

Irreverend: Faith and Current Affairs
J.A. Franklin, T.J. Pelham, Daniel French
Are you wondering how a Christian should respond to current events? What are we to think about a world that appears to be going absolutely mad? How are we to discern the signs of the times? In this podcast, featuring The Reverend Thomas Pelham, The Reverend Daniel French, The Reverend Doctor J.A. Franklin and the occasional guest, we attempt to give some answers. Email us at irreverendpod@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter @irreverendpod or on Telegram at https://t.me/irreverendpod. We also have a youtube channel which can be found by searching Irreverend: Faith and Current Affairs! If you would like to support the show, which can be done from £1.50 plus VAT per month, you can join our Patreon community. Please go to www.patreon.com/irreverend
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 30, 2025 • 11min
David Frost: "Why I Went Back to Church"
FULL INTERVIEW HERE: https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/1303861/episodes/17884608-faith-and-politics-with-david-frostWATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/VUTLZbE0OzgSupport the show

Sep 26, 2025 • 1h 18min
Forgiveness and Hate at the Charlie Kirk Funeral
Church of England revs with a difference Jamie Franklin and Thomas Pelham sit down to talk about the biggest issues in Church and state. This time: The Charlie Kirk Funeral: Erika Kirk forgives but Trump offers only hatred for his enemies. Is the right in danger of engaging in the politics of hate too?Church leaders condemn the Unite the Kingdom march as "far-right", but is this a fair characterisation?Bishops applaud recognition of Palestinian statehood and call Israel an occupying power.And Malthusians arguments made in the House of Lords for assisted suicide.All that and a little more as ever. Please enjoy!Subscribe to Jamie's blog Good Things! Buy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNYou make this podcast possible. Please support us!On Substack - https://irreverendpod.substack.com/On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/irreverendBuy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irreverend To make a direct donation or to get in touch with questions or comments please email irreverendpod@gmail.com!Notices:Daniel French Substack: https://undergroundchurch.substack.com/Jamie Franklin's "Good Things" Substack: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Substack: https://irreverendpod.substack.comFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/IrreverendPodFind me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFind links to our episodes, social media accounts and much more https://www.irreverendpod.com!Thursday Circles: http://thursdaycircle.com Support the show

Sep 22, 2025 • 1h 32min
Faith and Politics with David Frost
Church of England rev with a difference Jamie Franklin sits down in-person with David (Lord) Frost in a wide-ranging conversation on faith and politics, including never before heard insight into David's conversion to Christianity. Topics include:David's recent conversion to Roman Catholicism and what attracted him to Christianity in the first place.The role of Christianity in the Public Square and Christian Nationalism.Danny Kruger's defection to Reform and whether Lord Frost is planning to leave the Conservative Party too.Brexit: What went wrong and what went right? What happens now and is true legislative reform possible?Assisted Suicide and what David planned to say at the second session of the second reading in the House of Lords.The murder of Charlie Kirk and cancel culture on the right. What is the correct response?All that plus half an hour of questions from the live audience. Enjoy!Buy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNYou make this podcast possible. Please support us!On Substack - https://irreverendpod.substack.com/On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/irreverendBuy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irreverend To make a direct donation or to get in touch with questions or comments please email irreverendpod@gmail.com!Notices:Daniel French Substack: https://undergroundchurch.substack.com/Jamie Franklin's "Good Things" Substack: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Substack: https://irreverendpod.substack.comFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/IrreverendPodFind me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFind links to our episodes, social media accounts and much more https://www.irreverendpod.com!Thursday Circles: http://thursdaycircle.com Support the show

Sep 19, 2025 • 1h 14min
With Nick Dixon on Charlie Kirk
Church of England rev with a difference sits down with comedian and commentator Nick Dixon to talk about the murder of Charlie Kirk and some of the responses to his death. This conversation was recorded for Nick's podcast The Current Thing.We discuss: -The appalling response to Charlie Kirk’s murder from Alastair Campbell, Stephen King, and many more -The disturbing comments from the Oxford Union -How to respond to the new level of evil that has emerged on the LeftSubscribe to Jamie's blog Good Things! Buy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNYou make this podcast possible. Please support us!On Substack - https://irreverendpod.substack.com/On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/irreverendBuy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irreverend To make a direct donation or to get in touch with questions or comments please email irreverendpod@gmail.com!Notices:Daniel French Substack: https://undergroundchurch.substack.com/Jamie Franklin's "Good Things" Substack: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Substack: https://irreverendpod.substack.comFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/IrreverendPodFind me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFind links to our episodes, social media accounts and much more https://www.irreverendpod.com!Thursday Circles: http://thursdaycircle.com Support the show

