February 12, 2026

Catholic Herald October Issue

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Leaders

The Synod needs you

Mass appeal should be for everyone

Vocations need not be consigned to the past

Diary Adam Dant

Columns

Long Division – In an age of medical apartheid, it’s time for some acts of love, Constance Watson

Reading runes – Revelling in the theology of George Mackay Brown, Serenhedd James

Compulsory Church – How our medieval forebears managed Mass, Nicholas Orme

Following St Francis – We should swap vanity for peacemaking, Niall Gooch

The states vs Texas – Why Texas pro-lifers shouldn’t celebrate just yet, Ken Craycraft

Features

The tolerant George III – Against emancipation, but the mad King held the Catholics in high regard, Andrew Roberts

The Spy who came into the Church – The remarkable story of a war hero turned monk, Bernard Lewis

The thin end of the wedge – Our legal system rides roughshod over people’s faith and feelings, Justin Doherty

The passion of the producer – On the agonies of financing religious films, David Sower

Education Special Report

Shepherding the flock – Good chaplains set pupils up for life, Ferdie Rous

Inspiring a generation – The young of today and leaders of tomorrow, Stefan Kaminski

Showing up wokeness How Dante leads the way, Diego Murillo

Minding our language – On ending chronological snobbery, Roy Peachey

Learning difficulties and lockdown18 months of hampered learning, Elisa Segrave

Arts & Books

Climate Catastrophe and Faith: How changes in Climate Drive Religous Upheavalsby Philip Jenkins, reviewed by John Cornwell

Holland Blind Twighlight by John Martin Robinson, reviewed by Michael Hodges

Matrix by Lauren Groff, reviewed by Arabella Byrne

Oh! William by Elizabeth Strout, reviewed by Cressida Conolly

Henry ‘Chips’ Channon:the Diaries Volume 2, 1938 -1943 by Chips Channon, edited bySimon Heffer, reviewed by Nicky Haslam

Silverview by John Le Carré, reviewed by Charles Cumming

Interview: Will Todd – The brilliant composer whose passion for the sacred informs his life and work, Melanie McDonagh

Saints and saleability – Exploring the world of Catholic Tat, Anthony Cazalet

Dragging us out of despair – On the consolation of Robert Southwell’s poetry, Archie Hill

Liszt and God – Not quite a religious composer, Jonathan Gaisman

Life & Soul

October Diary – Anna Somers Cocks

Tessa’s Feasts – Two fishies on dishies for St Andrew, Tessa Balfour

The Pointed Arch – The remarkable restoration of St Birinus, Michael Hodges

Lost in translation – Mass-goers may struggle with the new approved lectionary,Richard J Ounsworth

