Chris Swift

Lovely autumn colours in York.

The Sun Rising Luke Jerram's 'Helios' installation at Fountain's Abbey brings an extraordinary light into a place once dedicated to prayer.

The Sun Rising

Luke Jerram's 'Helios' installation at Fountain's Abbey brings an extraordinary light into a place once dedicated to prayer.

The central altar has a tester suspended above it, a decorative wooden panel. This isn’t a kind of movable nave altar but a far more substantial reflection of the Second Viscount Halifax’s High Church theology. The altar was commissioned by his son in memory of his father.

Lovely to be at St Andrew Bugthorpe this morning - my first visit. Grade 1 listed since the 1960s with a central altar created by Lord Halifax in 1937.

The continuing drought impeded my walk today #york.

The Aftermath of Absence As we near the announcement of the next Archbishop of Canterbury it's time to reflect on the state of the Church of England, and what might arise from the Church's long decline.

The Aftermath of Absence

As we near the announcement of the next Archbishop of Canterbury it's time to reflect on the state of the Church of England, and what might arise from the Church's long decline.

Mama Sithole , sister of Hector Pieterson, killed in Sharpville, SA 1976

Met an amazing woman during a visit to SOWETO today. Mama Sithole - gentle, humorous and forgiving. Standing before the iconic photo of her and her brother on that horrific day 16.6.76

Sister Moon Like many others, I’ll probably make an effort to see tonight’s full moon. Noteworthy not only for its fullness but also, today, for the eclipse which will be at least partly visible from the UK. The ‘blood moon’, as it is called, might offer us a spectacular reminder of this strange and beautiful neighbouring globe, held in the earth’s gravity. As a presenter on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme commented, events such as the eclipse somehow serve to put humanity’s woes into perspective. As we agonise about the various crises of our time, earth’s celestial companion is a daily reminder of a strange place to which few humans have ever been.

Tonight's lunar eclipse draws attention to earth's constant companion, and the interplay of human understanding and the vast universe in which we are set.

Why are the tabloids so enraged about every aspect of Angela Rayner’s life? | Zoe Williams Whether it’s her housing, clothes, the restaurants she goes to, or the fact she watches opera and drinks wine, she can apparently do nothing right, writes Guardian columnist Zoe Williams

Why are the tabloids so enraged about every aspect of Angela Rayner’s life? | Zoe Williams

The Geography of Poverty During research into the London hospitals at the Reformation, I discovered their role in policing the streets. Following the dissolution of the monasteries, each of the five re-founded hospitals maintained beadles, part of whose job was to patrol the streets around the institutions, retrieving the sick and poor into them, with the power to "expulse" sturdy vagrants from the City. This was done in response to concerns by city leaders that the city was looking disheveled. In the politics of reformation, this was an unwelcome development. In the document re-founding the London hospitals it was stated:

Drastic steps to remove poverty out-of-sight betray a particular kind of aesthetics. One with no interest in the complex realities of poverty and homelessness.

What’s Theology Ever Done for Us? A debate has been initiated by Sarah Coakley about the place and value of theology in the life of the church. This sees a much more significant place for theology, and a broader range of people involved in creating it, and debating it.

What’s Theology Ever Done for Us?

A debate has been initiated by Sarah Coakley about the place and value of theology in the life of the church. This sees a much more significant place for theology, and a broader range of people involved in creating it, and debating it.

Church keys have a character all of their own - and are still in use.

Thought Forgery I have begun experimenting with artificial intelligence. Using the available free programmes I am exploring how AI might be used, and what risks or concerns need to shape my approach. It is fascinating - if a little disconcerting. For example, last week I resurrected the towering Anglican Archbishop of the 20th century, William Temple. I asked ChatGPT what Archbishop Temple might say to the Church of England today. At lightening speed, after presumably trawling all available Temple content in cyberspace - and assessing the state of the Church of England today - the headline answer emerged as follows:

Thought Forgery

I have begun experimenting with artificial intelligence. Using the available free programmes I am exploring how AI might be used, and what risks or concerns need to shape my approach. It is fascinating - if a little disconcerting. For example, last week I resurrected the towering…

Language-bearers Our capacity to create story & express it in ritual is perhaps the continuous defining characteristic of being human.

Language-bearers

Our capacity to create story & express it in ritual is perhaps the continuous defining characteristic of being human.

Good to hear one of the @yorkminster.bsky.social ringers speaking on the Sunday programme on Radio 4 this morning.

Faith and the City This year marks the 40th anniversary of the publication of Faith in the City, begging the question as to what the Church is doing in our cities in 2025.

Faith and the City

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the publication of Faith in the City, begging the question as to what the Church is doing in our cities in 2025.

Glen Baxter has arrived! Meet him tomorrow, 1pm at Shandy Hall for the opening of 'Glen Baxter - Prints and Drawings' Signed books to buy too @yorkshiredays.bsky.social @yorkgin.bsky.social @theartnewspaper.bsky.social‬ @stephenclift.bsky.social @tonyfoth.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk‬

War with Trolls Not discussing theology is not the same as an absence of theology. The Church in particular always makes decisions - for better or worse - that are theological in nature. Discussing this adds value and understanding, even though it may not make life easier for the institution. It is obliged to do theology if it doesn't wish to dance to other agendas and influences.

War with Trolls

Not discussing theology is not the same as an absence of theology. The Church in particular always makes decisions - for better or worse - that are theological in nature. Discussing this adds value and understanding, even though it may not make life easier for the institution. It…

Monstrous Theology How do we account for the value of a library of books which has both legitimated terror and inspired some of the most compassionate deeds in history?

Do we need theology and, if so, what kind?

The cathedral of Trondheim.

Power & Glory? Power isn't all it's claimed to be - and theology offers alternative ways of understanding its purpose.

Power & Glory?

Power isn't all it's claimed to be - and theology offers alternative ways of understanding its purpose.

#sunrise on the east coast on the final day of May.

Behind York Art Gallery is a new wildflower meadow for 2025 which incorporates 27 native wildflowers that are superb nectar sources for butterflies, bees & other pollinators during their most active time of the year from mid-June to mid-September. Not what you might expect to find in a city! Fab.

Barns and Bull-Boxes Retreating to a remote place, immersing ourselves in the natural world, has a long history. Even at a time when we are most conscious of our mortality, this experience can be healing and uplifting.

Barns and Bull-Boxes

Retreating to a remote place, immersing ourselves in the natural world, has a long history. Even at a time when we are most conscious of our mortality, this experience can be healing and uplifting.

A very enjoyable walk today from/to Muker via Keld with @canonmaggie.The Dales looking at their best with a mixture of light & shadow. Dry underfoot & still some flow in the Swale & its feeder streams.

Pillow Talk A sofa in the garden might be regarded as a good example of English eccentricity - a bit of living room cast among the herbaceous borders.

Pillow Talk

A sofa in the garden might be regarded as a good example of English eccentricity - a bit of living room cast among the herbaceous borders.

Golden Silence can be an attractive and rewarding part of life, but it can also be a form of oppression and, sometimes, a dereliction of our duty.

Golden

Silence can be an attractive and rewarding part of life, but it can also be a form of oppression and, sometimes, a dereliction of our duty.

God in the City - when divisions between rich and poor are both vivid and in close proximity, what is the role of the Church?

The ritual Easter blessing of iPhones requires them to be raised at the start of the service… Cathedral at Santiago de Compestela.

Swift Reflections faith & spirituality in daily life

Fear and Joy chrisswift.blog