Search results for: 'cr pa'

  • 6 Feb 2019

#ReclaimSocial – Post Positive in 2019!

Social media has so much potential to be a force for good. We can re-connect with old friends easier than ever before, share important news articles and keep distant family up to date with changes in our lives. Social media has also been central to campaigns and protests, as demonstrated by the viral #metoo campaign. But it is impossible to deny ...

How Talk Can Transform Us

'The idea of talking to someone for eight hours might have been daunting for some people, but this is what Rowan and I have been doing for more than a decade'. Greg Garrett tells us about the many conversations he had with Rowan Williams, and how these conversations became a book, giving readers the chance to be a 'fly on the ...

The Legend of St George, an extract for All Saints' Day

On All Saints' Day we remember all saints and martyrs, known and unknown. Little is known about St George, patron saint of England. With the story of his slaying of a dragon recorded 1,000 years after his death, Catherine Pepinster explains here how he '...grew in popularity as he was invoked by Christians caught up in battles.' This is an ...

Guest Post: Lily-Jo's Blue Monday Tips for Talking to Children About Mental Health

Lily-Jo, a children’s mental health expert and author of Talking to Children About Mental Health, shares with us her top tips for helping you AND your child through the January ...
  • 12 Jan 2018

The SPCK February 2018 Releases

As well as two exciting new hardback books with their own publication dates, our latest batch of releases include two brand new children's books by comedian Paul Kerensa, two thoughtful new books from some of Christianity's most creative thinkers, and the paperback edition of Richard Harries' latest ...

New Year, New Website

With the New Year comes a new look - one that, I hope, is a breath of fresh air for returning readers and those new to our books, ...
  • 14 Nov 2017

SPCK and the Lord Mayor’s Show

SPCK featured once again in the Lord Mayor’s Show, as we continued our tradition of giving a specially inscribed Bible or Prayer Book to the incoming Lord Mayor of the City of ...
  • 25 Jan 2018

4 Key Ingredients for Success

Does your organisation have the right ingredients for success? Primavera Quantrill writes about our recent 1698 Club ...

Making the Bible Engaging for Children

How do you take an ancient and complex book and make it accessible and interesting for children? Our children's editor, Juliet, shares some of the challenges . . ...

Long Story Short: Why We're Living

Happiness. Safety. Significance. Three things society tells us we’re living for, but what do they all ...

Red Cross Week: Mental Health Visibility

Red Cross Week celebrates the power of kindness. Learn more about mindfulness and how to help people in ...
  • 25 May 2018

Don’t make a run for it: National Missing Children's Day

25 May is National Missing Children’s Day. Dr Sarah Vohra writes about how parents and carers can respond when their child threatens to run away from ...
  • 29 May 2018

Use more than just words - take positive action

Words affect us in so many ways. They can hurt us, help us, and alter our perspective. Jessie Faerber writes about the next step beyond words: taking ...
  • 10 Jun 2018

God’s Story – why it’s bigger than our personal narrative

‘So, what’s your story?’ I love asking that question.  We use stories to find meaning and purpose. The way we respond to that question reveals something of the story we are living with our lives. In a moment, we choose where our story begins and quickly edit the headlines into an ...

My Day on the Shop Floor

16 – 23 June is Independent Bookshop Week – and we’re participating! Over the course of this week, we’ll be sharing content about our favourite independent bookshops. To start off the week, our Commercial Director Alexandra McDonald blogs about the one – one! – shift she worked in a bookshop. ...
  • 13 Jun 2018

5 Minutes With Gaby Doherty

We will publish Grenfell Hope by Gaby Doherty on 14 June. Ahead of the book’s release, she chatted with us about ...
  • 17 Jun 2018

Independent Bookshop Week - a chat with The Christian Bookshop in Birkenhead

As part of Independent Bookshop Week, we are featuring interviews with, well, independent bookshops! We chatted with The Christian Bookshop in Birkenhead about reviews, social media, comfy shoes, and – of course – books! The Christian Bookshop, 14 Grange Road West, Birkenhead, Wirral CH41 4DATel: 0151 647 ...

From bookseller to sales rep - Julian Gittings interview

Continuing on with our participation in Independent Bookshop Week, we chatted with Julian Gittings about how his work as a bookseller prepared him to work as a sales ...
  • 19 Jun 2018

Independent Bookshops: more than just tea and cake

We spoke with Ali, Team Leader at Quench Christian Bookshop Wokingham, and Head of Retail for both the Wokingham and Maidenhead shops, about her experience with running a ...
  • 25 Jun 2018

5 Questions for Tim Stead

After the phenomenal success of his book Mindfulness and Christian Spirituality, Tim Stead follows up with See Love Be. We chatted to him about his new ...
  • 26 Jun 2018

Be kind to yourself

We all struggle. We all hurt. We all fail. We all make mistakes. What matters is how we respond when we face difficulty and ...
  • 2 Jul 2018

A chat with Peter Graystone

Our author Peter Graystone is on our blog today as part of our month-long exploration of More Ways To Read The Bible. We’ll be looking at books that consider different ways you can engage with ...
  • 3 Jul 2018

5 Questions for Andy Frost

We recently caught up with Andy Frost, author of Long Story Short. He had lots to say about writing, narratives, and looking at a bigger picture beyond our own ...
  • 27 Jul 2018

5 Questions for Andrew Gant

Andrew Gant has held a number of positions in the field of church music, including singing in the choir of Westminster Abbey and Organist and Choirmaster at Her Majesty’s Chapels Royal from 2000-2013, where he was responsible for the music at many Royal and state occasions. He is a stipendiary lecturer in music at St Peter’s College, ...
  • 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 ...
  • 16 Jul 2018

Behind the Scenes: Illustrating the Children’s New Living Translation Bible

Our Commissioning Editor Juliet Trickey and Editorial Intern Miriam Huggland are on the blog today discussing the illustrations in our new NLT Children’s Bible. How does an editor brief an ...
  • 15 Aug 2018

Why does God allow suffering?

Robin Gill is Emeritus Professor of Applied Theology at the University of Kent and Acting Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Gibraltar. Among his many books are A Textbook of Christian Ethics (4th edition 2014) and Moral Passion and Christian Ethics (2018). Here, he chats with us about his book Why Does God Allow Suffering? and his personal ...
  • 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 ...
  • 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!, ...
  • 6 Aug 2018

5 Questions for Rebecca Parkinson

Rebecca Parkinson is the editor for SPCK’s Assemblies website. This site gives instant access to high-quality school assemblies for teachers and others leading collective worship. It is used by millions of people each year.  Rebecca lives in Lancashire with her husband and their two children. Since graduating from Nottingham and ...
  • 30 Jul 2018

The SPCK Book Club has arrived!

