Blog
Too posh for the likes of us: the Great and the Good
We chose a fine, sunny Saturday to visit Canterbury Cathedral, although I am over-awed by the Church of England in all its forms so I was not in the best of moods. Most Anglican clergy are too posh by far for the likes of me, and I certainly can’t follow their...
Off to Canterbury, in pursuit of a French Chapel
The French Chapel at Canterbury Cathedral caught me by surprise - as the door was unlocked, I felt a surge of emotion. A full account follows shortly, but here’s a photographic taster of the Cathedral and the Chapel within.
When I consider how my light is spent: a terrier’s life
Poor old John Milton (1608-1674) was probably only in his late forties when he went blind, having had a tumultuous life up until then. He was a Puritan and a propagandist both for Oliver Cromwell’s Republic and the regicides, using his impressive linguistic skills to...
The Buddha and a calming colouring book
A new Buddhist temple has recently opened near our house, and free meditation classes are always on offer. It’s a pleasant way to spend half an hour, and following a guided fantasy led by one of the orange-robed monks is pretty much guaranteed to lower your blood...
Thanksgiving Thursday: starting a New World Order
Thanksgiving in America celebrates the first arrival of a band of Puritans in the New World in 1620, having survived an arduous sea passage from England in a vessel called The Mayflower. These Pilgrim Fathers had a distinct ambition of founding a godly kingdom on...
End of an era for The Huguenots of Spitalfields
The Huguenots of Spitalfields, a charity set up by the boundlessly energetic Charlie de Wet, has announced its closure. I have files and files of notes I took on Huguenots of Spitalfields outings. I reckon the first one I went on was in 2014, but 2015 was a really...
Huguenot Heroes: Zoom Lecture on 23 November from 7.00pm to 8.00pm
The Huguenots of Spitalfields have organised an art event which promises to be unique. It’s a look at some of the famous Huguenots whose portraits now hang in the National Portrait Gallery. “From Calvin to Churchill, Garrick to Garland, the legacy of the Huguenots...
Too many men – Women of Bedford protest
There are eleven statues in the town of Bedford, and not one of them is of a woman. A vigorous local campaign has grown up to put that right. The campaign group Women of Bedford wants to erect the first statue in the town to celebrate a woman - educational reformer,...
The tears of the Huguenots: a virtual tour of Wandsworth on 18 February
If you live in London, you’ve probably driven through Wandsworth, cursing its one-way systems, staring at its dull architecture and nasty shop-fronts as you wait for the traffic to move, without ever seeing the signs of the Huguenots. Even on a walk through its...
Promotion – excellent pay, good prospects and a company horse
Guest blog: Author Ann Vinden is currently writing a biography set in Chile during the nitrate extraction period. She writes here about horses, class and family. No-one would have suggested learning to ride a horse as a means of independence in the shire counties...
To be disreputable, disrespectful, disobedient
Sarah Perry’s latest publication, “Essex Girls: For Profane and Opinionated Women Everywhere”, is a tiny little book based on a Harriet Martineau lecture she gave; it’s an entertaining read for any woman who doesn’t like to shut up. Sarah Perry is best known for her...
An excellent gift for the Vicar
Bah Humbug is one response to Christmas, exemplified by Dr Seuss’ The Grinch. In 1644 Parliament was peopled with Puritan Grinches, and their declaration cancelling Christmas has now been reproduced on a tea towel. Clearly these were not populists, appealing to the...