The last opening I attended at the National Gallery was “Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300-1350”. That was a special experience. When religious art comes from an actual church or abbey, it sems to have somehow soaked up the passionate attentions of the faithful. All those who knelt before it leave a sort of emotional varnish, an imprint of faith

Frank Skinner, The New Statesman, 4 April

Surely it is time for the Church to support the elderly, ensure that they receive good pastoral care, and demonstrate that those in small rural parishes who value traditional worship are just as important as the guitar-wielding evangelicals in our towns and cities

S. Funnell, letter in The Sunday Telegraph, 6 April

As our own Government prepares to cut benefits from some disabled people, the most economically vulnerable group in our country, and as we head into a month which we’re told will include price hikes and rises, generosity feels like a dwindling resource. The urge to put ourselves first when times are hard is a strong one. But is this true liberation? . . . If great wealth doesn’t promote generosity, and instead creates a scarcity mindset, characterised by fear and greed, then that doesn’t sound like liberty

Jayne Manfredi, Thought for the Day, Radio 4, 3 April

Putin and Trump have their religious allies: Patriarch Kirill and televangelist Paula White, to name two of the more prominent. I take it as given that there are lots of people praying for their health and strength and victory. How then, what then, do I pray? Not for their health, strength and victory, that’s for sure. How do I lead the congregation and offer up my prayer in a way that acknowledges evil-doing but, somehow, teaches love?

Alice Goodman, Prospect, May 2025 edition

Everything about Trump flies in the face of orthodox Christianity. His policy agenda is the opposite of traditional Christian compassion. So I think it’s not surprising that there’s a market for books, podcasts and other content that tells people who like Trump that there’s nothing wrong with liking Trump, and, in fact, that Trump’s doing exactly what the Bible or Christianity demands

John W. Compton, Professor of Political Science, quoted in The Guardian, 8 April

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