We’ve officially launched the SPCK Book Club – please join in the discussion with the hashtag #SPCKBookClub!  We’ve picked Falling Upward by Richard Rohr for July. This short and thoughtful book can be read in an evening, but it’s one to return to again and again. Full of wisdom from many years leading congregations, ...
  • 6 Aug 2018

A Hero in God’s Eyes

We're into the #SPCKBookClub!  Mankind has reinvented its heroes of old slaying dragons into superheroes facing alien invasions. We often have our own versions of a hero we look up to. Maybe it’s your favourite celebrity or social activist. Maybe even your mum or dad. And as Christians, we often have Biblical heroes we admire like Queen ...
  • 6 Aug 2018

The Poetry Of Terry Waite

On 19 July, we held an event with Terry Waite, where he spoke about his books Out of the Silence and Solitude. He spoke with great humility, kindness, and compassion. Many in attendance were young when he was captured and detained. They prayed for his release. On our blog today, Terry has chosen some of his favourite poems from Out of the Silence, ...
  • 10 Aug 2018

Living a Heroic Life

Summer is often the time we wish for throughout the year and, if especially if you have kids, can’t wait to get away for some rest and relaxation. How do you spend your summers? Do you use it to jet off to the beach? Maybe you spend time at home with family and a barbeque. Maybe you take your children on an adventure. Before the summer comes ...

6 Ways to Help Families Who Are Less Fortunate

‘We’ve been so busy feeding everybody else that we’ve forgotten about ourselves!’ said Aunt Miranda. ‘I didn’t think of that,’ said Ellie.  Sylvia Green’s delightful and heart-warming picture book, We’re Hungry Too, helps adults and children alike to think about caring for creation, ...
  • 28 Aug 2018

How was your journey?

Sean Stillman's memoir God's Biker will be published on 20 September. Here, he chats with us about a different way to frame travel ...
  • 31 Aug 2018

A Chat with Cole Moreton

Today is National Maritime Day. Cole Moreton’s forthcoming book The Light Keeper is set in London and The South Downs. Here, he chats with us about his writing and the setting of his new ...
  • 11 Sept 2018

How would you like to be remembered?

It’s Remember a Charity in Your Will Week.  Leaving a legacy, however large or small, is a generous and effective way of making sure your loved ones, and the causes you care about, receive the financial support you intend when you are ...
  • 10 Sept 2018

Helping the Helper

10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day. When one person intervenes and saves another from suicide, the support can go to the person who wanted to end their life. More care and attention must go to the helper. Here, Tim Cantopher blogs about helping someone who has prevented another person’s ...
  • 6 Sept 2018

National Read A Book Day

6 September is National Read A Book Day. Richard Harries, author of Haunted by Christ, blogs for us about the importance of reading and the effect that literature can have on our perspective, how we see ourselves and the ...
  • 6 Sept 2018

5 Questions for Sarah Meyrick

Sarah Meyrick studied Classics at Cambridge and Social Anthropology at Oxford, which gave her a fascination for the stories people tell and the worlds they inhabit. She has worked variously as a journalist, editor and PR professional. She is the Director of the Bloxham Festival of Faith and Literature which is a small literary festival that takes ...
  • 7 Sept 2018

A Chat with Jessie Faerber

We’ve picked I Thought There Would Be Cake as our book club read this month. Jessie Faerber, author of More Than Just Pretty, had lots of thoughts to share about this powerful ...
  • 11 Sept 2018

Replay and Regret? Responding to Shame

Our #SPCKBookClub pick for October is I Thought There Would Be Cake by Katharine Welby-Roberts. Rachael Newham, author of Learning to Breathe, shares her thoughts on this honest ...
  • 17 Sept 2018

God values who we are

Liz Carter, author of the forthcoming Catching Contentment, shares her thoughts on our book club pick I Thought There Would Be Cake by Katharine ...
  • 21 Sept 2018

National Doodle Day - A Chat with Thea Baker

On National Doodle Day, we chat with Thea Baker, who illustrated The Shepherd Who Couldn’t Sing by Alan Barker, about her work as an ...
  • 15 Oct 2018

Work that we're called to do

Barbara Fox chats with us about the genesis of her new book Midwife of Borneo, in which she tells the story of the life and work of Wendy Grey ...
  • 26 Sept 2018

A Chat with Stephen Tyers

Today is #EuropeanDayofLanguages. In the lead up to Frankfurt Book Fair, we chatted with our Rights Executive Stephen Tyres about his work handling rights with our partner publishers in other countries. SPCK has international partners in Turkey, Spain, France, Finland, Poland, Hungary, and Germany, among many ...
  • 6 Oct 2018

A Revolution in Your Head? How social prescribing could change the world

Emma Drew, author of The Whole Person Recovery Handbook, is on our blog for World Cerebral Palsy Day. The language we use to talk about diagnoses and conditions has a profound effect on the treatment of it.  How can social prescribing help result in better outcomes, ones that look at health in a way that’s more ...
  • 3 Oct 2018

Restricted Diet? Mindfulness Lends a Helping Hand

Catherine G Lucas is the author of four books on the holistic approach to mental health. Her latest in the Sheldon Press Mindful Way series is out now: Life Crisis: the Mindful Way. In her writing, Catherine draws on both her personal and professional experience, as a mindfulness trainer. Her one-day retreat on Kindfulness & Nutrition: ...
  • 4 Oct 2018

Catching up with Alexa Tewkesbury

Alexa Tewkesbury chats with us for #WorldAnimalDay about children’s books, her love of animals, and the things we can do to protect ...
  • 4 Oct 2018

The Benefits of SPCK Membership

Our Fundraising Assistant Catriona Brickel is on the blog today, chatting about our members' only event at The Tower of London that took place on 3 ...
  • 8 Oct 2018

Music to our ears - new additions to the SPCK Assemblies programme

This month, we’ll publish a biography of Johann Sebastian Bach by composer and author Andrew Gant.  He is writing a music assembly for the SPCK Assembly programme.  We caught up with Rebecca Parkinson about the addition of music assemblies to the ...
  • 8 Oct 2018

Catching Up With Cole Moreton for Libraries Week

Cole Moreton is on our blog for Libraries Week. His new book The Light Keeper publishes in May of next ...
  • 11 Nov 2018

Reflections on the end of the Great War

On Remembrance Sunday, Alan Billings shares his ...
  • 10 Oct 2018

What Not To Say When Someone Has Experienced A Miscarriage

It's World Mental Health Day today. The loss of a baby can cause unimaginable pain and grief.  We might think we can understand what someone else is going through, but we don’t know.  Jane Clamp considers what to say and what not to say when someone has lost a baby in early ...
  • 10 Oct 2018

How can I help my child to open up?

Dr Sarah Vohra, author of Mental Health in Children and Young People, blogs for us on World Mental Health Day.  It can be a real struggle to open up to others about our concerns and problems, and there’s no worse feeling than not being able to help when you know someone is struggling.  Dr Vohra provides practical advice to help ...
  • 12 Oct 2018

6 Questions for John Bowker

We chatted with John Bowker recently about his new book Religion Hurts, which publishes 18 ...
  • 16 Oct 2018

Sylvia Green's Tips for Reducing Food Waste

Sylvia Green has been a children’s author for many years.  Her books include several ‘Christmas animal’ books published by Scholastic.  We’re Hungry Too is her first picture book for SPCK. It is a full colour picture book with a fun story that encourages children to learn about caring for the natural world and ...
  • 22 Oct 2018

What can compel us to write nonfiction?

