(Amos 5.18-24;Matthew 5.1-12) Some years ago I visited the French town of Verdun, scene of some of the bitterest battles…
Inspire a Generation
(Job 38.1-7; Hebrews.5.1-10; Mark.10.35-45) ‘Inspire a generation.’ That’s been the strapline of the Olympic and Paralympic games. And they have…
Value and Characteristics of Theological Research
‘A theologian is one whose prayer is true. If you truly pray, you are a theologian.’ This is the often-quoted…
Opportunities and Challenges facing the Church
I have over a number of years (both as a Bishop and as Vice Principal of a Theological College) spoken…
Celebrating 350 years of Book of Common Prayer
(Ezekiel.3.22-end;IITimothy.4.6-8, 17-18) Twentieth century historian Stanley Bindoff wrote that the King James’ Bible (KJV), the Book of Common Prayer (BCP)…
Easter Day 2012
(Rom.6.3-11;Mk.16.1-8) 'Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!' These words are echoing today in many churches, in many…
Maundy Thursday Chrism Eucharist
(ISam.16.1-13a;II Cor.3.17-4.12;Lk.22.24-30) I am sure that many here would have had the experience of visiting a city or shopping centre…
Developments in the Near Future – Hymnals in England
Introduction When we drive a car, we need to make careful use of the rear-view mirror. It is especially important,…
Read More Developments in the Near Future – Hymnals in England
Zimbabwe Anglicans await court decision
Last Saturday I attended two weddings in Harare. They were the weddings of two clergy, one a parish priest and…
Justice is what the UK needs, not Fairness
There is a saying in Africa that when the elephants fight it’s the grass that gets trampled. This is precisely…
Resources for Learning to Die
I decided against watching Terry Prachett’s programme, Choosing to Die, because I am reluctant to intrude on somebody facing one…
Zimbabwe’s Forgotten Persecution
‘Don’t forget us,’ said my Zimbabwean host as I left the Anglican Church in a suburb of Harare. Yet the…
Is Synod fit for purpose?
Listening, Consensus, Worship If That Doesn’t Sound Like Synodical Government, Why Not? Church Times, 16 April, 2010. 2010 marks forty…
Reconciling One and All
Reconciliation is high on many agendas today. Brian Castle argues convincingly that reconciliation between God and humanity is at the heart of the Christian faith.
Unofficial God? Voices from Beyond the Walls
Theology is regarded as the domain of Church and academy: understandings of God that emerge from outside these establishments, if they are recognized at all, are often considered inferior. Yet it was beyond the walls of the city, outside the establishment, that some of the most significant events in Christian history took place.
Bishop Brian Castle 