Dover, 2026
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Richard Ashcroft - Sonnet.
Saturday, 13 June 2026
International Times: Compressed Depths
My latest article for International Times has book reviews of 'Devotions' by Lucy Caldwell and 'Catholic Modernism and the Irish ‘Avant-Garde’: The Achievement of Brian Coffey, Denis Devlin, and Thomas MacGreevy' by James Matthew Wilson, plus a brief summary of the poetry of James Matthew Wilson:
"‘Shared ideology is not a prerequisite for imaginative literature’. Such understanding leads to appreciation not only of Wilson’s poems but also the works and achievements of Caldwell, Coffey, Devlin, and MacGreevey."
"‘Shared ideology is not a prerequisite for imaginative literature’. Such understanding leads to appreciation not only of Wilson’s poems but also the works and achievements of Caldwell, Coffey, Devlin, and MacGreevey."
My earlier pieces for IT are: an interview with the artist Alexander de Cadenet; an interview with artist, poet, priest Spencer Reece, an interview with the poet Chris Emery, an interview with Jago Cooper, Director of the the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, a profile of singer-songwriter Bill Fay, plus reviews of: the 'Stations' project from Dunlin Press; 'William Blake: The Age of Romantic Fantasy'; Joseph Arthur in concert; installations by Chiharu Shiota and Yin Xiuzhen at Hayward Gsllery, U2's 'Days of Ash', Mumford and Sons' 'Prizefighter' and Moby's 'Future Quiet'; 'Collected Poems' by Kevin Crossley-Holland; 'Lux' by Rosalía; 'Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere'; 'Great Art Explained' by James Payne; 'Down River: In Search of David Ackles' by Mark Brend; 'Headwater' by Rev Simpkins; 'The Invisibility of Religion in Contemporary Art' by Jonathan A. Anderson; 'Breaking Lines' at the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art, albums by Deacon Blue, Mumford and Sons, and Andrew Rumsey, also by Joy Oladokun and Michael Kiwanaku; 'Nolan's Africa' by Andrew Turley; Mavis Staples in concert at Union Chapel; T Bone Burnett's 'The Other Side' and Peter Case live in Leytonstone; Helaine Blumenfeld's 'Together' exhibition, 'What Is and Might Be and then Otherwise' by David Miller; 'Giacometti in Paris' by Michael Peppiatt, the first Pissabed Prophet album; and 'Religion and Contemporary Art: A Curious Accord', a book which derives from a 2017 symposium organised by the Association of Scholars of Christianity in the History of Art.
Several of my short stories have been published by IT including three about Nicola Ravenscroft's EarthAngel sculptures (then called mudcubs), which we exhibited at St Andrew's Wickford in 2022. The first story in the series is 'The Mudcubs and the O Zone holes'. The second is 'The Mudcubs and the Clean-Up King', and the third is 'The mudcubs and the Wall'. My other short stories to have been published by International Times are 'The Black Rain', a story about the impact of violence in our media, 'The New Dark Ages', a story about principles and understandings that are gradually fading away from our modern societies, and 'The curious glasses', a story based on the butterfly effect.
IT have also published several of my poems, including 'Spencer Reece at Bemerton' which is based on the visit that I made to Bemerton in 2026 with Spencer Reece, 'The ABC of creativity', which covers attention, beginning and creation, and 'The Edge of Chaos', a state of existence poem. Also published have been three poems from my 'Five Trios' series. 'Barking' is about St Margaret’s Barking and Barking Abbey and draws on my time as a curate at St Margaret's. 'Bradwell' is a celebration of the history of the Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall, the Othona Community, and of pilgrimage to those places. Broomfield in Essex became a village of artists following the arrival of Revd John Rutherford in 1930. His daughter, the artist Rosemary Rutherford, also moved with them and made the vicarage a base for her artwork including paintings and stained glass. Then, Gwynneth Holt and Thomas Bayliss Huxley-Jones moved to Broomfield in 1949 where they shared a large studio in their garden and both achieved high personal success. 'Broomfield' reviews their stories, work, legacy and motivations.