What makes a good biography? Barbara Fox reflects on her work in journalism and how it led to the writing of Midwife of Borneo. Though she’d planned to write fiction if she ever wrote a book, her editing and journalistic skills helped her to write nonfiction. While we can often plan to write one book initially, we can sometimes end up ...
  • 27 Oct 2018

The Importance of Good Mentorship

Christopher Dines is on our blog for Mentoring Day. Recovery from addiction takes an incredible amount of personal strength and resilience, but it also requires tremendous support from friends, family, and professionals. Having a mentor can make all the difference when healing from an ...
  • 31 Oct 2018

Tim Stead on mindfulness

Tim Stead is on our blog today, chatting about mindfulness practices. He’ll be in Oxford on 14 November in conversation with Michael Mosley. Book your ticket ...
  • 2 Nov 2018

5 Questions for Catherine Fox

Continuing on with our #NaNoWriMo theme, we caught up with Catherine Fox and chatted about writing, books, and ...
  • 6 Nov 2018

Where do writers get their ideas?

In keeping with our #NaNoWriMo theme, we interviewed Sarah Meyrick, author of The Restless Wave, about her idea for her new novel. How do you begin with an idea and turn it into a ...
  • 11 Nov 2018

Rev Dr Mark Davidson's reflections on Remembrance Sunday

Rev Dr Mark Davidson, author of War Cries, is on our blog today for Remembrance ...
  • 9 Nov 2018

Andrew Adam on the inspiration behind his new book

Andrew Adam, author of Thomas Cochrane and the Dragon Throne, chats with us about his inspiration for writing his new book, which publishes 15 ...
  • 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?  ...
  • 12 Nov 2018

Prayer as a form of self-care

Gemma Simmonds, author of The Way of Ignatius, is on our blog for self care week, discussing how prayer is as essential to self-care as healthy eating, good sleep, regular exercise, and time with friends and ...
  • 13 Nov 2018

Different Kinds of Kindness

Andrew Adam, author of Thomas Cochrane and the Dragon Throne, is on our blog today for World Kindness Day. Thomas Cochrane showed extraordinary kindness during his work has a doctor in China. How can we show similar kindness to ourselves and ...
  • 16 Nov 2018

How to be a Dementia-friendly Church

Dr Trevor Adams is Director of Passionate Dementia Care, which offers training and consultancy to churches and Christian organisations in supporting people living with dementia. Trevor is a nurse and specialises in dementia care. He holds a doctorate in dementia care, has written widely and spoken at dementia conferences and universities in the UK, ...
  • 19 Nov 2018

How We Use Our Profits

SPCK has been publishing Christian books for over three hundred years – in fact, it’s the third oldest publishing house still operating in the UK! So it won’t be too surprising if you’ve come across our books before, or only know us as a ...
  • 20 Nov 2018

Alexa Tewkesbury's 3 wishes for all children

Alexa Tewkesbury has written several children’s books for us. It seems only fitting that she’d be on our blog for World Children’s Day, sharing her wishes for today’s ...
  • 21 Nov 2018

The expression of faith through art

‘Pictures can reach parts of the theological imagination that words cannot.’ Jane Williams considers the representation of faith through ...
  • 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 ...
  • 27 Nov 2018

SPCK's Top 5 Gifts for Leaders

Leaders in the church are an instrumental part of delivering the Word of God. SPCK has compiled a list of books with these church leaders in mind.We hope the books we’ve chosen are beneficial for their professional endeavours as well as their own personal ...
  • 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 ...
  • 28 Nov 2018

Books that can change your life

Books are an invaluable source of power. They can teach you many things, show you different perspectives and in turn shape who you are along the way. We have selected a number of books that will shape your thinking and, possibly, change your ...
  • 2 Dec 2018

How can we prevent slavery?

Ben Cooley, CEO of anti-trafficking charity Hope for Justice, has a vision to live in a world free from slavery. Since it was founded 10 years ago, Hope for Justice has grown to become one of the world’s leading NGOs in this sector, active across four continent. Thanks to a team of former senior police investigators and detectives, lawyers, ...
  • 7 Dec 2018

Is my gift enough?

SPCK’s Fundraising Assistant Catriona Brickel blogs about generosity. It benefits everyone ...
  • 11 Dec 2018

Jessie Faerber's hopes and dreams for 2019

Jessie Faerber published More Than Just Pretty this year. We caught up with her about writing and future ...
  • 10 Dec 2018

5 Questions for Stephen Cottrell

Stephen Cottrell, author of The Sleepy Shepherd, chats with us about books, writing, and his plans for ...
  • 12 Dec 2018

Andy Frost's plans for 2019

We caught up with Andy Frost  about how the last year has been, especially since the publication of his book Long Story ...
  • 13 Dec 2018

Books change the way we look at life

Sarah Meyrick shares her thoughts about writing her upcoming novel The Restless ...
  • 14 Dec 2018

#FridayReads - Unpopular Culture by Guvna B

Our E-Commerce Executive Vita shares her thoughts on Unpopular Culture by Guvna ...
  • 17 Dec 2018

6 Questions for Kenneth Stevens

We caught up with Kenneth Stevens, author of Winter Tales, about writing and his plans for ...
  • 18 Dec 2018

6 Questions for Stephen Cherry

Stephen Cherry chatted with us about his book Barefoot Ways and his plans for ...
  • 20 Dec 2018

5 Questions for Tim Dowley

We caught up with Tim Dowley about his new book Christian ...
  • 21 Dec 2018

Q&A with Janet Morley

Janet Morley, author of Haphazard by Starlight, is on our blog today chatting writing and Christmas ...
  • 21 Dec 2018

The deeply personal nature of poetry

Terry Waite’s new book Travels with a Primate will publish in February 2019. He’s on our blog to discuss Out of the Silence, his deeply moving and personal collection of poetry and ...
  • 2 Jan 2019

Building resilience: boundaries not barriers

How can we become more resilient? Justine Allain Chapman considers the importance of establishing and maintaining healthy ...
  • 14 Jan 2019

SPCK in Durham for the 1698 Club Dinner

Fundraising Assistant Catriona Brickel blogs about the 1698 Club Dinner that took place on 11 ...
  • 17 Jan 2019

Do love. Don't judge.

We ran a poll on Twitter asking what our readers wanted to see more of on our blog. The overwhelming majority asked for content based around our memoirs and biographies. Sean Stillman, author of God’s Biker, was the perfect person to ask to ...
  • 17 Jan 2019

Believe in the power of prayer

Debra Green OBE is the National Director and Founder of Redeeming Our Communities (ROC), founded in 2004; a registered charity and Limited company. She is frequently asked to speak at events and conferences. She also speaks at conferences organised by statutory authorities and public services. Debra has 25 years of experience in bringing ...
  • 23 Jan 2019

Gemma Simmonds on things she'd tell her younger self

Gemma Simmonds is a religious sister of the Congregation of Jesus. She began her ministry teaching at secondary level in the UK and went on from there to missionary work among women and street children in Brazil. She trained in Christian spirituality at the Ignatian spirituality centre in Wernersville, USA and this led to work as a retreat giver ...
  • 28 Jan 2019

Ruining the Moment

James Cary, author of The Sacred Art of Joking, blogs for us during Storytelling ...
  • 4 Feb 2019

What Not To Say To Someone Who Has Been Subjected To Abuse

4 – 10 February is Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week. Natalie Collins, author of Out of Control, shares what to not say to someone who has been subjected to ...
  • 5 Feb 2019

Brave New Year

Andrew Adam, author of Thomas Cochrane and the Dragon Throne, blogs for us about the Chinese New ...
  • 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 ...
  • 13 Feb 2019

Struggling to find space? Follow Jesus into the desert.

