

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

Dec 19, 2025 • 1h 14min
"Has she done anything wrong?" Incoming Archbishop Controversy!
Revs with a difference Jamie Franklin and Tom Pelham sit down to talk about the biggest events in church and state. This time:Controversy around incoming Archbish Sarah Mullaly: did she follow up safeguarding dossier sufficiently before London priest committed suicide?The Church of England says Christmas is not cancelled in new promotional video. But who was saying it was?Tommy Robinson carol service in London. We bring you eyewitness reports from progressives who actually went along to see for themselves what it was like.Reform open “Christians for Reform” group with service at London church. But how does this square with their welcoming of “producer of adult content” Bonnie Blue?And Lord Falconer says that being pregnant would not be a bar to euthanasia in the House of Lords. A new low for this nation?You make this podcast possible. Support us and get episodes early, bonus Uncollared audio podcasts, monthly epic chats between Jamie and Nick Dixon and more!On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/irreverendOn Substack - https://irreverendpod.substack.com/Buy 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:Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/IrreverendPodBuy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNDaniel French Substack: https://undergroundchurch.substack.com/Jamie Franklin's "Good Things" Substack: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Substack: https://irreverendpod.substack.comFind me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Support the show

Dec 17, 2025 • 1h 39min
"Tommy Robinson is NOT racist" with 'Green' Climate Sceptic, Brexit Rev Sam Norton
Church of England rev with a difference Jamie Franklin sits down with equally out-of-step cleric Sam Norton. Rev Sam is a "green" climate sceptic, a former Brexit MP candidate and advocate for what he calls "civic nationalism". In this special interview we cover the following topics:Sam's early work for the Department of Environment and how he became a "Green" Sceptic.Peak Oil and Limits to Growth.Left-Hemisphere Capture and how to break out of it.The interplay between politics and religion.Catastrophic Anthropogenic Global Warming (CAGW) and why the IPCC's approach is fundamentally flawed.Sam's involvement in the Brexit Party."Civic Nationalism" and the difference between Steve Laws and Tommy Robinson.All that and a little more as always! Sam's Substack: https://samcharlesnorton.substack.com/Let us be Human: Christianity for a Collapsing Culture, Sam's Book: https://amzn.eu/d/cQuq96c You make this podcast possible. Support us and get episodes early, bonus Uncollared audio podcasts, monthly epic chats between Jamie and Nick Dixon and more!On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/irreverendOn Substack - https://irreverendpod.substack.com/Buy 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:Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/IrreverendPodBuy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNDaniel French Substack: https://undergroundchurch.substack.com/Jamie Franklin's "Good Things" Substack: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Substack: https://irreverendpod.substack.comFind me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Support the show

Dec 12, 2025 • 1h 10min
CofE Bishops Bosh Tommy Robinson's Christmas Carol Bash
Church of England revs with a difference Thomas Pelham and Jamie Franklin get together to talk about the biggest and most interesting issues in church and state. This time:CofE bishops bash Christian Nationalism AGAIN and start a counter-campaign against Tommy Robinson’s Christian carol service.Pope Leo says people who think Islam is a threat to Christianity are really anti-immigration and want to keep other people out.And Chris Whitty appears to have suppressed an ethics advisory group that was giving him advice he didn’t like at the time of the Covid lockdowns and vaccination programme. Quelle Surprise!All that, some Question the Rev, and much more as ever. Enjoy!You make this podcast possible. Support us and get episodes early, bonus Uncollared audio podcasts, monthly epic chats between Jamie and Nick Dixon and more!On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/irreverendOn Substack - https://irreverendpod.substack.com/Buy 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:Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/IrreverendPodBuy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNDaniel French Substack: https://undergroundchurch.substack.com/Jamie Franklin's "Good Things" Substack: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Substack: https://irreverendpod.substack.comFind me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Support the show

Dec 10, 2025 • 56min
The Wednesday Edition - Lessons for the Postcolonial West with Dr. Alexander Chula
Church of England rev with a difference Jamie Franklin sits down with author, classicist and medical doctor Alexander Chula to talk about his most recent book Goodbye, Dr Banda: Lessons for the West from a Small African Country.In the book and conversation, Chula argues that the legacy of colonialism in countries like Malawi, although flawed in some respects, was overwhelmingly positive and including the eradication of various types of indigenous and Arab slave trading. The conversation also touches on the reasons for the surprisingly high levels of happiness and contentment in materially poor non-Western countries and why Western people appear to be so estranged from the social, material and spiritual landscape.There's also a bit about "witch aeroplanes".For Alexander's X Account: https://x.com/alexanderchulaYou make this podcast possible. Please support us and get extra things!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:Buy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNDaniel 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/irreverendpodFollow Jamie's new Theology Substack: https://jftheology.substack.com/Support the show

