Author: James Woodward

I have been reading political biographies for longer than I care to remember––and although they are entertaining, sometimes psychologically fascinating– there persists in the world politics an extraordinary mixture of of light and darkness, of naked ambition and human vulnerability, of strength and weakness. How could it be otherwise? Politicians are after all flesh and […]

I am listening to the BBC News as I share this post – and aware of how uncertain and fragile our life continues to be. Changes in infection rates, uncertainty in the jobs market and chaos with our holiday plans continue. Here are some thoughts on recent months: I wonder how you are and how […]

Beethoven : A Life in Nine Pieces by Laura Tunbridge Viking 2020 I have steered away from musical biography – often impenetrable, for insiders who know the language, the history and the details of the music. These 230 pages are quite different from the pen of the Oxford University Professor of Music. It is refreshing, […]

I first met David Sheppard sometime in the early 80s just after my ordination. He was present with his wife Grace at an opening of an exhibition in Liverpool city centre. It was held at the Diocesan Church House – now a popular Tapas bar ! The artist had completed some of the pieces while […]

So what is loneliness? Loneliness has been defined in different ways. A common definition is “A state of solitude or being alone”. The other definition is “Loneliness is not necessarily about being alone. Instead, “it is the perception of being alone and isolated that matters most” and is “a state of mind”. “Inability to find […]

As a young man in my early 20s I wanted to change the world!   Becoming a priest was part of a passion of aspiring to build a better world by nurturing communities and people where all flourish. That we should be happy and enjoy ourselves – is deep within God’s purpose for each of us.   In […]

While the physical buildings of Sarum College have been closed for some few weeks our life and work goes on. We are continuing to teach and support ministry students in their formation. The work of our postgraduate theological study through our MA offer also continues online rather than in the physical space of the college. […]

While the physical buildings of Sarum College have been closed for some few weeks our life and work goes on. We are continuing to teach and support ministry students in their formation. The work of our postgraduate theological study through our MA offer also continues online rather than in the physical space of the College. Like many others […]

The forty days of Easter: 12th April (Easter Day) through 21st May (Ascension Day ) 2020 I don’t know about you but these early days of Covid 19 have been some of the busiest hours I can remember in recent years. Amidst the challenges of lockdown, working with colleagues and trustees to secure and develop our work […]

How much sleep do you need? Do you instinctively know when you wake whether you have had a restful night? Perhaps you Fitbit reveals your patterns of sleep ( REM, Light, Deep) ? And for those who us who wake in the middle of the night – what races through our minds? Do we turn […]

On Reading the Authorised Biography of John Habgood, Archbishop of York,1983 -1995. (David Wilbourne SPCK 2020) The wonderful thing about Sarum College Bookshop is the unexpected discovery or something that you just can’t resist buying! This biography was one of those encounters and gladly I purchased it and brought it home to read! It is […]

  Well three months later and I actually finished it – though some chapters were given more attention that others. A kind present from a friend following a bereavement this heavyweight acted as a kind of  self improving distraction for which in the end I am grateful. I have dipped in and out of modern […]

I wonder what kind of year that you have had? What do we bring into the coming days – our memories, our hopes, our frustrations and disappointments? The picture of the Quaker tapestry reflects the fragmentedness, richness and complexity of all of our lives. When we turn to the Christmas story we discover a similar […]