The desert is a vast and beautiful. The colours of the sky and the sand and the piercing blue against the reds and the yellow, are intense. A few years ago, on an 8 days retreat in the Egyptian desert, three days of which were solitary and fasting, I was struck by the space and sheer beauty of the desert. It was a struggle to get away, with four ...

Michael Cassidy - My Life and Times: Part 1

Alongside the African Enterprise, I (like SPCK) am committed to reaching people and discipling them by books and Christian literature - Michael Cassidy's book publishes ...

How to recognise abuse

Our author and Gender Justice Specialist Natalie Collins explores ways to recognise signs of abuse, and what we can do to better understand the ...

Terry Waite on prison reform and rehabilitation - part 1

Terry Waite is an Anglican humanitarian and author. In the 1980s, he worked as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s special envoy, travelling to the Middle East and negotiating the release of hostages, when he himself was taken as a hostage. Since his release from captivity he has worked extensively with prisoners and is a supporter of SPCK’s ...

How can Christians make a difference?

Today, we're reflecting on an extract from Rowan Williams' Being Disciples: Essentials of the Christian life.  How can Christians make a difference and how can we work together for the 'common good' in society? ...

Terry Waite on prison reform and rehabilitation - part 2

Terry Waite is an Anglican humanitarian and author. In the 1980s, he worked as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s special envoy, travelling to the Middle East and negotiating the release of hostages, when he himself was taken as a hostage. Since his release from captivity he has worked extensively with prisoners and is a supporter of SPCK’s ...

Terry Waite at Southwark Cathedral

Ahead of his event on Friday, 29 March at Southwark Cathedral, find out an introduction to his extraordinary ...

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 ...

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 ...

Michael Cassidy - My Life and Times: Part 2

This is part 2/2 of this blog post. Part 1 can be found here. We are very committed, like SPCK, to reach people and disciple them by books and Christian literature.  ...

Very Brief Histories Event

The Very Brief History series is a collection of short, accessible introductions on histories, legacies, and movements that have shaped the world written by industry experts. Our event on Saturday features four speakers uncovering the lives of Thomas More, Immanuel Kant, Byzantine Christianity, and Julian of Norwich. ...

Spanning the Decades: 1940s

Sarah Meyrick's third installment of Spanning the Decades features the research that went into The Restless Wave and her own personal history with Church Stowe, available for pre-order ...

Leading - The Millennial Way

Enjoy an excerpt and photos of the book launch from Simon Barrington's and Rachel Luetchford's new book Leading - The Millennial Way! Get your copy ...

Natural Holy Places: Britain's Top 10

Nick Mayhew-Smith, author of The Naked Hermit, rounds up a five-year journey into the wild sacred spaces of Britain with a top 10 list of the most enchanting holy ...

SPCK's Diffusion Project

All of us face personal struggles in our lives. Most us have the privilege of a stable upbringing, shelter, security and the safety that comes with ...

Mindfulness, Spirituality & Mental Health Awareness Week

Tim Stead, former Vicar, mindfulness teacher and author of See, Love, Be – Mindfulness and the spiritual life writes for Mental Health Awareness ...

Spanning the Decades: The Restless Wave

Sarah Meyrick's final post for our Spanning the Decades series is all about families and how to survive them. Order her new book, The Restless Wave, available ...

The Road to 'The Meaning of Life'

Alister McGrath chats with us about his new book Richard Dawkins, C.S. Lewis and the Meaning of ...

Prayer Experiment - Thank You Jar

With our partner publisher Baker Books, we've paired these two titles to help you find creative ways to pray for your whole family! Like this Thank You Jar activity from Miranda Threlfall-Holmes' The Prayer Experiment ...

United We Stand, Divided We Fall

Debra Green, author of Mountain Moving Prayer, is the National Director and founder of ROC which aims to work alongside the church in ways that demonstrate the Christian faith-in-action. She chats about how encouring faith to live out in ...

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 ...

World Hunger Day - We're Hungry Too

Sylvia Green chats about her book We’re Hungry Too, World Hunger Day and what you and your family can do to help through a fun ...

God is Great Collage - Children's Art Week 2019

To celebrate Children's Art Week 2019, we're sharing this great activity from The Prayer Experiment Notebook on creating a 'God is Great' collage. Tweet your child's finished collage to us at @SPCKPublishing for your chance to win a stack of our children's ...

Working with Richard Rohr

In his decades as a globally recognized teacher and Franciscan priest, Richard Rohr has helped millions understand and engage with matters of faith and spirituality. Alison Barr, Commissioning Editor and Publisher at SPCK tells us what it's like working with such an internationally renowned ...

Evangelism across the Cultures

Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy, BAME Mission and Ministry Enabler for the Diocese of Leicester writes about Evangelism across cultures in new book Anglican Evangelists. In this blog post will find an excerpt from this ...

Converting to Orthodoxy

Martin Dudley was a prominent Anglican priest at St Bartholomew's in the heart of the City of London. In March 2018 he was received into the Orthodox Church. Martin's upcoming book Being Orthodox is an accessible guide for those who seek to become or live as Orthodox Christians. In this blog post you will find out when and why he made the move to ...

Christian Resources Together (CRT) Awards 2019

SPCK books shortlisted for Christian Resources Together ...

World Population Day and Christian Demographics

Our Global Advocacy Manager Dr Angus Crichton reflects on the continuing expansion of humanity and the shift of worldwide ...

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 ...

The Man I'll Pray You'll Be

Author and mum Rachael Newham hopes for many things for her little boy, many of which are reflected in Martin Saunders' new book The Man You're Made to ...

What challenges will humanity face? - as explored in The Human Odyssey

Stephen Green's upcoming book The Human Odyssey raises important questions about the future of humanity. Will we all live in cities by the end of the century? Will conflict be unavoidable? Will we be on a journey towards self-centred individualism? In this blog post Stephen gives us an idea of what of to expect in his upcoming ...

Who was Miao Zizhong, Cedar of Lebanon?

The Communists earmarked Zhejiang as a 'religion-free zone' in the 1950s and 1960s, yet to the glory of God, Jesus Christ is worshipped today by more than 13 million people throughout the province. The story of Miao Zizhong is one of many personal stories in Zhejiang: The Jerusalem of China that depict the harsh realities of trying to ...

The Challenges of Urbanization

From one end of Eurasia to the other, societies are now either already highly urbanized or in the process of becoming so. In The Human Odyssey Stephen Green explores the challenges that are posed by this change. In the following blog post Stephen introduces us to his chapter on 'The forces unleashed by ...

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 ...

Storytelling at Greenbelt by Murray Watts

Storytelling has always been a big part of Murray Watts' life. It started with his mother reading him the works of Hans Andersen and Grimms' Fairy Tales, which later led to his live broadcasts of monologues and parables on Radio Merseyside in 1971. It's now come full circle to the publication of 'Yours Truly', a collection of 18 brilliant and ...

Christianity and Humour by James Cary

In the run-up to Greenbelt Festival comedy writer James Cary talks jokes, humour and ...

Augustine’s Confessions, the story of his journey to adult Christian faith

On 28th August we celebrate the feast of St Augustine of Hippo. Saint Augustine of Hippo was a Roman African, early Christian theologian and philosopher from Numidia. Saint Augustine of Hippo is just one of twenty Christians that Rowan Williams reflects upon in his new book Luminaries. In this extract we learn about 'Augustine's Confessions' ...

Measuring success in the Church - do the numbers count?

