Anthony Smith
@anthonysmith.me.uk
Christian. Husband. Vicar of the Darlington Riverside Parishes (Middleton St George, Hurworth, Girsby/Sockburn, Low Dinsdale). Previous lives: organist, astronomer, software developer. Singer (classical).
Hoping that Sarah Mullally's time as archbishop will be less frenetic than that of her predecessor. (But I fear that Andrew Atherstone is in a for a frenetic few months, as he "is writing Bishop Mullally’s biography", as he did for Justin Welby.) www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...
Sarah Mullally will be a Primate who takes care
Her archiepiscopate will be short — but that does not mean that it will be frenetic, writes Andrew Atherstone
www.churchtimes.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Hoping that Sarah Mullally's time as archbishop will be less frenetic than that of her predecessor. (But I fear that Andrew Atherstone is in a for a frenetic few months, as he "is writing Bishop Mullally’s biography", as he did for Justin Welby.) www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...
New blog post... Flags, national pride, and God’s transforming grace (a sermon on Philemon) www.anthonysmith.me.uk/2025/09/18/f...
Flags, national pride, and God’s transforming grace (a sermon on Philemon)
Approximate text of my sermon from a week or two ago, on Paul’s letter to Philemon, relating it to the contemporary situation in the UK.
www.anthonysmith.me.uk
September 18, 2025 at 1:20 PM
New blog post... Flags, national pride, and God’s transforming grace (a sermon on Philemon) www.anthonysmith.me.uk/2025/09/18/f...
New blog post... ICYMI 5... In case you missed it... Justin Welby, the Quiet Revival, Fred Sanders on the Trinity and Christology, Dutch driving, and Kemi Badenoch's loss of faith. www.anthonysmith.me.uk/2025/09/01/i...
ICYMI 5
In case you missed it … Justin Welby, the Quiet Revival, Fred Sanders on the Trinity and Christology, Dutch driving, and Kemi Badenoch’s loss of faith.
www.anthonysmith.me.uk
September 1, 2025 at 10:28 AM
New blog post... ICYMI 5... In case you missed it... Justin Welby, the Quiet Revival, Fred Sanders on the Trinity and Christology, Dutch driving, and Kemi Badenoch's loss of faith. www.anthonysmith.me.uk/2025/09/01/i...
Worth setting this up: "if you’re unconscious or unable to speak, how will first responders know about any medical conditions you have or who to contact? ... Most smartphones allow you to set up an Emergency Medical ID that can be accessed directly from the lock screen."
Why Emergency Contacts & Medical IDs Matter - The First Aid Team
In an emergency, every second counts. But, if you’re unconscious or unable to speak, how will first responders know about any medical conditions you have or who to contact? You might not realise it, b...
www.thefirstaidteam.co.uk
August 31, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Worth setting this up: "if you’re unconscious or unable to speak, how will first responders know about any medical conditions you have or who to contact? ... Most smartphones allow you to set up an Emergency Medical ID that can be accessed directly from the lock screen."
Kemi Badenoch recently shared about how she lost her Christian faith after learning about the terrible abuse Elisabeth Fritzl endured from her father Josef, despite praying daily to be rescued. >>
Dear Kemi, about that lost faith | Seen & Unseen
www.seenandunseen.com
August 13, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Kemi Badenoch recently shared about how she lost her Christian faith after learning about the terrible abuse Elisabeth Fritzl endured from her father Josef, despite praying daily to be rescued. >>
I had been quietly hoping the #QuietRevival was on the mark, despite finding it a little hard to believe. Clearly, a lot of younger people are exploring and finding faith in Jesus - which is wonderful - but I'm becoming more sceptical about the scale on which this is happening >>
Is there really a religious revival in England? Why I’m sceptical of a new report
In Anglican and Catholic churches, average weekly attendance is down about 20% from pre-pandemic levels.
theconversation.com
July 3, 2025 at 3:46 PM
I had been quietly hoping the #QuietRevival was on the mark, despite finding it a little hard to believe. Clearly, a lot of younger people are exploring and finding faith in Jesus - which is wonderful - but I'm becoming more sceptical about the scale on which this is happening >>
New blog post... The Assisted Dying Bill: some brief reflections from a Christian perspective www.anthonysmith.me.uk/2025/06/20/t...
The Assisted Dying Bill: some brief reflections from a Christian perspective
Under the surface of the Assisted Dying Bill, we find two of our culture’s values, rooted in Christianity, but given a secular twist.
www.anthonysmith.me.uk
June 20, 2025 at 8:11 AM
New blog post... The Assisted Dying Bill: some brief reflections from a Christian perspective www.anthonysmith.me.uk/2025/06/20/t...
