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The first stretch of the M1 motorway opened 60 years ago this month, on 1st November 1959. The first motorway service station opened at the same time – Watford Gap, a rather successful attempt to confuse motorists, as it is not near the town of Watford, but close to an obscure Northamptonshire village of the...

‘Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matthew 5:10).  Somebody once described a Christian as one who is ‘completely fearless, continually cheerful and constantly in trouble.’ Living the life that Jesus presents in the Beatitudes will not necessarily make us universally popular. We must be prepared...

The Rectory St James the Least of All My dear Nephew Darren One of the rather dubious pleasures of being rector here is to dine twice a year with Lord and Lady Shuttlingsloe. I was summoned to go along yesterday evening. As usual, I was greeted by the footman and led into the entrance hall,...

If you are going to any concerts before Christmas, spare a thought for St Cecilia (2nd century) – the patron saint of musicians. Cecilia is one of the most famous of the Roman martyrs of the 2nd century.  As far as is known, she was born a noble lady of Rome who, despite her vow...

Schoolgirls in 1918 were warned that they might never be married.  So many prospective husbands had been killed in World War 1, that their chances could be slim.  It’s hard for us to imagine the slaughter.  The total number of both civilian and military casualties is estimated at around 37 million people, ending only when...

America is not alone: an opioid crisis is also underway in Britain.  Last year 141million prescriptions were issued for such drugs in the UK – up from 89million in 2008. It seems that great numbers of middle-aged women are fuelling the 60 per cent rise in number of strong painkillers, anxiety medications and antidepressants (prescribed...

Catherine is thought to have been a noble girl who lived in the 4th century.  She was persecuted for her Christianity, and despised marriage with the Emperor because she was a ‘bride of Christ’.  According to the legend, Catherine was no push-over intellectually, either:  she disputed successfully with 50 philosophers who were called in to...

‘The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.’  Isaiah 50:4 Awake in the early hours, and my thoughts fluttering here and there, the name of a friend dropped into my mind...

The apostle Andrew (d. c.60) is patron saint of Scotland.  According to the gospel of Matthew,   Andrew and his brother Simon Peter were the very first two disciples whom Jesus called.   ‘Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’  (Matt 4:18,19) Without more ado, they obeyed.  ‘At once they left their nets...

Do you have any elderly neighbours or relatives who are housebound?  Why not pay them a visit?  Are they looking too thin?  Record numbers of pensioners are now being admitted to hospital suffering malnutrition. NHS digital statistics show that adult hospital admissions with a primary or secondary diagnosis of malnutrition has tripled in the past...

Bishops call for respect on all sides amid Brexit debate Church Commissioners to expand Corporate Engagement Capabilities Bishop welcomes PM’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief Ministry statistics published India passes anti-conversion law Tim Farron on Brexit and the EU ** Bishops call for respect on all sides amid Brexit debate The bishops of...

November is the month that in my mind is forever associated with fog. Growing up in a mining village, where everyone had a coal fire and chimneys spouted dark smoke all day long, we used to get some real ‘pea-soupers’ in November. Sometimes it was so thick the buses would stop running and we would...