Search results for: 'good of'

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 ...

Laura Barry
2 Nov 2025

Dame Sarah Mullally Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury

SPCK celebrates Dame Sarah Mullally, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, and her inspiring Advent and Lent ...

Laura Barry
6 Mar 2026

What Is the True Mark of Christian Discipleship?

Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, reflects on the Emmaus story and why sharing the good news of Jesus lies at the heart of authentic Christian ...

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 ...

3 Jul 2018

When doodles become designs -- illustrations for Out of the Silence by Terry Waite

Terry Waite’s Out of the Silence was illustrated by his friend Jenny Coles. One simple drawing led to her drawing all of the pictures in his book. Here, she discusses how that evolved and what the process was ...

5 Sept 2018

SPCK's work for International Day of Charity

Today is the International Day of Charity. Charities have received a bad press in recent years: the safeguarding scandal at Oxfam, the collapse of Kids Company and the hassling of the poppy seller Olive Cooke are but three examples. Sadly, the UK’s 165,000 small charities are suffering because of the cynicism created by the actions of a few ...

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 ...

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 ...

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16 May 2019

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 ...

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1 Aug 2019

A Day of Hope: Empowering Teenage Girls and Youth Leaders

On 31st August we will be holding A Day of Hope: Empowering Teenage Girls and Youth Leaders. This event will empower and equip teenage girls to face all the challenges of life with faith in themselves and faith in God. With speakers including Meg Cannon, Jessie Faeber, Rachael Newham and more, this is an event not to be missed! Find out more in ...

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6 Aug 2019

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 ...

Emma Collins
15 Nov 2019

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 ...

Emma Collins
18 Mar 2021

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 ...

Emma Collins
6 Aug 2021

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 ...

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 ...

15 Oct 2018

Wave of Light - Baby Loss Awareness Week

It was only two years ago that I found the Wave of Light on Facebook. Now in its sixteenth year, on the 15th of October women who have miscarried are encouraged to light a candle to commemorate their lost ones, posting their photos on social media with the hashtag #WaveofLight. I joined in, lighting a single stubby candle in honour of my four, ...

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 ...

8 Nov 2018

World Quality Day: what makes a good business?

SPCK Fundraising Assistant Catriona Brickel reflects on the values of SPCK as a company. On World Quality Day, she considers the core beliefs and principles of a good ...

Emma Collins
14 Oct 2019

Why you should read this book... Q&A with Tricia Goyer, author of Twice Rescued Child

We catch up with Tricia Goyer, author of Twice Rescued Child. She tells us what inspired her to write the book and what we as readers can take away from the ...

Emma Collins
8 Nov 2019

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 ...

Emma Collins
14 Feb 2020

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 ...

Laura Barry
7 Mar 2024

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 ...

Laura Barry
29 Jul 2025

Join Katie Piper for the Magical Launch of Your Greatest Gift – 19th August at Waterstones

Join Katie Piper OBE for the joyful launch of her new children’s book Your Greatest Gift on 19th August at Waterstones Trafalgar Square, an inspiring family event sponsored by NSPCC and ...

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12 Aug 2019

Mark Oakley on Greenbelt Festival and the Poet George Herbert

We catch up with Mark Oakley to find out more about his appearance at Greenbelt Festival. We also hear about his admiration for two great poets, one of which he reflects upon in his upcoming book, My Sour-Sweet ...

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 ...

Laura Barry
6 Apr 2023

Amy Scott Robinson Discusses her Adventuring Girls series

Amy Scott Robinson, author of the Adventuring Girls series, discusses traditional fairytales, fierce heroines, and what she hoped to achieve with her Adventuring Girls series. ...

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1 May 2019

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 ...

Rio Summers
23 Oct 2025

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 ...

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
20 Apr 2026

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 ...

25 May 2018

Comedic timing: Paul Kerensa on his newest writing venture

Headlining our Comedy and Cheese event on 23 May, Paul Kerensa spoke about the importance of humour in faith and parodied some popular songs, giving them a scriptural interpretation. The set had everyone laughing. For those who were unable to attend the event, we've asked him to report why it was important to him to retell Biblical stories ...

8 Sept 2018

SPCK works to improve prisoners’ literacy skills

Rebecca Mulhearn is the project manager for Diffusion. She previously worked as a commissioning editor for SPCK and lives in Bedfordshire with her husband, two daughters and cat. In honour of International Literacy Day, she blogs about her work with Diffusion, a programme designed to help prisoners improve their literacy ...

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 ...

Emma Collins
14 Apr 2020

Mindful Walking

With many of you going out for daily exercise, how many times would you say that you were mindful of your surroundings? Graham User writes that he has two approaches to walking, one that focuses on the amount of steps and time it takes him, and the other to pay attention to his surroundings such as patterns in the sky, birdsong or sounds of ...

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
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 ...

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 ...

Catherine Reynolds
30 Apr 2018

Grenfell Hope: Stories from the Community

The Grenfell Tower fire broke out on 14th June 2017 in North Kensington. Over 150 homes were destroyed and there were more than 70 ...

Catherine Reynolds
8 Jun 2018

Long Story Short: Why We're Living

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

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16 Jun 2018

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. ...

