Dr Francis Young
@drfrancisyoung.bsky.social
Historian of religion and belief | folklorist | Balticist | indexer | lay canon @stedscath.bsky.social | series editor for @universitypress.cambridge.org
Pinned
Full jacket design for ‘Fairies: A History’ – coming early in 2026 www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?b...
In the second half of 2025 I had a book lost by my local Post Office (publisher uncontactable, no help from the courier). I suppose I’ll just have to buy the (v. expensive) book again and hope it doesn’t get lost this time? But that feels like a gamble, and a waste of money
January 6, 2026 at 2:06 PM
In the second half of 2025 I had a book lost by my local Post Office (publisher uncontactable, no help from the courier). I suppose I’ll just have to buy the (v. expensive) book again and hope it doesn’t get lost this time? But that feels like a gamble, and a waste of money
Reposted by Dr Francis Young
Ipswich Crematorium have decided to pass on their collection of books and, rather than bin them, wondered if churches and other groups can make use of them?
Many are in near mint condition and are free to anyone who needs them
To find out more please contact me direct
@cremationsociety.bsky.social
Many are in near mint condition and are free to anyone who needs them
To find out more please contact me direct
@cremationsociety.bsky.social
January 6, 2026 at 1:42 PM
Ipswich Crematorium have decided to pass on their collection of books and, rather than bin them, wondered if churches and other groups can make use of them?
Many are in near mint condition and are free to anyone who needs them
To find out more please contact me direct
@cremationsociety.bsky.social
Many are in near mint condition and are free to anyone who needs them
To find out more please contact me direct
@cremationsociety.bsky.social
‘The kings of Tarshish and the islands…’
We unfortunately don't have any frankincense or myrrh for you this #ThreeKingsDay, but maybe we can make it up with gold!
3200 gold foil figurines were found at Iron Age Bornholm, Denmark indicating the island was a wealthy hub of prehistoric trade.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
3200 gold foil figurines were found at Iron Age Bornholm, Denmark indicating the island was a wealthy hub of prehistoric trade.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
January 6, 2026 at 9:22 AM
‘The kings of Tarshish and the islands…’
Reposted by Dr Francis Young
Today is the feast of the Epiphany. The Magi visit and offer their gifts to the Christchild in a 15th Century alabaster at Long Melford, Suffolk. The midwife Zelomi stands behind Mary, while aged Joseph watches from the foot of the bed.
Long Melford: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/Longmelford....
Long Melford: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/Longmelford....
January 6, 2026 at 6:58 AM
Today is the feast of the Epiphany. The Magi visit and offer their gifts to the Christchild in a 15th Century alabaster at Long Melford, Suffolk. The midwife Zelomi stands behind Mary, while aged Joseph watches from the foot of the bed.
Long Melford: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/Longmelford....
Long Melford: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/Longmelford....
Reposted by Dr Francis Young
If exorcism is trending in TEC bluesky then I need to plug @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social books on the history of exorcism in Christianity generally (for medieval history in particular), and the one on exorcism in Anglicanism.
For parish practical I also like “Deliverance” by Michael Perry.
⚓️
For parish practical I also like “Deliverance” by Michael Perry.
⚓️
January 6, 2026 at 2:11 AM
If exorcism is trending in TEC bluesky then I need to plug @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social books on the history of exorcism in Christianity generally (for medieval history in particular), and the one on exorcism in Anglicanism.
For parish practical I also like “Deliverance” by Michael Perry.
⚓️
For parish practical I also like “Deliverance” by Michael Perry.
⚓️
‘Silence of the Gods’ gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ in the
@forteantimes.bsky.social - thank you to James Holloway for his review 📚
@forteantimes.bsky.social - thank you to James Holloway for his review 📚
January 5, 2026 at 10:12 AM
‘Silence of the Gods’ gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ in the
@forteantimes.bsky.social - thank you to James Holloway for his review 📚
@forteantimes.bsky.social - thank you to James Holloway for his review 📚
Over on ‘All Old Strange Things’, in my first free post of the year I offer some reflections on @benmachell.bsky.social’s extraordinary book ‘Chasing the Dark’ open.substack.com/pub/drfranci...
The new (para)normal
Reflections on ‘Chasing the Dark’ by Ben Machell
open.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 10:02 AM
Over on ‘All Old Strange Things’, in my first free post of the year I offer some reflections on @benmachell.bsky.social’s extraordinary book ‘Chasing the Dark’ open.substack.com/pub/drfranci...
Reposted by Dr Francis Young
4 Jan 1665: John Belasyse appointed Governor of #Tangier & General of #British Royal Forces in #Africa #otd (Burton Constable Hall) 4 Jan 1687 #otd John Belasyse appointed 1st Lord Commissioner of the Treasury - his being a Catholic made this appointment very controversial
January 4, 2026 at 10:54 PM
I only listen to audiobooks, so I mark my place using platform announcements
I only read ebooks, so I use digital train tickets.
January 2, 2026 at 11:30 PM
I only listen to audiobooks, so I mark my place using platform announcements
I use a lot of receipts (tho they're not very durable and easily lost); or any random business cards I happen to have lying around
what does everyone use for bookmarks now that train tickets are mostly digital?
January 2, 2026 at 9:18 PM
I use a lot of receipts (tho they're not very durable and easily lost); or any random business cards I happen to have lying around
The oldest church in the New Forest - Brockenhurst Old Church
January 2, 2026 at 9:07 PM
The oldest church in the New Forest - Brockenhurst Old Church
Dust off your copies of Margaret Murray’s ‘The Divine King in England’, I am at the RUFUS STONE 🏹👑🌳
January 1, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Dust off your copies of Margaret Murray’s ‘The Divine King in England’, I am at the RUFUS STONE 🏹👑🌳
New Year over Southampton harbour 🎆
January 1, 2026 at 9:55 AM
New Year over Southampton harbour 🎆
Godlings of Winchester
December 31, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Godlings of Winchester
My last photo of 2025 - Winchester!