How do we measure success in the Church? Should we even be using the word 'success'? Are churches failing if they're not growing? And do numbers really count? Vicars are often faced with questions such as these and long-standing minister Alan Bartlett knows all about these challenges. Alan has been an Anglican priest for 25 years and is now working ...

New for September 2019

6 New books for September 2019. From autobiographies to anthologies there's something for everyone, so grab a hot drink and embrace the benefits of hygge with a new read for Autumn ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

"I have no tendency to be a saint" (John Henry Newman)

On 13th October 2019 Blessed John Henry Newman will be canonised a Saint by Pope Francis. Historian Eamon Duffy describes Newman's intellectual journey as one of the most remarkable of the nineteenth century. In John Henry Newman: A Very Brief History Eamon provides an engaging and judicious introduction on the life and legacy of this ...

Our first Catholic catalogue!

We're delighted to announce that our first Catholic catalogue has arrived! At SPCK we go beyond denominational labels and divisions, and aim to support all Christians in their exploration of their own faith. For this reason, we have gathered for the first time in one catalogue a substantial number of our titles by, for or about Catholics. We're ...

How true friendship breaks down the stigma of mental illness

Thursday 10th October is World Mental Health Day, a day to help raise awareness and encourage open conversation. This year's theme is suicide prevention. Rachael Newman was aged just six when she had her first suicidal thought. In her book Learning to Breathe she shares her journey into and out of the darkness of depression. In this extract from ...

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 ...

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 ...

How we can work together to create a truly inclusive church community

As we approach the end of Black History Month we're sharing an adapted extract from Ben Lindsay's book, We Need To Talk About Race. In this extract Ben explores the ways in which we can create an inclusive Church community effectively. He also discusses why inclusivity means much more than just having a diverse congregation, which, on its own, ...

Religion and GM Technology

In this extract from Has Science Killed God? Professor John Bryant discusses GM technology and the religious attitudes towards this ...

Hope unleashed from a firefighter

With news of the official report into the Grenfell Tower fire being released today Gaby Doherty, author of Grenfell Hope reflects on the courage shown by the firefighters as well as the criticism they faced for the policies they operated ...

Saints known and unknown

All Saints' Day is celebrated in honour of all saints, known and unknown. In Every Tribe we learn about saints from a wide range of backgrounds. Pauli Murray is one of them. She was canonized by the Episcopal Church in 2012. In this extract poet and teacher Rachel Laurence reflects on the legacy of this ...

10 ways to improve your church's physical presence

Have you ever looked at your church's physical presence through the eyes of a visitor? Ensuring that your church is easy to find, has clear signage, and is accessible are just some of the things that need to be considered when mapping your visitor's journey. In this blog post Mark Crosby, author of So Everyone Can Hear lists 10 steps for improving ...

The most unlikely art critic in the history of TV

SPCK’s Publishing Director, Philip Law, tells us about what it was like working with the late Sr Wendy Beckett. Not long before she died she agreed to compile a list of her all-time favourite paintings, the result is recently published Sister Wendy's 100 Best-loved Paintings. Sample pages from this exciting new art book are available to view ...

New for November 2019

With the clocks going back an hour and the weather getting a lot colder there's no matter time to treat yourself to a new book or two to see you through the Winter months. November sees the publication of a great selection of books. New books include the biography on cricketer and bishop David Sheppard and Rupert Shortt's rebuttal on Richard ...

How many of Sister Wendy's favourite paintings have you seen?

How many of Sister Wendy's favourite paintings have you seen in real life? Many paintings from the recently published Sister Wendy's 100 Best-loved Paintings are hanging up inside the National Gallery. We decided to visit the gallery to see how many we could ...

Does Richard Dawkins even agree with himself?

In his latest book Outgrowing God, Richard Dawkins tries to show that all religious belief is intellectually nonsensical and thus highly damaging in practice. In this extract from Rupert Shortt's rebuttal, Outgrowing Dawkins, Rupert presents his argument for why he thinks Dawkins's focus has not always been on ...

How to start your devotional journey

If you're looking for a new devotional or looking to start your devotional journey we've chosen three devotional books to help you to pause and reflect throughout the year ...

Top 10 Gifts for Him

Whether he's a fan of sport or an avid reader of suspense novels our ‘Top 10 Gifts for Him’ will inspire you to find that perfect book to gift this Christmas. Make sure you place your order before 19 December 2019 for pre-Christmas ...

What can I buy an Ordinand this Christmas?

Whether it's a book that celebrates the tradition of ordained pastoral ministry or a resource to help them communicate church in our ever-changing digital culture, there's sure to be a thoughtful and meaningful gift in our hand-picked selection of Christmas gifts for those training in ministry. Make sure you place your order before 19th December ...

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 ...

New Year, New You

Happy New Year! It's the start of a new year and a new decade and many of us will looking at the year ahead with the motivation to become better versions of ourselves. Whether you want to make sure that this year you take more time out to reflect and meditate, or you want to grow your faith in 2020, let us help you on this journey with these ...

Taking Action to Save Water

Water is a key theme throughout Saying Yes to Life: The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book 2020. Whilst Ruth Valerio reflects on light and water in relation to the Days of Creation (Genesis 1), she also relates this back to the environmental, ethical and social concern that we face today with Climate Change. In this extract from the book ...

Is there such a thing as ‘women’s spirituality’?

Do women write differently from men? Is there such a thing as ‘women’s spirituality’? Liz Hoare asks these questions and more in her introduction to Twelve Great Spiritual Writers. In this short extract from the introduction Liz reflects on the history of women as writers and explains why she has chosen to write about these twelve ...

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 ...

The Real Life of a Ministry Mum

Here's part two of our Q&A with Jules Middleton, a ministry mum whose upcoming book Breaking the Mould seeks to challenge the ‘shoulds’ and stereotypes that surround both roles. In this second part of our Q&A Jules tells us who inspires her and what advice she would give to parents with a call to ...

Revd Dr Thomas Bray, a man of humble origins

Today we're celebrating Bray Day, a day when SPCK and USPG come together for a church service and time of thanksgiving in remembrance of our co-founder the Revd Dr Thomas Bray. In this blog post, Duncan Dormor,Chief Executive of our sister society USPG, shares the history of our co-founder and the legacy he left ...

The Tudor Reformation

What do think of when you hear the term Reformation? Most would think of the process by which parts of Catholic Europe became Protestant. Professor Alec Ryrie writes that we shouldn't be distracted by this and instead tells us that the English Reformation was more of a political event rather than a religious one. Find out more in this extract ...

‘Don’t just pretend to love others – really love them’

Today is International Women's Day, a global event that celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. To tie in with this awareness day we're sharing an extract from Helen Roberts' new book The Comparison Trap. In this extract Helen reflects on a passage from Romans 12:9-15 (NLT) and explores Paul's letter ...

Our Lady of Vladimir

Ahead of Mothering Sunday we're sharing an extract from Love Set You Going by Janet Morley. In this extract the poem Our Lady of Vladimir by Rowan Williams is featured alongside a reflection by ...

Keeping up-to-date with SPCK authors

In this blog post you will find a list of author-led online events, radio interviews, Facebook LIVE events, Twitter takeovers and much ...

Digital Platforms for Churches During Coronavirus

How do you meet and connect with your church in place of gathered environments, small groups and pastoral conversations? Mark Crosby, author of So Everyone Can Hear explains the many digital platforms that are available and when best to use ...

