God on the Horizon: A literary journey through Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (DLT, London 2024. 288pp: £16.99 hardback), Paths in the Snow: A literary journey through The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (DLT, London first published in 2023, reprinted in 2024. 268pp: £16.99 hardback) and Signs among the Stones: A literary journey through The Horse and His Boy and The Silver Chair (DLT, London 2025. 286pp: ££16.99 hardback) by Jem Bloomfield, Associate Professor at Nottingham University, offers fascinating insights on these books written by C.S. Lewis.
Gradually then suddenly: how to dream bigger, decide better and leave a lasting legacy (Ebury Vine/Penguin Random House, London 2026. 267 pages: £16.99) by Mark Batterson, the lead ‘visionary’ of National Community Church in Washington DC, deals with such issues as ‘Is there a defining decision you need to make?’; ‘Is there a God-sized dream you need to go after?’; ‘What are you waiting for?’; and ‘It’s time to get started on gradually’. This is not a book written for ministers, but for working lay people.
Why I am not an Atheist: the confessions of a sceptical believer (Ebury Vine/Penguin Random House, London 2026. 417pp: £25 hardback) by Christopher Beha, the former editor of Harper’s Magazine, tells the story of how he was led to what was for him the surprising conclusion that faith in a created order in which each human life has a meaningful part.
A Place of Belonging: Finding your space in the Bible, during Lent and beyond (DLT, London 2026. 168pp: £12.99) by Lavinia Byrne, a former tutor in spirituality at Heythrop College and Westcott House, connects the spiritual focus of Lent with a physical sense of place as described at various points in the Bible, seeks to enables readers to enjoy a deeper encounter both with themselves and with God.
Tillers of the Soil (Sacristy Press, Durham, 2025. 297pp: £14.99) by Mark Clavier, a Welsh theologian, has written this work of fiction, which deals with a time when Roman Britain was crumbling. It is a powerful tale of endurance, fidelity, and love of the land – a portrait of a world on the edge of ruin and the will to endure. It depicts a society finding its way between indigenous and Christian belief. This is not a specifically Christian book – Jesus, for instance, gets no mention. Nonetheless, this is a book which can help atheists to realise the intellectual folly of not believing in God.
Communion and Contemplation: Reflections on Friendship, Ministry, and Prayer (Sacristy Press, Durham 2026: 127pp: £12.99) by Douglas Dales, a parish priest in the diocese of Oxford, has written a book on those who have influenced him in his spiritual pilgrimage such as Cicely Saunders, Henry Chadwick, Michael Ramsey, Peter Walker and Mary Clare. He reflects on the nature of prayer in Christian ministry, the importance of friendships, the discovery of saints by study , travel and prayer, and the meaning of contemplative intercession within the communion of saints.
Ways of Sensing: retrieving the spiritual senses tradition (DLT, London 2026. 192pp: £12.99) by Paul Dominiak, Senior Tutor and Fellow in Theology at Jesus College, Cambridge, explores how the spiritual senses of touch, taste, smell, sight and sound, illustrate the transformative potential of each of Christian communities in relation for contemporary concerns around trauma, class, immigration, race and gender.
Opening the Box of Delights: A stunning visual celebration of John Masefield’s fantasy classic (first published by DLT in 2020; revised and enlarged in 2024; the latest edition published by Herne Books, London 2025. 160pp: £20 hardback) by Philip W. Errington, the archivist of The John Masefield Society, has produced a beautiful book with coloured pictures galore, tells the story of schoolboy Kay Harker’s encounter with scheming villains, a piratical rat and deadly wolves, a mysterious showman and his box of ancient magi, and good vanquishing over evil in the cathedral town of Tatchester.
Unfortunately Listening to the music of the soul (SPCK, London 2025. 110pp: £10.99) by Guli Francis-Dehqani, the current Bishop of Chelmsford, came too late for me to review last November. Nonetheless, it will prove a most helpful book for Advent 2026. The six chapters deal with the Magnificat; flight; violence; angels; fear and hope; reconciliation; silence and darkness; light and space. Each chapter ends with a piece of listen to listen too; and three questions for reflection. I warmly commend this book.
Gravity Defied: A Lent course based on the movie ‘Wicked’ (DLT, London 2025. 110 pages: £7.99) by Rachel Mann, Archdeacon of Salford and Bolton, has arranged her course into five weekly sessions, and deals with the following issues: How do we judge goodness; fear and loathing in the land of Oz; What is a life well lived?; The attraction of popularity; The joy and cost of living life authentically. I confess that I myself have never seen this film. However, for those who have, then this is an imaginative way of reflecting on the issues raised by ‘Wicked’.