December 31, 2025 at 4:03 PM
My last photo of 2025 - Winchester!
Reposted by Dr Francis Young
To end the year, here's some fabulous #ArchaeologyNews for #HillfortsWednesday - Ireland's largest hillfort!
Occupied from 1200-400 BC, with over 600 houses found so far, it's even larger than Maiden Castle!
🎆 See you all in 2026! 🎆
#archaeology #news
🏺 phys.org/news/2025-12...
Occupied from 1200-400 BC, with over 600 houses found so far, it's even larger than Maiden Castle!
🎆 See you all in 2026! 🎆
#archaeology #news
🏺 phys.org/news/2025-12...
Scientists have uncovered evidence of Ireland's largest prehistoric hillfort settlement
In a recent study published in Antiquity, Dr. Dirk Brandherm and his colleagues identified more than 600 suspected house platforms in the Brusselstown Ring hillfort, making it the largest nucleated se...
phys.org
December 31, 2025 at 1:25 PM
To end the year, here's some fabulous #ArchaeologyNews for #HillfortsWednesday - Ireland's largest hillfort!
Occupied from 1200-400 BC, with over 600 houses found so far, it's even larger than Maiden Castle!
🎆 See you all in 2026! 🎆
#archaeology #news
🏺 phys.org/news/2025-12...
Occupied from 1200-400 BC, with over 600 houses found so far, it's even larger than Maiden Castle!
🎆 See you all in 2026! 🎆
#archaeology #news
🏺 phys.org/news/2025-12...
Update: I dreamt about massive ships blowing their foghorns, only to wake up and find that massive ships were going past my window blowing their foghorns
I’m staying in the house that’s literally on the tide line, and thus I am having a legitimate seaside picnic indoors
December 31, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Update: I dreamt about massive ships blowing their foghorns, only to wake up and find that massive ships were going past my window blowing their foghorns
Reposted by Dr Francis Young
My top 3 books of 2025:
1) Between Two Rivers by @moudhy.bsky.social
2) Oathbreakers by @lollardfish.bsky.social @profgabriele.com
3) Silence of the Gods by @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social
#books #booksky
1) Between Two Rivers by @moudhy.bsky.social
2) Oathbreakers by @lollardfish.bsky.social @profgabriele.com
3) Silence of the Gods by @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social
#books #booksky
my top 3 books of 2025:
1) belladonna (all four) by adalyn grace 🥀
2) silent almighty by timothy wolff 🗡️
3) just in case: saving seeds in the svalbard global seed vault by megan clendenan 🌱
#booksky 🦇
(my reviews for all are linked below if you're curious!)
1) belladonna (all four) by adalyn grace 🥀
2) silent almighty by timothy wolff 🗡️
3) just in case: saving seeds in the svalbard global seed vault by megan clendenan 🌱
#booksky 🦇
(my reviews for all are linked below if you're curious!)
my top 3 books of 2025:
1) the lamb by lucy rose
2) hungerstone by kat dunn
3) bury our bones in the midnight soil by v.e. schwab
#booksky 🦇
1) the lamb by lucy rose
2) hungerstone by kat dunn
3) bury our bones in the midnight soil by v.e. schwab
#booksky 🦇
December 30, 2025 at 9:59 PM
My top 3 books of 2025:
1) Between Two Rivers by @moudhy.bsky.social
2) Oathbreakers by @lollardfish.bsky.social @profgabriele.com
3) Silence of the Gods by @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social
#books #booksky
1) Between Two Rivers by @moudhy.bsky.social
2) Oathbreakers by @lollardfish.bsky.social @profgabriele.com
3) Silence of the Gods by @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social
#books #booksky
The penultimate sunset of 2025 over The Needles
December 30, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The penultimate sunset of 2025 over The Needles
Reposted by Dr Francis Young
Ordered pre-Xmas, received post-Xmas, which I find on-brand and symbolic! A book by @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social :)
December 30, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Ordered pre-Xmas, received post-Xmas, which I find on-brand and symbolic! A book by @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social :)
I visited Romsey Abbey and it was so good I worried I was hallucinating and having some sort of episode where I’d finally lost it, but it does seem to be real
December 29, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I visited Romsey Abbey and it was so good I worried I was hallucinating and having some sort of episode where I’d finally lost it, but it does seem to be real
I’m staying in the house that’s literally on the tide line, and thus I am having a legitimate seaside picnic indoors
December 29, 2025 at 4:19 PM
I’m staying in the house that’s literally on the tide line, and thus I am having a legitimate seaside picnic indoors
Omg just saw a 1st edition of Christina Hole’s ‘English Customs and Usage’ on the shelf in a random pub in the New Forest - I’m never sure whether it’s acceptable to offer landlords cash for a book that takes your fancy…
December 28, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Omg just saw a 1st edition of Christina Hole’s ‘English Customs and Usage’ on the shelf in a random pub in the New Forest - I’m never sure whether it’s acceptable to offer landlords cash for a book that takes your fancy…
Great to see ‘Silence of the Gods’ featured in @waterstones.bsky.social Southampton among the year’s new History books! 📚
December 28, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Great to see ‘Silence of the Gods’ featured in @waterstones.bsky.social Southampton among the year’s new History books! 📚
The walls of Southampton this morning, with the spire of St Michael’s church (and beyond it St Mary’s, the church of Hamwic founded by St Birinus in 634)
December 28, 2025 at 9:34 AM
The walls of Southampton this morning, with the spire of St Michael’s church (and beyond it St Mary’s, the church of Hamwic founded by St Birinus in 634)