Canterbury Press Norwich

For many, the tales of Arthur and his knights are the stuff of bedtime stories or children's cartoons. But the origin of these tales goes back more than a thousand years, part of a Europe-wide storytelling tradition. In the past century, much of the Christian bedrock of these stories has been stripped away, losing their foundational themes, deeper character motivations, and the potency of the tales themselves. Now, bestselling poet Malcolm Guite re-enchants the legend of King Arthur for a new generation, restoring its original power and mystery in a sweeping four-volume series that blends myth, theology, and lyric mastery. Drawing on a lifetime of poetic craft and spiritual reflection, he offers a rich, immersive journey through Britain’s mythic and moral landscape. In this first volume, Galahad and the Grail, we join the prophesied youth Sir Galahad as he sets out from Camelot to achieve the Holy Grail. This tale of adventure in ballad form plumbs the depths of the human soul, carries readers through the Wasteland, and sets us upon the numinous shores of Faerie in all its mystery and meaning. This is not an epic poem destined to be sequestered in the halls of academia, but a tale to be read by young and old alike, to be read aloud among friends, to be read and cherished for generations to come. Published in a beautiful hardback edition with woodcut illustrations by Stephen Crotts, this is a book to treasure and delight in. Take up the tale with us on March 23, 2026.

In this deeply moving collection, Richard Carter offers one hundred powerful stories gathered from his two decades of community ministry - hidden everyday stories from his life and the lives of others, many on the edges of society, of hardship and hope, pain and unexpected grace. Amid the overwhelming weight of suffering, Richard finds a quiet yet infectious joy - not by ignoring life’s struggles, but by seeking the hidden blessings within them. Authentic joy, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, can feel elusive when life is difficult or the world seems overwhelming. This book is an invitation to rediscover that joy - even in the hardest of times.

In an era of climate emergency, The Canterbury Earth Justice Lectionary equips clergy, church leaders, and activists with a powerful tool to integrate ecological justice into the heart of worship and spiritual practice. Drawing from the rich traditions of scripture and creation, this ground-breaking volume provides a year-long Sunday lectionary and commentary that aligns the liturgical calendar with the rhythms of the Earth. Lectionary resources are also provided for celebrations like World Wetlands Day, Earth Day Sunday, National Bird Day and for innovative liturgical seasons such as the Season of Creation. A major and innovative new resource for the creative parish and preacher, The Canterbury Earth Justice Lectionary will offer a deeply transformative approach to worship, preaching, and action—empowering churches to become prophetic voices for climate justice and caretakers of the Earth.

When trauma tears us apart, can the pieces ever truly come back together? In The Pieces Join, Beth Keith offers a compassionate and courageous exploration of recovery for those wounded by abuse within the Church. While many works highlight the realities of trauma and misconduct, this book turns its gaze toward the slow, sacred process of recovery - of re-joining what has been broken. Drawing on moving personal accounts, survivor stories, and deep wells of Christian theology, Beth Keith exposes the ways in which Church systems can both harm and heal. She weaves narrative and theological reflection into a tapestry of hope- where atonement and forgiveness are not given as easy answers but as a complex journey through pain. The Pieces Join fills a vital gap in pastoral care literature, offering wisdom and clarity to those navigating the aftermath of spiritual and sexual abuse within Christian contexts. It speaks with insight and tenderness to all who seek to understand trauma within the Church - pastors, chaplains, and survivors alike. Beth Keith brings the wisdom of a theologian, the heart of a pastor, and the honesty of one who has walked alongside the wounded. This is not a book about patching over the past, but about how faith, when practiced with humility and truth, can help make something new and whole from what was shattered.