The Garden – Closing the loop between truth and beauty in Autumn, Charlie Hart

The truth about the Tridentine MassFather Anonymous

Travel & Pilgrimage

Scotland’s Sacred Isle – Paying homage to a holy past, William Cash

On Pilgrimagewith Rosemary Hill

<strong>Leaders</strong> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/the-synod-needs-you/">The Synod needs you</a> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/mass-appeal-should-be-for-everyone/">Mass appeal should be for everyone</a> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/vocations-need-not-be-consigned-to-the-past/">Vocations need not be consigned to the past</a> <strong>Diary </strong>– <em><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/diary-art-without-god-on-the-eus-art-collection/">Adam Dant</a></em> <strong>Columns</strong> Long Division<strong> –&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/ch/long-division">In an age of medical apartheid, it’s time for some acts of love</a>, <em>Constance Watson</em> Reading runes –&nbsp;<a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/reading-the-runes/">Revelling in the theology of George Mackay Brown</a>, <em>Serenhedd James</em> Compulsory Church –&nbsp;<a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/when-everyone-went-to-church-but-not-everyone-did/">How our medieval forebears managed Mass</a>, <em>Nicholas Orme</em> Following St Francis –&nbsp;<a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/following-st-francis/">We should swap vanity for peacemaking</a>, <em>Niall Gooch</em> The states vs Texas – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/ch/the-texas-heartbeat-bill-and-abortion-politics-in-the-u-s">Why Texas pro-lifers shouldn’t celebrate just yet</a>, <em>Ken Craycraft</em> <strong>Features</strong> The tolerant George III – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/the-tolerance-of-george-iii/">Against emancipation, but the mad King held the Catholics in high regard</a>, <em>Andrew Roberts</em> The Spy who came into the Church –&nbsp;<a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/the-spy-who-became-a-monk/">The remarkable story of a war hero turned monk</a>, <em>Bernard Lewis</em> The thin end of the wedge – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/the-thin-end-of-the-wedge/">Our legal system rides roughshod over people’s faith and feelings</a>, <em>Justin Doherty</em> The passion of the producer <strong>–&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/wanted-backers-for-a-religious-thriller/">On the agonies of financing religious films</a>, <em>David Sower</em> <strong>Education Special Report</strong> Shepherding the flock –&nbsp;<a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/shepherding-the-flock/">Good chaplains set pupils up for life</a>, <em>Ferdie Rous</em> Inspiring a generation –&nbsp;<a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/todays-youth-%e2%80%a8tomorrows-leaders/">The young of today and leaders of tomorrow</a>, <em>Stefan Kaminski</em> Showing up wokeness <strong>– </strong><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/how-dante-shows-up-wokeness/">How Dante leads the way</a>, <em>Diego Murillo</em> Minding our language – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/minding-our-language/">On ending chronological snobbery</a>, <em>Roy Peachey</em> Learning difficulties and lockdown<strong> </strong>– <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/learning-difficulties-and-lockdowns/">18 months of hampered learning</a>, <em>Elisa Segrave</em> <strong>Arts & Books</strong> <em><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/unrelentingly-ominous-but-essential/">Climate Catastrophe and Faith: How changes in Climate Drive Religous Upheavals</a></em><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/unrelentingly-ominous-but-essential/"><em> </em>by Philip Jenkins</a>, reviewed by <em>John Cornwell</em> <em>Holl</em><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/building-on-past-triumphs/"><em>and Blind Twighlight</em> by John Martin Robinson</a>, reviewed by <em>Michael Hodges</em> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/a-readable-yarn-but-none-too-credible/"><em>Matrix</em> by Lauren Groff</a>, <em>reviewed by Arabella Byrne</em> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/william-it-was-really-something/"><em>Oh! William</em> by Elizabeth Strout</a>, reviewed by <em>Cressida Conolly</em> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/the-son-in-law-also-rises/"><em>Henry ‘Chips’ Channon:the Diaries Volume 2, 1938 -1943</em> by Chips Channon, edited by<em> </em>Simon Heffer</a><em>,</em> reviewed by <em>Nicky Haslam</em> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/stilted-but-endearing/"><em>Silverview</em> by John Le Carré</a>, reviewed by <em>Charles Cumming</em> Interview: Will Todd – The brilliant composer whose passion for the sacred informs his life and work, <em>Melanie McDonagh</em> Saints and saleability – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/saints-and-saleability/">Exploring the world of Catholic Tat</a><strong>, </strong><em>Anthony Cazalet</em> Dragging us out of despair – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/strengthening-those-in-despair/">On the consolation of Robert Southwell’s poetry</a>, <em>Archie Hill</em> Liszt and God – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/ever-so-slightly-off-key/">Not quite a religious composer</a>, <em>Jonathan Gaisman</em> <strong>Life & Soul</strong> October Diary<strong> –&nbsp;</strong><em><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/october-diary-reflecting-on-the-plight-of-refugees/">Anna Somers Cocks</a></em> Tessa’s Feasts – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/tessas-feasts-herring-and-monkfish-for-st-andrew/">Two fishies on dishies for St Andrew</a>, <em>Tessa Balfour</em> The Pointed Arch – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/the-remarkable-restoration-of-st-birinus-dorchester-upon-thames/">The remarkable restoration of St Birinus</a>, <em>Michael Hodges</em> Lost in translation – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/ch/on-biblical-translations-in-the-lectionary">Mass-goers may struggle with the new approved lectionary,</a> <em>Richard J Ounsworth</em> The Garden – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/mist-and-moments-of-delight/">Closing the loop between truth and beauty in Autumn</a>, <em>Charlie Hart</em> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/are-papal-priorities-right/">The truth about the Tridentine Mass</a> – <em>Father Anonymous</em> <strong>Travel & Pilgrimage</strong> Scotland’s Sacred Isle – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/scotlands-spiritual-isle/">Paying homage to a holy past</a>, <em>William Cash</em> On Pilgrimage<strong> </strong>with <em><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/on-pilgrimage-with-rosemary-hill/">Rosemary Hill</a></em>