8 Oct 2018

Christian publishing – in Italy, Lebanon, Burkina Faso

SPCK Editor Tony Collins is on our blog discussing international publishing. It’s all too easy to assume that the twin focal points of Christian publishing, America and Britain, define what is happening worldwide in Christian books. Look a little closer, and you would be amazed at the diversity, energy, and enthusiasm of publishers and ...

20 Jun 2018

6 Questions for Alan Mordue

Continuing on with Independent Bookshop Week, we chatted with our sales director Alan Mordue about unexpectedly successful books, sales conferences, and his favourite part of being a sales ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

1 Aug 2018

A Chat with Stephen Cottrell

1 August is Play Day, which encourages the value of play and imagination. Our author Stephen Cottrell has always told stories to his children. Now, he has written a children’s story too. Read about the origins of his new book The Sleepy ...

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 ...

16 Aug 2018

A Chat with Editor Tony Collins

19 August is World Humanitarian Day. Our Editor Tony Collins blogs about our upcoming book They Called Us Love and the inspiration behind ...

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 ...

10 Sept 2018

What Not To Say To People Who Have Depression

We all wish we could help our friends and family who are hurting. Sometimes, the things we say to try to comfort them can actually do more harm than good. Rachael Newham, author of Learning To Breathe, considers what we should and shouldn’t say when speaking to someone who has ...

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 ...

17 Sept 2018

Funny Man Paul Kerensa’s 5 Tips for Comedy

On 19 October, we’ll be at The Museum of Comedy for Three Funny Men, an event featuring Simon Jenkins, James Cary, and Paul Kerensa. Tickets are available here. Paul shares his wisdom about comedy events with ...

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 ...

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 Oct 2018

Faith carries us through hardship

We all want to contribute to something that is bigger than ourselves. We all want to make a difference in the lives of the people around us. When we serve people who need our help, we might be putting our own lives at risk. They Called Us Love is the story of a woman whose call to service was bigger than her own personal struggle. April’s ...

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 ...

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 ...

1 Nov 2018

Kate Charles on writing

It’s officially #NaNoWriMo and we’re chatting with Kate Charles today about books and ...

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 ...

16 Nov 2018

Caring for yourself whilst you care for others

Dr Jennifer Bute, author of the new book Dementia From The Inside, was once a missionary doctor in Africa, and later a GP and educator for 25 years until she developed dementia. Jennifer had to resign from her work but realised understanding dementia from the inside was a ‘glorious opportunity’. Now Jennifer is much in demand as a ...

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 ...

5 Dec 2018

Managing MS Naturally

Tessa Buckley grew up near Epsom race course in Surrey. As a child, she spent a lot of time writing and illustrating stories. After leaving school, she studied interior design at Chelsea College of Art and worked in architecture and design in London until 1989, when she was forced to give up her career after developing multiple sclerosis. That was ...

10 Dec 2018

You Didn’t Tell Me I Had To Do Something!

Sean Stillman, author of God’s Biker, shares his thoughts for Human Rights ...

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 ...

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 ...

17 Dec 2018

6 Questions for Kenneth Stevens

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

19 Dec 2018

Life-affirming memoirs make perfect Christmas gifts

Everything Happens For A Reason (And Other Lies I've Loved) by Kate Bowler was picked as one of Bill Gates's top reads this past summer. It was a great book to read in your hammock on the beach, and it's still fabulous to read cuddled up by the fire with a cup of cocoa. Life-affirming memoirs resonate with us all year ...

19 Dec 2018

Q&A with John Goldingay

John Goldingay and Tom Wright recently published The Bible For Everyone. We chat with John about the skills a good translator needs and the importance of providing an updated ...

21 Dec 2018

Q&A with Janet Morley

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

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 ...

8 Jan 2019

Everyone has a funny travel story: Terry Waite's newest narrative

Terry Waite shares his thoughts on Travels with a Primate, his upcoming book. What’s it like to be an advisor to the Archbishop of Canterbury? ...

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 ...

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 ...

7 Feb 2019

Remembering Michael Green

Our author Michael Green passed away on 6 February ...

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 ...

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8 Mar 2019

I'm a bit like a mosquito

On International Women's Day, Hope Rising 365 author Meg Cannon is on the blog to talk about the women whose wisdom and wonder inspire Meg ...

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13 Mar 2019

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 ...

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19 Mar 2019

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 ...

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26 Mar 2019

Terry Waite on prison reform and rehabilitation - part 2

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27 Mar 2019

Terry Waite at Southwark Cathedral

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

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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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11 Apr 2019

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. ...

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15 Apr 2019

Spanning the Decades

Sarah Meyrick introduces our new blog series where she takes you through the decades of her new novel, The Restless Wave, as well as inspiring stories from her own family ...

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26 Apr 2019

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 ...

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13 May 2019

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 ...

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17 May 2019

Prayer Experiment - Minecraft Church

Looking to engage your family in new creative ways of prayer? 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 Minecraft Church activity from Miranda Threlfall-Holmes' The Prayer Experiment ...

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21 May 2019

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 ...