Inspired by a vivid account of St Francis – where he didn’t merely pray but became prayer – Becoming Prayer introduces readers to the heart of Franciscan spirituality. Drawing on the enduring wisdom of Francis, Clare and generations of Franciscans, including voices like Richard Rohr and Ilia Delio, it offers a rich and accessible introduction to prayer as a way of life. From moments of thanksgiving and praise to silent contemplation, readers will learn how Franciscans aim to pray not just in church, but in every moment. Simon Cocksedge and Nicholas Alan Worssam explore communal practices such as the Daily Office and Eucharist, and delve into prayer rooted in Scripture – through the Passion, the Stations of the Cross, and the Rosary. They also embrace the stillness of solitude: night time reflection, silence and the Jesus Prayer. Rooted in a tradition that speaks powerfully to today’s world, and published in a milestone year for Franciscans globally, this is an invitation to an ancient yet ever-renewing journey of prayer.

Every culture shapes its image of God and interprets Scripture through its own assumptions – often missing the richness of the text. Nadim Nassar invites readers to step into Jesus’ world and see the Gospels through Middle Eastern eyes. Drawing on his heritage and deep knowledge of Middle Eastern culture, language, and Scripture, Nadim Nassar invites readers to encounter Jesus not only as a figure of faith but as a living presence within a region marked today by violence, upheaval, and profound human suffering. In a time when the Levant is torn by political instability, religious extremism, and deep social fractures, this book explores how the peace revealed in Christ confronts cycles of hatred and opens a path toward reconciliation, healing, and restorative justice at both personal and communal levels. With fresh insight into key parables and central Christian themes – faith, love, discipleship, sacrifice, and witness – he opens a window onto the world that shaped Jesus and transforms how we read his words today.

In Safer Faiths, Safer Followers, Tom Wilson draws on extensive, interfaith research—including interviews, focus groups, and real-life case studies—to reveal how power dynamics and unchecked authority can harm vulnerable individuals. Blending sociological insights with theological reflection, this essential resource equips clergy and safeguarding professionals with practical strategies and actionable tools—from sample sermons to community awareness sessions—to foster safer, more accountable religious environments.Whether you’re leading a congregation or working within statutory agencies, Tom Wilson offers a vital roadmap to transform safeguarding practices and rebuild trust in spiritual leadership.

Following the success of her first book on R. S. Thomas, Carys Walsh invites readers to experience Lent through the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins—one of English literature’s most celebrated religious poets.Hopkins’ vivid, inventive language and profound spiritual insight make him a powerful companion for the Lenten season. His poetry captures both human frailty and divine presence, drawing us into the beauty of creation and the journey of Christ toward the Passion.With daily reflections on Hopkins’ rich imagery and rhythmic brilliance, this book offers a fresh way to deepen reflection, devotion, and discovery throughout Lent.

What if the peace you long for isn’t something to earn or strive for, but a sacred treasure already within you, waiting in silence to be discovered? What if this quiet discovery could begin to transform not just your life, but our communities and the world?The Missing Peace is a gentle invitation to a deeper, more spacious way of living—rooted in the Christian wisdom tradition, born of our collective longing to encounter the divine nature of life. Chris Whittington, founder of The School of Contemplative Life, speaks to those feeling overwhelmed by mental noise, disconnected from God or adrift in a restless, fearful and conflicted world. He speaks to anyone longing for a simple, life-changing spiritual practice but struggling to find the path or companions to walk it with.Drawing from an almost forgotten wellspring of Christian wisdom reaching back to the Desert Fathers and Mothers, he illuminates a pathway to peace, not through striving, but through stillness. As many people continue to drift from institutional religion, or struggle to find spiritual depth within it, meditation may be the missing piece that can help contemporary Christianity recover its contemplative heart.The Missing Peace begins with the author’s own story—from a secular upbringing to formation at a Benedictine monastery and study at the Dalai Lama’s monastery in India—interweaving personal narrative with deep spiritual insight. This collection of 43 short reflections offers simple and practical wisdom for living with greater presence, purpose, connection, and compassion, exploring how together we might recover the missing peace.

