Resources
Resources are grouped by topic. For more information on each topic check out our Introductions section, which also contain the relevant resources from the below collection.
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General introductions
Books
Lamorna Ash, Don’t forget we’re here forever
Alistair McGrath, Christian Theology: An Introduction
Dorothee Soelle, Theology for Sceptics
Linda Woodhead, Theology: A Very Short Introduction
Frances Young, The Making of the Creeds
Frances Young, Can these dry bones live? The excitement of theology
Media
Timelines is a brilliant collection of videos from various theological and philosophical experts.
Faith in the North has several practical resources and an invitation to explore personal faith.
GodPod (produced by Seen & Unseen) is a podcast exploring a whole variety of topics
The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity has several resources on faith in everyday life.
The Practical Theology Hub explores a variety of topics.
Churches
A Church Near You (or Google Maps!) is a good first step in finding a church you might be interested in
Courses
Alpha is one of the best known Christian introductory courses, with a talk leading to small group discussion.
There are several courses which welcome people earlier on in their spiritual journey, for example Start!. As a good series of short videos, Nooma explores what Jesus’ teachings could mean in both their original and modern contexts.
Being With is a course which takes a less directive approach, encouraging everyone to share how their stories influence their beliefs.
Love, Joy, Peace explores how Christian contemplative spirituality can apply in modern contexts.
Core Topics
Jesus
Books
Richard Bauckham, Jesus: A Very Short Introduction
Geza Vermes, Jesus the Jew
Tom Wright, Simply Jesus
Markus Bockmuehl (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Jesus
Media
The Chosen – a streamable series exploring the life of Jesus through the eyes of his early followers
For kids: Miracle Maker – a classic film summarising Jesus’ life, death and resurrection
Trinity
Books
Sarah Coakley, God Sexuality and the Self
Christine Helmer, The Trinity and Martin Luther
Anne Hunt, The Trinity: Insights from the Mystics
Arani Sen, Holy Spirit Radicals
Wm Paul Young, The Shack
Art
Although some Christians are hesitant to use art to express God (sometimes called iconoclasm), as this could risk us trying to make God in our own image, at its best Christian art helps us explore something of the nature of God, in a humble posture of knowing our words only go so far.
Albrecht Dürer, Adoration of the Trinity
Jean Fouquet, The Trinity in all its Glory
Andrei Rublev, Trinity
As well as this art, Coakley’s book above contains several other instances. We also recommend Jane Williams’ Faces of Christ which contains art themed around Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. As an online introduction, we recommend Walking an Ancient Path
Salvation
Books
Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love
Scott McKnight, A Community Called Atonement
John Stott, The Cross of Christ
Jane Williams, Why did Jesus have to die?
Media
The Covenant Network, Stations of the Cross online
The Stations are a way to inhabit Jesus’ final 24 hours before the Crucifixion, sometimes done as part of Holy Week worship. Many churches will have permanent physical Stations expressed through their artwork
Patheos, The Atonement Theories
Resurrection
Books
Frank Morrison, Who Moved the Stone?
Rowan Williams, God with us
Tom Wright, Surprised by Hope
Sources
Books
Nick Page, A Nearly Infallible Guide to Christianity
Amos Yong, Discerning the Spirit(s)
Media
The Bible Project
World History Encyclopedia, Christianity timeline
Traditions
Books
Gustavo Gutiérrez, A Theology of Liberation
Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation
Sarah Sands, The Interior Silence
Douglas A. Sweeney, American Evangelical Story
Amos Yong, Mission After Pentecost
Well-known movements
Charismatic / Evangelical – Evangelical Alliance, Inclusive Evangelicals, New Wine
Contemplatives – Iona, Holy Island (Lindisfarne), Ignatian Spirituality, Taize
Orthodox
British Antiochian Orthodox Church
UK Coptic Orthodox Church
UK Greek Orthodox Church
UK and Western Europe Russian Orthodox Church (proudly pro-Ukraine)
British Orthodox Church (Syrian origins)
Orthodox Churches directory
The Orthodox Times
Protestants
The Church Times – focus on Anglicanism as well as wider news
Premier Christian News – focus on Protestantism as well as wider news
Anglican
Church of England
Scottish Episcopal Church
Church of Ireland
Anglican Compass
Baptist
Baptist Union of Great Britain
Baptist Union of Scotland
Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland
Baptist News
Lutheran
UK Lutheran Church
Lutheran Church in Ireland (ROI & NI)
Lutheran World Federation
Methodist
Methodist Church of Great Britain
Methodist Church in Scotland
Methodist Church in Ireland
United Methodist News
Pentecostal
There are a large variety of UK Pentecostal churches, including the Vineyard Movement
Quakers
Quakers in Britain
Quakers in Scotland
Quakers in Ireland (ROI & NI)
Quaker News
Reformed
UK United Reformed Church
Church of Scotland
Evangelical Times
Roman Catholics
Catholic Church in England and Wales
Catholic Church in Scotland
Catholic Church in Ireland (ROI & NI)
Catholic Directory
Catholic News Agency
Catechism (beliefs) of the Catholic Church
Sacraments
As with all spiritual practices, the sacraments are more experienced than taught. If you haven’t had the opportunity to experience them, we would encourage you to find a local church.
