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Podcast: Mark Oakley’s pandemic reading

by
12 March 2021

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Canon Mark Oakley

Canon Mark Oakley

On the podcast this week, Canon Mark Oakley talks about the books that have helped him through the pandemic so far.

“Literature is more a verb than a noun; a living conversation,” he says. “Opening up the covers is opening up the door to a hospitable place, asking me to come in and take a seat. Literature makes thing matter. Literature, like faith, is a celebration of the meaning of experience and of the experience of meaning.”

This talks was originally given at a one-day online event organised last month by the Church Times Festival of Faith and Literature. Buy access to a recording of the whole event here.

Canon Mark Oakley is Dean of St John’s College, Cambridge, and the author of The Splash of Words: Believing in poetry (Canterbury Press), which won the 2019 Michael Ramsey Prize.

 

Click the play button above to listen to this podcast. You can also listen to the Church Times Podcast on the Church Times app for iPhone and iPadApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifySoundCloud, and most other podcast platforms.

 

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Forthcoming Events

Church Times Festival of Preaching 2026

13 - 15 September 2026

An event to inspire, nurture, and celebrate all who are called to proclaim the gospel today.

tickets available now


Public Faith Common Good  a day symposium at St John’s College Cambridge, Tuesday 21 July 2026

Speakers to include the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Williams; the Bishop of Chelmsford, Dr Guli Francis-Deqhani, Nick Spencer, and Anna Rowlands.

This event is free, but booking is required. Find out more at elydatabase.org/events

Church Times is delighted to be a sponsor at the above event. 

 

Save the dates - details coming soon:

 

Faith & Music - a joint event with RSCM - Southwark Cathedral, London
Saturday 10th October 2026

Church Times/Canterbury Press Advent Retreat - with Rebecca Stephens, Richard Carter, Alison Jack and Paula Gooder - online only
Saturday 21st November 2026

Visit our Events page for upcoming and past events

 

 

 

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