Jesus is "true God from true God" ... Many Christians say this frequently in church, but have you ever paused to think about it? Fred Sanders explains in this video how it gets right to the heart of the Nicene Creed, and to the heart of who Jesus is as "Son of God" www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNgS...
Fred Sanders: True God from True God
YouTube video by Credo
www.youtube.com
June 19, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Jesus is "true God from true God" ... Many Christians say this frequently in church, but have you ever paused to think about it? Fred Sanders explains in this video how it gets right to the heart of the Nicene Creed, and to the heart of who Jesus is as "Son of God" www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNgS...
This is helpful from Fred Sanders (a few years ago): "The eternal God, who always was Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, made himself known in the central biblical act of the Father sending the Son and sending the Holy Spirit. ... >>
June 19, 2025 at 8:04 AM
This is helpful from Fred Sanders (a few years ago): "The eternal God, who always was Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, made himself known in the central biblical act of the Father sending the Son and sending the Holy Spirit. ... >>
New blog post... The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (John Mark Comer) www.anthonysmith.me.uk/2025/06/02/t...
June 2, 2025 at 8:42 PM
New blog post... The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (John Mark Comer) www.anthonysmith.me.uk/2025/06/02/t...
What about the ("imprecatory") psalms that call on God to be nasty to our enemies? Helpful videos by Steffan Jenkins, showing that the whole book of Psalms is about God showing mercy to his enemies. YouTube playlist: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLn8...
Session 1: Introduction to Imprecatory Psalms
YouTube video by Union Theology
www.youtube.com
May 14, 2025 at 12:43 PM
What about the ("imprecatory") psalms that call on God to be nasty to our enemies? Helpful videos by Steffan Jenkins, showing that the whole book of Psalms is about God showing mercy to his enemies. YouTube playlist: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLn8...
What a lawn, definitely worthy of a royal visit! @durhamcathedral.bsky.social
April 14, 2025 at 2:05 PM
What a lawn, definitely worthy of a royal visit! @durhamcathedral.bsky.social
Fascinating discussion about “The Quiet Revival”, reporting huge increases in church attendance among young adults (impressive cast on the panel!) youtu.be/15HIgRzKu5c
RMC Briefing: "The Quiet Revival" of church attendance fuelled by Gen Z
YouTube video by Religion Media Centre
youtu.be
April 10, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Fascinating discussion about “The Quiet Revival”, reporting huge increases in church attendance among young adults (impressive cast on the panel!) youtu.be/15HIgRzKu5c
This looks quite solid. Some good news about church attendance in England and Wales...?!
‘The Quiet Revival’: huge increase in young people attending church
Research undertaken by Bible Society (not on Bluesky, though co-author @robb-s.bsky.social is).
religionmediacentre.org.uk/news/the-qui...
‘The Quiet Revival’: huge increase in young people attending church
Research undertaken by Bible Society (not on Bluesky, though co-author @robb-s.bsky.social is).
religionmediacentre.org.uk/news/the-qui...
‘The Quiet Revival’: huge increase in young people attending church - Religion Media Centre
Bible Society report says church attendance has gone up from 8 to 12 per cent since 2018, largely due to more young people committing to the Christian faith.
religionmediacentre.org.uk
April 8, 2025 at 1:59 PM
This looks quite solid. Some good news about church attendance in England and Wales...?!
‘The Quiet Revival’: huge increase in young people attending church
Research undertaken by Bible Society (not on Bluesky, though co-author @robb-s.bsky.social is).
religionmediacentre.org.uk/news/the-qui...
‘The Quiet Revival’: huge increase in young people attending church
Research undertaken by Bible Society (not on Bluesky, though co-author @robb-s.bsky.social is).
religionmediacentre.org.uk/news/the-qui...
New blog post... Darkness and light and the date of Easter (the Venerable Bede and Simon Oliver)
Darkness and light and the date of Easter (the Venerable Bede and Simon Oliver)
Which is going to triumph? Darkness or light? The date of Easter gives us a helpful reminder about the triumph of light over darkness.
www.anthonysmith.me.uk
April 4, 2025 at 11:01 AM
New blog post... Darkness and light and the date of Easter (the Venerable Bede and Simon Oliver)
Justin Welby... Following the TV interview released on Sunday, I really hope he is able to move on. I'm reminded of two rather sobering articles from a couple of months ago. First, Ian Paul asks, 'What is Justin Welby’s legacy to the Church of England?' www.psephizo.com/life-ministr...
What is Justin Welby’s legacy to the Church of England? | Psephizo
When Justin Welby announced his intention to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury, and again when he stepped down on 6th January, a number of assessments of his time in office were published. I want to ...
www.psephizo.com
April 1, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Justin Welby... Following the TV interview released on Sunday, I really hope he is able to move on. I'm reminded of two rather sobering articles from a couple of months ago. First, Ian Paul asks, 'What is Justin Welby’s legacy to the Church of England?' www.psephizo.com/life-ministr...