Books
Andrew Davidson, Why Sacraments?
Eugene Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor
John Macquarrie, A Guide to the Sacraments
Ross Thompson, The Sacraments
Rowan Williams, Being Christian
Media
The Church of England’s Ministry Mentor Directory is for any Anglican (particularly those from an under-represented background) exploring ordained/lay ministry
For children
Godly Play provides a way for children to explore faith interactively, for example Holy Baptism
Example Liturgies
Church of England Baptism
United Reformed Church Baptism
Methodist Holy Communion
Roman Catholic Holy Communion (Mass)
Church of England Ordinal (ordination)
Methodist Marriage
Ethics
Books
General
Sarah Eklund, The Beatitudes through the Ages
Stanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells (ed.), The Blackwell Companion to Christian Ethics
D. Stephen Long, Christian Ethics: A Very Short Introduction
Specific questions
Sarah Coakley, God Sexuality and the Self
Austen Hartke, Transforming
Robert Song, Covenant and Calling
Matthew Vines, God and the Gay Christian
Many of the resources suggested in our Traditions section will contain reference to Ethics.
Spiritual Practices
Joanna Collicutt, The Psychology of Christian Character Formation
Peter Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality
Community
Festivals
Greenbelt
New Wine
Spring Harvest
The Big Church Festival (formerly Big Church Day Out)
Media
There are several radio stations including Cross Rhythms, Premier and UCB
There are several “Christian influencers” including Susannah Friesen
Ship of Fools – ‘the magazine of Christian unrest’
Theos – exploring the place of religion in society
For churches
The Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication has several resources for church growth
For small groups
Bible Society resources
For kids groups
Godly Play
Messy Church
For youth groups
Satellites Festival
Bible Society resources
Deconstruction
Sarah Bessey, Out of Sorts
Sarah Held Evans, Searching for Sunday
Brian McLaren, Faith after Doubt
As a useful sense check if you’re not sure about a particular church, we can recommend CultWatch
Diversity
These resources currently focus on interculturalism and gender, recognising there are many other ways in which the Church seeks diversity.
Books
Tim Chester, Unreached: Growing Churches In Working-Class And Deprived Areas
Rachel Held Evans, A Year of Biblical Womanhood
Nijay K. Gupta, Tell Her Story
Ben Lindsay, We Need to Talk About Race: Understanding the Black Experience in White Majority Churches
Andy McCullough, Global Humility
Media
AutismChurch.com
St Paul’s Slough Interculturalism resources
Pastoral Care and Mental Health
St Bede’s Pastoral Centre Library
Leeds Diocese provide a self-guided Pastoral Conversations Course
Love Your Neighbour (an initiative of the Church Revitalisation Trust) equips churches to be centres of social transformation.
Oxford Diocese provide a self-guided Contemplative Toolkit, with a school version Space Makers
Trussell are one of the best known providers of foodbanks in the UK, shaped by Christian values and often working with churches
For bereavement
ataloss.org provides useful signposting in the event of a bereavement, and have created The Bereavement Journey which can be run by churches for their communities
For responding to community disasters
The New York Disaster Interfaith Services offer a free Disasters & Religions app which provides practical advice for faith responses to community disasters.
For mental health
Useful Bible passages include Psalm 42, and any of the Psalms of lament referenced in our Prayer section. These offer some vocabulary and shared experiences which can inform prayer and other conversations.
Sanctuary Ministries provide a good small group course, and with Porters Gate have an album of useful, gentle songs.
Hamley and Cook (ed.), The Bible and Mental Health
Preston McDaniel Hill (ed.), Christ & Trauma
Michael Hopkins, Pastoral Care in Practice
Carla A. Grosch Miller, Trauma and Pastoral Care
Prayer
Scripture
Prayer is often paired with scripture readings, famously in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6.5-15). Other famous passages include Numbers 6.22-7, Acts 4.23-31, Ephesians 1 and the book of Psalms. We encourage exploring the resources listed under scripture reading as ways to prompt prayer. Well-used Psalms include:
Psalms 4-6 – prayers of supplication (asking God to act)
Psalm 8 – God as Creator
Psalms 12-4 – prayers of lament (bringing difficult situations to God, overlaps with supplication)
Psalm 20 – prayer of blessing
Psalm 23 – “the Lord is my Shepherd” prayer of adoration (praising God for who they are). This comes in the context of “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” in the previous Psalm, spoken by Jesus, the Good Shepherd (John 101-21) on the cross (Mark 15.34).
Psalm 42 – prayer of lament – “deep calls to deep”
Psalm 46 – prayer of adoration – “be still, and know that I am God”
Psalm 51 – prayer of repentance (acknowledging sin)
Psalm 77 – prayer of lament, which similar to other laments turns into praise – “you are the God who performs miracles”
Psalm 79 – prayer of lament – “how long, O Lord?”
