below our knees ... Inventive and interesting' The Oldie, 'Best Reads for All Ages This Christmas''A treasure of a collection' Amber Butchart, of BBC's The Great British Sewing Bee'I think I may already have discovered the best non fiction book of 2023' Reverend Richard Coles, author of A Murder Before EvensongKneelers is a celebration of the most widely practised - but often overlooked - folk art in England and Wales over the past ninety years: the design and craft of church kneelers. Featuring charming stories and enchanting designs from churches across the country, the book traces the history of kneelers; from their spectacular beginnings at Winchester in the 1930s to their booming popularity after Queen Elizabeth II's coronation and the present-day congregations who are keeping the tradition alive.In their range and diversity, the kneelers collected here form a fascinating social record of the concerns and interests that occupied their makers - including local fauna and flora, cricket, dragons, post-war tributes and the thrills of high-speed travel.Filled to the brim with beautiful full-colour images, Kneelers displays the quirky artistry and widely varied (and often surprising) motifs which have characterised church kneelers in the twentieth century. It rejoices in the personal stories of some of the people who have practised and advanced the art form, and is a wonderful commemoration of what happens when communities come together to celebrate their history and their environment.'A glorious and delightful salute' Tracy Chevalier, author of A Single Thread'This book is a Godsend!' Alan Titchmarsh, author of The Gardener's AlmanacTrade Review'I think I may already have discovered the best non fiction book of 2023' * Reverend Richard Coles, author of A Murder Before Evensong *'A glorious and delightful salute to some of the UK's most neglected folk art and its makers' * Tracy Chevalier, author of A Single Thread *'For anyone who has been grateful for a kneeler, and found solace in them during a challenging sermon, this book is a Godsend!' * Alan Titchmarsh, author of The Gardener's Almanac *'A treasure of a collection' * Amber Butchart, of BBC's The Great British Sewing Bee *Gives praise at last to an overlooked form of British folk art * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisOne of C. S. Lewis' works of fiction, or more specifically allegory, this book is clearly modelled upon Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, as Lewis cleverly satirizes different sections of the Church.Written within a year of Lewis' conversion, it characterises the various theological and temperamental leanings of the time. This brilliant and biting allegory has lost none of its freshness and theological profundity, as the pilgrims pass the City of Claptrap, the tableland of the High Anglicans and the far-off marsh of the Theosophists. As ever, Lewis says memorably in brief what would otherwise have demanded a full-length philosophy of religion.Trade Review‘I have myself been divided by every one of these false answers in turn, and have contemplated each of them earnestly enough to discover the cheat.’ C.S.Lewis, from the Introduction

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Book SynopsisAn attractive, compact edition of the English Standard Version of the Bible; the world's fastest-growing Bible translation. Ideal as a gift or for personal use.This teal edition features a protective zipper and is perfect for reading on the move. Its many helpful features include:British English TextCompact, portable sizeDouble-column format with black letter textConcordanceProtective zipperPresentation pageRibbon markerGilt page edgesThe English Standard Version is a great choice for personal reading and study, for private devotions and family prayers, and for teaching, preaching, and worship. An essentially literal' translation, the ESV Bible combines word-for-word accuracy with readability, literary excellence, and depth of meaning. More than 100 of the world's leading Bible scholars and teachers were involved in creating the ESV Bible. Trusted worldwide, the ESV is a treasure for life.Trade Review‘This is a fine, fresh and faithful translation, combining both elegance and accuracy to bring us a version of the bible that is anything but standard. The ESV brings us a text that is both readable yet scholarly. It is quite simply the best version we have today – clear, simple and illuminating‘ MARTYN PERCY, Principal of Ripon College Cuddesdon At last a translation that majors on accuracy, combined with a modern, fluent style. I am confident that in time the ESV will become the standard translation for the English-speaking world.’THE RT. REV. WALLACE BENN, Bishop of Lewes, England ‘Meticulous care and passionate research make the ESV a crisp, accurate, and valuable translation.’ MAX LUCADO, Minister, Oak Hills Church of Christ ‘The ESV satisfies the preaching memorizing, studying and reading needs of our church, from children to adults.’ JOHN PIPER, Pastor for Preaching and Vision, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Book SynopsisThe Re-establishment of the Church of England 1660-1663