Reposted by Anthony Smith
We REALLY need the UK govt to wake up to the crisis in the higher education sector
And so the demise of research in higher education accelerates. Can't submit a great funding bid because half the Co-Is are under notice for redundancy. So all work grinds to a halt - even for those institutions/academics remaining. This is simply the devastation of higher education in the UK.
February 26, 2025 at 10:44 AM
We REALLY need the UK govt to wake up to the crisis in the higher education sector
New blog post... ICYMI 4 - In case you missed it ... Justin Welby, assisted dying, Bach, LLF, Trump, Gaza, John Mark Comer, Diocese of Durham, lectionary, CofE.
ICYMI 4
In case you missed it … Justin Welby, assisted dying, Bach, LLF, Trump, Gaza, John Mark Comer, Diocese of Durham, lectionary, CofE.
buff.ly
February 25, 2025 at 2:06 PM
New blog post... ICYMI 4 - In case you missed it ... Justin Welby, assisted dying, Bach, LLF, Trump, Gaza, John Mark Comer, Diocese of Durham, lectionary, CofE.
"Do you have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of the Church of England?" That question makes me think not of my local parish church, but of the CofE nationally (archbishops, etc). But if I was asked about the NHS, I would think local (hospitals, etc). Why is that? yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Church of England: just 25% now have a favourable view | YouGov
Scandal-hit church sees seven point drop in favourability from November
yougov.co.uk
February 25, 2025 at 12:45 PM
"Do you have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of the Church of England?" That question makes me think not of my local parish church, but of the CofE nationally (archbishops, etc). But if I was asked about the NHS, I would think local (hospitals, etc). Why is that? yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
New blog post... Churches and schools and church schools: more reading
Churches and schools and church schools: more reading
Continuing to read some Grove Booklets about churches and schools and church schools (see previous posts on church schools and collective worship).
www.anthonysmith.me.uk
February 24, 2025 at 12:37 PM
New blog post... Churches and schools and church schools: more reading
My brief comments on the lectionary are finished! Lots of brief comments, so it's turned into quite an epic project. Hope it is useful to some... www.anthonysmith.me.uk/lectionary-c...
Common Worship Lectionary Commentary
A commentary on the Common Worship Principal Service Lectionary. A commentary on the lectionary (not on the passages), aiming to answer the question: Why was this passage chosen?
www.anthonysmith.me.uk
February 21, 2025 at 10:44 AM
My brief comments on the lectionary are finished! Lots of brief comments, so it's turned into quite an epic project. Hope it is useful to some... www.anthonysmith.me.uk/lectionary-c...
I'd been eagerly awaiting an announcement about the next Bishop of Durham, so I'm very sad to read this update from the Diocese of Durham durhamdiocese.org/diocesan-new...
An update on Durham Crown Nominations Commission process - Diocese of Durham
An update on Durham Crown Nominations Commission process from Bishop Sarah and Diocesan Secretary, James Morgan on Monday 17 February 2025.
durhamdiocese.org
February 17, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I'd been eagerly awaiting an announcement about the next Bishop of Durham, so I'm very sad to read this update from the Diocese of Durham durhamdiocese.org/diocesan-new...
Very thoughtful post on the style of John Mark Comer's books (hat tip: Andrew Wilson) www.digitalliturgies.net/p/the-ruthle...
The Ruthless Elimination of Paragraphs
Everyone is reading John Mark Comer.
www.digitalliturgies.net
February 14, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Very thoughtful post on the style of John Mark Comer's books (hat tip: Andrew Wilson) www.digitalliturgies.net/p/the-ruthle...
New blog post... Being Real: The Apostle Paul’s Hardship Narratives and the Stories We Tell Today (Philip Plyming)
Being Real: The Apostle Paul’s Hardship Narratives and the Stories We Tell Today (Philip Plyming)
The story of Corinth was a story of success. But Paul wrote to the church in Corinth about his hardships. Why? The answer lies in the cross.
www.anthonysmith.me.uk
February 6, 2025 at 5:10 PM
New blog post... Being Real: The Apostle Paul’s Hardship Narratives and the Stories We Tell Today (Philip Plyming)
Reposted by Anthony Smith
The Bishop of Warrington, the Rt Revd Bev Mason, has written a pastoral letter stating that she is the woman bishop who raised concerns about the Bishop of Liverpool
January 30, 2025 at 4:57 PM
The Bishop of Warrington, the Rt Revd Bev Mason, has written a pastoral letter stating that she is the woman bishop who raised concerns about the Bishop of Liverpool