Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

All in the month of January Menai Suspension Bridge celebrates 200 years Michael Bond, creator of Paddington Bear From slaughter on a beach through gates of splendour Remembering Agatha Christie World Leprosy Sunday – 25th January 2026< Burns Night – 25th January Australia Day – 125 years on Holocaust Memorial Day What makes snow stick?...

Magi from the East – it isn’t a lot to go on. The Magi had originally been a religious caste among the Persians. Their devotion to astrology, divination and the interpretation of dreams led to an extension in the meaning of the word, and by the first century the Magi in Matthew’s gospel could have...

The story of the coming of the Magi grew in the telling. By the 6th century they had acquired names: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. By medieval times they were considered to be kings. Whoever they were, we do know from Matthew that they brought three gifts to Jesus. What about their gifts of gold, frankincense...

Many saints have fed the poor, but not many were interested in actual food production.  Nathalan (died c.678) was, so perhaps he might be the patron saint of anyone who produces food – and gives most of it away to those in need. Scotland in the 7th century must have been a hungry place, especially...

Courage, vision and leadership are found in the most unlikely of places. Mary Slessor was born in December 1848 into a wretchedly poor family. Her father was an alcoholic who lost his job as a shoemaker. Mary was the second of seven children, and in 1859 they moved from Aberdeen into the fetid slums of...

If you have nothing much going for you, Antony Pucci (1819-92) should be your patron saint. He came from nowhere – a peasant family in Tuscany. He went nowhere – he spent his life as a parish priest in the Tuscan city of Viareggio. He was unattractive to look at.  He wasn’t good with words...

It was: 250 years ago, on 1st Jan 1776 that, according to tradition, George Washington raised the first American flag, the Grand Union Flag, at Prospect Hill in Charleston, Somerville, Massachusetts. Also 250 years ago, on 24th Jan 1776 that E T A Hoffmann, German fantasy/Gothic horror writer, composer, artist and judge was born. Offenbach’s...

Heroes are not always men or women of action. Sometimes the fight for right over wrong can be even more powerful when done through words and argument. Hilary was such a champion of the Christian faith. Born into a wealthy pagan family in Poitiers in 315, he first became an orator of Neo-Platonism. Here he...

If you have ever gone to Anglesey, chances are that you used the Menai Suspension Bridge (Pont y Borth, in Welsh).  A lot of people do – an average of 13,300 vehicles a day, or about 4.8 million vehicles a year. The bridge celebrates a big anniversary this month: it is 200 years old. It...

What do you do when you find a large spider web in your house? If you ever feel some sympathy for the spider who went to all that trouble, then Felix is a good patron saint for you. He was saved by such a spider, spinning such a web. Felix had been born to a...

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – 18th to 25th January 11th January – why we have Plough Sunday 2026 Patronal Festival Grants available from the Choral Evensong Trust Embedding Religious Education is key to building understanding Bishop Mullally presses for palliative-care availability in Lords debate Bishop of Tewkesbury to be new lead safeguarding...

How to keep those New Year Resolutions Complaints and refunds – what about consumer protection? Crufts welcomes mongrels Our long love affair with coffee What, oh what, is that person’s name?! Be smart – don’t keep up appearances< Eating alone ‘bad for pensioners’ health’ Why you should aim to eat the rainbow ** How to...