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. ...

A Significant Milestone for the African Theological Network Press

Dr Angus Crichton, SPCK's Global Advocacy Manager gives us an update on ATNP, the African Theological Network Press. ATNP is one of SPCK's charitable programmes, an ecumenical venture, committed to serving the church in Africa and the ...

Social Imagination, African Politics and the African Theological Network Press

This World Book Day we're sharing another ATNP update from Dr Angus Crichton, SPCK's Global Advocacy Manager. The African Theological Network Press (ATNP) is one of SPCK's charitable programmes, an ecumenical venture, committed to serving the church in Africa and the ...

Q&A with David Wilbourne, Author of Just John

David Wilbourne has been a 'John Habgood observer' for 37 years. Just John: The Authorized Biography of John Habgood has been a long time in the making, as we learn in this Q&A with David it took four years to complete just one chapter. Find out in this first part of our Q&A what it was like to write this biography and whether David, ...

Publishing in a Pandemic - How is Ready to Rise helping to empower readers during this time

Jo Saxton's book Ready to Rise is hitting the shelves and virtual shelves at an unprecedented time of global crisis. Naturally, Jo didn't have a global pandemic in mind when she put pen to paper, but readers have told her that they feel this book is empowering them for this moment. We catch up with Jo in this Q&A and find out her ...

You are not alone, an extract from Baby Change

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is a week-long campaign dedicated to talking about mental illness during and after pregnancy. In the introduction to Baby Change, Anne Calver writes that she '...did not find anything to help parents emotionally, mentally or spiritually as they prepared for and transitioned into life as mums and dads'. In ...

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 ...

He is Our Anchor of Hope, an extract from Broken by Fear, Anchored in Hope

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and we're sharing an extract from Rob Merchant's upcoming book: Broken by Fear, Anchored in Hope. Drawing on his own experience, Rob shows how healing starts when we acknowledge and accept our vulnerability. Knowing our place before God and surrendering wholly to Christ, we can discover forgiveness and ...

What is it like to be a young carer?

Today marks the start of Carers Week, an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. According to the last census, there are 166,000 young carers in England, but recent research suggests that the actual figure ...

What is Resilience? And Why Now is the Time to Practise It

Several years ago when Meg Warner began writing the drafts for Joseph: A Story of Resilience Brexit was only a 'pipe dream'. Later, in the editing stages Brexit had become the greatest challenge to have struck the UK for many decades. In March 2020, the book entered the final stages of publishing and the coronavirus pandemic had threatened to ...

Mental Health and Wellbeing during a Time of Uncertainty

In this time of uncertainty, it is even more important to pay attention to our mental health and wellbeing, checking our blind spots and being honest with ourselves and others. It is this honesty that make Rob Merchant’s Broken By Fear, Anchored In Hope such an important book for this season. Here, Rachael Bell and Simon Ponsonby ...

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 ...

Lesson 90: Be Nice

Tola Doll Fisher reflects on Ephesians 4.31, and how it can be used to remind us to not engage in behaviour that can negatively impact another's mental health. This extract from her book Still Standing is Lesson 90: Be ...

The Medical Clergyman

Who do you go to when you’ve got a fever or broken limb? Your local vicar probably wouldn’t be the first person you would think of. Before the year 1858, medicine could be practised by a wide variety of people. A scientifically minded clergyman was one of them. In this extract from Caves, Coprolites, and Catastrophes, historian Allan ...

The cure is in the illness - a reflection from Fr Laurence Freeman

'If one had to be confined anywhere, Bonnevaux is a beautiful prison and the community I was incarcerated with did not riot or make unreasonable demands'. Fr Laurence Freeman reflects on his time in lockdown. This reflection was originally published in the WCCM newsletter and has been re-shared with ...

Enemies can be our best spiritual friends - a reflection from Fr Laurence Freeman

'The crisis has exposed fundamental flaws in our view of the world, our environment and social structures. We are all in the same storm, rich and poor, north and south. But we are clearly not in the same boat'. Fr Laurence Freeman reflects on the effects of Covid-19. This reflection was originally published in the WCCM newsletter and has been ...

Our first response needs to be silence - a reflection from Fr Laurence Freeman

'The pandemic has reminded us of our inherent solidarity as a human family. It has also exposed the forces at work – like bad government, greedy money-makers and the obscene gulf between rich and poor - that demand correction or punishment'.  Fr Laurence Freeman reflects on the effects of Covid-19. This reflection was originally ...

First day back, so teacher training.

'First day back, so teacher training. Classes arrive tomorrow. A tedious day, but we could wear jeans, drink our coffee hot and go to the toilet when we chose'.  A familiar scene for many who work in education. In this extract from Miss, What Does Incomprehensible Mean? We learn what the first two days of term are like for ...

From the quiet science lab to the macho police college

'Leaving the quiet, sterile environment of science research for the macho, militaristic culture of Hendon was a massive culture shock. You could smell the testosterone in the air the moment you passed through the gates into the campus'. In this extract from Closing Ranks: My Life as a Cop, Leroy Logan tells us about his first night at Hendon Police ...

'... a springboard for future sustainable change' - Black History Month 2020

As we celebrate Black History Month this October, we ask retired superintendent Dr Leroy Logan, MBE what Black History Month means to ...

National Poetry Day 2020 - Hope by George Herbert

National Poetry Day is celebrated every year on the first Thursday of October, and encourages everyone to enjoy, discover and share poetry. With this in mind, we are sharing a poem by George Herbert called Hope, with a commentary from Mark Oakley. This is an extract from Mark Oakley's volume My Sour-Sweet Days: George Herbert and the Journey of the ...

Lessons from Loss

Baby Loss Awareness Week takes place 9th - 15th October and is an opportunity for the bereaved to unite with others across the world to commemorate their babies’ lives. In this extract from Still Standing, Tola Doll Fisher reflects on the feelings she experienced after losing her daughter ...

Who doesn’t like making top-ten lists?

In this extract from We are Satellites by Martin Saunders, we learn how lists of favourite films, books, music or games all have one thing in common, and that is: the creative arts. With creative arts having the same common root of human creativity, where does that creativity come ...

The Art of Remembering, an extract for All Souls' Day 2020

With outdoor services, prayer walks, and light displays, All Souls' Day will look very different this year. Commemorating the faithfully departed can be an emotional time for many. Young people in particular can have a difficult time with bereavement. Whether they have lost a family member or friend, there are often little reminders of their lost ...

Utterly Brilliant! Timmy Mallett in Conversation with Tony Prince

Join Timmy Mallett in conversation with Tony Prince on 18th November at 7:30pm on Zoom. Timmy will be talking about his amazing solo cycle ride across Europe on the ancient pilgrimage route - the Camino de Santiago - and capturing the adventure in paintings as he travelled. Register here to avoid ...

What to buy your minister this Christmas

In this blog post you will find a selection of gift ideas for vicars, pastors, and those training in ministry. Whether they are expanding their church’s online presence, are involved with the Living in Love and Faith developments, or looking for ways that their church can be fully inclusive, these books will nourish leaders and help them to ...

Thoughtful Gifts for Her

If you’re unsure what to buy your wife, girlfriend, sister, mother, or daughter, then look no further as we suggest some gift ideas to help you find that perfect ...

Christmas Gift Ideas for Him

If you're in need of some inspiration for a book to gift him this Christmas, let us help you find that perfect read with our Christmas Gift Ideas for ...

