Category Archives: Uncategorized

Urban Beauty Loveliness and brokenness define what it means to be urban Jagged lives sit cheek by jowl with places made smooth by the haphazard twists of being human Battered mentors persuade others that dreams are at the end of … Continue reading →

Three years ago, I stood, actually not too nervously, before the Lord Bishop of Birmingham and was collated as the new Vicar of St Michael and All Angels, Bartley Green. Bartley Green is one of the Anglican parishes on the … Continue reading →

  Mission is at heart of the Transforming Church agenda. Mission is done in a number of ways. We are ‘doing mission’ when we welcome people or lead collective worship in schools. We are also doing mission when we offer … Continue reading →

The following photograph was taken by my son (with a little help) when he was 5 years old It was one of the first times that I had been walking in the fells with him. I am very much an … Continue reading →

Glen Cox was his name. I was 7, and new to Beck Road Nursery, First and Middle School. Cox was also 7. He ran the inter-class football team. Sides had been selected before I joined the school. I got my … Continue reading →

A number of people have been in touch with me regarding my last post. One person has had the courage to ask what it was it that I regretted doing. I do not think I was referring to a specific … Continue reading →

This week has been quite fascinating, both personally and professionally. In my line of ‘work’, it is difficult to separate the two. Professionally, I have done the usual round of things (taken services: communions, funerals, wedding rehearsal, baptism preparation); asking … Continue reading →

A Story: Ethel and Tom Sometimes what is happening is not immediately clear This is the case in our Gospel reading for the day. Firstly, Jesus in v35 declares that he is the bread of life; the bread that gives … Continue reading →

When still in Sheffield, I first came across the musical talents of Adrian Snell. I was particularly engrossed in his Alpha and Omega album, and the track Messiah mask. The song, from my addled memory banks, talks about evil masquerading … Continue reading →

I am child of an urban estate and a priest on an urban estate. Thus this paper is at one and the same time an attempt to make sense of Christian sacred texts on largely white outer council estates and … Continue reading →