A thousand tongues

23/07/2025 | Reform

In Harmony – Free Church Choirs is keeping alive an important tradition, and a great experience, Stephen Tomkins discovers

It seems that being in a community choir has never been more popular. The Big Choral Census in 2017 found that … Read More

A good question: What makes good worship?

23/07/2025 | Reform

One question, four answers

Nigel Uden‘Good worship is essentially contextual’

Shaping worship has shaped my week for many years. I realise five things have informed my sense of what shapes good worship.

First, giving it the supreme place in my … Read More

The Life of Chuck

23/07/2025 | Reform

Directed by Mike FlanaganCertificate 15, 110 minutesReleased 20 August

‘What are mortals, that you should think of them?’, asks the psalmist.

Stephen King is known as a horror writer, but he sometimes breaks that mould; his stories have produced the … Read More

Editorial: Family history

23/07/2025 | Reform

My grandma came to live with us when I was twelve, and brought a box of sepia family photos. I sat at her feet, interrogated her for names and stories, and, thankfully, took notes.

In later years I skulked around … Read More

Do stay for tea and coffee: ‘Our church friends there have offered human, heartfelt care’

23/07/2025 | Reform

Paul Kerensa reflects on fake grief and appreciates heartfelt, human care

I’m writing this two days before my dad’s funeral. That’s the downer. Let’s build back from there.

It’s been a rough season of Dad’s ‘dementia adventure’, as one well-meaning … Read More

On the pilgrim way: ‘I felt we were intruders in the unmanaged woods’

23/07/2025 | Reform

Sheila Maxey takes a back seat

In May I spent a week on a canal boat exploring the Caldon Canal. The sun shone all week as I mostly sat at the front of the boat watching nature, hour after hour. … Read More