Our Need for Renewal - Reflecting back on SPCK’s 2020 Annual Lecture

SPCK’s well-received AGM and annual lecture on 19 November gave us all, “much to ponder and act on.” as one attendee told us. The virtual event was hosted by broadcast journalist, Genelle Aldred in conversation with four esteemed SPCK authors who shared their understanding of ‘renewal’ and responded to questions from ...

How to keep yourself busy this Christmas

If you're facing Christmas alone, or need some inspiration for keeping busy this Christmas we hope that this list of activities will help to put your mind at ...

Apprentice to Jesus - Discipleship School

Join Cris Rogers for Lent 2021 to either engage or re-engage in your discipleship and apprenticeship in the way of Jesus. Every Monday evening in Lent, Rogers invites you to be part of a discipleship coaching group based upon his new book Apprentice to Jesus. The group will meet for 75 mins online for an inspirational and helpful coaching ...

Smile while you shop

It has been scientifically proven that altruism is good for us. Not just that warm fuzzy feeling of doing a nice thing but an act of kindness - thinking of someone or a cause and intentionally doing something which takes us outside of ourselves to benefit ...

Miss, What Does Unprecedented Mean?

The pandemic has doubled if not tripled the workload and the angst for teachers. Some colleagues I know are physically in the classroom, teaching surprisingly-large numbers of pupils while streaming those lessons live to pupils at home. Fran Hill, author of Miss, What Does Incomprehensible Mean? tells us what teaching in a pandemic ...

Are UK churches doing enough to fight climate change?

Just 1 in 10 young people believe their church is doing enough to respond to the climate crisis. What can the Church do to combat this concern among young ...

SPCK Authors at Spring Harvest Home 2021

The Spring Harvest Home 2021 line-up has been announced and we're delighted to see so many SPCK authors taking ...

'A challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change'

#ChoosetoChallenge is this year's theme for International Women's Day. With this mind, we are sharing an extract from Josephine Butler: A Very Brief History. Josephine challenged social attitudes to women and campaigned for women's rights. In this extract, author Jane Robinson tells us about Josephine's far-reaching influence, and how one of her ...

Q&A with Rebecca Parkinson, author of Goodnight World

In this blog post we catch up with Rebecca Parkinson, and find out more about her latest book Goodnight ...

Remembering Answered Prayers

Why is it important to remember our answered prayers? How might remembering these prayers help us in a pandemic? Find out in this Q&A with Richard Gamble, author of ...

SPCK Group Press Release 21 April 2021

The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) and the AFD Group today announce it has been agreed that SPCK will acquire from AFD the publishing business of Lion ...

Unbelievable? The Conference 2021

This year’s conference is hosted by Justin Brierley & Ruth Jackson. It will bring together world-renowned historians, theologians and communicators, including NT Wright, Tom Holland, Clare Williams and Sean & Josh ...

What would the Ascension look like in a sitcom?

It’s a strange thing to consider, but what would the Ascension look like if it was portrayed in a ...

Robots, AI and human uniqueness: learning what not to fear

In the run-up to tonight’s Panorama episode on artificial intelligence, we’re sharing an extract from The Robot Will See You ...

World Oceans Day 2021

Today is World Oceans Day. There is much we can do to help protect the oceans. You will find a couple of examples in these extracts from upcoming book Planet ...

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 ...

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 ...

SPCK Authors at United Breaks Out 2021

Find out which SPCK authors are taking part in United Breaks Out ...

Re-imagining how we worship

Now that we can gather together again, Nick and Becky Drake share their thoughts on returning to the church building and how we can re-imagine how we worship ...

The New Rules of Social Media

When used correctly, social media can be a helpful tool for youth leaders. There is of course a dark side to social media. In this extract from Leadership 101, Tim Alford, National Director of Limitless provides 5 top tips for using social media ...

2021 CRT Awards

Find out in this blog post which SPCK books have been shortlisted for the 2021 CRT ...

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 ...

SPCK Group Press Release 4 October 2021

The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) and the Catholic Bible School today announces the merger of the Catholic Bible School into SPCK’s range of publishing and ministry activities, strengthening further SPCK’s offering to the Roman Catholic ...

Saying Yes to Life: 2 Years On

Ahead of COP26, we're sharing the impact of Saying Yes to Life in helping people get involved with the climate crisis all around the ...

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 ...

SPCK Group Press Release 9 November 2021

The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) and the York Courses Limited today announce SPCK's acquisition of the publishing rights to York Courses. ...

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 ...

SPCK Group Press Release 13 January 2022

The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) today announces the appointment of two new Key Account Managers. ...

SPCK Authors at Spring Harvest 2022

Spring Harvest at Minehead starts next week and we're thrilled that many of our talented SPCK authors are participating at events throughout the week. To celebrate we're offering 20% off books from authors speaking at Spring Harvest. ...

Easter Reading For All The Family

Celebrate Easter this weekend with a selection of reflections, meditations, and Bible story books that the whole family can ...

20% Off Mental Health Resources

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we've put together a selection of SPCK titles that encourage and support mental health, from inspirational biographies to insightful books on mindfulness and self-care. All 20% Off this ...

Loneliness Awareness Week 2022: what can faith teach us about isolation and despair?

For Loneliness Awareness Week 2022, we’re highlighting some of our books that speak profoundly to mental illness, and how to pursue faith amid loneliness and ...

Tyndale Fellowship Conference 2022

The Tyndale Fellowship Conference is taking place this week and we've included some SPCK titles that will be discussed during the six study groups across the ...

SPCK Group and Wiley: New Distribution Announcement

SPCK Group is pleased to announce a consolidation in its distribution arrangements. ...

SPCK and Lexham Press announce UK partnership

SPCK is pleased to announce that it will become the sole sales and distribution partner for Lexham Press in the UK and the European Union (EU). Lexham Press titles will be available from Wiley Distribution Services from 15th January ...

CRT Awards 2022

Find out in this blog post which books from the SPCK Group have been shortlisted for the 2022 CRT ...

Made to Rise Event - Exploring mental health and transformational faith

Register for our Made to Rise free event on September 22nd where we will discuss mental health and transformational faith with SPCK authors Pastor Mick Fleming, John-Paul Flintoff and ...

Remembrance Sunday

To mark Remembrance Day, taking place this Sunday, we've created a free Remembrance Day Service to use at home or at ...

Our charity has been promoting Christian knowledge for over 300 years – now Christians are in the minority

 As a charity who has spent the last 300 years promoting Christianity, we see in the rejection of nominal Christianity (people identifying themselves as Christian out of routine or family tradition, rather than necessarily practicing the faith), an opportunity born out of ...

Book reading by the Archbishop of York

Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, will be in York Minster’s Lady Chapel from 10.30am on Saturday 17 December to give a reading from his children’s book, The Sleepy Shepherd. ...

Blue Monday Week: Save 10% on Mental Health Resources

Banish January Blues and save 10% this Blue Monday Week on inspirational and uplifting Mental Health Resources. ...

Joshua Luke Smith Hosts Stories & Psalms - Free Event

Joshua Luke Smith, author of Something You Once Knew, is hosting Stories & Psalms at Kings X Church on January 30th at 7:30 pm. Find out more here. ...

An Evening With Pastor Mick Fleming

Join SPCK Author Pastor Mick Fleming at St Paul's Weston for a BookClub ...

