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May is the month when the ancient pagans used to get up to ‘all sorts’! The Romans held their festival to honour the mother-goddess Maia, goddess of nature and growth. (May is named after her.) The early Celts celebrated the feast of Beltane, in honour of the sun god, Beli. For centuries in ‘Olde England’...

Muslims are having a hard time in India at the hands of the militantly Hindu Prime Minister Modi, described by India’s Supreme Court as a modern-day Nero. In China, Muslims may be subjected to indoctrination classes by the government. And we remember with horror the genocide of Rohingya Muslims by the militantly Buddhist army of Myanmar (Burma). Most...

Is it time to look again at the legacy of anti-obscenity campaigner Mary Whitehouse? Although many Christians under 40 may not know her name, Mary Whitehouse was a high-profile figure from the mid-sixties until she retired in 1994. To many people, she was a figure of fun, often parodied and mocked in the media for...

One thing for sure:  the apostles were not self-obsessed. In fact, many a church historian has wished that they had left us just a few more personal details about themselves in the New Testament.  James the Less is an excellent example. This is the name we give to James the son of Alphaeus, but beyond...

This is the name behind the Athanasian Creed. Athanasius (296-373) was born into a prosperous family in Alexandria in Egypt, studied in the Christian school there and entered the ministry. He was twenty-nine years old when he accompanied Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria, to the Church’s first ecumenical Council, at Nicaea in 325. Although Athanasius...

Many years ago, studying English literature at university, I was intrigued to be introduced to the work of Julian of Norwich. She was writing at the end of the 14th century, when our modern English language was slowly emerging from its origins in Anglo-Saxon and Middle English. Our lecturer was mainly concerned with her importance...

Have you ever worked for a disorganised organisation? You know the scene: your boss lives in a mild panic, your goals and deadlines keep being changed, your colleagues whisper darkly in corners, emails contradict each other, meetings lead to more confusion… and you go home each night with a headache. Pachomius should be the patron...

Here is a great saint for all teachers, head teachers and principals of educational institutions, and indeed anyone whose vocation is to train and equip others. For Comgall (c 516 – c 601) was founder and first abbot of Bangor, which became the largest monastery in Ireland. And large means LARGE – for including several...

Have you ever happened to be in the right place at the right time, with certain qualifications, and suddenly realise that God is singling you out for a special task? If so, Matthias is a good patron saint for you! In Acts 1 (15 – 26) the apostles had a task to do: Judas had...

War in Ukraine:  Diocese in Europe and USPG launch Ukraine emergency appeal War in Ukraine:  John Rutter pens new work after Ukraine invasion War in Ukraine:  Advice for parishes on helping refugees Parishes prepare for mass ‘citizen science’ biodiversity events ‘Cathedrals are at the heart of Covid recovery’ says lead Dean Longest overdue library book...

If you’re saying to yourself, ‘Who?’ you’ll be in good company. May 15th is the feast day of St Matthias the Apostle, and in describing him thus we have said just about all there is to know about him. He gets just one mention in the Bible, in the first chapter of Acts, immediately prior...

Interserve is a global Christian agency working among the peoples of Asia and the Arab World. Here is a story from their migrant ministry in the Middle East. As the days shorten and the summer heat begins to lessen, Interserve Partner Tom arrives at his new clinic in the heart of the refugee camp where...