THE religious publisher SPCK has joined up with the charity Sons and Friends of the Clergy to make more than 1000 of its titles free to view for ordinands in the UK and Ireland.
SPCK is making the titles available through its app. The cost of access is £120 a year, but for ordinands during their initial years of training (IME1 in the C of E) this cost is being covered by the Sons and Friends of the Clergy, which was founded in the 17th century to support Anglican clergy.
Titles from three imprints — SPCK, IVP, and Apollos — are included in the digital library. Other books will be added once published. More than 100 people have registered an interest since the scheme was mentioned on social media late last month.
“We know that books can be a significant expense, and this initiative will make a big difference for ordinands,” the chief executive of Sons and Friends, Jeremy Moodey, said. “It is also pleasing to see two charities established in the 17th century partner to embrace digital technology in such an exciting way.”
SPCK is the second publisher to open its shelves to ordinands. Earlier in the year, Hymns A&M, the Church Times’s parent charity, formed a partnership with the Mininstry Division at Church House, Westminster, to provide free pastoral and theological books for students (News, 18 May).
Initially funded for two years, the project makes 100 books available from the SCM Press and Canterbury Press imprints, specially chosen for students and staff at institutions associated with the Common Awards programme.
What’s on offer?
- Sons & Friends/SPCK 1200 titles from SPCK and IVP by, among others, Tom Wright, Kenneth Bailey, Richard Rohr, and Rowan Williams.
- Ministry Division/Hymns A&M: 100 titles selected by the Ministry Division to map on to courses, taken from SCM Press and Canterbury Press lists by, among others, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Mike Higton, David Heywood, Paula Gooder, Sam Wells, and Helen Cameron.
How to gain access
- Ministry Division/Hymns A&M: via your institutional/course VLE (Moodle).
Who is eligible? Costs?
- Sons & Friends/SPCK: free for ordinands (£120 annual cost borne by the Sons and Friends of the Clergy).
- Ministry Division/Hymns A&M: free for staff and students on the Common Awards programme, including many training for to be readers. Now available for ordinands in the Church in Wales.
Other points
- Sons & Friends/SPCK: the only limit is the space available on someone’s device; works cannot be shared with others.
- Ministry Division/Hymns A&M: usual restrictions apply re. copying, pasting, and printing.