Sep 12, 2025 • 1h 13min
Charlie Kirk: Murder and Aftermath
Church of England revs with a difference Tom Pelham and Jamie Franklin sit down to talk about the biggest stories in church and state. This time:The appalling murders Charlie Kirk and Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska and what this says about American society and identity politics more generally.Angela Rayner resigns from the government over dodgy tax dealings.The arrest of Graham Linehan for hurty posts on X.And, for a little bit of levity, our comments on recent Church of England green energy publicity video 'God is my solar panel'.All of that and more as ever. Please enjoy!Book now for the live in-person interview with David Frost! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/irreverend-live-jamie-franklin-interviews-lord-frost-tickets-1536201733739?aff=oddtdtcreator Subscribe to Jamie's blog Good Things! Buy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNYou make this podcast possible. Please support us!On Substack - https://irreverendpod.substack.com/On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/irreverendBuy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irreverend To make a direct donation or to get in touch with questions or comments please email irreverendpod@gmail.com!Notices:Daniel French Substack: https://undergroundchurch.substack.com/Jamie Franklin's "Good Things" Substack: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Substack: https://irreverendpod.substack.comFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/IrreverendPodFind me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFind links to our episodes, social media accounts and much more https://www.irreverendpod.com!Thursday Circles: http://thursdaycircle.com Support the show

Sep 5, 2025 • 2h 8min
Classic Replay: Lord Frost on Covid, Identity Politics, Brexit, Free Speech and More!
If you enjoyed this episode, why not book now to attend the upcoming live interview recording in Winchester with Lord Frost! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/irreverend-live-jamie-franklin-interviews-lord-frost-tickets-1536201733739?aff=oddtdtcreator Church of England vicars Daniel French, Thomas Pelham and Jamie Franklin are joined by Lord Frost. David Frost had been at the heart of the UK Government and was deeply involved in seminal moments in British history including the Brexit negotiations and the Covid crisis. A deeply principled man, he quit the government over his opposition to further Covid restrictions and said subsequently that he believes that lockdowns are a serious policy error. In this special interview, he addressed in-depth the Covid crisis and the real reasons for the government's response to it, the use of behavioural psychology, the relationship of the government to the UK media, Brexit, the green agenda, free speech and the online harms bill. We also spoke about the Church of England and its failure to take the opportunity to offer hope in the midst of fear. Lord Frost ended this discussion with an exhortation to the Church to remember its true identity and to stop aping secular politicians.Daniel and Jamie also reflected upon the discussion with Lord Frost and caught up on the notable news for the second week of February 2022: the ending of Covid restrictions in England, the Church of England bishops' plans to alter the nature of the Church by creating bishops for certain issues such as Brexit and Covid, and Justin Welby's comments on the moral imperative to embrace radical collectivism.Subscribe to Jamie's blog Good Things! Buy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNYou make this podcast possible. Please support us!On Substack - https://irreverendpod.substack.com/On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/irreverendBuy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irreverend To make a direct donation or to get in touch with questions or comments please email irreverendpod@gmail.com!Notices:Daniel French Substack: https://undergroundchurch.substack.com/Jamie Franklin's "Good Things" Substack: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Substack: https://irreverendpod.substack.comFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/IrreverendPodFind me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFind links to our episodes, social media accounts and much more https://www.irreverendpod.com!Thursday Circles: http://thursdaycircle.com Support the show

Aug 29, 2025 • 1h 26min
The Life of Brain
Church of England revs with a difference Daniel French, Thomas Pelham and Jamie Franklin sit down to talk about the biggest stories in church and state. This time:Creation-tide liturgy approved by the Church of England: but is this simply more climate change propaganda?Classical Christian school King Alfred's forced to close due to Labour's tax raid on private education.Angela Rayner accused of hypocrisy as she purchases second (or third) home in Hove.And CofE Nine O' Clock Service leader Chris Brain convicted of multiple offences as we look back on one of the weirdest chapters in recent Church of England history.All that, a bit of question the rev and much more as ever. Book now for the live in-person interview with David Frost! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/irreverend-live-jamie-franklin-interviews-lord-frost-tickets-1536201733739?aff=oddtdtcreator Subscribe to Jamie's blog Good Things! Buy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNYou make this podcast possible. Please support us!On Substack - https://irreverendpod.substack.com/On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/irreverendBuy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irreverend To make a direct donation or to get in touch with questions or comments please email irreverendpod@gmail.com!Notices:Daniel French Substack: https://undergroundchurch.substack.com/Jamie Franklin's "Good Things" Substack: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Substack: https://irreverendpod.substack.comFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/IrreverendPodFind me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFind links to our episodes, social media accounts and much more https://www.irreverendpod.com!Thursday Circles: http://thursdaycircle.com Support the show

