Poor school attendance by any child is always a symptom rather than the cause of the issue. What falls away first is engagement — the style of teaching, learning & support doesn’t fit the child — inevitably followed by their attainment and only then by their regular attendance

Steve Chalke, founder, Oasis Trust, X/Twitter, 29 August

One of the reasons we no longer have many sticky wickets is that pitches today are almost always “covered”, protected when not in use against the weather. Arguably, that spoils batsmen. They get accustomed to flat, predictable “tracks” and no longer have the expertise to deal with pitches not to their liking. Sticky wickets revealed the excellent batsmen, those with the depth of technique to play in all conditions, over a long time. Could it be that central bankers have been playing on “covered wickets” too long?

Alan Smith, First Church Estates Commissioner, letter, Financial Times, 30 August

The Internet is many things, and one of those things is a big mirror reflecting our instant, often unchosen, emotional reactions back at us. What they reveal about us isn’t particularly pretty. It turns out that we human beings have plenty of dark aspects to our character, even before we reflect on the way we seem to spontaneously form tribes and mobs. You might even say it confirms the doctrine of original sin

Gerry Lynch, Rector of the Wellsprings Benefice in Salisbury diocese, sermon, 1 September

Few sibling relationships are free of competition. . . When rivalries get out of hand, they can destroy families. . . No sibling rivalry, including the Gallaghers’, will be exactly the same as the one we find in the parable of the prodigal son. I hope, though, that Liam and Noel’s reunion will be more than a truce; and, when they sing “Wonderwall” next year, it might not just be a crowd anthem, but something they’re saying to one another, too

Rachel Mann, Archdeacon of Bolton and Salford, Thought for the Day, Radio 4, 31 August

I love how live music brings joy to the heart. It brings an instant connection with strangers around you, whether in dancing in an underground cellar or belting out primary schools in Glastonbury fields or anthems on a football terrace. . . Music connects us to the heart of God who I believe sings over us with great joy

Jill Duff, Bishop of Lancaster, Pause for Thought, Radio 2, 2 September

Don’t remind me of Mervyn’s clergy “retreats” at Butlins. It was a three line whip. Not appreciated by wives with a new baby

Patricia McLean, reply on X/Twitter to Church Times article on holidays (Features, 30 August)

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