Search results for: 'stories group'

Laura Barry
4 Sept 2025

SPCK Group Wins Christian Book of the Year and Autobiography of the Year at the CRT Awards 2025

SPCK Group is celebrating a double win at the CRT Awards 2025. Read the full story behind our award-winning books, Discovering Christianity and The Girl from Montego ...

Laura Barry
13 Mar 2026

Stories of the Saints: Inspiring Saints Every Child Should Know

Discover inspiring saint stories for children as Margaret McAllister shares the remarkable lives of Christian heroes featured in Stories of the ...

Laura Barry
21 Jan 2022

Through the Year with SPCK Group

Explore our wide selection of inspirational and enlightening daily devotionals and 365 Children's Bibles to connect with God each ...

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31 May 2019

I can’t read or write at all: Diffusion reading group at HMP Downview

Did you know that SPCK provides free easy-to-read books to prison reading groups? Our Diffusion books are specially written to help prisoners who need to improve their reading confidence so that they are better able to find employment on release. We also work to change, attitudes, thinking and behaviour so that prisoners can build more positive ...

Laura Barry
26 Mar 2025

Stories She’ll Love: Meaningful Books to Gift This Mother’s Day

Celebrate Mother’s Day with meaningful, faith-filled books for every woman who’s shaped your story — from mums and mentors to daughters and ...

Laura Barry
23 Oct 2025

Join Us for the Book Trade Christmas Carol Service

Join SPCK Group and the Book Trade Charity for a joyful evening of carols, reflection, and community to celebrate the true spirit of ...

Laura Barry
10 Jun 2025

We Need to Talk About Race: A Bold New Christian YA Book and More June Releases

Discover bold, fun, and essential new Christian books for every generation, from empowering YA reads to trusted church ...

30 Jul 2018

International Friendship Day - A Chat with Alexa Tewkesbury

Alexa is an author, editor and proofreader who has been writing extensively for children since 2002. Three picture books for SPCK Publishing, Noah and his Ark, Daniel in the Lions’ Den and Jonah and the Whale, were released in 2017. As well as children’s books, Alexa has also written the screenplays for the animation, It’s A Boy!, ...

27 Nov 2018

Ruth Clemence's Top 5 SPCK Reads of 2018

Blogger and book reviewer Ruth Clemence has read many of our books over the last year. We’ve asked her to pick her ...

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3 Apr 2019

Schools assemblies can be fun!

Do you remember your school assemblies? I do, and how I wish I would forget some of them! We had one teacher, who would insist on taking Monday morning assemblies. Sure, you might think that he should be applauded for stepping up and taking on the task that no one else wanted. But you would be ...

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5 Apr 2019

Prayer Experiment Activity

What do you think of when you think of prayer? For a lot of people, it brings up images of being told to sit still and close their eyes while someone else ‘says a prayer’; or of reciting words from a page. Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, author of The Prayer Experiment series, teaches a fun prayer experiment to try with your ...

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8 Apr 2019

Who Cares About HIV?

For World Health Day, Who Cares About HIV? author, Paul Kybird, explains the new book, the challenges of those living with HIV, and their engagement with pastoral ...

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21 Sept 2019

Busting the Myths of Dementia

Alzheimer's Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness, provide support and demystify dementia. The impact of Alzheimer's Day is increasing but there is still lack of information surrounding dementia. Louise Morse, co-author of Dementia from the Inside writes about the common myths of dementia and explains how the biggest hope is to ...

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19 Sept 2019

The Hoity Toity Angel - from Musical to Story Book

Published in 2002, The Hoity Toity Angel is one of Grumpy Sheep Music's all time favourite Christmas musicals for primary school children. This month sees the popular musical being published as an illustrated story book. Children's songwriter and founder of Grumpy Sheep Music, Caroline Hoile tells us what motivated her to write the ...

Emma Collins
9 Oct 2019

Black History Month and Extraordinary Saints

Black History Month allows us to take time to consider the individuals who have been relegated not just to the side-lines of history but forgotten through the ages. Sharon Prentis, Intercultural Mission Enabler and Dean of BAME Affairs for the Church of England in Birmingham tells us that whilst there has been a marked improvement in acknowledging ...

19 Nov 2019

5 light-hearted books to read this Christmas

How will you be spending the Christmas holidays? Many of us will be unwinding by spending time with family and friends. These lighthearted books are perfect for sharing with the whole family. Many of these books are also included in our Christmas promotion, helping you to save the ...

