The Church Times Podcast

This week, Ed Thornton interviews the Bishop of Kensington, Dr Graham Tomlin, about his new book, Bound to be Free: the paradox of freedom. In it, Dr Tomlin discusses the fraught concept of freedom in contemporary culture, finds a fatal flaw at the heart of the secular vision of freedom, and argues that the Christian vision of freedom brings together both personal fulfilment and the health of community life

On this week’s podcast, Hattie Williams sits down to speak to Bishop Sarah Mullally, the next Bishop of London, about a range of topics, including her experience working in senior roles in the NHS; how she will work with people who don’t accept her ministry; clergy well-being; and working with survivors of abuse. If you’re looking for a last-minute gift for a friend or family member, why not take out a gift subscription to the Church Times. www.churchtimes.co.uk/christmas to find out more. The podcast will return on 5 January. We wish all our readers and podcast listeners a very Happy Christmas.

The next Bishop of London will be the Bishop of Crediton, the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, Downing Street has announced. At a press conference at St Paul's Cathedral this morning, Bishop Mullally spoke and took questions. Our senior reporter Hattie Williams was there and recorded it for the podcast.

On this week's podcast, Ed Thornton talks to Paul Kerensa, the stand-up comic and comedy writer, about his new book, Hark! The biography of Christmas. They also talk about comedy gigs in churches, comedy and evangelism, and whether preachers should tell jokes in sermons.

On this week’s podcast, Madeleine Davies talks to Tim Thorlby of the Centre for Community and Theology about a new report on Anglo-Catholic churches that are growing. Madeleine also talks about her visit to one of the most affluent parishes in the country, and how it compared to her visit to the most deprived. Plus, editor Paul Handley remembers Bernard Palmer, former editor and proprietor of the Church Times, who died this week.

On this week's podcast, Madeleine Davies reports back on her visit to the C of E's most deprived parish, in Blackpool, and how the Church is bringing hope. Madeleine and Ed talk about what else is in this week's paper, including the royal engagement. Plus, Canon Angus Ritchie, our new Sunday's Readings columnist, talks to editor Paul Handley about preaching and whether the sermon has a future.

On this week's podcast, Terry Waite is interviewed by Sarah Meyrick. He talks about his new book, Solitude: Memories, people and places, and about the five years that he spent in solitary captivity in Lebanon. "When I was in captivity, I decided that this was an opportunity, not a disaster. It was an opportunity to take an inner journey, because any external journey was prohibited. . . The situation reduced my faith to something essential and simple." The interview is also published in the Christmas Books supplement in this week's Church Times.

This week, Ed Thornton and Madeleine Davies talk about why churches might be unwise to ditch children's choirs, given they seem to be one of the best ways of attracting children - and their families - to church. Madeleine reports on a significant new book which calls on Christians to stop "hand-wringing and despairing" about the welfare state. And we look at what else is in this week's paper - including Paddington Bear at St Paul's Cathedral.

This week Madeleine Davies tells us what US Christians really think about Donald Trump one year after his election as president; and we discuss the funding crisis faced by theological colleges. Plus, Ed Thornton speaks to the Revd Dr Philip Lockley about how theological colleges can promote good disagreement.

On this week's podcast, we bring you a fascinating conversation between Neil MacGregor, the former director of the British Museum, and Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields. They talk about Neil MacGregor's landmark new Radio 4 Series, Living with the Gods, which opens today as an exhibition at the British Museum.