Psalm 84 – prayer of adoration – “better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere”
Psalm 104 – God as Creator
Psalm 119 – a Hebrew acrostic prayer, with each section beginning with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This prayer praises God for his Law (Old Testament commandments)
Psalms 145-50 – prayers of praise (for what God has done, overlaps with adoration)
Pre-written
There are many collections of pre-written prayers, sometimes called liturgies, which can be used word for word or adapted.
Sarah Bessey (ed.), A Rhythm of Prayer
Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie, The Lives We Actually Have
Douglas McKelvey, Every Day Holy
Cole Arthur Ridley, Black Liturgies
W. David O. Taylor and Phaedra Taylor, Prayers for the Pilgrimage
The Church of England’s Book of Common prayer, popularised in Common Worship
Taize prayers provide short repeated prayers accompanied with music. Example albums include Laudamus Te (2017).
Some pre-written prayers are added to prayer cards, see for example by Lindisfarne or Faith in the North.
Spontaneous prayers by their nature are not meant to follow a specific formula! This is one of those opportunities where the more we practice, the more we find a way of prayer that feels most natural to us.
Icons are “holy images”, paintings that seek to show something of God through a famous story or Saint. Further resources are given under our Trinity section.
All churches will pray as part of their regular services. The 24/7 Prayer Movement provides resources for both individual Christians and churches. BeSpace has a good collection of prayer resources for schools.
Digital
Lectio365 and Pray as You Go are popular mobile apps for prayer
Wider resources
Richard Foster’s book “Prayer” remains a good overview of the different types of prayer. In particular we note breath prayers, where Christians will use a short word or phrase such as “Love”, “God” or “Jesus”. The Jesus prayer is the most famous breath prayer, used in full or in part, as “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”.
Tyler Staton’s “Praying like monks, living like fools” explores how the Lord’s Prayer can shape our wider prayer life.
Martin Laird’s “Into the Silent Land” explores silent prayer.
Some Christians seek formal prayers of absolution, or prayers for the sick and dying, which we will cover in our section on the sacraments.
Christians may pray at set times of the day, for example first thing in the morning and just before sleep, or may pray more spontaneously throughout the day. For those interested in following historic rhythms of prayer, monastic Rules are a good place to start (see our section on Wider Spiritual Practices).
Sabbath
Books
John Mark Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Walter Brueggemann, Sabbath as Resistance
Eugene Person (in Working the Angles) encourages Sabbath to be split between Pray and Play activities. How do you best connect with God? What do you enjoy doing which isn’t part of your official responsibilities?
Scripture
There are several translations of scripture, with good translations including the New Revised Standard Version and the New International Version. For “devotional” contexts (personal use), translations such as the Message can be useful. Bible Gateway is a website which offers these translations for free, alternatively via the Bible App.
There’s a whole host of “alternative” translations which place the Bible in particular contexts, such as The Bible in Cockney!
Chris Juby’s “Bible Summary: Every Chapter in 140 Characters or Less” is a good overview.
The Church of England’s Daily Prayer app incorporates prayer with daily scripture readings.
Pray as You Go invites listeners to reflect on what a Bible passage might be saying to them. This is a version of Lectio Divina, which encourages Christians to meditate on a verse of scripture and what God may be saying to them through it.
The Bible Society offer daily reflections online. This can be used as a Bible in a year, which suggest Old Testament and New Testament passages for each day, sometimes with commentary.
Good biblical commentaries include the Old Testament for Everyone (John Goldingay) and the New Testament for Everyone (Tom Wright). For those more academically inclined, the Logos app provides a library of multiple commentaries.
Study Bibles include shorter versions of commentaries to the side of passages. These include Rabbi Barry Rubin’s “The Complete Jewish Study Bible” which looks at Old and New Testaments from a Jewish perspective.
The Bible Project is a YouTube series explaining themes and books of the Bible.
Sarah Hoggett’s Ultimate Art Bible offers suggestions on how you could create art for your physical Bible.
For kids and youth
VeggieTales is a vintage TV series retelling Biblical stories with vegetables!
The Brick Testament retells Biblical stories with Lego
The Liberator is a contemporary translation aimed at youth
Open the Book (for schools)
Spoken versions include David Suchet’s.
Sung Worship
Pentecostal and charismatic artists
Delirious
Matt Redman
New Wine
Sinach
Uche X
Contemplative artists
Iona
Taize (see our Prayer section)
Good for community worship
Stuart Townsend
Good for lament and deconstruction
Chris Llewyn
Hymns
Songs of Praise (multiple volumes)
Wee Worship Book
Wider Spiritual Practices
Environmental care: As a good starting point, A Rocha provide practical resources for churches who want to be more sustainable.
Creativity, Fasting, Speaking in tongues, Spiritual Direction: resources pending