To read my poems published by Stride, click here, here, here, here, here, and here. My poems published in Amethyst Review are: 'Runwell', 'Are/Are Not', 'Attend, attend' and 'Maritain, Green, Beckett and Anderson in conversation down through the ages'.
I am among those whose poetry has been included in Thin Places & Sacred Spaces, a recent anthology from Amethyst Press. I also had a poem included in All Shall Be Well: Poems for Julian of Norwich, the first Amethyst Press anthology of new poems.
'Five Trios' is a series of poems on thin places and sacred spaces in the Diocese of Chelmsford. The five poems in the series are:
Several of my short stories have been published by IT including three about Nicola Ravenscroft's EarthAngel sculptures (then called mudcubs), which we exhibited at St Andrew's Wickford in 2022. The first story in the series is 'The Mudcubs and the O Zone holes'. The second is 'The Mudcubs and the Clean-Up King', and the third is 'The mudcubs and the Wall'. My other short stories to have been published by International Times are 'The Black Rain', a story about the impact of violence in our media, 'The New Dark Ages', a story about principles and understandings that are gradually fading away from our modern societies, and 'The curious glasses', a story based on the butterfly effect.
IT have also published several of my poems, including 'Spencer Reece at Bemerton' which is based on the visit that I made to Bemerton in 2026 with Spencer Reece, 'The ABC of creativity', which covers attention, beginning and creation, and 'The Edge of Chaos', a state of existence poem. Also published have been three poems from my 'Five Trios' series. 'Barking' is about St Margaret’s Barking and Barking Abbey and draws on my time as a curate at St Margaret's. 'Bradwell' is a celebration of the history of the Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall, the Othona Community, and of pilgrimage to those places. Broomfield in Essex became a village of artists following the arrival of Revd John Rutherford in 1930. His daughter, the artist Rosemary Rutherford, also moved with them and made the vicarage a base for her artwork including paintings and stained glass. Then, Gwynneth Holt and Thomas Bayliss Huxley-Jones moved to Broomfield in 1949 where they shared a large studio in their garden and both achieved high personal success. 'Broomfield' reviews their stories, work, legacy and motivations.
To read my poems published by Stride, click here, here, here, here, here, and here. My poems published in Amethyst Review are: 'Runwell', 'Are/Are Not', 'Attend, attend' and 'Maritain, Green, Beckett and Anderson in conversation down through the ages'.
I am among those whose poetry has been included in Thin Places & Sacred Spaces, a recent anthology from Amethyst Press. I also had a poem included in All Shall Be Well: Poems for Julian of Norwich, the first Amethyst Press anthology of new poems.
'Five Trios' is a series of poems on thin places and sacred spaces in the Diocese of Chelmsford. The five poems in the series are:
These poems have been published by Amethyst Review and International Times.
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International Times: 'Spencer Reece at Bemerton'
My latest poem to be published by International Times is entitled 'Spencer Reece at Bemerton' and is based on the visit that I made to Bemerton earlier in the year with Spencer Reece:
'The poet George Herbert was priest in the parish of Bemerton for three years before his death from consumption. On his death bed he sent the manuscript of The Temple (his collection of poetry) to his friend Nicholas Ferrar to publish if he thought them of value to others. The Temple was published and Bemerton became a place of quiet pilgrimage for lovers of Herbert’s poems. Among such, was Vikram Seth, poet and novelist, who in 2003 bought the Old Rectory in Bemerton where Herbert had once lived. Seth later wrote a group of six poems entitled Shared Ground based on six of those included in The Temple. US poet Spencer Reece first visited Bemerton while a student in his twenties. In 2026, by now himself also a priest and a published poet, he returned, at the invitation of the George Herbert in Bemerton Group, to give a talk at St Andrew’s Lower Bemerton on his love of Herbert’s verse.'