Emma Collins
27 Jan 2020

10 individuals who risked their lives in the Holocaust

'When the Nazis started to destroy the European Jews, the millions of non-Jews in Europe had to decide their stance: would they help the Nazis, help the Jews, or do nothing. A very small percentage resisted or helped. The great majority did nothing. More than 16,000 rescuers have been recognized officially by Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, yet no one ...

Emma Collins
11 May 2020

SPCK’s chance to win £1,000

Here at SPCK we are encouraging supporters, authors and partners to nominate us for a chance to win £1,000 as part of specialist insurer Ecclesiastical's “Movement for Good” awards. It’s quick and easy to nominate SPCK online. Nominations are open from Wednesday 6 May to Sunday 24 May and you can vote for SPCK online at ...

Emma Collins
13 Aug 2020

But Where Are You Really From?

‘Where are you from?’ I’m asked.‘The UK,’ I reply. ‘I mean where are you really from?’ ‘Zambia,’ I reply. In this blog post you will find a short video of Amanda Khozi Mukwashi reading from the opening chapter of her book But Where Are You Really From? The extract is also ...

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6 Nov 2020

‘Welcome’ is so much more than a word on the church noticeboard or weekly notice sheet

With the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) resources approaching publication, we are sharing an extract from David Runcorn's book Love Means Love. Love Means Love published in June this year coinciding with the original publication date for the LLF resources. In this extract David reflects on the experiences of Christians who have struggled '...or are ...

Emma Collins
21 Sept 2021

Fake News and Clickbait

How many times have you clicked on an online article, only to find it has no relevance to the title it was given? In this extract from Communicate for Change, Genelle Aldred explores the rise of clickbait, and the effect that negative stories can have on our opinions of groups of ...

Laura Barry
21 Jan 2022

Lent Starts On March 2nd

This year, Lent begins on Wednesday, March 2nd - also known as Ash Wednesday. It's never too early to start preparing for Lent. Sign up for our daily Lent reflections delivered straight to your inbox and explore our wonderful selection of Lent titles, including Embracing Justice, the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book for 2022. ...

Laura Barry
10 Jan 2024

SPCK January New Releases

Explore our fantastic six new titles out this ...

Laura Barry
29 Jan 2024

The Best Self-Help Books to Brighten Your January

Looking for best self-care books to support your mental health? Here, we round up our top ten books about mental health, anxiety, depression, stress, and personal growth. ...

Laura Barry
30 Jan 2024

Our Bestselling Lent & Easter Books for Children

Explore our bestselling Lent and Easter books for children. Add our favourite Easter books to your basket - perfect for entertaining little ones this Easter! ...

Do Not Be Afraid Rachel Mann Advent Videos

Laura Barry
20 Nov 2024

Rachel Mann Do Not Be Afraid Advent Videos

Watch Free Advent Weekly Videos to accompany the bestselling Advent book - Do Not Be ...

Laura Barry
14 Jan 2025

Understanding the Bible: 10 Essential Books to Deepen Your Christian Faith

Discover 10 essential SPCK books that make understanding the Bible easier, deepen your Christian faith, and help you connect with the teachings of the Bible in a meaningful way. ...

Laura Barry
20 Mar 2025

Bible Sales Surge Among Gen Z: SPCK's Role In The Growing Demand

Gen Z is driving a surge in Bible sales, seeking meaning, mental well-being, and faith through Scripture like never ...

Laura Barry
19 May 2025

New Christian Books to Inspire Every Generation – May Releases from SPCK

Discover SPCK’s latest Christian reads—from Justin Brierley’s powerful apologetics to inspiring and accessible children’s titles for churches, schools, and ...

Laura Barry
6 Oct 2025

New SPCK Books to Grow Your Faith in 2025

Discover SPCK’s new Christian books for 2025: devotionals, Bible guides, and spiritual formation titles to inspire growth, prayer, and purpose in the year ...

Laura Barry
3 Nov 2025

Who Am I? Rediscovering Our True Identity This Advent

In Who Am I?, Bishop Nick Baines invites us this Advent to pause, reflect, and rediscover our true identity in Christ—the God who seeks us out with love, grace, and surprising ...

9 Jul 2018

5 Questions for Paul Hattaway

On 19 July, we will publish Guizhou by Paul Hattaway, the second in a series of books about the exponential growth of Christianity in China. Here, we caught up with him about writing and his plans for the ...

27 Jul 2018

A chat with Sharon Moughtin-Mumby of Diddy Disciples

We chatted with Sharon Moughtin-Mumby about the principles of Diddy Disciples, her programme for younger children that grounds them in faith and encourages curiosity, compassion for others, personal expression, and ...