Dec 5, 2025 • 1h 20min
The Mad "Your Party" Conference; Dean says, "God has no taste"; and Is the Quiet Revival being stolen by Christian Nationalism?
Revs with a true difference Jamie Franklin and Daniel French sit down to talk about the most interesting stories in church and state this week. This time:The hilarious Your Party conference shenanigans: they couldn’t organise a bun fight in a bakery and yet they want to take over the whole economy!The Dean of Salisbury says wear tacky Christmas jumpers because God is “tasteless” and “doesn’t make cultural or aesthetic judgments”.And churches warned not to let the Quiet Revival be stolen by evil “Christian Nationalists”: but what exactly is Christian Nationalism and is it really so evil?Please enjoy and be sure to support! (links below)You 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:Buy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNDaniel 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/irreverendpodFollow Jamie's new Theology Substack: https://jftheology.substack.com/Support the show

Nov 28, 2025 • 1h 13min
The Covid Enquiry; Rev Kate Bottley in the Headlines; The Christian Nationalism "Dilemma"; and More!
Church of England revs with a difference Daniel French and Jamie Franklin sit down to talk about a packed couple of weeks of news. This time:The Covid Enquiry says it should have all been harder, faster and quicker. Guess what our reaction is?Rev Kate Bottley hits the headlines for saying she watches reality TV and has doubts. But is this the best approach to ministry today?Christian Nationalism is all the rage in the media. Why now and how should the church respond to the resurgence of interest in Christianity?And the right to jury trial is being curtailed by David Lammy, who only five years ago was saying that it was a cornerstone of the British constitution. What is going on?All that, a discussion about how to prepare for the Second Coming of Christ and much more as ever. Enjoy!You 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:Buy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNDaniel 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/irreverendpodFollow Jamie's new Theology Substack: https://jftheology.substack.com/Support the show

Nov 21, 2025 • 7min
Uncollared Taster with the Rev Dr Jamie Franklin
The discussion kicks off with Jamie Franklin sharing insights about the weather and his coffee. He navigates through a listener’s question on purgatory, presenting a thought-provoking argument for post-death cleansing. However, Jamie firmly rejects the traditional doctrine of purgatory, advocating for the belief that believers enter the immediate presence of Christ after death. He highlights the historical evolution of purgatory and critiques modern claims asserting its early universal acceptance among Christians.

Nov 14, 2025 • 1h 6min
Far Right Christianity Special!
Church of England rev with a difference Jamie Franklin responds to the recent Sky News investigation into an apparent resurgence of "far right" Christianity in Britain. But what exactly is the nature of this ostensibly extreme and politicised version of Christianity and might it not altogether be a bad thing? All with be revealed in this special episode!Follow Jamie's new Theology Substack: https://jftheology.substack.com/You 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:Buy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNDaniel 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/irreverendpodSupport the show

Oct 31, 2025 • 1h 58min
On Kings and Popes - Plus Special Guest Chris Whittington from The School of Contemplative Life
Church of England rev with a difference Jamie Franklin sits down to talk about King Charles III's trip to the Sistine Chapel to pray with the Pope, the Wild Card campaign group's plea to the new Archbishop to focus her efforts on "rewilding" church lands, and more in-depth thoughts on the GAFCON/Church of England split at the end of the episode.He also interviews founder of The School of Contemplative Life Chris Whittington about many topics associated with his new book The Missing Peace: meditation and the Christian life, the spiritual benefits of meditation, how to engage with surface thoughts, how to be more present to others and how to maintain attention during the day.Thank you for downloading and please enjoy!Links for Chris:Buy The Missing Peace! The School of Contemplative Life: https://schoolofcontemplativelife.com/The Missing Peace Book Launch: https://schoolofcontemplativelife.com/product/the-missing-peace-book-launch/You 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:Buy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNDaniel 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/irreverendpodSupport the show

Oct 24, 2025 • 1h 33min
Happy Diwali! Cathedral Graffiti in Canterbury; the End of LLF; and a Split in the Global Anglican Communion
Church of England Revs with a difference Tom Pelham and Jamie Franklin sit down to talk about the big stories in church and state. This time: the Archbishop of York wishes everyone a Happy Diwali; Cathedral graffiti in Canterbury; the end of the Living in Love and Faith Process?; a split in the Global Anglican Communion; and much more as ever. Enjoy!You 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:Buy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNDaniel 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


