Books published by Sacristy Press

In this book, Graham Turner confronts many of our assumptions about the Old and New Testament and shows that they are centred around two themes: personal spirituality and social justice.

Many Christians who suffer from depression and mental breakdown struggle to rationalise it with their faith.In this honest and disarming book, Jon Grogan shares with readers what helped him to understand and recover from depressive illness. Christians can often be unsure about how their faith can relate to the fields of psychology and psychiatry, and Jon''s careful navigation of these subjects, mixed with a sprinkle of humour, brings much-needed illumination.From Over The Edge also addresses the way in which different Christian spiritual traditions can be drawn upon to help the sufferer and complement treatments that are likely to be on offer.The holistic and empathetic approach will leave readers feeling better understood, as well as having an increased understanding of the issues they deal with on a daily basis.Jon Grogan is a lawyer and lives in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. He is married with two children.

With subjects ranging from William Blacke to Nostradamus, this book considers all things apocalyptic and asks the question of why the end of time has captured the human imagination in so many ways.

The Gharsias have guarded their secret closely, but has it secured their safety?1547: the old kings of France and England are dead. In both kingdoms, uncertainty hovers over the question of religious reform. Discontent simmers in the countryside, ready to erupt, and the fragile peace between the two realms is about to disintegrate.Luis Gharsia sets sail for England, determined to consolidate his burgeoning wine trade with Thomas Weaver and to rekindle his friendship with Weaver’s intriguing daughter, Alyce.As a Morisco, Luis can observe the religious changes with secret impartiality, but when those he cares about are threatened, he must act...

This book brings together prominent practitioners and academics to answer these questions and explore what it means to proclaim the gospel in the North of England from many angles.

Cathedrals today face a paradox: on the one hand they represent one of the biggest success stories and mission opportunities of the present-day church; on the other they face seemingly insurmountable financial difficulties, and are largely left by the church and government to fend for themselves.Many—both within and outside the church—argue that cathedrals are an irrelevance. But cathedrals are one area of the church’s life where increasingly the unchurched and the half-believer encounter God, and where the institutions of our society instinctively engage with the Christian gospel, making them truly missional in their occupation of a spiritually liminal space.Holy Ground digs deep into the life of England’s cathedrals, and discusses such diverse topics as finance, growth, heritage, liturgy, development, music and art.

Mostly Durham brings together 75 of artist Stuart Fisher's wonderful watercolour paintings and drawings from around Durham and beyond.

Henry Baker Tristram was a surprising and remarkable man: explorer, ornithologist, and priest. With his wild beard (for which he required special permission from his bishop) he undertook expeditions to the Sahara and Palestine at a time when doing so was even more fraught with danger than it is today. As a founding member of the British Ornithologists' Union (BOU), he contributed regularly to its journal, Ibis, as well as other scientific journals. Tristram's nickname in the BOU was "Sacred Ibis".Tristram was a collector par excellence, acquiring extensive collections running to tens of thousands of specimens, primarily of birds, but also of plants, fish, mammals, insects, molluscs, geological samples and archaeological material. He was the first scientist to support Charles Darwin in print, and became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1868 supported by his great friend Alfred Newton as well as Darwin.Professor J. B. Cragg, an eminent Zoologist at Durham University, described Tristram as "the most important biological scientist to have emerged from Durham." Tristram took part in the famous "Oxford debate" between Bishop Wilberforce of Oxford and Thomas Huxley. This led to the unfortunate and incorrect assumption that Tristram subsequently gave up his support of Darwin.This book follows Tristram's epic adventures and love for birds-from his boyhood on the moors of Northumberland to his time as a Residentiary Canon of Durham Cathedral-and the people that influenced him-from his dislike of Gladstone whom he met as a fresher in Oxford to the offer of the Bishopric of Jerusalem by Disraeli (which Tristram declined). In the book are over 80 colour plates and a reproduction of Darwin's first letter to Tristram.£5 from each sale of the hardback edition of Sacred Ibis will be donated to the Grey College Trust. Perhaps Tristram's greatest contribution to science was his Fauna and Flora of Palestine. On his deathbed he wrote to his great friend Alfred Newton-who stood down temporarily from his Fellowship of the Royal Society so that Tristram might be elected-thanking him for his friendship.He and Newton had been a great ornithological partnership and were responsible not only for the development of ornithology as a science but also for the establishment of the conservation movement.Not everyone these days will approve of his collecting activities, but this is what he did and what was necessary to the development of science in Victorian times. Had the big majority of present-day biologists lived in those times they would undoubtedly have acted similarly, but few would have been so successful.As his granddaughter wrote, Tristram may not have been a great churchman, but he was a great ornithologist.