Cathy Madavan and Why Less Means More

Cathy Madavan, author of Irrepressible, has a new book out this month - Why Less Means More. Learn how you can leave fear and franticness behind and discover that less can really lead to more. Save £2 OFF this month with our coupon code. ...

The Promise and Peril of AI: An interview with Stephen N. Williams

Delve into the fascinating and complex world of Artificial Intelligence with Stephen N. Williams, co-editor of The Robot Will See You Now. Learn about the potential benefits and ethical considerations associated with AI, and explore the ongoing debate on whether AI research is moving too fast. Don't miss our 20% OFF Discount Code! ...

Coronation Sale: Enjoy 20% OFF the entire website!

Celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty The King Charles III this Saturday, the 6th of May, with 20% OFF our entire website until May ...

SPCK Authors at Big Church Festival: Storytelling and Crafting Tent!

Join us and our amazing authors at our Storytelling Tent at Big Church Day Out on the 27th & 28th of May! Crafting space, chill out library and live readings from all your favourite children's authors, and ...

The Company of Heaven Catherine Fox Blog Tour

Join Catherine Fox, author of Company of Heaven - the fifth book in the beloved Lindchester Chronicles series, on her fabulous blog tour taking place on the 18th- 26th of ...

SPCK Author Sir Terry Waite appointed Knight Commander

We're thrilled to congratulate SPCK author Sir Terry Waite on his appointment as Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) for his services to ...

SPCK Authors at Creation Fest!

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

SPCK Authors at Satellites

Join Gemma Hunt, author of See! Let's Be A Good Friend and See! Let's Be Me, and Lauren Windle, author of Notes on Love and Notes on Feminism at ...

Arun Arora speaking at Living Well Conference on the 4th November

Arun Arora, author of Stick With Love, will be speaking at Living Well Conference on Sat, 4 ...

SPCK January New Releases

Explore our fantastic six new titles out this ...

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. ...

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! ...

Explore Our February New Releases

Discover our amazing new releases this month! From the perfect baptism, christening and dedication gifts to our multimillion bestselling children's Bible - The Children's Bible in 365 Stories, there is sure to be something for every child this ...

Share Your Love of Reading this World Book Day!

Share your love of reading this World Book Day! With over half of children saying they don't enjoying reading, it's more important than ever to support children in learning how to love reading. We've compiled some of our bestselling children's books we know children and young readers will ...

Discover our March New Releases

Discover our new releases this March! From My Big Story Bible by bestselling author Tom Wright to Lauren Windle's insightful and entertaining Notes on Feminism, there's a book everyone can ...

Celebrate Earth Day With 7 Earth-Friendly Reads For Kids

Today is Earth Day! Celebrate Earth Day with your child or grandchild with 7 inspiring fiction and nonfiction books all about the Earth and the environment. These captivating books will inspire kids to make god's world a cleaner and more beautiful place to ...

Discover our New May Releases

Explore our fantastic new releases for ...

SPCK Authors Speaking at Big Church Day Out!

SPCK Authors Speaking at The Big Church Festival are Joshua Luke Smith, Paul Kerensa, Dai Woolridge, Sarah Yardley and Cath ...

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 ...

SPCK Authors At St Andrews Literature Festival

St Andrews Bookshop will be hosting their first ever annual Christian literature festival! We're thrilled that several of our authors will be speaking at the ...

Discover Our New June Releases

Explore our amazing new releases this ...

17 Books We Can't Wait To Read This Summer!

Explore seventeen wonderful books that we can't wait to read this ...

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 ...

SPCK Authors Speaking at Creation Fest 2024!

Discover the amazing SPCK authors speaking at Creation Fest this year - Lauren Windle, Shell Perris, and Natalie ...

Discover Our CRT 2024 Award-Winning Books!

We're delighted that two of our books have been awarded CRT awards - Brighter Days by Patrick Regan for Christian Life Book of the Year and Tom Wright's My Big Story Bible for Children's Book of the ...

Rachel Mann Do Not Be Afraid Advent Videos

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

Guest Post: SPCK Author Natalie Collins

SPCK Author Natalie Collins writes about the importance of ending men's violence against women on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against ...

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. ...

SPCK at the London Book Fair 2025

Visit SPCK at the London Book Fair 2025 (March 11–13) at Olympia ...

World Book Day 2025: Costume Inspiration for Kids & Parents

Struggling to find the perfect World Book Day 2025 costume? Discover creative, easy, and fun book character costume ideas to bring your favourite stories to ...

SPCK Shortlisted for Independent Publisher of the Year at the 2025 British Book Awards

SPCK is honoured to be shortlisted for Independent Publisher of the Year at the 2025 British Book Awards, reflecting our commitment to publishing Great Christian books and inspiring readers ...

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 ...

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 ...

John Lennox: Apologetics and Christ’s Return

Renowned Oxford mathematician and Christian apologist John Lennox will speak at the Cambridge Apologetics Conference 2025 on how Christ’s return and the renewal of creation shape Christian witness ...

John Lennox Speaking on the Book of Daniel at Teach the Word 2025

Renowned Oxford mathematician and Christian apologist John Lennox explores the compelling relevance of the Book of Daniel at Teach the Word 2025 in Oxford, in a family-friendly conference designed to inspire and ...

5 Inspiring Books for Your Faith Journey

Explore 5 inspiring books to help you grow in faith, build spiritual habits, and navigate life’s big questions with ...

SPCK Shortlisted in Three Categories at the CRT Awards 2025!

SPCK Publishing is honoured to be shortlisted in three categories at the CRT Awards 2025, celebrating Discovering Christianity by Rowan Williams and The Girl from Montego Bay by Rose ...

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 ...

Witney Book Launch: Rachael Newham & Rachel Bearn Share Their Inspiring New Books

Join SPCK authors Rachael Newham and Rachel Bearn in Witney on 27th September for an evening of inspiration, faith, and the launch of their new books Beloved is Where We Begin and A Year to Slow ...

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 ...

SPCK Group Celebrates 50 Years at Frankfurt Book Fair

SPCK Group celebrates 50 years at the Frankfurt Book Fair, honouring our enduring legacy of faith, innovation, and commitment to connecting readers ...

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 ...

Guest Post: Why Belovedness Matters More Than Resolutions This New Year

In her heartfelt guest post, Rachael Newham, author of Beloved is Where We Begin, invites readers to embrace gentleness and God’s love in the New Year instead of chasing unrealistic ...

SPCK Group to Lead Sales & Distribution for Baylor University Press

From July 2026, SPCK will represent Baylor University Press's academic and non-academic titles across Europe, South Africa, the Far East, Australasia, and ...

My Creator Calling: A Poem from Hope Rising 365 by Meg Cannon

An encouraging poem from Meg Cannon’s Hope Rising 365 explores how God meets us in our weakness and calls us from darkness into hope and new ...

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 ...

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 ...

John Lennox Tells His Story At Last

Discover My Story by John C. Lennox, a powerful autobiography exploring faith, science, and a lifetime of defending the Christian ...

The Story Behind You: A Special Gift

Discover You: A Special Gift, a warm and uplifting picture book by Deborah Lock about identity, faith, and the light each child ...

Our Royal Patron in Congress

Following King Charles III’s address to Congress, SPCK reflects on faith, friendship and a 300-year story of Christian books carrying hope across the ...