My first review of poetry for Tears in the Fence was of 'Modern Fog' by Chris Emery. My second review was of 'The Salvation Engine' by Rupert Loydell and my third was of 'For All That’s Lost' by David Miller. My poetry reviews for Stride include a review of two poetry collections, one by Mario Petrucci and the other by David Miller, a review of Temporary Archive: Poems by Women of Latin America, a review of Fukushima Dreams by Andrea Moorhead, a review of Endangered Sky by Kelly Grovier and Sean Scully, a review of John F. Deane's Selected & New Poems, a review of God's Little Angel by Sue Hubbard and a review of Spencer Reece's 'Acts'.
I have also published pieces on poetry at Seen and Unseen - a profile of the poet Theresa Lola - and the Journal of Theological Studies - a review of Faith, Hope and Poetry: Theology and the Poetic Imagination by Malcolm Guite. For more on poetry, read my ArtWay interview with David Miller here and my interview with Rupert Loydell here. See also Rupert Loydell's interview with poet and musician Steve Scott. My own dialogues with Steve can be read here, here, here, here, and here. For thoughts on the links between poetry and prayer see here and here.
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'The poet George Herbert was priest in the parish of Bemerton for three years before his death from consumption. On his death bed he sent the manuscript of The Temple (his collection of poetry) to his friend Nicholas Ferrar to publish if he thought them of value to others. The Temple was published and Bemerton became a place of quiet pilgrimage for lovers of Herbert’s poems. Among such, was Vikram Seth, poet and novelist, who in 2003 bought the Old Rectory in Bemerton where Herbert had once lived. Seth later wrote a group of six poems entitled Shared Ground based on six of those included in The Temple. US poet Spencer Reece first visited Bemerton while a student in his twenties. In 2026, by now himself also a priest and a published poet, he returned, at the invitation of the George Herbert in Bemerton Group, to give a talk at St Andrew’s Lower Bemerton on his love of Herbert’s verse.'
For more on Fr Spencer's visit, see here, here and here. To read my interview with Fr Spencer for International Times see here and, for my review of Fr Spencer's more recent poetry collection, see here. Fr Spencer spoke at St Martin-in-the-Fields during his visit, see below for that service and click here for one of the services in our parish at which he preached:
IT have also published other of my poems, including 'The ABC of creativity', which covers attention, beginning and creation, and 'The Edge of Chaos', a state of existence poem. Also published have been three poems from my 'Five Trios' series. 'Barking' is about St Margaret’s Barking and Barking Abbey and draws on my time as a curate at St Margaret's. 'Bradwell' is a celebration of the history of the Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall, the Othona Community, and of pilgrimage to those places. Broomfield in Essex became a village of artists following the arrival of Revd John Rutherford in 1930. His daughter, the artist Rosemary Rutherford, also moved with them and made the vicarage a base for her artwork including paintings and stained glass. Then, Gwynneth Holt and Thomas Bayliss Huxley-Jones moved to Broomfield in 1949 where they shared a large studio in their garden and both achieved high personal success. 'Broomfield' reviews their stories, work, legacy and motivations.
Several of my short stories have also been published by IT including three about Nicola Ravenscroft's EarthAngel sculptures (then called mudcubs), which we exhibited at St Andrew's Wickford in 2022. The first story in the series is 'The Mudcubs and the O Zone holes'. The second is 'The Mudcubs and the Clean-Up King', and the third is 'The mudcubs and the Wall'. My other short stories to have been published by International Times are 'The Black Rain', a story about the impact of violence in our media, 'The New Dark Ages', a story about principles and understandings that are gradually fading away from our modern societies, and 'The curious glasses', a story based on the butterfly effect.