Anglican doctrine affirms that God is beyond gender, yet its official liturgy has struggled to reflect this core belief. While society has embraced more inclusive language and attitudes, the Church’s liturgical language has lagged behind. Recognising this, the Church of England recently established a Commission to explore gender-neutral language for God, though progress has yet to be reported.This practical and inspiring book offers a compelling alternative: enriching our imagery for God by incorporating images from female life alongside the traditional male ones—just as Jesus did in Luke 15, pairing the parable of the lost coin with the parable of the lost sheep. By expanding our metaphors for God to embrace both male and female experience, we deepen our understanding of the divine.For anyone seeking to enrich the ways we speak about and to God, this accessible guide provides practical tools for creating gender-inclusive liturgy. It includes sample collects, Eucharistic prefaces, blessings, and complete liturgies that use inclusive language, along with clear advice on when, where, and how these can be incorporated into the authorised liturgies of the Church of England. Whether you''re a clergy member, liturgist, or simply someone passionate about inclusive worship, this book equips you to transform our language and draw closer to a God who transcends human categories.

Loss is a universal human experience, and it is not limited to when a loved one dies. We experience loss in various ways throughout our lives: the death of a pet; the break-up of a relationship; children leaving home; job loss; the death of a parent; physical diminishment and more. So often, loss and grief are seen as unwelcome companions on life’s journey, yet aspects of them can be transformative. This book explores a spirituality of grief that asks how loss and grief might offer us an invitation to grow. This is emphatically not a search for ‘silver linings’ to sugar-coat pain, or a quick fix. Instead, it is recognition that our experiences of loss and grief have qualities that can enrich our lives, and that these are worth exploring. Ten chapters examine aspects of loss that are widely recognised: parting, regret, nostalgia, failure, bereavement, shame, ageing, dependence, mortality, and disenchantment. Each form of loss is accompanied by a ‘redemptive theme’, which seeks ways in which loss, over time, may be re-integrated into life and foster greater connection, meaning and growth.

Drawing together three years’ worth of the hugely popular Church Times ‘Sunday’s Reading’ column, Buried Treasure offers both professional preachers and casual readers wise, engaging and relevant insight into the Sunday readings for lectionary years A, B and C in one volume. Cally Hammond’s beautiful and profound reflections break down the division between reading and prayer inviting readers to see that the best way to read scripture is not by excluding error, but by including life in all its messy fullness.

The Being With course is an introduction to Christianity with a difference. At its heart is the idea that God’s greatest desire is to be with us in Jesus. Grounded in the conviction that we already have a wealth of understanding of truth, beauty and goodness that signify God’s presence in our lives and everyday experiences, it aims to enable participants to discover dimensions of this presence and to live abundantly with God, with one another and with creation.''Being With: The Core Course'' includes a simplified version of the course for use with young people and those whose first language is not English. It also provides:• an introduction to the theological perspective underpinning the course;• an explanation of its structure and an overview of each session;• practical guidelines for leading a group;• complete materials for hosting its ten 90-minute sessions in person or online.The sessions focus on the themes of Meaning; Essence; Jesus; Church; Bible; Mission; Cross; Prayer; Suffering and Resurrection. Drawing on the practices of Godly Play, the course uses storytelling, wondering and reflection to encourage and welcome the insights that each person brings.

The Being With course is an introduction to Christianity with a difference. At its heart is the idea that God’s greatest desire is to be with us in Jesus. Grounded in the conviction that we already have a wealth of understanding of truth, beauty and goodness that signify God’s presence in our lives and everyday experiences, it aims to enable participants to discover dimensions of this presence and to live abundantly with God, with one another and with creation.Being With: Courses for Life is the second volume of the Being With series and offers ten new sessions which build on Being With The Core Course:• Being With Church • Being With the Bible• Being With Baptism• Being With your Significant Other• Being With Child• Being With the End of Life• Being With Yourself• Being With Creation• Being With the Other• Being With Being With