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If you dig into the history of Valentine’s Day, you discover it has a complicated past. There seems to have been two Valentines: Valentine of Terni and Valentine of Rome. But there was only one road involved: the Via Flaminia, or Flaminian Way. According to some sources, Valetine of Terni was a third century bishop...

God obviously approves of romance – after all, putting Adam and Eve alone together in the Garden of Eden was His idea. The history of the Israelites began with three great romances: Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Rachel. The on-going history of Israel was deeply affected by later romances: Esther and...

There are two confusing things about this day of romance and anonymous love-cards strewn with lace, cupids and ribbon: firstly, there seems to have been two different Valentines in the 4th century – one a priest martyred on the Flaminian Way, under the emperor Claudius, the other a bishop of Terni martyred at Rome. And...

– a poem St Valentine’s Day, many believe, was named after one or more Christian martyrs and was established by Pope Gelasius 1 in 496 AD. Valentine of Rome was martyred about 269, and this day usually ‘belongs’ to him. The first recorded association of Valentine Day with romantic love (1382) is from Geoffrey Chaucer....

Cyril and Methodius are saints for anyone with good secular qualifications, who now suspects that God may be calling them to use those skills in His service. Cyril and Methodius were brothers, born into a wealthy family in Thessalonica, in 826 and 815 respectively. Their upbringing destined them for lives of respect and influence. Methodius,...

All in the month of February 4th anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war Mary Shelley and Frankenstein The funeral of Queen Victoria Remembering the work of L S Lowry The Winter Olympics returns to Europe Three in four car thefts unsolved ** Editor:  We continue our column that looks at memorable dates in the month (this...

If you have something big to forgive, Sigfrid may be the saint for you. This monk from Glastonbury was sent by King Ethelred to Norway and Sweden in 995. The King of Norway, King Olaf, had recently converted to Christianity, and wanted help in converting his people. Sigfrid went first to Vaxjo in Sweden, taking...

Shrove Tuesday – Pancake Day – 17th February Looking for romance? Ideas for Valentine’s Day Eating Disorders Awareness Week: 23rd Feb to 1st March A religious upbringing helps your health in later life Can you get across the pedestrian crossing in time? Children’s pocket money on the rise Five good reasons to eat Greek yoghurt...

– founder of SPCK Thomas Bray was once called a ‘Great Small Man’, with good reason. This diminutive 18th century English clergyman (1658 – 1730) not only helped to establish the Church of England in Maryland, but he was also founder of the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge (SPCK) in 1698 and the...

It’s odd, really, to think that that confessing one’s sins to God should be linked to making pancakes. And yet the beginning of Lent brings us both – Shrove Tuesday is Pancake Day, and is followed by Ash Wednesday, and so Lent begins. In centuries gone by, the pancakes were made to use up the...

How to Handle Temptation From the Vicar Winnie the Pooh and Lent 2026 The Seven Deadly Sins: Greed What’s the Big Idea? – An Introduction to the Old Testament: Isaiah The staggering vision of ‘2001 A Space Odyssey’ Reflecting Faith: ‘Breaking’ the Word Peaceful mind ** Editor: Canon Paul Hardingham considers the temptations of Christ....

– Archbishop & martyr of Uganda The Most Reverend Janani Luwum (d 1977) was the Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi and Boga Zaire when 35 years ago this month he was murdered by the dictator Idi Amin. At the time the Church in Uganda was on the verge of centennial celebrations of its birth...