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With Islamic State’s current savage persecution of Iraqi Christians in mind, here are two saints for this autumn:  Hewald the Black and Hewald the White (d.c. 695).  These 7th century Anglo-Saxon priests were living peacefully in Frisia among the Old Saxons, worshipping the Christian God by daily Mass on a portable altar, and reverently devoting...

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Just about the only thing most people know about Francis of Assisi is that he talked to the birds. Church-goers also know the popular hymn based on his famous prayer, ‘Make me a channel of your Peace’, which was sung at the funeral of Princess Diana. However, Italy’s patron saint, whose feast day is this...

St Francis (1181 – 1226) is surely one of the most attractive and best-loved of all the saints.  But he began by being anything but a saint.  Born the son of a wealthy cloth-merchant of Assisi, Francis’ youth was spent in fast-living, parties and on fast horses as a leader of the young society of...

This month is the 501th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation, and so a good time to pay tribute to an outstanding English scholar, translator and martyr of the Reformation. William Tyndale (c. 1494 – 6th October 1536) was born near Gloucester, and studied at Oxford and Cambridge.  He could speak seven languages, and...

Demetrius of Sirmium should be the patron saint of anyone who takes a stand for the right, despite knowing they will suffer for it. Demetrius was a soldier from Serbia in the fourth century.  He fought for the Roman Emperor, and that took courage.  Then Demetrius converted to Christianity – and took his stand with...

Understanding the Bible From the Vicar Psalm 90 What is the origin of evil spirits? Who authorised the Bible, anyway? Why are you facing such a temptation? Struggling towards relinquishment (part 1) Don’t ‘go it alone’ ** Editor:  Canon Paul Hardingham considers the authority of the Bible. Understanding the Bible As we acknowledge Bible Sunday...

Do you want your life to make a difference – for the good – in this world?  Then Luis Bertran (1526-81) is the saint for you.   This fearless Dominican priest so inspired tens of thousands of people in Latin America that he was chosen as patron of Columbia. Luis Bertran was born at Valencia in...

Fly-tipping Is your face mask making your skin break out? One in five of us suffer depression We love milk, but from where? Beauty ranges left on the shelves Honey, honey! Why singing in church is the same as shouting at the pub Average debt fell by £2,000 during lockdown ** Editor:  David Pickup, a...

As we acknowledge Bible Sunday this month, it’s a good opportunity to ask the question: why should I read the Bible? The Bible is the world’s best-selling book of all time. However, it isn’t one book, but a library of 66 books, composed by some 44 writers over a period of 1500 years in a...

Have you ever held your head in your hands and felt that events were against you? Then Denys is the saint for you.  This Christian martyr knew all about holding his head in his hands when times got rough. According to Gregory of Tours, Denys was an Italian bishop who became the first bishop of...

Edith Cavell is a good saint for NHS workers this year: she cared for the sick despite the danger to her own safety. Edith was a vicar’s daughter from Swardeston in Norfolk, where she was born in 1865.  She became a governess, but her heart was for nursing, so she went on to train at...