Bleeding for Jesus: John Smyth and the cult of Iwerne Camps: the scandal that shook the Church of England (DLT, London, first published in 2021, now revised and updated 2025. 320pp: £14.99) by Andrew Graystone, a journalist and broadcaster, tells the appalling story of John Smyth QC, a high-flying barrister, who abused more than 100 men and boys in three countries – a scandal that led to the death of a 14-year-old boy and the resignation of Justin Welby, then the Archbishop of Canterbury. In the words of Cathy Newman, this is “a must-read for anyone with a conscience and a desire for justice”.
Choral Evensong: a user’s guide (Sacristy Press, Durham 2025. 86pp: £12.99) by Andrew Gregory, the chaplain of University College, Oxford, is a helpful guide to choral evening, it’s history, its musical and liturgical elements. This is a most helpful guide.
God’s Book: An Honest Look at the Bible’s 7 Toughest Topics (Hodder & Stoughton, London2025. 333pp: £16.99) by Andrew Ollerton, who works for the Bible Society, follows the Biblical plotline from Genesis to Revelation and reveals how to make sense of difficult passages by considering them in their original setting. This is not an academic book, but will be appreciated by many Christians.
Death of an Ordinary Man (Vintage, Jonathan Cape, London 2025. 197pp: £19.99 hardback) by Sarah Perry, the well-known Essex born novelist, who has written novels such as Enlightenment, Melmoth and The Essex Serpent, has now written an account of the sudden death of her father-in-law, David. Up until this point Sarah had never had anything to do with death. In this well written book she shares all the emotions she felt, and the many things she learnt about dying. Many readers who have had no experience of death will find this book helpful. Although David was a committed Christian, sadly the author, although not an atheist, is something of a doubting Thomas.
Liturgies of the Wild: myths that make us (Ebury Vine/Penguin Random House, London 2026. 246pp: £22 hardback) by Martin Shaw, an American scholar who also holds a visiting position in the Faculty of Divinity at Cambridge, argues that we live in a myth-impoverished age and that such poverty has left us vulnerable to stories that may not wish us well. He teaches us to read a myth the way it wants to be read’ provides vivid retellings of tales powerful enough to carry you through life’s travails, and shows you how to gather and reshape your own throw away-stories. He shares how these ancient technologies led him to Christ, ‘the true Myth’, by way of a 20-year journey.
Waiting for Jesus: An Advent Invitation to Prayer and Revival (Rider Books, Penguin, London 2025. 143pp: £12.99) by Rich Villodas, lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, a large multiracial church in New York, is a book designed to help readers travel through the first 25 days of December. It is a well-written guide to Advent. At the end of each day there a Scripture passage to read, a thought-provoking quote from a wise voice in recent or ancient church history, and a question to reflect upon.
Irenaeus and the Glory of God: Gnosticism, Recapitulation and True Humanity in Christ (Sacristy Press, Durham 2025. 213pp: £16.99) by Patrick Whitworth, a retired Anglican minister, has written this interesting guide to Irenaeus, who was one of the most important figures in the second century. Although Irenaeus came from Smyrna, he became the bishop of Lugdunum (now Lyon). His Against Heresies exposed the fallacies of Gnosticism which had permeated churches in Rome. Irenaeus’ most famous saying is: “The Glory of God is a man (or woman ) fully alive and the life of man (or woman) consists in beholding God”. The author makes the telling point that while in the West “we have become almost besotted with the body – its beauty, its size, its fitness, its health and it sexuality” Irenaeus said “that true humanity is found in the glory of God permeating, irradiating, renewing and repurposing our lives”.
Grove Booklets rightly claim that their booklets are ‘Not the last word… but often the first word’. Their booklets are all 28 pages long and cost £3.95. Anglo-Catholic Discipleship Today: Encountering Christ, Embodying the Church (Discipleship 19, October 2025) by James Henley, an Anglican minister in Wales, writes here not just about Anglo-Catholic spirituality, but also how Anglo-Catholics can share their faith with others. Theodrama: Performing Christian Ethics (Ethics 219, October 2025) by Simon J Billington, an actor and an Anglican minister in London, explores how drama can be a way of understanding human relationships with God. Blaise Pascal: The importance of his writing for Christians today (Spirituality 175, 2026) by Nicholas Roberts, a retired Anglican minister, tells the story of Pascal’s ‘second’ conversion on the night of 23 November 1654, when he was overcome with joy with all that God had done for him, and from now on he believed in God not just with his mind but also in his heart. What do I do with the ashes: Responding to changing funeral practices (Worship 265, 2026) by Philip Tovey, a former Principal of the Oxford Local Ministry Pathway in the Diocese of Oxford, is a helpful guide on dealing with the disposal of people’s ashes. A Christian approach to sport: sport, faith and evangelism (Mission & Evangelism 152, 2026) by J. Stuart Weir, a member of Kidlington Baptist church, is a fascinating account of how initially most ministers were opposed to Christians engaging in sporting activities, but now – of course – all that has changed. Weir goes on to develop a theology of sport and has suggests various ways in which churches can encourage their members to engage in sport.