Aug 22, 2025 • 1h 5min
Two-Tier Justice; Multi-faith CofE; and is immigration driving religious revival in Britain?
Church of England revs with a difference Tom Pelham and Jamie Franklin sit down to talk about the biggest issues in church and state. This time:Two tier justice? As Labour councillor who urged crowd to slit the throats of Southport protestors freed.Multi-faith chaplain made new Principal at a major Church of England training college.Is immigration driving religious belief in Britain and more on the "Quiet Revival".And we listen and respond to a sermon on Women's Football.All this and a little bit more in the this week's episode. Enjoy!Book now for the live in-person interview with David Frost! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/irreverend-live-jamie-franklin-interviews-lord-frost-tickets-1536201733739?aff=oddtdtcreator Subscribe to Jamie's blog Good Things! Buy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNYou make this podcast possible. Please support us!On Substack - https://irreverendpod.substack.com/On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/irreverendBuy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irreverend To make a direct donation or to get in touch with questions or comments please email irreverendpod@gmail.com!Notices:Daniel French Substack: https://undergroundchurch.substack.com/Jamie Franklin's "Good Things" Substack: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Substack: https://irreverendpod.substack.comFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/IrreverendPodFind me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFind links to our episodes, social media accounts and much more https://www.irreverendpod.com!Thursday Circles: http://thursdaycircle.com Support the show

Aug 15, 2025 • 1h 17min
Badenoch's Problem with God
Church of England rev with a difference, the Rev'd Dr Jamie Franklin, sits down to talk about the biggest issues in Church and State. This time:Kemi Badenoch, the Problem of Evil and Cultural Christianity.Thought for the Day Guests slams Jenrick's "xenophobia" and BBC is accused of political bias (again).Update on the trial of the Rev'd Dr Bernard Randall as CofE refuses to remove safeguarding blacklisting.When will the new Archbishop of Canterbury be chosen?New (lesbian) Archbishop of Wales selection provokes controversy.Spurgeon's ministerial training college closes as CofE faces own problems.All that and a little bit more as ever.Book now for the live in-person interview with David Frost! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/irreverend-live-jamie-franklin-interviews-lord-frost-tickets-1536201733739?aff=oddtdtcreator Subscribe to Jamie's blog Good Things! Buy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNYou make this podcast possible. Please support us!On Substack - https://irreverendpod.substack.com/On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/irreverendBuy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irreverend To make a direct donation or to get in touch with questions or comments please email irreverendpod@gmail.com!Notices:Daniel French Substack: https://undergroundchurch.substack.com/Jamie Franklin's "Good Things" Substack: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Substack: https://irreverendpod.substack.comFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/IrreverendPodFind me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFind links to our episodes, social media accounts and much more https://www.irreverendpod.com!Thursday Circles: http://thursdaycircle.com Support the show

Aug 1, 2025 • 48min
Keir Torture
Church of England rev with a difference Jamie Franklin sits down to talk about the biggest issues in Church and State. This time:PM Keir Starmer humiliated in Trump's visit to Britain.Bishop Jonathan Baker rages in dressing gown in front of audience of concert-goers.Clergy response to migrant unrest in Epping.And more on why young people are returning to church.All that and a little more as ever.Why Gen-Z are returning to church: https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2087120/why-millions-young-gen-zBook nw for the live in-person interview with David Frost! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/irreverend-live-jamie-franklin-interviews-lord-frost-tickets-1536201733739?aff=oddtdtcreator Subscribe to Jamie's blog Signs of the Times! https://signsofthetimesblog.substack.comBuy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNYou make this podcast possible. Please support us!On Substack - https://irreverendpod.substack.com/On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/irreverendBuy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irreverend To make a direct donation or to get in touch with questions or comments please email irreverendpod@gmail.com!Notices:Daniel French Substack: https://undergroundchurch.substack.com/Jamie Franklin's "Good Things" and "Signs of the Times" Substacks: https://jamiefranklin.substack.com and https://signsofthetimesblog.substack.comIrreverend Substack: https://irreverendpod.substack.comFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/IrreverendPodFind me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFind links to our episodes, social media accounts and much more https://www.irreverendpod.com!Thursday Circles: http://thursdaycircle.com Support the show