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Book SynopsisThe Book of Common Prayer is the traditional prayer book of the Church of England and an important source of its doctrine. This historic pew edition is perfect for both communal worship and liturgical study. Bound in sturdy faux leather, lightweight, and small enough to fit in a pocket, it is also ideal for on-the-go use.This edition contains the new prayers for His Majesty King Charles III and the Royal Family.

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Book SynopsisBenjamin Hoadly, Bishop successively of Bangor, Hereford, Salisbury and Winchester, was the most controversial English churchman of the eighteenth century, and he has unjustly gained the reputation of a negligent and political bishop. His sermon on the nature of Christ''s kingdom sparked the Bangorian controversy, which raged from 1717 to 1720 and generated hundreds of books, tracts and sermons, while his commitment to the Whigs and the cause of toleration for Dissenters earned him the antagonism of many contemporary and later churchmen.In this powerfully revisionist study, Hoadly emerges as a dedicated and conscientious bishop with strong and progressive principles. His commitment to the ideology of the Revolution of 1688 and to the comprehension of Dissenters into the Church of England are revealed as the principal motives for his work as a preacher, author and bishop. Gibson also shows how Hoadly''s stout defence of rationalism made him a contributor to the English Enlightenment, whTrade ReviewWilliam Gibson's Benjamin Hoadly set a new standard for ecclesiastical biography on its first publication in 2004 and rescued its subject from caricature. This welcome second edition, taking account of the most recent scholarship, restates the convincing case for Hoadly's enduring influence and his centrality to theological debate for most of the eighteenth century. Nigel Aston, Honorary Fellow in History, University of Leicester, and Research Associate, University of YorkTable of ContentsForeword by James E. Bradley Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Hero and Villain 2. Early Life, 1676-1701 3. Political Apprenticeship in a London Pulpit, 1701-1710 4. Sacheverell, Adversity and Triumph, 1710-1717 5. The Years of the Bangorian Controversy, 1717-21 6. Hereford and Salisbury, 1721-1734 7. Hoadly at Winchester, 1734-1761 Conclusion Appendix: Hoadly in Poetry References Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA masterful summary of the theological genius behind the foundations of Anglican liturgy and doctrineTrade Review"Here in successive chapters the author summarizes Cranmer's views on those theological issues which were sharply to the fore in sixteenth-century controversy. . . . As a student's introduction to a study of Cranmer's thought the book deserves wide use" - P.M. Dawley, in Church History 28Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Reformer 1. The Scholar 2. Scripture and Tradition 3. Justification 4. The Church and Ministry 5. Holy Baptism 6. The Eucharistic Presence 7. The Eucharistic Work Concluding Estimate Select Bibliography Index of Subjects Index of Names

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Book SynopsisA collection of talks and sermons from Rowan Williams, one of the finest theological minds of our day, covering a range of issues from war, social justice and sexuality to prayer, spirituality and evangelism. Williams shows the connections between contemporary issues, biblical texts and the Christian tradition, each element drawing new and often surprising things out of the others, and challenges us to make our own connections between the gospel, contemporary problems and our personal struggles.

