Holy C of E

In this episode we talk with Fr Harri Williams, Principal of St Stephen's House in Oxford. Fr Harri tells us his story of coming to faith and discerning a vocation to the priesthood. We then ask him about his vision for forming priests, recent trends in the Church of England and theological training, and more. If you're a potential ordinand or exploring a vocation, consider an upcoming Advent retreat at St Stephen's House, 7th to the 9th of December. Details here. New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

As the feasts of All Saints and All Souls approach, we discuss the significance of the saints in the theology and practice of the church. Have a listen while you carve your pumpkin for All Hallows' Eve. And then sing: "For all the saints who from their labors rest." Check out a similar episode from this time five (!) years back, if you are so inclined. New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

Rhys speaks with returning guest Fr Thomas Plant to discuss his new book King Oswald’s Heirs: Meditations on the Catechism of the English Church. The book re-presents the Catechism of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer through the lens of the English saints and the Church's spiritual inheritance. In this episode they discuss some of the key themes of the book: re-enchantment, modernity, and the particular as the vehicle to the universal. See more of Fr Thomas’ work on his Substack, Ghostley Counsel. New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

Fidelium is a lay-led network of young adults in London which aims "to foster connection, confidence, and belonging among those seeking a faithful and rooted life in the Church." This vibrant group is an encouraging sign of life and hope for the catholic movement in the Church of England. We spoke with Charlotte, director of Fidelium, about what they do, why young people are drawn to Anglo-Catholicism, the role of social media in reaching young people (no AI posters!), the importance of laity in the life of the church, and more. Follow Fidelium on X and Instagram New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

Last summer, theologian Matthew Barrett wrote a widely-read article explaining his decision to leave the Baptist tradition for Anglicanism. Rhys and Joel speak to him about this journey, how it has affected the systematic theology he is writing, why classical theology and the beatific vision matter, and more. Dr. Barrett is Research Professor of Christian Theology at Trinity Anglican Seminary in the US. He is also theologian-in-residence for Anselm House at St. Aidan’s Anglican Church. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of Credo Magazine, host of the Credo podcast, and Director of the Center for Classical Theology. He is the co-director of Aquinas KC. On 24-25 April, Dr. Barrett is hosting the Credo Conference on the Beatific Vision in Washington, DC. Do join if you are able! New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

In this episode, the team speaks with Rev'd Dan Kim about ChristianStory, a project that aims to bring the history and theology of Christianity to life with deeply researched and beautifully animated videos. Think BibleProject, but with history and theology! Ecumenical in its ethos, it is a gift to the church catholic and a fantastic resource for people in parish ministry, working with youth, or as a general tool for catechesis and discipleship. New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

Fr Calum and Joel talk with returning guest Fr Thomas Plant about Darwell Stone’s case for mere Catholicity. Fr Thomas has recently written an introduction to a new (and handsome) edition of Stone's concise systematic theology, Christian Dogma: Outlines of Orthodox Anglican Theology. Stone was Principal of Pusey House, Oxford from 1909 to 1934. Fr Thomas recently gave a talk on Stone at a conference at Pusey House on the 20th-century principals of the house. See more of Fr Thomas' work on his Substack, Ghostly Counsel. New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

Rhys and Joel speak with Fr Christopher Trundle SSC of Our Most Holy Redeemer, Clerkenwell (London) about his parish's approach to mission and evangelism. The discussion covers the theology and practice of using contemporary music in a traditional sung mass, what Anglo-Catholics can learn from evangelicals, potential limits to merging charismatic and catholic worship, and more. New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

The team caught up with Scholastica Jacob to discuss a recent book she edited, The Letters of Herbert Kelly and Dorothy L. Sayers. She came on to discuss Kelly and Anglican religious life in this episode from 2024. Scholastica is the librarian and archivist of St Anthony's Priory Durham, which is run by the Society of the Sacred Mission (SSM). Formerly a member of Stanbrook Abbey, and before that a lawyer specialising in charity law, Scholastica has a PhD in church history from the University of Durham. As well as managing the library and working on the SSM archives, she also has a leading role in the development of the Herbert Kelly Institute for Anglican Religious Life. New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

In this episode, the team talks with Rev'd Dr. Mike Michielin about E.L. Mascall's views on metaphysical realism, natural theology, the doctrine of the Incarnation, how these all fit together, and what this might mean for the Christian life. Because you can never have too much Mascall. Barth may or may not be mentioned. New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

In this episode, Rhys and Joel dive into a classic text on the priesthood from Michael Ramsey (d. 1988), the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury. New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

In this episode we talk to Paul Gutacker who is the executive director of Brazos Fellows, a Christian community in Waco, Texas that invites emerging adults to commit to a common rule of life. He is the author of a new book, Practicing Life Together: A Common Rule for Christian Growth. We discuss why Christian community is difficult to create, the importance of eating together, the nature of discernment and vocation, the place of study in a rule of life, and how his experience and book might transfer to an English parish context. New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