"Michael''s sermons are both beautiful and inspiring. They draw the reader face to face with God in surprising ways, always feeding the spiritual appetite-yet leaving me thirsty for more of what we have just tasted. They are beautifully crafted, and admirably concise. The use of English is impeccable and the scholarship profound. The eclectic references to art and literature demonstrate an aesthetic talent and theological versatility that is exceptional." ~ from the Foreword by Justin Welby, Archbishop of CanterburyMichael Sadgrove was Dean at Durham Cathedral between 2003 and 2015. During that time he preached many well-crafted sermons on a wide variety of topics, from the Iraq invasions to "digital lambs". This volume contains an edited collection of some of his finest and most thought-provoking sermons from his time in Durham.

This book relates the story of the soldiers of the Durham Light Infantry who uncovered the monstrous crimes of Bergen-Belsen seventy years ago, and the traumatic effect this had on their lives.

A gripping WWII thriller set in London during the blitz."You need to be on the spot as soon as the bombs 'ave dropped. Nobody'll know what's goin' on. They'll be too busy rescuin' people and puttin' the fires out to notice you slippin' in."Two families . . .One, escapeing the horrors of Nazi Germany reaches England after a perilous journey, just before the outbreak of World War II.But another family awaits the ilicit opportunities that the blackout and blitz will bring.As the bombs begin to fall on London, the paths of the two families cross with tragic consequences as their lives race towards a dangerous and thrilling climax.Two Families at War tells of the battle between good and evil, set against the terror of the second Great Fire of London, December 1940.

This book examines, in the midst of increasing violence in the Middle East, how the Holy Spirit is leading people of all religions into a new future and how God's outpouring Spirit must be considered to be the power of resistance to evil.

The King James Bible is a treasure-trove of idioms, clichés and phrases that have entered everyone''s vocabulary-and yet few are aware of the Bible as their source.This book, suitable for both individual and group use, contains fifteen short studies designed to provoke discussion and contemplation. Each study discusses the context and cultural climate in which they were used, and reflects on their relevance in the modern world.Engaging and thought provoking, this study guide will immerse the reader in scripture and quickly have you delving deeper into the Bible for further information as you increasingly gain more insight into the meanings and significance of the phrases.

At a time when economics, banking and commerce are never out of the headlines, Theonomics asks if theology is capable of informing, shaping and penetrating all aspects of life, and especially economic life. Theonomics argues for the recovery of the classic virtues of prudence, temperance, fortitude, justice and humility as animators of a lively and Godly economy. Six key principles are offered to help those interested in integrating Christian ideas into the economic sphere: community, solidarity, justice, gift, service and subsidiarity. Through a series of reflections written by practitioners, Theonomics offers encouragement and empirical evidence for the integration of theology and everyday economic activity."The very word ''Theonomics'' is suggestive.  Is it possible to live in a consumerist, monetarist society as a reflective and responsible Christian with a vision for the totality of our economic situation?  This book offers some powerful and persuasive insights into the possibilities for our collective economic well-being."- The Revd Canon Professor Martyn PercyPrincipal of Ripon College, Cuddesdon and Dean-designate of Christchurch, OxfordThe Foreword is by Martyn Percy, who enjoys the curious distinction of being the only living theologian mentioned and quoted in Dan Brown''s Da Vinci Code.

This book is an essential guidebook to the King James Bible and explores the idioms within it that have entered modern-day usage.

