April 2024
How have churches responded to issues of social and economic hardships? 2024 seems a good year to reconsider this question as it marks the 100th anniversary of the Conference on Politics, Economics and Citizenship, convened by William Temple (then Bishop of Manchester), to consider the churches’ contribution to post-war renewal. (More Crucible coverage of William Temple here.)
The four articles in this issue answer this question in a variety of ways. Hannah Ling reports from the Diocese of Oxford of working with Citizens UK. Lead author Martyn Goss explores 40 years of social responsibility activity in the south-west of England. Colin Brady investigates the lasting legacy of the Industrial Mission model of exercising Christian social responsibility. Finally, Graham James reviews various social reports produced by the Church of England as part of social responsibility.
After the articles comes the Forum—a shorter and more informal item. In this issue, Will Foulger explores how to receive the gift of the parish. Foulger is summarising his 2023 book, Present in every Place?—reviewed later in this issue by Matt Bullimore. Nonetheless, at the end of the piece, Foulger returns to parish life—his present work context—and explores some of the challenges. For example, Foulger argues that church presence means more than being in a place. It means also being present to a place.
Every Crucible issue concludes with book reviews—for some readers, their favourite part! In this issue, Carol Wardman reviews a theological analysis of foodbanks; Liz Shercliff reports on holy anarchy, and James Woodward investigates ecclesianarchy.
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If you have any suggestions about topics to be covered in future issues, please get in touch with the editor of Crucible, Edward Cardale, at this e mail address: periodicals@hymnsam.co.uk