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Book SynopsisA joyous collection of life lessons from the UK''s favourite vicar! The perfect gift for fans of Kate Bottley and her charm, wit and wisdom.Hello there, come on in. I know what you're thinking: I'm not religious, so I'm not sure if this is for me'. But the truth is, this book is simply about being human. Believing in something, no matter what it is, gives us hope, and that's what helps us get through this messy, joyful, unexpected ride we call life. Over the years I've sat on plenty of sofas, drunk plenty of (questionable) cups of tea and learned endless lessons from the wonderful people I've met. Above all, they have taught me that there is no right way to do things and that's OK. In these pages I have shared everything I have learned about how to deal with life's biggies like love and death, as well as confidence, conflict and loneliness in the hope that I can make you feel less alone and arm you with the tools to face the tougher times. Trade ReviewA magnificent read, full of wisdom love and magic * Zoe Ball *One of life's great books. It's honest, real, funny, humane, powerful and profound * Emma Freud *Thank God for Kate and this book * Dawn French *Kate's natural warmth, wit and wisdom shines through every page * Sara Cox *Warm and comforting, like a cup of hot chocolate * Su Pollard *You can always rely on Kate to bring humour, warmth and cracking anecdotes. This book, unsurprisingly, has shed loads * Steph McGovern *I loved this enormous warming hug of a book. Kate writes beautifully and humanely about the ups and downs of life and the role of faith (and lasagne!). A must read for people of all faiths and none. * Fergus Butler-Gallie (author of Touching Cloth) *Written not just for those who actively practise a religion, this book of life lessons speaks on faith in all its guises, and how everyone can benefit from a little belief -- Radio Times‘The wisdom that shines through this unshowy and compassionate book suggests our public life is much enriched by her presence’ * Mail on Sunday *[Kate's] wisdom is delivered with humour and compassion...and [makes] you feel that life is always worth living * Psychologies Magazine *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A valuable contribution to the larger history of American culture in the time and place." -- Choice

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Book SynopsisThe story of America's first black bishop and his struggle, against white apathy, lack of funds, and jurisdictional ambiguity, to rebuild the African-American component of the Episcopal Church in the context of a segregated church.Trade Review"A minutely and scrupulously detailed biography and analysis of the first Black man appointed to be a bishop in the Episcopal Church."--Paul Harvery, Religious Studies Review"Beary's conclusions to this deeply researched and well-written study are important and solid. His work will be useful to many, particularly students of southern religious history and race relations."--Terry D. Goddard, Arkansas Historical Quarterly"This meticulously researched, sensitively written, and readable book is a church history with a difference. It is a biography of Edward T. Demby, the first Black bishop in the Episcopal Church, and a history of race relations within that church."--William Norton, Journal of the West"A riveting and valuable analysis of the long and often dehumanizing struggles of the Reverend Edward T. Demby as he fought on two equally difficult fronts: to become the first duly elected Black bishop in the Episcopal Church and to expose and overcome the racism that marked both Episcopalianism and the secular society of his age. . . . Beary's historical analysis of racism in the Episcopal Church shines such a powerful floodlight on this truth that racist confessors should no longer be able to hide behind ecclesia's walls."--Paul R. Griffin, Anglican and Episcopal History"This relentlessly honest, scrupulously researched and well-written biography rises above praise and blame and allows the life of a remarkable Christian to speak for itself. In the process, he also illuminates the moral geography of an era." -- Robert Neralich, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette"Beary skillfully narrates the shifting alliances within the Episcopal Church and shows how race was but one aspect of a more elemental struggle for power. He demonstrates how Demby's steadiness of purpose and nonconfrontational manner gathered allies on both sides of the color line and how, ultimately, his judgment and the weight of his experience carried the church past its segregationist experiment." -- African Sun Times"A fine study, not just of the life of an individual, but of an era in the life of the Church. Bishop Demby reminds us that even in the midst of the painful and the unjust, the work of the Spirit cannot be entirely extinguished." -- Caroline T. Marshall, The Historiographer

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Book SynopsisRanging from the medieval period to the present day, this is a brief history of church music as it has developed through the English tradition. Described as "a quick journey", it provides a broad historical survey rather than an in-depth study of the subject, and also predicts likely future trends.Table of ContentsEmerging from infancy, c.1100-1532; a crisis of cultures, 1532-1649; the new professionals, 1649-1738; the evangelical age, 1738-1847; the new seriousness, 1833-76; the Church triumphant and trivial, 1851-99; the creative underground, 1848-1904; the age of confidence, 1900-55; anxiety and opportunity, 1955-75.