My other pieces for IT are: an interview with the artist Alexander de Cadenet; an interview with artist, poet, priest Spencer Reece, an interview with the poet Chris Emery, an interview with Jago Cooper, Director of the the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, a profile of singer-songwriter Bill Fay, plus reviews of: the Stations project from Dunlin Press; 'William Blake: The Age of Romantic Fantasy'; Joseph Arthur in concert; installations by Chiharu Shiota and Yin Xiuzhen at Hayward Gsllery, U2's 'Days of Ash', Mumford and Sons' 'Prizefighter' and Moby's 'Future Quiet'; 'Collected Poems' by Kevin Crossley-Holland; 'Lux' by Rosalía; 'Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere'; 'Great Art Explained' by James Payne; 'Down River: In Search of David Ackles' by Mark Brend; 'Headwater' by Rev Simpkins; 'The Invisibility of Religion in Contemporary Art' by Jonathan A. Anderson; 'Breaking Lines' at the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art, albums by Deacon Blue, Mumford and Sons, and Andrew Rumsey, also by Joy Oladokun and Michael Kiwanaku; 'Nolan's Africa' by Andrew Turley; Mavis Staples in concert at Union Chapel; T Bone Burnett's 'The Other Side' and Peter Case live in Leytonstone; Helaine Blumenfeld's 'Together' exhibition, 'What Is and Might Be and then Otherwise' by David Miller; 'Giacometti in Paris' by Michael Peppiatt, the first Pissabed Prophet album; and 'Religion and Contemporary Art: A Curious Accord', a book which derives from a 2017 symposium organised by the Association of Scholars of Christianity in the History of Art.
My first review of poetry for Tears in the Fence was of 'Modern Fog' by Chris Emery. My second review was of 'The Salvation Engine' by Rupert Loydell and my third was of 'For All That’s Lost' by David Miller. My poetry reviews for Stride include a review of two poetry collections, one by Mario Petrucci and the other by David Miller, a review of Temporary Archive: Poems by Women of Latin America, a review of Fukushima Dreams by Andrea Moorhead, a review of Endangered Sky by Kelly Grovier and Sean Scully, a review of John F. Deane's Selected & New Poems, a review of God's Little Angel by Sue Hubbard and a review of Spencer Reece's 'Acts'.
I have also published pieces on poetry at Seen and Unseen - a profile of the poet Theresa Lola - and the Journal of Theological Studies - a review of Faith, Hope and Poetry: Theology and the Poetic Imagination by Malcolm Guite. For more on poetry, read my ArtWay interview with David Miller here and my interview with Rupert Loydell here. See also Rupert Loydell's interview with poet and musician Steve Scott. My own dialogues with Steve can be read here, here, here, here, and here. For thoughts on the links between poetry and prayer see here and here.
To read my poems published by Stride, click here, here, here, here, here, and here. My poems published in Amethyst Review are: 'Runwell', 'Are/Are Not', 'Attend, attend' and 'Maritain, Green, Beckett and Anderson in conversation down through the ages'.
I am among those whose poetry has been included in Thin Places & Sacred Spaces, a recent anthology from Amethyst Press. I also had a poem included in All Shall Be Well: Poems for Julian of Norwich, the first Amethyst Press anthology of new poems.
'Five Trios' is a series of poems on thin places and sacred spaces in the Diocese of Chelmsford. The five poems in the series are:
These poems have been published by Amethyst Review and International Times.
For more of my poems, see here, and for my poetic meditations, see here.
My key literature posts (including poetry) are:
I am among those whose poetry has been included in Thin Places & Sacred Spaces, a recent anthology from Amethyst Press. I also had a poem included in All Shall Be Well: Poems for Julian of Norwich, the first Amethyst Press anthology of new poems.
'Five Trios' is a series of poems on thin places and sacred spaces in the Diocese of Chelmsford. The five poems in the series are:
These poems have been published by Amethyst Review and International Times.
For more of my poems, see here, and for my poetic meditations, see here.
My key literature posts (including poetry) are:
- There were giants in those days (1)
- There were giants in those days (2)
- There were Giants in those days (3)
- There were giants in those days (4)
- The Modern & Contemporary Catholic Novel (1)
- The Modern & Contemporary Catholic Novel (2)
- The Modern & Contemporary Catholic Novel (3)
- The Modern & Contemporary Catholic Novel (4)
- The Modern & Contemporary Catholic Novel (5)
- The poetry of connection
- Debate: Has Fiction Lost It's Faith?