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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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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 ...

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8 Jun 2019

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 ...

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7 Jun 2019

Q&A with Debbie Flood

SPCK’s Partnerships Director, Primavera Quantrill, spoke to Olympic Rower Debbie ...

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4 Jul 2019

Coffee with Sarah Meyrick

Sarah Meyrick recently published her second novel, The Restless Wave. Set across three generations, the book emcompasses themes such as love, family, faith and history, with some of her inspiration coming from her own family history. We managed to find a quiet few minutes to catch up with Sarah and talk about all things ...

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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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30 Jul 2019

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 ...

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9 Aug 2019

Book Launch on the Thames with Cole Moreton

Join Cole Moreton aboard the Tamesis for the London launch of his book The Light Keeper. If you're situated on the South Coast there's a few other events to keep in your diary too. Find out more in this blog post taken from Cole's latest ...

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22 Aug 2019

Christianity and Humour by James Cary

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

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30 Aug 2019

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 ...

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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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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
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
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 ...

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
28 Oct 2019

Religion and GM Technology

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

Emma Collins
30 Oct 2019

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 ...

Emma Collins
4 Nov 2019

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 ...

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
20 Nov 2019

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 ...

Emma Collins
4 Dec 2019

New for December 2019

December sees the publication of a great selection of titles for Lent 2020. So if you've started your Lenten preparations early make sure to keep an eye out for these new books. Highlights include Saying Yes to Life: The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book 2020 and The Glory of the Cross by Cardinal Vincent ...

Emma Collins
12 Dec 2019

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 ...

Emma Collins
10 Jan 2020

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 ...

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
17 Feb 2020

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 ...

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
20 Mar 2020

10 Ways to Combat Jealousy

To tie in with the publication of The Comparison Trap, author Helen Roberts suggests 10 ways that we can combat ...

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23 Mar 2020

Uplifting books for you and others

In this blog post you will find a copy of our enewsletter that went out to subscribers last week. In this you will find a sample chapter from Terry Waite's book Out of the Silence, and some recommendations for uplifting books to read. Those books with eBook editions currently have 50% off (ends 25th ...

Emma Collins
27 Mar 2020

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 ...

Emma Collins
7 Apr 2020

Escapism Reads for Uncertain Times

In these uncertain times being able to immerse yourself in a good book can be a welcome escape. In this blog post you will find book suggestions from our fiction imprint: Marylebone ...

Emma Collins
16 Apr 2020

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 ...

Emma Collins
24 Apr 2020

Oh God, help - an extract from Godbothering

Why bother with God? Do you know what matters in life? What are the limits of kindness? Why doesn’t God intervene? What are you worth? For twenty years, bestselling novelist Rhidian Brook has pondered such questions on Radio 4's Thought for the Day. 100 of his thoughts have been recently published in his book Godbothering. We're sharing ...

Emma Collins
28 May 2020

Tears, Locked Doors and Doubt - an extract from God and the Pandemic

Today sees the publication of Tom Wright's new book God and the Pandemic: A Christian Reflection on the Coronavirus and its Aftermath. In this extract from the book Tom Wright draws parallels between the tears, locked doors and doubt that are present in the Gospel of John with the tears, locked doors and doubt that we are experiencing ...

Emma Collins
10 Jun 2020

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 ...

Emma Collins
23 Jul 2020

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 ...

Emma Collins
7 Aug 2020

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 ...

Emma Collins
25 Aug 2020

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 ...

Emma Collins
15 Sept 2020

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 ...

Emma Collins
29 Sept 2020

'... 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 ...

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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
1 Dec 2020

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 ...

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22 Dec 2020

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 ...

Emma Collins
19 Jan 2021

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 ...

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2 Feb 2021

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 ...

Emma Collins
13 Apr 2021

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 ...

Emma Collins
12 May 2021

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 ...

Emma Collins
25 Jun 2021

The Case for Christianity, as told by a lawyer

'Lawyers are meant to be interested in proof. What’s the proof for Christianity?'. A question often presented to Simon Edwards, the subject of ‘proof’ brings with it much debate. Christianity cannot be demonstrated as true in the same way that a mathematical equation can be, so how can it be ...

Emma Collins
2 Jul 2021

Notes on Love Book Launch

Find out how you can attend the launch of Notes on Love in the following blog ...

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
22 Jul 2021

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 ...

Emma Collins
23 Aug 2021

2021 CRT Awards

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

Laura Barry
14 Apr 2022

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. ...

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1 Jun 2022

The Queen and SPCK

Over the past 70 years of her reign, Queen Elizabeth’s support for SPCK and its mission has remained steadfast, a continuation of the centuries of royal patronage we have enjoyed since our charity was founded by Thomas Bray in ...

Emma Collins
30 Nov 2022

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 ...

Laura Barry
16 Jan 2023

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. ...

Laura Barry
16 Jan 2023

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 ...

Laura Barry
2 May 2023

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 ...

Laura Barry
11 May 2023

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 ...

Laura Barry
19 Jun 2023

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 ...

Laura Barry
4 Aug 2023

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 ...

Laura Barry
11 Oct 2023

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 ...

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! ...