Hurricanes Roar: 30 reflections on Black spiritual poetry by Elizabeth S. Dodd and Jarel Robinson-Brown (Canterbury Press, £14.99 (Church Times SPECIAL OFFER PRICE £11.99); 978-1-78622-639-6).

“Hurricanes Roar gathers 30 poems shaped by the depth, resilience and prayerfulness of the Black Christian tradition, inviting readers into attentive, unhurried reflection. Spanning continents and centuries, the collection offers poetry as a space for listening: to faith tested and sustained, to hope spoken under pressure, and to praise carried through struggle.”


Alight with Hidden Glory: The 2026 papal retreat by Erik Varden (Bloomsbury, £20 (Church Times SPECIAL OFFER PRICE £16); 978-1-3994-3491-1).

“Alight with Hidden Glory brings together the reflections preached by Bishop Erik Varden to Pope Leo XIV and the Roman Curia at the 2026 Lent retreat. Informed by Scripture and the liturgy, illumined by the insights of Bernard of Clairvaux, a man who helped shape medieval Europe, the book addresses questions of timeless relevance: What is the meaning of freedom? How can we speak well about truth? How do we respond when high ideals are compromised by human betrayal?”

Christian Life in the Greco-Roman City: The civic and architectural contexts of early Christianity by Jason Borges (Baker, £19.99 (£17.99); 978-1-5409-6885-2).

“In this fascinating book, Jason Borges offers an original and engaging analysis of life in the Greco-Roman city as seen through its public spaces: agoras, temples, baths, prisons, theaters, libraries, cemeteries. Drawing on primary sources and archeological evidence, he explores how these seven key civic structures shaped the lives, writings, and theology of early Christians.”

Selected by Frank Nugent, of the Church House Bookshop, which operates the Church Times Bookshop.