Leaders

The Synod needs you

Mass appeal should be for everyone

Vocations need not be consigned to the past

Diary Adam Dant

Columns

Long Division – In an age of medical apartheid, it’s time for some acts of love, Constance Watson

Reading runes – Revelling in the theology of George Mackay Brown, Serenhedd James

Compulsory Church – How our medieval forebears managed Mass, Nicholas Orme

Following St Francis – We should swap vanity for peacemaking, Niall Gooch

The states vs Texas – Why Texas pro-lifers shouldn’t celebrate just yet, Ken Craycraft

Features

The tolerant George III – Against emancipation, but the mad King held the Catholics in high regard, Andrew Roberts

The Spy who came into the Church – The remarkable story of a war hero turned monk, Bernard Lewis

The thin end of the wedge – Our legal system rides roughshod over people’s faith and feelings, Justin Doherty

The passion of the producer – On the agonies of financing religious films, David Sower

Education Special Report

Shepherding the flock – Good chaplains set pupils up for life, Ferdie Rous

Inspiring a generation – The young of today and leaders of tomorrow, Stefan Kaminski

Showing up wokeness How Dante leads the way, Diego Murillo

Minding our language – On ending chronological snobbery, Roy Peachey

Learning difficulties and lockdown18 months of hampered learning, Elisa Segrave

Arts & Books

Climate Catastrophe and Faith: How changes in Climate Drive Religous Upheavalsby Philip Jenkins, reviewed by John Cornwell

Holland Blind Twighlight by John Martin Robinson, reviewed by Michael Hodges

Matrix by Lauren Groff, reviewed by Arabella Byrne

Oh! William by Elizabeth Strout, reviewed by Cressida Conolly

Henry ‘Chips’ Channon:the Diaries Volume 2, 1938 -1943 by Chips Channon, edited bySimon Heffer, reviewed by Nicky Haslam

Silverview by John Le Carré, reviewed by Charles Cumming

Interview: Will Todd – The brilliant composer whose passion for the sacred informs his life and work, Melanie McDonagh

Saints and saleability – Exploring the world of Catholic Tat, Anthony Cazalet

Dragging us out of despair – On the consolation of Robert Southwell’s poetry, Archie Hill

Liszt and God – Not quite a religious composer, Jonathan Gaisman

Life & Soul

October Diary – Anna Somers Cocks

Tessa’s Feasts – Two fishies on dishies for St Andrew, Tessa Balfour

The Pointed Arch – The remarkable restoration of St Birinus, Michael Hodges

Lost in translation – Mass-goers may struggle with the new approved lectionary,Richard J Ounsworth

