The naive Professor

Libby Purves has an interesting column in the Times today on the naivity of Richard Dawkins following the first episode of his Channel 4 series, The Genius of Charles Darwin. Her argument is well summed up in her punchy conclusion: "A subtle and well-evolved species like us can accept both ammonites and Alleluias. Live with it, Prof."

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Bruce Cockburn - Creation Dream.

Henry Shelton interview

Yesterday I interviewed the artist Henry Shelton for a future article in The Month.

Henry Shelton was born and grew up in Stratford, East London. He joined West Ham church as a choir boy where he first became aware of the importance of Christian art.

After leaving school he joined a London studio as an apprentice draughtsman developing his drawing skills in lettering and fine art. After 15 years of service he set up his own studio receiving many commissions to design for such clients as the Science Museum, Borough Councils, private and corporate bodies.

During this time he continued painting Christian art and after meeting Bishop Trevor Huddleston he completed a series of portraits of him which were exhibited in St Dunstan's Church, Stepney, where he was also confirmed by the Bishop.

In more recent years Henry has worked designing in studios across the world, including Hong Kong and the USA. His commissions include a large oil painting of the Ascension installed as an Altar piece in the Church of the Saviour, Chell Heath; the Millennium Christian clock tower in Goodmayes and, most recently, the memorial etched glass windows in All Saints Goodmayes, depicting events in the life of Jesus.

In the interview, Henry spoke about his exhibition last year at York Minister, the dedication earlier this year by the Bishop of Barking of the memorial windows at All Saints Goodmayes and of his current plans to form a Christian Art Society that will both encourage the commissioning of modern Christian Art and raise funds for charity.

Henry will be exhibiting his most recent works and the Stations of the Cross which were exhibited in York Minister in Visual Dialogue 2, the Patronal Festival exhibition at St John's Seven Kings from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th October. He will also speak about Christian Art during the exhibition's Opening Night Reception from 7.30pm on Friday 3rd October. There is an open invitation to this event.

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Messiaen - Quartet for the End of Time.

Windows on the world (11)

Little Gidding, 2008

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River City People - Say Something Good.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn RIP

The biography of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn included on the Templeton Prize website gives a helpful indication of the significance of the novelist who died today:

"A living symbol of freedom of thought and conscience, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's struggle for open expression makes him one of the world's most respected men. Under the repressive Soviet regimes, he held on to his beliefs and shared his worldview through his powerful writings and devastating critiques of the Soviet Union. His work renewed vitality in the Orthodox tradition of spirituality and evidenced profound Christian faith, expressing a spiritual dimension long neglected by most novelists, and delivering a message of the unique and indestructible quality of the soul."

In an interview which can be found by clicking here, Solzhenitsyn commented that he was unafraid of death, said that faith was the foundation and support of his life and discussed the place of the Orthodox Church in Russia. A BBC obituary can be found here.

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Henyrk Górecki - Symphony No. 3

Community BBQ

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John Coltrane - My Favourite Things.

Champion's Challenge (4)

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Stacie Orrico - More To Life.

'Art & Christianity' No.55

'Art & Christianity' No.55 is out next week. In the forthcoming issue, you will find ...

• Stephen Laird reflects on 50 years since the Tate's exhibition 'The Religious Theme'
• Stephen Bann reviews 'Traces du Sacré', the blockbuster exhibition at Centre Pompidou, Paris
• Other reviews include Laura Moffatt on Shirazeh Houshiary; Jonathan Evens on Gwen John; Ann Wickham on Treasures of the English Church; and Donald Orr on Alison Watt.
• Book reviews include Ben Quash on Aidan Nichols OP and Richard Harries on 'The Lion Companion to Christian Art'.
• Plus a letter from Sydney and Tom Devonshire Jones meets Ben Quash in his new position as Professor of Christianity and the Arts at King's College London.
• Listings, information, editorial and more.

Join ACE for your quarterly copies (£20 annually), or request a free introductory copy. Visit http://www.acetrust.org/bulletin.php.

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John Tavener - The Bridegroom.