26 Sept 2018

The Wisdom of Dr Dawn Harper on Fitness Day

Dr Dawn Harper is on our blog for Fitness Day, sharing her wisdom about the benefits of regular exercise. We all have to find the fitness that works well with us and makes us feel motivated. When we find what we enjoy, we look forward to our ...

12 Nov 2018

Joseph and the Bully Boys

Fiona Veitch Smith is on our blog for Anti Bullying Week. Why do people bully and what can be done to address it? ...

22 Nov 2018

What motivates us to do missionary work?

When you would like to work as a missionary, how do you get started and how can you stay involved? April Holden, who co-wrote They Called Us Love with Deborah Meroff, writes about her personal missionary experience and offers advice for getting involved with organisations like Operation ...

12 Feb 2019

What is freedom?

What is freedom? Diffusion workshop at HMP North Sea Camp Did you know that SPCK provides free easy-to-read books to prison reading groups? Our Diffusion books are specially written to help prisoners who need to improve their reading confidence so that they are better able to find employment on release. We also work to change, attitudes, thinking ...

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19 Apr 2019

Spanning the Decades: 1920s

Sarah Meyrick's second installment of Spanning the Decades showcasing her own family hertiage alongside characters within her new book The Restless Wave, available for pre-order ...

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24 May 2019

Inspiring hope: SPCK’s ministry to prisoners

Did you know that SPCK uses its skills as a publisher to help prisoners improve their reading skills? As a Christian charity we consider our work with prisoners to be a direct response to Jesus’ commandment to minister to those in prison (Matthew 25:36). SPCK’s Diffusion books are specially written to help adults who need to improve ...

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22 Jul 2019

16 and a Half Ways to Upgrade Your Faith

We’ve all been there. One minute we’re sky-high in our relationship with God, and the next we’re questioning whether he’s listening to us at all. But what if there was a way to get past the ups and downs? Youth Pastor Bob Wallington suggests ways to help us maintain a relationship with God in his book 16 and a Half ...

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20 Jul 2019

Why would a young man choose to follow Jesus in 2019?

With a million demands on their time and a million suitors for their attention, why would a young man follow Jesus? Martin Saunders, author of The Man You're Made To Be reflects on present-day masculinity, the challenges that young men are facing, and why young men need strong role models to ...

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13 Aug 2019

Why life with dementia can be fulfilling and positive

Living with dementia is often accompanied with a negative stigma. Jennifer Bute's story proves that it is still possible to live positively with dementia, and there is much that can be done when living with this ...

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5 Sept 2019

Church Communications and the 'four Ms'

What are church communications? and why is it important that churches adapt their communications to their own culture and context? In this extract from Mark Crosby's So Everyone Can Hear he explains the importance of the communication process and why the 'four Ms' provide the basis for the 'what' and 'why' of church ...

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16 Sept 2019

Who were the Mayflower Pilgrims?

16th September is Mayflower Day. Mayflower Day commemorates the day the ship set sail from Plymouth, England in 1620. The story of the first New England settlers has been told many times but not much has been told about what motivated these pilgrims to face the hazards of the transatlantic crossing. Historian Derek Wilson addresses this in his new ...

Emma Collins
3 Oct 2019

New for October 2019

With a chill in the air it's evident that Autumn has arrived so why not snuggle up with a new book this month. October sees the release of a great selection of books. New publications include The Very Brief History of John Henry Newman and the third children's book by Paul Kerensa, Joe's Bros and the Bus that Goes. Learn more about new books for ...

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4 Oct 2019

What can we learn from our animal friends? Meet Danny, the Irish Setter

All over the world, everywhere, humans and animals form great bonds that give them both another kind of gift of life. This is one of the reasons why Joan Chittister wrote the book, Two Dogs and a Parrot. For World Animal Day we're sharing an extract from the book where we meet Danny, the unruly Irish ...

Emma Collins
17 Oct 2019

Why storytelling is a vital skill for everyone in ministry

Paula Gooder and Bob Hartman tell us about their latest book The Tell-It-Together Gospel: Mark, and why storytelling is a vital skill for everyone in ...

Emma Collins
27 Dec 2019

The Evangelist as a Companion

Today on the Feast Day of John, Apostle and Evangelist, we are sharing an extract from Anglican Evangelists: Identifying and Training a New Generation. In this extract editor Martyn Snow writes about his own experiences of his vocation to ministry and how to be a 'true evangelist' we must accompany people on their own journey rather than ...

