The Yearning Dear friends, A good friend kindly sent me this last week. In the context of the bloodied and broken world in which we cling to existence, I offer it to you, a prayer of hope, and light, for every single one of us, sickened by the polarisation, tired of the posturing, and longing for the salvation that the love of…

A partial diagnosis Dear friends, I’ve been trying for a while to get some kind of comprehension of our national condition. What is the matter with us? The symptoms are many and varied, but the overall malaise and sense of unease seems to be all pervading. It is cheap and convenient to list the external global factors, but I am coming to…

A new name Dear friends, This week we honour and give thanks for those who gave their lives in two world wars for our freedom. We are fortunate to live in communities that are small enough to have recorded every loss, every sacrifice. Or so we thought. Continuing historical research has in the last few years brought more names into the light…

The Tied Chair Dear friends, The Revd John Coulson won’t be a name familiar to you, but the keen-eyed can find it on the board with the list of Rectors at the back of Checkendon Church. He was the second incumbent (=Rector) to be appointed by  University College, Oxford, in 1779, after the College had bought the rights to make the appointment…

Brute (revival!) Dear friends, I’ve decided to join the ranks of celebs who launch their own brand of perfume. My creation harks back to the sexism and libertarianism of the 1970’s, with a fragrance just for men, especially those who are aspiring to leadership. There have been bulk orders from both East and West, and I’m working on a forthcoming Christmas ad…