Author Archives: callmeishmae1

On 21st August 1935, the Revd John Thorneycroft Hartley, British Tennis Champion died. He was the only clergyman to win Wimbledon. Born in Wolverhampton, John Hartley was ordained priest in the Church of England and was appointed the Vicar of … Continue reading →

The Power of Habit Charles Duhigg (2012) How many people picked this book up from a shop display already weighed down with “self-help” books? How many thought they were getting a popular science book? In fact The Power of Habit … Continue reading →

Jeremy Corbyn stands accused by his opponents of wanting to turn the clock back to the 1970s and 1980s. But wanting to turn the clock back isn’t unique to today’s left wing. Forget for a moment the religious dimension: with … Continue reading →

You may have seen one of these and wondered how they came to be. I’ve never made a real dog poo tree but maybe in my life I have made some metaphorical ones. One day a man set out for … Continue reading →

There is a great and honourable tradition of Vicars on bikes which I am proud to be a part of but I’m not wed to the old sit up and beg variety of the old cliche. I am happy to … Continue reading →

Spent yesterday morning at the Slaidburn Archive in the Heritage Centre: lots of information for local historians of the Hodder Valley, particularly about the Great Emigration: between 1683 -1715 43 adults and more children emigrated from the Quaker Settle Monthly … Continue reading →

The medieval bishop was a figure of enormous power and authority, temporal and spiritual. How extraordinary then, that once a year a boy would be chosen to parody, indeed to become the bishop for a day. 

The abject figure of Nadine Dorries in the Australian jungle should be a major impetus to changing the ways in which our MPs are paid. Undoubtedly part of the motivation for her taking time out of the Parliamentary calendar to … Continue reading →

Among other things, the Puritans attempted to abolish Christmas. Today many would wish they had had more success although perhaps for different reasons. In the first half of the 17th century Christmas was both an important religious festival and a … Continue reading →