The Church Times Podcast

The Church of England has been talking a lot about estates ministry of late. Madeleine Davies has visited the Byker Wall Estate in Newcastle, where a church is thinking imaginatively about mission. She tells us about it. And we hear from three of the 21 4 21 young interfaith ambassadors about peacemaking and bridge-building. Photo credit: North News and Pictures

This week, the editor Paul Handley reports from Hong Kong on what has been going on at the ACC-17 - the 17th meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council. Photo: Conrad Yu

This week, Ed Thornton talk to our Ireland correspondent Gregg Ryan about the reaction of political and church leaders to the killing of the journalist Lyra McKee last week, and her funeral at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast. And we hear from the editor Paul Handley before he sets off for Hong Kong, to attend the 17th meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council, whose members are asking for more say in the running of the Anglican Communion.

“It really isn’t an exaggeration to say that the future of the human race is at stake”, said Rowan Williams in an Extinction Rebellion video last month. On Sunday, Lord Williams led a prayer vigil for the rebellion outside St Paul’s Cathedral, before the movement this week brought parts of central London to a standstill, as they demand the Government take more action to combat climate change. But who are Extinction Rebellion, what do they seek to achieve, and what are Christians contributing to the movement? Ed Thornton speaks to Joe Ware of Christian Aid, an expert on climate-change issues and activism, who has been talking to Christians involved in the movement. And, at the end of this episode, Malcolm Guite reads a villanelle for Easter Day. Photo credit: Vladimir Morozov

This week, Madeleine Davies interviews Pete Greig, the “bewildered instigator” of the 24-7 prayer movement. He is also closely involved with the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Thy Kingdom Come prayer initiative. Pete is a pastor and the author of books including God on Mute and Dirty Glory. His latest book is called How to Pray: a simple guide for normal people, which is published by Hodder. It’s available at the Church Times Bookshop for the special price of £12.60 – go to chbookshop.co.uk.

This week, Professor John Swinton speaks on why in a culture that prioritises speed, efficiency, and productivity, we should remember that love takes time. Professor Swinton is a former nurse, a minister in the Church of Scotland, and Professor Practical Theology and Pastoral Care at the University of Aberdeen. His books include Dementia: Living in the memories of God, which won the 2016 Michael Ramsey Prize, and Becoming Friends of Time (SCM Press). This talk was delivered at the Theology Slam competition last month, at which he was a judge. All the talks from the event can be viewed on our Facebook page and at churchtimes.co.uk/theology-slam.

This week, Madeleine Davies talks to Rupert Shortt about his new book, Does Religion do more harm than good?, published by SPCK. We publish an extract in this week’s paper and John Saxbee reviews it in our books pages. The book is available from the Church Times Bookshop for £9 – go to chbookshop.co.uk. Rupert Shortt is Religion Editor of The Times Literary Supplement and the author of critically acclaimed books including God is No Thing, Christianaphobia, and Rowan’s Rule: the biography of the Archbishop. You can also listen to the Church Times Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and most other podcast platforms.

Adam Becket brings us the latest on Brexit - and how the C of E hopes that "tea and prayer drop-ins" next weekend will foster reconciliation among Leavers and Remainers. Madeleine Davies tells us about the first HTB-supported resource church in the Church in Wales - which is facing some opposition. And the editor Paul Handley talks about the Train-a-Priest Fund, which helps ordinands who face financial hardship.

This week, Ed Thornton speaks to the writer and broadcaster Peter Stanford about his new book, Angels: A Visible and invisible history, published by Hodder. The book looks at the origins of angels in religious thought and asks why, in a secular age, they remain more compelling and comforting to many than God. You can buy the book at the Church House Bookshop for the offer price of £16 – go to chbookshophymnsam.co.uk or call 020 7799 4064.

On Thursday evening (7 March), the final of the Theology Slam competition took place at St John’s Hoxton in London. It was a great evening with talks by Hannah Barr (theology and the #MeToo movement, Sara Prats (theology and mental health), and Hannah Malcolm (theology and the environment). The talks are featured on the podcast – and the winner is announced at the end. The winning talk will be published in next week’s Church Times and on our website. You can watch the whole event on the Church Times Facebook page, and on our YouTube channel from Friday afternoon – in addition to the talks, there are a Q&A, judges feedback, and talks from John Swinton on theology and disability and Eve Poole on theology and consumerism. Picture Credit: Stefano Cagnoni Pictured (l-r): Hannah Barr, Hannah Malcolm, Sara Pratts