The Church Times Podcast

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 situati...

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 - inc...

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.

This week, Madeleine Davies and Ed Thornton talk about the latest Statics for Mission which show the average C of E church has just three children attending. And they ask whether social media can help stem the decline in church attendance. Plus, Ed Thornton speaks to Mike McGargue, aka "Science Mike" about his new book, Finding God in the Waves, which tells the story of his dramatic loss of faith,...

This week, we devote the entire podcast to a recording of a lively event at St Mellitus College, in London, that took place this week, on The Parish: Has it had its day? It was hosted by the Church Times and SCM Press, and recorded by Captive North.

This week Madeleine Davies reports back from the Primates' Meeting in Canterbury, and we discuss how religious leaders have responded to the mass shooting in Las Vegas. Plus, Church Times columnist Paul Vallely take us through the highs and lows of the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester

This week we discuss whether the upcoming Primates' Meeting will decide to sanction the Scottish Episcopal Church after they endorsed gay marriage, how a Church school in the shadow of Grenfell Tower has stepped up for its community, and what the Anglican priest in Tripoli, Libya, says to the thousands of refugees who come through his church planning to make the desperate journey into Europe. Also...

This month saw 500 people attend the first-ever Festival of Preaching in Oxford, organised by Canterbury Press and the Church Times. As a podcast extra episode, we've uploaded the theologian Paula Gooder's talk at the Festival, on "Nasty surprises in the lectionary".

This week we look at a bold new plan to address the dire state of Religious Education in the UK, and discuss a new book on the African economy endorsed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Plus, Adrian Harris talks to us about the Church of England and digital evangelism.

This week we discuss what the independent review into the Philip North/Bishop of Sheffield fiasco has discovered, and what it means for traditionalists in the Church of England. We also take a look at new research which suggests clergy are on the whole financially and emotionally doing OK, contrary to the headlines. Finally, we interview Sir Hector Sants, who is leading Justin Welby's drive to mak...

This week's episode comes live (ish) from the final of the Church Times Cricket Cup - can the diocese of London make it five wins in five years, or will the diocese of Lichfield finally end their golden run? We hear from the players, bishops, spectators, reporters, and others about this iconic C of E end-of-summer day out, run by the Church Times since 1950.

This week we go behind the lurid headlines about the Tower Hamlets case of a Christian girl allegedly placed into a conservative Muslim foster family. We also unpack what's going on in the row over St Sepulchre's, a HTB church plant which has angered church musicians, and we look at some of the response to American Evangelicals' Nashville Statement on sexuality. Then, we speak to Eve Poole about "...

All change this week, as we head off to the Greenbelt festival in Northamptonshire. Hear from festival regulars, first-timers, speakers, and organisers about what makes this celebration of faith, arts, and justice special to them. Normal podcast service resumes on Friday

This week we talk about how church leaders have responded to racist violence in Charlottesville, older people experiencing Messy Church, and how Greenbelt is building bridges with Muslims. Then, we hear from psychotherapist and writer Dr Mark Vernon about what Stoicism and Christianity have in common - and why the Church needs to pay more attention to inner transformation

This week we examine a series of interventions by Bishops concerned about the 'crack cocaine' of betting machines, the impact of Brexit on food prices, and the widening north-south divide. Then, we hear from the Bishop of Liverpool, Paul Bayes, on whether the C of E really has forgotten the poor, as his colleague Philip North suggests

In this week's episode, we talk about Bishop Philip North's hard-hitting talk at New Wine, in which he accused the CofE of being complicit in abandoning the poor. Tim takes us through the Crown Nominations Commission Elections, and we talk about whether it has been captured by Synod groupings. Plus, Bishop Nick Baines reports back from his trip to Sudan with the Archbishop of Canterbury

In this week's episode, we talk about growing discontent among conservative Evangelicals and why the Church is talking about artificial intelligence. Plus, Natalie Williams on her new book Church for the Poor.

This week, we have an extended interview with the Revd Steve Chalke discussing his latest, and controversial, salvo in the battle over how to interpret, or even re-interpret, key Bible passages on gay relationships.

This week we look back at the key debates at the General Synod and examine if the tectonic plates are moving on sexuality issues. Ed also tells us about his afternoon at Arsenal watching evangelist J. John revive the stadium mission. Plus, Andrew Rumsey talks us through his new book on the theology of place and the parish

This week we talk about the consecration of Andy Lines as ACNA's "Missionary Bishop to Europe" and hear about some of the interesting people who have been ordained this Petertide. Plus the Bishop of Jarrow, Mark Bryant, talks to us about Sean Bean's portrayal of a priest in BBC1's Broken

This week, we talk about what the General Synod will be debating when it meets in York next week. Plus, Nell Goddard talks about her new book, Musings of a Clergy Child, with fellow clergy kid, Hattie Williams.

The Scottish theologian Professor John Swinton talks to Ed Thornton about the link between neurological disorders, and human and spiritual identity, in his new book, Becoming friends of time: Disability, Timefullness, and Gentle Discipleship. Professor Swinton won the 2016 Michael Ramsey prize for his book, Dementia: living in the memories of God

On this week's podcast, we talk about how churches have been responding to the Grenfell Tower fire, what people are looking for in the next Bishop of London. Plus, the Revd Rachel Mann talks to Madeleine Davies about her new book, Fierce Imaginings: the Great War, ritual, memory and God.

This week, we take stock of church reactions to the general election result and look at how religious leaders have responded to the London terrorist attack. We also talk to Hattie Williams, in Edinburgh, about the vote of the Scottish Episcopal Church General Synod on same-sex marriage. Plus, Tim Wyatt talks to Justin Brierley on why, after ten years of talking with atheists, he is still a Christi...