On the podcast this week, Fr Alex Frost — parish priest, best-selling author, and host of  The God Cast — talks to Madeleine Davies about the Church of England’s problems connecting with people from working-class settings.

Fr Alex has written a comment article in this week’s Church Times which argues that the C of E needs to remove barriers that make it harder for working-class people to respond to a call to ordination or lay leadership.

“I heard examples of intelligent and highly capable individuals from urban working-class settings who had struggled to break through the pomp and procedures of the Church of England,” he writes. “And of individuals dismayed by the Church and its approach to training and developing leaders who happened to drink Vimto more than they did Vin Mariani. . .

“I could relate to this. In my own journey to ordination, I had many advocates; but, for every advocate I had, there were dreadfully high hurdles put in front of me to demonstrate whether I might be worthy of fulfilling my authentic and genuine call to ordination.”

The Revd Alex Frost is the Vicar of St Matthew the Apostle, Burnley, a member of the General Synod, and host of the podcast The God Cast: https://www.youtube.com/@thegodcast5878

His book, Our Daily Bread: From Argos to the altar — a priest’s story is published by Harper North (Books, 11 November 2022). 

Madeleine Davies is Senior Writer for the Church Times.

Try 10 issues of the Church Times for £10 or get two months access to our website and apps, also for £10. Go to churchtimes.co.uk/new-reader

Fr Alex Frost on why the C of E needs working-class leaders

This week, Madeleine Davies and Ed Thornton talk about the latest Statics for Mission which show the average C of E church has just three children attending. And they ask whether social media can help stem the decline in church attendance. Plus, Ed Thornton speaks to Mike McGargue, aka "Science Mike" about his new book, Finding God in the Waves, which tells the story of his dramatic loss of faith, and how he found it again through studying science.

Episode 31 - why are so few children in church? Can social media help? Plus, Mike McHargue interview

Guy Stagg spent 10 months walking from Canterbury to Jerusalem, following medieval pilgrim paths across 5,500 km. 

He began the journey after several years of mental illness, hoping that the walk would heal him. A non-believer, he wanted to understand religion by taking part in its rituals.

The Crossway, published by Picador, is an account of his journey, a mix of travel and memoir, history and current affairs.

Guy came into Church Times offices to talk about his extraordinary journey. The Crossway is available to buy from the Church House Bookshop.

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The Crossway - writer Guy Stagg on his 10-month walk from Canterbury to Jerusalem

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Fr Alex Frost on why the C of E needs working-class leaders

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