Those Vicar Blokes

This week we discuss the life of St George who was a Roman solider from Anatolia (modern Turkey), who was killed for his faith in the 3 rd century, by the Emperor Diocletian. We also discuss the legend of him slaying the dragon and its relevance today. Hywel gets annoyed that the English don’t seem to celebrate themselves enough. We talk about the ordination of women and how we can live together w...

This week we discuss the life of Isabella Gilmore who founded the order of Deaconess. She worked in South London during the Victorian era, a dangerous and amazing job. This paved the way for the ordination of women in 1992. We talk about the evidence for the resurrection and debunk some of the theories used to dismiss the resurrection. Finally we discuss the brilliant Pilgrim programme on the BBC,...

This week we discuss the life and death of the martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was killed by the Nazi’s for his part in the conspiracy to assassinate Hitler. His big idea was how friendship can transcend all differences. How can we emulate this heroic life in our lives today? We talk about a question from Twitter or X where someone claimed that God gave him cancer. Finally we discuss the Anime on...

This week we discuss the life and death of the martyr Oscar Romero, who was killed by the Government of El Salvador in 1980. How can we emulate this heroic life in our lives today? We talk about Easter and how belief in the resurrection changes our life today and how we live it. Finally we discuss Jesus Christ Superstar and how it is not a depiction of the life of Christ and out of date. For more...

This week we discuss the life of Thomas Cranmer who wrote the Book of Common Prayer and was Archbishop during the reformation. He was a complex bloke, a genius but flawed. We talk about the Lent course focusing on the Easter Vigil Service and why it is so moving and challenging. Finally we discuss the movie The Last Temptation of Christ, where we talk about the temptation to be nice and quiet. For...

This week we discuss the life of St Patrick, who brought the faith to the people of Ireland. We talk about how he used everyday objects and the environment around him, to preach the faith to those who had never heard it before. Could this inspire us to do the same today in our world? We talk about the Lent course and how we imagine ourselves into the story of Good Friday and the trial of Jesus. We...

This week we discuss the life of St Hilda of Whitby, who chaired the synod of Whitby. She brought together the kings of all the kingdoms of England. We talk about her life and how we are not always told about these women in the church, as it doesn’t fit with the current narrative about Christianity being awful. We talk about the Lent course and how we imagine ourselves into the story of Maundy Thu...

This week we discuss the life of St David, and how he started communities to bring the faith to the people of Wales. We also fall out about if people believed in literal stories of St David. We talk about the Lent course and how we imagine ourselves into the story of Palm Sunday. Finally we discuss the Netflix show Manifest; where a group of people disappear for five years then come back, and how...

This week we discuss the way in which History has been changed in relation to Bishop Wilberforce, as he is portrayed as an anti-science fundamentalist who hated evolution. While he was in fact a scientist who favoured the scientific theory of the time, based on a different type of evolution. Why are we taught things in school which are false? We talk about the first part of our Lent course and how...

This week we discuss Janani Luwum the Archbishop of Uganda in 1977. He was killed by the dictator Idi Amin for speaking out against his brutal dictatorship. Is safety a Christian value? perhaps Jesus and Janani Luwum would say no as they both spoke the truth and suffered for it. We talk about the nature of temptation and Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness, how each of them shows a different way...

This week we talk about Nicolas Steno, nobody has heard of him. He was a Catholic Bishop and Saint from the 17 th century, he is interesting because he is the father of geology. He discovered that the bones people thought were from dragons were actually ancient sharks and dinosaurs. We are always told that all Christians believed the world was 6000 years old until geology found it wasn’t and Chris...

This week we discuss the life of Lord Shaftsbury, a 19 th Century Tory MP and evangelical Christian, who reformed the Law around insanity. Making it harder for people (mostly men) sending their wives to an asylum to get them out of the way. He also led a campaign to outlaw child labour in mines and factories, limiting working to 10 hours for children in mines. He led the campaign for all children...

This week we discuss the Martyrs of Japan 26 Christians who were crucified in Nagasaki in 1627 a further 205 were killed over the following years until the whole of Japan was closed to the outside world until the 19 th century. When missionaries returned they found Christian communities worshipping in secret for 300 years. It is the feast of the conversion of Paul on 25 th Jan so we talk about the...

This week we discuss the life of Charles Gore the founder of the community of the resurrection, this is the community that Hywel is a member of and trained him for the priesthood. We talk about the meaning of Jesus’ first miracle turning the water into wine. Finally we discuss the Amazon show The Wheel of Time which is a bit like Lord of the Rings. For more about the Community at Mirfield see Mirf...

This week we discuss the life of William Laud an Archbishop at a time of division in the English Civil War, what can we learn about his life and faith today. We talk about the meaning of Vocation and how all of us are of equal value before God, no matter what we are called to do. Finally we discuss the latest series of Traitors on BBC. Does it encourage betrayal and normalise back stabbing or is i...

This week we discuss the dangers of Tarot Cards and Mediums. We talk about the meaning of Epiphany and the visit of the wise men. Finally we discuss the absurd nature of Eastenders and how its always the same.

This week we discuss Christmas from a Secular and Christian perspective and the Christmas Movie Jingle all the Way. For our Christmas Service see: https://www.fromesidechurches.org.uk/ https://www.yateparish.org/christmas

This week we discuss the rise of conspiracy theories in the news and online. We continue our Advent course and ask What is Discipleship. Finally we discuss the rise of loads of Romance Christmas Film with the movie A Very Nutty Christmas.

This week we discuss the rise of Deep Fakes which are difficult or impossible to distinguish from real news. We continue our Advent course and ask What is Prayer. Finally we discuss the Netflix Christmas special for Bo Jack Horseman.

This week we react to the News of Christian Climate Action disrupting worship in Chichester Cathedral. We continue our Advent course and ask What is Worship. Finally we discuss the BBC prison drama Time.

This week we begin our reflection on our advent course, considering the question what is Church. Finally we discuss the Stephen King series Under the Dome.

This week we react to the News of Dave Cameron coming back and how the Government is turning into a strange sideshow. We discuss the meaning of the Wisdom Literature particularly the book of Ecclesiastes. Finally we discuss the US Sitcom Modern Family and if skipping church is a good idea.

This week we react to Suella Braverman’s comments about the planned march on Remembrance Day. We discuss the meaning of Remembrance and why its important today. Finally we discuss the ITV Drama Three Little birds.

This week we react to Elon Musk’s discussion about Artificial Intelligence and it’s consequences for us as humanity. Ask the question should we pray for the dead and what All Souls is about. Finally we discuss childhood and the TV show Stranger Things.

This week we react to the recent Mass Shooting in the US and reasons for it. We’ve finished the Old Testament part of the Bus trip through the bible so we discuss what Halloween is actually about. Finally Dave didn’t like the best film ever made and possibly the most Christian film every made, the 1973 film The Exorcist.