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Book SynopsisThe essays in this book honor and extend the work of Rowan A. Greer, Walter H. Gray Professor Emeritus of Anglican Studies at Yale University Divinity School, by exploring the connections between textual interpretation and the formation of religious identity. A diverse and prestigious group of biblical scholars, church historians, and theologians study the function that scripture plays in the creation and maintenance of faith communities and the ways that communal locations in turn shape the interpretation of scripture.The first part of the book examines specific examples of ancient biblical interpretation as a means of creating, maintaining, and challenging Christian identity in the pluralistic ancient world. Authors study acts of interpretation in the Martyrdom of Polycarp, the Physiologus, Gnostic literature, the fifth-century mosaic of the Church of Hosios David in Thessaloniki, and in the works of Irenaeus, Origen, Augustine, John Chrysostom, and Porphyry oTrade Review"This book will be of interest for those concerned with patristic exegesis and the contemporary discussion of how that exegesis, and texts generally, are to be interpreted." —Journal of Ecclesiastical History“A stimulating engagement of postmodern hermeneutics and the field of patristics, Reading in Christian Communities assists theologians and historians in understanding the ways in which the interpretation of texts develops out of particular cultures and, in turn, influences those cultures.” —Journal of Early Christian Studies"...a very fitting tribute.... The scholarly authors of these essays are all colleagues, students, or friends of Greer, and the essays are intended as a tribute to him and a continuation of his work. Both with regard to the content of the essays and the reflections on the modern hermeneutical problem, this is a welcome addition to the ever growing literature on the subject." —The Heythrop Journal“...[A] substantial contribution to the post-modern theological conversation." —Perspectives in Religious Studies"In their focus on reading and exegesis as means to create communities these essays, each in their own way, contribute much to the 'contexts' they seek to illuminate, both the historical ones of early Christianity and late Antiquity as well as the modern, or perhaps post-modern, Christian contexts of their authors. The most striking among the many things that connects these essays is, however, at least for this reader, the sense of deep affection for Rowan Greer the person and teacher, which permeates all of them and which is perhaps the most precious contribution of all." —Journal of Ancient Christianity“This is a wide-ranging collection of essays providing a fitting tribute to the work of Rowan Greer. The combination of detailed studies and more general methodological discussion works well because there is good feed across from one to the other. The key theme is both theological and hermeneutical, focusing on interpretive communities and their vital role in reading scripture. The historical dimension of these studies illuminates the current situation. This is a timely work, as well as a fascinatingly varied collection.” —Frances Young, Edward Cadbury Professor of Theology, University of Birmingham“An unusually rich and nuanced set of essays celebrating and enacting the current renaissance and reconceptualization of the field of patristic biblical engagement that Rowan Greer has done so much to instigate. A must-read for those who wish to be a part of this vibrant conversation.” —Margaret M. Mitchell, Associate Professor of New Testament and Chair, Department of New Testament and Early Christian Literature, The University of Chicago

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Book SynopsisA theological reappraisal of the present and future role of the parish priest in Britain. Although written primarily with Anglicans in mind, the book is also full of insights for partner churches.

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Book SynopsisDraws together the background, experience, theology and resources in order to lead the church to full participation in letting children come to communion at a young age. This work includes biblical overviews, children's perspectives, a review of resources, the national picture, and a reflection on the Guidelines of the House of Bishops.