Emma Collins
5 Feb 2020

Misconceptions about Ministry Mums and Breaking the Mould

In her upcoming book Breaking the Mould Jules Middleton brings together stories of ministry mums from all different walks of life. From Pentecostal to Methodist, single mums to adopters, RAF chaplains to disability advisors and everything in-between – Jules maps the highs and lows ministry mums may face as they seek to ‘break the ...

Emma Collins
3 Mar 2020

Why the title 'Irrepressible'?

"These twelve principles mean a lot to me and have formed so much of my thinking over recent years. I hope they will give other people some practical handholds and a good dollop of hope". Cathy Madavan, speaker and author of Irrepressible: 12 principles for a courageous, resilient and fulfilling life tells us why she wrote the book, why ...

Emma Collins
8 Apr 2020

SPCK Authors at Spring Harvest Home

From 13th to 17th April Spring Harvest will be delivered direct to your living room via a free online conference on YouTube. Many SPCK authors are taking part in Spring Harvest Home and you will be able to find out more about them in this blog post. You will also find here the latest edition of SPCK Today which is a special Spring Harvest edition. ...

Emma Collins
22 Apr 2020

Breaking the Patriarchal Mould | The Story of Joanna

In her book Women in a Patriarchal World Elaine Storkey focuses on the stories of women who faced a range of challenges and life-changing decisions. In this extract from the book we learn about Joanna, a woman who broke tradition by spending little time at home on the duties prescribed for wives at the ...

Emma Collins
24 Jun 2020

SPCK wins £1,000 Movement for Good award

Thank you to those of you who nominated SPCK for a Movement for Good award. We're delighted to announce that SPCK's Diffusion prison literacy project has won the £1000 Movement for Good award! Find out more in the following press ...

Emma Collins
1 Dec 2020

SPCK’s AGM – An Annual Gathering in Exceptional Times

On 19th November 2020, our AGM took place via Zoom. Find out more about the event in this blog ...

Emma Collins
12 Feb 2021

Celebrating the launch of homegroups.org.uk

Today we're launching Home Groups! The largest source of free, high quality, curated small group material on the Internet. Find out more about this exciting new website in this blog ...

Emma Collins
10 Jun 2021

What makes all-age worship so difficult?

In this adapted extract from Worship for Everyone, Nick and Becky Drake address the challenges of all-age worship, and suggest practical steps to help overcome ...

Emma Collins
7 Jul 2021

Q&A with Ruth Valerio & Paul Kerensa

We chat to Ruth Valerio and Paul Kerensa about their new book Planet Protectors: 52 Ways to Look After God's ...

Emma Collins
18 Oct 2021

Celebrating being Publisher of the Year

The Christian Resources Together (CRT) awards are a wonderful opportunity for everyone involved in Christian retail in the UK to reconnect and celebrate the very best in publishing, music, media, gifts and cards. Meeting in person for the first time since the pandemic struck, retailers and suppliers gathered on Thursday 14th October at the ...

Laura Barry
26 Jan 2023

Bishop Jill Duff Lighting The Beacons Book Launch

Find out more about Bishop Jill Duff launching her book Lighting the Beacons - out this ...

Laura Barry
3 Aug 2023

SPCK Authors at Creation Fest!

Join SPCK Authors Sarah Yardley and Hope Virgo at Creation Fest on the 3rd to the 6th of ...

Laura Barry
15 May 2024

SPCK Authors Rowan Williams & John Lennox Speaking at The Hay Festival

SPCK Authors Rowan Williams and John Lennox will be speaking at The Hay Festival: How The Light Gets ...

Laura Barry
20 Aug 2024

The God Story: Video & Free Church Resources

Watch The God Story inspirational video and discover all the amazing church resources created by 24-7 Prayer to accompany this bestselling ...

Books that defined 2024 - a year of faith and impact

Laura Barry
24 Dec 2024

10 SPCK Books That Defined 2024

Let's celebrate ten SPCK Books of 2024! A Year of Faith and ...

Laura Barry
13 Jan 2026

UK Bible Sales Are Up 134% Since 2019

Discover why more people, especially younger readers, are returning to the Bible and how Scripture continues to speak into everyday ...

Laura Barry
2 Mar 2026

Why People Still Come to Church: Voices from Southern Africa

The Most Revd Dr Thabo Makgoba shares reflections from Southern Africa on why people still come to church—highlighting worship, community, resilience and faith in the midst of ...