In this episode, the team discusses E.L. Mascall's 1961 classic Grace and Glory. New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

In this episode Rhys and Joel talk with Fr Chris Moore, Chair of the Fellowship of St Alban & St Sergius. We discuss the history and purpose of the Fellowship and talk more broadly about the Eastern Orthodox tradition, why people are drawn to it and how Anglicans can benefit from engaging with it. The Fellowship's annual conference is coming up: 20-22 August at Ripon College Cuddesdon, just outside Oxford. Resources recommended by Fr Chris: Melito of Sardis - On Pascha Dumitru Stăniloae - Orthodox Spirituality: A Practical Guide for the Faithful and a Definitive Manual for the Scholar Timothy Ware - The Orthodox Church St Basil the Great - On the Human Condition St Ephrem the Syrian - Hymns on Paradise Sebastian Brock - Treasure House of Mysteries The Ancient Faith website The two Orthodox churches in Oxford that were mentioned: https://holytrinityoxford.org.uk and https://www.stnicholas-oxford.org New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

In this episode, Joel and Rhys talk with returning guest Fr Greg Peters about his most recent book, Anglican Spirituality: An Introduction. The discussion covers the three-fold Rule articulated by Martin Thornton, its relation to mission, the value of poetry in theology and spirituality, and more. Other books by Fr Greg include The Monkhood of All Believers: The Monastic Foundation of Christian Spirituality, Thomas à Kempis: His Life and Spiritual Theology, and The Story of Monasticism: Retrieving an Ancient Tradition for Contemporary Spirituality. New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

After a long hiatus, Holy C of E is back. And like all good things, the episode has three parts (but only one essence, of course). In Part 1 of this episode, you'll hear some life updates from Clinton, Calum, and Joel. Sadly, we say our goodbyes to Clinton! Part 2 is an update from co-founder of the podcast Fr Jamie Franklin who, along with Clinton, is officially handing over the podcast to the new team. Keep up with Fr Jamie's work on the Irreverend: Faith and Current Affairs podcast, his Substack Good Things, and be sure to buy his new book: The Great Return. In Part 3, Calum and Joel introduce our new co-host, Rhys, and hear about his journey of faith before discussing the future of the podcast. New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

In this episode, Calum and Joel speak with Fr Charles Erlandson about John Keble's prayer book spirituality, his role in the catholic revival in the Church of England, and his continued relevance in facing contemporary challenges. Our discussion is based on Fr Charles' chapter "The Old Made New: John Keble (1792–1866) and the Revival of Reformed Catholicism" in the newly published Re-formed Catholic Anglicanism (Anglican Way Institute, 2024). Resources mentioned: Orthodox Anglican Identity, by Fr Charles Erlandson Give Us This Day, by Fr Charles Erlandson St Michael's Abbey (YouTube) Pray Daily The Sacramentalists New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

In this episode, Clinton and Joel are joined by Brad East for a wide-ranging discussion of a catholic perspective on Scripture. We ask Brad about his background and theological journey towards a catholic view before discussing issues that arise in his two books, The Doctrine of Scripture and The Church's Book: Theology of Scripture in Ecclesial Context. We cover the influence of Robert Jenson on Brad's work, issues of authority in interpreting Scripture, the relationship between Protestantism and historical criticism, the place of figural/theological interpretations of Scripture, how to help people engage Scripture as reading culture declines, and much more. Brad has two new books coming out this fall: The Church: A Guide to the People of God (Lexham, 2024), and Letters to a Future Saint: Foundations of Faith for the Spiritually Hungry (Eerdmans, 2024). You can follow Holy C of E on Twitter at @holycofe1 or email us at holycofe@gmail.com New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

In this episode Calum and Jack speak to Fr Gerald McDermott about his new book Deep Anglicanism. They discuss his background, his coming into the tradition, and the reasons why he thinks Anglicanism is a faithful expression of Catholic Christian faith. You can order the book here. His magnum opus recently published is A New History of Redemption and is available here . New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.

In this episode, Calum and Clinton interview Dr Alex Fogleman about Christian instruction for new believers preparing for the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, as explored in his book, Knowledge, Faith, and Early Christian Initiation (Cambridge University Press). Alex is the protégé of our previous guest Fr Hans Boersma (interviewed here and here), Assistant Research Professor of Theology at Baylor, and director of the Catechesis Institute. In this conversation, Alex returns to the sources of early Christian wisdom to explain how the saints and martyrs made disciples, and what their own formation entailed. If you want to be part of renewing catechesis in the contemporary Church, listen to this episode and share it with all of the catechumens and catechists in your life. You can follow Holy C of E on Twitter at @holycofe1 or email us at holycofe@gmail.com New: You can now follow us on Substack and Instagram @holycofe. You can also email us at holycofe@gmail.com and follow us on X at @holycofe1.