- Jesus is having a moment in literary fiction
- Endo & Scorsese: Approaching Silence
- Contemporary Fiction and Christianity
- Debate: Has Fiction Lost It's Faith? (2)
- Jack Clemo: The Invading Gospel
- Dealing with faith and with secularism is difficult but necessary now
- The poet’s eloquently passionate struggle at the junction of doubt and devotion
- Christian Arts renaissance: Major or minor?
- T.S. Eliot: Christianity, fragmentation and reconciliation
- Jesus Novels & Films: The Greatest Story Ever Told
- Acts of the Assassins and Jesus Novels
- Czeslaw Milosz, Oscar Milosz and Simone Weil
- Blogs: cryingforavision & Stride magazine
- Tasos Leviaditis: The Blind Man with the Lamp
- Religious concerns in Greek poetry
- Thomas Merton and Latin American poets
- American Catholic poets & writers
- Connections of Sister Corita Kent and Norman Nicholson
- Ernesto Cardenal RIP
- Czeslaw Milosz, Jerzy Andrzejewski, Oskar Milosz, and Aleksander Wat
- Faith, Mystery & Poetry
- Elizabeth Jennings & David Gascoyne: Mystical Experience and the Making of Poems
- Roots of the Catholic Literary Revival
See also 'Art and Faith: Decades of Engagement: Introduction, 1880s, 1890s, 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
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Spencer Reece - Hark! How Laughter Saved A Church.
Friday, 12 June 2026
St Catherine's Wickford: 150th Anniversary services and events
We continued celebrating the 150th Anniversary of St Catherine's Church in Wickford last weekend with a wonderful Anniversary Flower Festival featuring displays from local clubs, schools and the community. This was very well well attended as were the Coffee morning and Cream Tea afternoon which ran alongside in St Catherine's Hall.
Our Anniversary Eucharist on Sunday was led by the Archdeacon of Southend, The Ven. Dr, Sue Lucas, and included the Choir from Wickford Church of England School. The previous Sunday a joint service at St Catherine's brought all our three congregations together. The preacher was former Team Rector, The Ven. David Lowman. The joint Anniversary Service can be viewed by clicking here.
This coming weekend we continue our services and events celebrating the 150th Anniversary of St Catherine's Church with the Parish Garden Party in the Rectory Garden. That begins at 2.00 pm tomorrow.
Our 150th Anniversary events come to a conclusion with a second fundraising concert. Rumatica will be in concert at St Catherine’s Church on Saturday 20th June at 3.00 pm. They are a Ukulele Band with a difference! Playing a wide range of Rock, Pop, Country, Swing, Indie, Blues and Folk Music - https://www.rumatica.co.uk/. We are celebrating the 150th Anniversary of St Catherine’s Wickford with a fundraising concert as subsidence has caused cracks in the walls requiring underpinning - a retiring collection will be taken.
Fundraising Campaign
St Catherine’s Church, Wickford
Due to the long dry summer of 2022, the foundations of the NW corner of St Catherine’s Church subsided. This caused large cracks to appear in the walls. In 2023, we completed Phase 1 of our campaign involving safety and weather protection work costing £20,000, with funds raised by donations, events and grants. In 2024 we began Phase 2 involving groundwork investigations and design of an underpinning solution. This cost £13,560 and is essential to design a long-term solution. Phase 3, for which we are now raising funds, will cost £162,500.00 + VAT and will enable the NW corner of the church to be underpinned.
If you wish to contribute, please go to https://givealittle.co/c/CXlEMNUoerIeTUtbQmvYS
to donate online.
Send cheques to Wickford and Runwell PCC to The Rectory, 120 Southend Road, Wickford SS11 8EB or phone 07803 562329/email jonathan.evens@btinternet.com for bank details for a transfer.
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