Yesterday was the Sarum College 2024 Ceremony for the Presentation of Academic Awards. The days running up to this event, make many demands on a range of people working across the college. The choreography of our movement from College to St Thomas’s Church in the centre of town; the careful production of the service, […]
In Praise of Quakerism in the uncertain terrain for Religion
Posted on by James Woodward
John Hunt Publishing 2023 Many of the readers here will have experienced Quakerism in and through their presence of meeting houses and their active engagement in communities. Quakers are people living integrity with a single minded, focus on the tradition and disciplines of the spiritual life. I lived for some time in Bournville – that […]
Sermons in time and place?
Posted on by James Woodward
I am writing this on a rainy Sunday afternoon somewhat typical of November. Some of you may have been to Church this morning and experienced listening to a sermon. I wonder how it took hold of you ( if at all) and what you heard? At what point did your attention stray ? What were […]
Reading Scripture : On seeing and not seeing ?
Posted on by James Woodward
Do Small Groups Work? Biblical engagement and transformation Anna Creedon SCM Press 2021 The 2023 July Session of the Church of England […]
Hearing God in Poetry by Richard Harries
Posted on by James Woodward
Hearing God in Poetry Fifty Poems for Lent and Easter Richard Harries SPCK 2022 This is the time of the year when some turn to the possibility of taking something up for the season of Lent as part of a pilgrimage of disciplined and intentional spiritual learning. Some will join a Lent course. Others […]
‘Its not about me’ : Reading Cottrell On Priesthood over a lockdown weekend
Posted on by James Woodward
I wonder what you are finding absorbs your time and attention during these strange hours and days? My table at home is gathering some small (and neatly organised) piles of books. Some associated with work and lectures to prepare. Some for pleasure and others (I hope) for self-improvement ! Stephen Cottrell’s book (On Priesthood : Hodder […]
Not for Profit – what kind of education will equip us for the future ?
Posted on by James Woodward
Looking backwards and wondering ‘what if’ is an exercise that requires care and some measure of wisdom. However, we need to engage in the ‘what if’ questions to nurture reflexivity and so challenge ourselves to be energised by the possibilities of change. So here is a question – if you could turn the clock back […]
Lingering Ghosts and the challenges of Public Art
Posted on by James Woodward
For those of you who know Sarum College you will be aware that we have a long tradition of exhibiting Art. At the moment we are showing some arresting and disturbing portraits crafted by Sam Ivin (pictured above) Sam Ivin is a photographer whose work focuses on social issues and the people connected with […]
Padre Addison VC and Sarum College
Posted on by James Woodward
It was a great pleasure and privilege yesterday for us to welcome guests to Sarum College to mark the centenary of the award of the Victoria Cross to one of our former students ( The Reverend William Addison ) William Addison Addison’s Medals (VC far left) Here are my opening remarks Memory and […]
Sarum College Presentation Day 4th March 2017
Posted on by James Woodward
(my opening remarks at the Ceremony) It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all this morning to this ceremony for the presentation of academic awards for Sarum College. Thanks to St Thomas Church for hosting us and to a former student, Roger Wilcock who is playing the organ. It is good to see so […]
Lent Books 2017
Posted on by James Woodward
Here is my wander through a number of Lent books offering you a little glimpse into some of what is available. Justin Welby, Dethroning Mammon. This short book well organised into six chapters and offers the possibility of a basis for lent study on the challenging question of what might a Christian make money and […]
What kind of Ministry? Chaplaincy as Mission
Posted on by James Woodward
Chaplaincy Ministry and the Mission of the Church Victoria Slater, SCM Press 2015, 160 pages, pbk, no price marked, ISBN 978 0 334 05315 6 There are three distinctive and attractive characteristics of this book. The first is the authors’ skilful ability to open up her research in an accessible and stimulating way. The […]
Sarum College – an enriching and enlarging place
Posted on by James Woodward
I have had somewhat of a break from WordPress and decided on this first day of Lent to reconnect with this medium by way of re-engaging and reflecting on what had been very demanding but stimulating past few months. During the early part of 2015 I engaged in a discernment process which led to my […]