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Book SynopsisA collection of intercessions to accompany the Church of England Common Worship Lectionary, years A, B and C.Trade ReviewWith a bidding and response for each set of intercessions even the most diffident intercessor should find the confidence to lead the prayers. * thegoodbookstall *

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Book SynopsisAndrew Shanks challenges all those Christians who like to erect boundaries around their faith. Far more important than dogma and metaphysics, he claims, is the need to be constantly disturbed out of our complacency. This means being open to all and negotiating space for conversation even with people we can't stomach.

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Book SynopsisA short guide to the origins, structure and values of the Churches of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Paul Avis explains and clarifies the history and theology involved, and introduces concepts in a structured way, making the book clear to those who may be coming to these issues for the first time.

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Book SynopsisThe personal qualities of a priest

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Book SynopsisThe SPCK Lectionary provides a clearly laid-out presentation of the Common Worship calendar and lectionary, with BCP readings on the same page. Sundays and major festivals are covered, as well as weekday services. An essential purchase for any church using the Common Worship or Book of Common Prayer services.

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Book SynopsisThe SPCK Lectionary provides a clearly laid-out presentation of the Common Worship calendar and lectionary, with BCP readings on the same page. Sundays and major festivals are covered, as well as weekday services. An essential purchase for any church using the Common Worship or Book of Common Prayer services.

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Book SynopsisPhillip A. Cantrell II takes a critical look at the Anglican Church's crucial role in many aspects of Rwanda's history, particularly its complicity with the current Rwandan regime. He boldly illuminates the Anglican Church's culpability in the events leading to the genocide, calling attention to the consequences of the church's unwavering support for the Rwandan regime.Table of Contents Contents Preface Introduction 1. False Narratives of a Disputed Past: Precolonial Rwanda 2. History Intervenes: Colonialism, Christianity, and the Ruanda Mission 3. Growth, Revival, and Conflict: The Anglican Church through World War II 4. The Unravelling: The Ruanda Mission and Independence 5. Revival and Reconciliation: The Anglican Church in Post-genocide Rwanda Conclusions: History Faces the Present Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisExamines the moral and religious revival led by the Church of England before and after the Glorious Revolution, and shows how that revival laid the groundwork for a burgeoning civil society in Britain.Trade Review“An excellent piece of scholarship, The Christian Monitors is a superbly researched, interesting and genuinely original account of the Church of England at a time of upheaval. Sirota's rich account of the institutional experiments in voluntary association is an important intervention in the intertwined historiographies of the public sphere, the age of projects, secularization and the Enlightenment.”—Rachel Weil, Cornell University -- Rachel Weil“The Christian Monitors is a particularly delightful read. It presents a complicated, sophisticated understanding of late seventeenth- and early eighteenth-century religious and political issues with exceptional clarity.”—Jon Butler, Yale University -- Jon Butler“Sirota boldly reconceives the birth of civil society in Britain and makes good his claims with sophisticated argument, vivid detail, and humane sympathy for his subjects. ‘Church history’ has never looked so vital, vibrant or important as it does in this compelling and enjoyable book. This is a major contribution to the history of late Stuart and Georgian Britain.”—John Spurr, Swansea University -- John Spurr“Sirota’s book delivers a brilliant account of the nature of religious power and ambition in the Augustan age. This careful, deeply researched, and lucidly written book provides a significant story, delineating how the elite and provincial clergy adapted in different ways to the pluralist conditions of post-1689. The work brings a further perspective to the existing high calibre scholarship of Geoffrey Holmes, Gareth Bennett and Jonathan Clark.”—Justin Champion, University of London -- Justin Champion“A lively text and it offers a new way to understand the evolution of religious expression – belief and practice – at the dawn of ‘modernity.’”—The Living Church * The Living Church *“This razor-sharp debut merits wide and close attention. Its interventions should lead scholars to reconsider the role of religion in the tumults and transformations of Augustan Britain and rethink the great questions of modernization and secularization that continue to animate interest in the period—all with the Church of England at the center of their attention.”—The Journal of British Studies * The Journal of British Studies *“If I were to recommend one academic book to specialists, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates about the formation of Anglicanism and the role that the church played in the development of British civil society in the eighteenth century, it would be this book.”—Gregory Dodds, History: Reviews of New Books -- Gregory Dodds * History: Reviews of New Books *Winner of the 2015 John Ben Snow Prize awarded by the North American Conference on British Studies. -- John Ben Snow Prize * North American Conference on British Studies *