In the North East of England at the dawn of the eighteenth and twenty-first centuries, two women face tragedy and challenges.Set within the compelling political landscape of the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, and the complications and frustrations of the digital age, this dual romantic narrative shows that upheaval and revolution are no match for the constancies of love.Alternately tense, dramatic and joyful, A Similar Devotion follows two women separated in time, but united in their determination to overcome the obstacles they face throughout the events and relationships that colour their lives.The intertwining stories reveal that despite the contrasting worlds in which they live, love has a power to heal and bring happiness that neither woman expected.Susan Bell encapsulates the romantic past with the same vigour as the vibrant present.

This book brings together accounts of the various openings of St Cuthbert's coffin and provides a unique history of the saint from his death to the present day.

Connecting the reality and experience of time with the demands and realities of ministry today, this book helps ministers to take positive steps towards navigating the very considerable time pressures that many face today.

Former vicar Mark Silversides tackles one of the most challenging questions of our day: should we have faith in the age of science? Claims made in favour of both atheism and religious observation are examined engagingly and sensitively. Proponents of both viewpoints will find Faith in the Age of Science a challenging and deeply interesting read."An outstanding book, and a much needed one, presenting a reasoned response to atheism. Appreciating the great scientific advances of our time and their religious components, the book is user friendly, even to readers who are not trained scientists. Mindbending terms and maths are explained clearly as far as such can be, and the judgements feel fair not partisan. I recommend it to my students and colleagues for reading, studying and underlining-my special accolade. I found it hard to put down." - Rabbi Lionel Blue, Contributor to Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4

Anyone who finds solace in the words of the Book of Common Prayer will welcome this companion to its Collects, Epistles, and Gospels, to be used at the Ministration of the Holy Communion, throughout the Year. Written for both the lay and ordained, this thought provoking commentary gives the words of Cranmer and his colleagues renewed meaning in our own time by providing historical context for their composition and reflection on their broader message. This book provides an excellent starting point for sermons or personal contemplation on the readings and prayers that comprise the liturgical year.ΓÇ£CareyΓÇÖs exposition of the biblical readings and Prayer Book collects is careful, thorough, and informed by a well-populated theological and cultural hinterland ... I wholeheartedly commend it and recommend it to every thoughtful Christian.ΓÇ¥ - The Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, Dean of Durham (from the foreword)Kevin Carey is the Chairman of RNIB, the UK''s leading blindness charity, and a Reader in his parish church. He has been a Member of General Synod, and is a chorister, published poet, and classical music critic.

The tranquil development of the Perpetuan movement is disrupted by Gregg, a former US Secret Service operative and charismatic sex maniac. He subverts Perpetua''s message in a series of aggressive emails, pushing the movement''s non-combative leadership to breaking point.After a series of bizarre and spectacular appearances, Gregg discredits himself and the movement, but is reconciled through the direct intervention of Perpetua. Can the movement survive the ordeal? The Third Testament ends with Damian''s apocalyptic vision and a new liturgy.Unity is the third and final book in The Third Testament for the Third Millennium, a bold re-telling of the New Testament in a 21st Century context, asking Christians to question what they believe and why.Incorporating a dazzling array of artistic styles, convention-breaking use of language and sharply drawn characters, the series draws on its author''s experience of journalism, broadcasting and politics, and on his work as a lay minister in the Church of England. It is profound and funny, moving and edgy, setting out how we might better live together with more self-restraint and less regulation.

Perpetua, a 19 year old girl from South London, says that she is God. She gathers a motley collection of followers and begins her travels, performing miracles and spreading her gospel of unconditional love along the way.Her message provokes a strong and ultimately lethal reaction from Christianity''s warring factions, politicians and journalists bent on profit instead of the truth. Her story is told by four people: Jack, a tabloid journalist; Claire, a social worker; Beth, a media student; and Damian, a theology graduate and Church House intern.Perpetua is the first of three novels in The Third Testament for the Third Millennium, a bold re-telling of the New Testament in a 21st Century context, asking Christians to question what they believe and why.Incorporating a dazzling array of artistic styles, convention-breaking use of language and sharply drawn characters, the series draws on its author''s experience of journalism, broadcasting and politics, and on his work as a lay minister in the Church of England. It is profound and funny, moving and edgy, setting out how we might better live together with more self-restraint and less regulation.

Spirit is the second of three books in The Third Testament for the Third Millennium, a bold re-telling of the New Testament in a 21st Century context, asking Christians to question what they believe and why.