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Book SynopsisAn engaging, balanced, and penetrating narrative biography of the charismatic eighteenth-century American evangelistTrade Review"Kidd, a professor of history at Baylor and an evangelical Christian, balances his admiration for Whitefield with scholarly rigor. . . . Kidd’s theologically sympathetic approach gives the book a depth that a more detached treatment might not: He misses none of the biblical allusions that peppered Whitefield’s utterances, and he is an excellent guide through the tangled doctrinal controversies that dogged Whitefield’s career. . . . A great orator keeps his listeners’ attention fixed on himself. What made Whitefield great was his ability to keep it fixed on Another."—Barton Swaim, Wall Street JournalWinner, Christianity Today 2016 Book Award in History/Biography"This superb chronicle of George Whitefield’s life is now our fullest biography for the much-studied and much-debated eighteenth-century evangelist. It combines unusual empathy with unusual comprehension."—Mark Noll, author of The Rise of Evangelicalism: The Age of Edwards, Whitefield and the Wesleys"George Whitefield: America’s Spiritual Founding Father traces the life of perhaps the most important evangelical leader in American history, the minister most responsible for the rise of the evangelical movement in the decades before the American Revolution. Thomas Kidd introduces us to a flawed but deeply religious man whose passionate preaching inspired thousands of Americans to become evangelical Christians. Lucid, well-researched, and insightful, this book is an absorbing account of Whitefield’s remarkable life and ministry."—Catherine Brekus, author of Sarah Osborn's World: The Rise of Evangelical Christianity in Early America"Thomas Kidd’s judicious portrait places Whitefield at the center of the transatlantic evangelical awakening, where he belongs."—Bruce Hindmarsh, author of The Evangelical Conversion Narrative: Spiritual Autobiography in Early Modern England"Thoroughly researched, and rooted in an exact knowledge of Whitefield’s times; critically perceptive while remaining appreciatively sympathetic; this is the best balanced and most illuminating chronicle of the Anglo-American Awakener’s career that has yet been produced."­—J.I. Packer, Professor of Theology, Regent College"I commend this book to any serious student of American history. British by birth, George Whitefield is in fact woven into the spiritual fabric of our own nation—he was a central figure in the Great Awakening of the early American colonies, his rousing sermons and booming voice stirring thousands. He truly is, in the words of Kidd, 'America’s Spiritual Founding Father.'"—Frank Wolf, Congressman of the 10th District of Virginia

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Book SynopsisA profoundly personal, deeply felt exploration of the mystery of faith—having it, losing it, hoping for its return.“Lax has written a steady, quiet love letter to a faith he has lost.... Sympathetic and engrossing.” —The New York Times Book ReviewThe son of an Episcopal priest, Eric Lax develops in his youth a deep religious attachment and an acute moral compass—one that he is willing to go to prison for when it leads him to resist military service in Vietnam. His faith abides until, in his mid-thirties, he begins to question the unquestionable: the role of God in his life. In response, Lax engages with the father who inspired him and with his best friend, a Vietnam War hero turned priest. Their ongoing and illuminating dialogues, full of wisdom and insight, reveal much about three men who approach God, duty, and war in vastly different ways. Lax provides an unusual and refreshing perspective, examining religious

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Book SynopsisComprehensive history of capital punishment in England which shows how and why the Church of England repeatedly fought against its abolition.

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Book SynopsisMinistry, the authors contend, is a range of energies freely bestowed by the Spirit. Our task is to channel it mindfully and reflectively. Through the use of imaginative exercises based on scripture, focusing exercises directed at practical situations, and theological reflection that is rooted in the authors'' own experience of ministry as Anglican priests, the following ''colours'' of the ministerial rainbow are explored: The Apostle: Mindful Representing, the Christlike shape of ministry.The Holy One: Mindful Praying, the still centre of ministry.The Pastor: Mindful Serving, the hard-working body of ministry.The Teacher: Mindful Nurture, the wise soul of ministryThe Leader: Mindful Organising, the overseeing mind of ministry.The Go-Between: Mindful Collaboration, Conviviality and Communication, the interlinking and encouraging hands of ministry.The Herald of Good Tidings: Mindful Evangelism, the swift, urgent feet of ministry.The Liberator: Mindful Subversion, the courageous heart ofTrade ReviewMindful Ministry is full of thought-provoking resources for anyone seeking to develop prayerful self-awareness and a deeper sense of reflective practice in their ministry. For those in mid-ministry, the different models - rooted in practical experience and enriched by scriptural reflection - provide a creative framework for refreshing vision and re-imagining vocation in context. -- Liz Griffiths

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Book SynopsisThis book offers an introduction to Anglican theological thinking through one of its key source texts.The new edition has a new introduction in which Oliver O'Donovan reflects on the significance of the book and of the 39 Articles in the light of recent debates.

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Book SynopsisStraw for the Bricks explores theological reflection as a tool for ministerial training and development.The book offers a new resource for theological conversation at the beginning of the 21st century: it breaks new ground in exploring how a model of conversation can be used to lay a foundation for learning which provides a new architecture for both academic curriculum and personal formation.In addition, this book offers a practical guide to good practice supported by the lived experience of educators from All Saints Centre for Mission and Ministry working across several disciplines. No other such detailed practical guide is currently in print.This will become an important resource for those within theological education institutions, adult theological educators; those with responsibility for continuing ministerial development, mentoring and discipleship; and any lay person who seeks to live a life of faith in conversation with culture and the Judaeo-Christian tradition.Trade Review“This book is a useful contribution to the field of Practical Theology, informed by the authors’ extensive experience of enabling people to engage with the transformative potential of theological reflection. It advocates for a conversational, four-source method and gives detailed guidance on how to use the model within the context of group reflections. Especially helpful are the discussions of how the method can inform biblical studies, preaching and reflective practice, and will be of relevance both for ministers-in-training and established ministerial practitioners.” -- Helen Collins, Trinity College, BristolThis book is a banqueting table groaning with goodies. Like any good meal, or effective theological reflection, this is a rich shared experience, so pull up a chair. This will nourish practical theologians, preachers and teachers as we refine our various approaches. It will feed poets, enable facilitators of parish debate, and offer sustenance to all who seek God in the earth of the everyday. It offers dishes flavoured with thought, practicality and wisdom; a nourishing feast. -- Revd Dr Kate Bruce, Visiting Fellow, St Johns College, Durham and RAF chaplainI particularly appreciate O’Neill’s insistence on asking the right interrogatory questions during the Theological Reflection process, and honing them until they evoke the sort of response that will deliver ever more depth, insight and therefore action in daily Christian living. Whether a newcomer to the skills, or an old hand at the process of Theological Reflection, O’Neill’s approach invites us to take time to draw deeply from the Four Sources of Tradition, Culture, Action and Position in a way that will challenge and enrich individuals and groups alike. Shercliff’s drawing on her own extensive preaching and teaching experience illustrate the richness of the fresh approach outlined in “Straw for Bricks”. This is a book as much for EFM ‘junkies’ like me, as for those looking for something that will add value to the skills and techniques of sermon preparation, small group leading, and anyone attempting to drill more deeply into biblical texts and themes in a way that speaks into today’s world and society. -- The Very Revd Frank D. Nelson, Dean of St Peter’s Cathedral, Adelaide, Australia Mentor and Trainer for Education for Ministry

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