The Garden – Closing the loop between truth and beauty in Autumn, Charlie Hart

The truth about the Tridentine MassFather Anonymous

Travel & Pilgrimage

Scotland’s Sacred Isle – Paying homage to a holy past, William Cash

On Pilgrimagewith Rosemary Hill

<strong>Leaders</strong> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/the-synod-needs-you/">The Synod needs you</a> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/mass-appeal-should-be-for-everyone/">Mass appeal should be for everyone</a> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/vocations-need-not-be-consigned-to-the-past/">Vocations need not be consigned to the past</a> <strong>Diary </strong>– <em><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/diary-art-without-god-on-the-eus-art-collection/">Adam Dant</a></em> <strong>Columns</strong> Long Division<strong> –&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/ch/long-division">In an age of medical apartheid, it’s time for some acts of love</a>, <em>Constance Watson</em> Reading runes –&nbsp;<a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/reading-the-runes/">Revelling in the theology of George Mackay Brown</a>, <em>Serenhedd James</em> Compulsory Church –&nbsp;<a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/when-everyone-went-to-church-but-not-everyone-did/">How our medieval forebears managed Mass</a>, <em>Nicholas Orme</em> Following St Francis –&nbsp;<a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/following-st-francis/">We should swap vanity for peacemaking</a>, <em>Niall Gooch</em> The states vs Texas – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/ch/the-texas-heartbeat-bill-and-abortion-politics-in-the-u-s">Why Texas pro-lifers shouldn’t celebrate just yet</a>, <em>Ken Craycraft</em> <strong>Features</strong> The tolerant George III – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/the-tolerance-of-george-iii/">Against emancipation, but the mad King held the Catholics in high regard</a>, <em>Andrew Roberts</em> The Spy who came into the Church –&nbsp;<a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/the-spy-who-became-a-monk/">The remarkable story of a war hero turned monk</a>, <em>Bernard Lewis</em> The thin end of the wedge – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/the-thin-end-of-the-wedge/">Our legal system rides roughshod over people’s faith and feelings</a>, <em>Justin Doherty</em> The passion of the producer <strong>–&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/wanted-backers-for-a-religious-thriller/">On the agonies of financing religious films</a>, <em>David Sower</em> <strong>Education Special Report</strong> Shepherding the flock –&nbsp;<a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/shepherding-the-flock/">Good chaplains set pupils up for life</a>, <em>Ferdie Rous</em> Inspiring a generation –&nbsp;<a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/todays-youth-%e2%80%a8tomorrows-leaders/">The young of today and leaders of tomorrow</a>, <em>Stefan Kaminski</em> Showing up wokeness <strong>– </strong><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/how-dante-shows-up-wokeness/">How Dante leads the way</a>, <em>Diego Murillo</em> Minding our language – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/minding-our-language/">On ending chronological snobbery</a>, <em>Roy Peachey</em> Learning difficulties and lockdown<strong> </strong>– <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/learning-difficulties-and-lockdowns/">18 months of hampered learning</a>, <em>Elisa Segrave</em> <strong>Arts & Books</strong> <em><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/unrelentingly-ominous-but-essential/">Climate Catastrophe and Faith: How changes in Climate Drive Religous Upheavals</a></em><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/unrelentingly-ominous-but-essential/"><em> </em>by Philip Jenkins</a>, reviewed by <em>John Cornwell</em> <em>Holl</em><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/building-on-past-triumphs/"><em>and Blind Twighlight</em> by John Martin Robinson</a>, reviewed by <em>Michael Hodges</em> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/a-readable-yarn-but-none-too-credible/"><em>Matrix</em> by Lauren Groff</a>, <em>reviewed by Arabella Byrne</em> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/william-it-was-really-something/"><em>Oh! William</em> by Elizabeth Strout</a>, reviewed by <em>Cressida Conolly</em> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/the-son-in-law-also-rises/"><em>Henry ‘Chips’ Channon:the Diaries Volume 2, 1938 -1943</em> by Chips Channon, edited by<em> </em>Simon Heffer</a><em>,</em> reviewed by <em>Nicky Haslam</em> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/stilted-but-endearing/"><em>Silverview</em> by John Le Carré</a>, reviewed by <em>Charles Cumming</em> Interview: Will Todd – The brilliant composer whose passion for the sacred informs his life and work, <em>Melanie McDonagh</em> Saints and saleability – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/saints-and-saleability/">Exploring the world of Catholic Tat</a><strong>, </strong><em>Anthony Cazalet</em> Dragging us out of despair – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/strengthening-those-in-despair/">On the consolation of Robert Southwell’s poetry</a>, <em>Archie Hill</em> Liszt and God – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/ever-so-slightly-off-key/">Not quite a religious composer</a>, <em>Jonathan Gaisman</em> <strong>Life & Soul</strong> October Diary<strong> –&nbsp;</strong><em><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/october-diary-reflecting-on-the-plight-of-refugees/">Anna Somers Cocks</a></em> Tessa’s Feasts – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/tessas-feasts-herring-and-monkfish-for-st-andrew/">Two fishies on dishies for St Andrew</a>, <em>Tessa Balfour</em> The Pointed Arch – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/the-remarkable-restoration-of-st-birinus-dorchester-upon-thames/">The remarkable restoration of St Birinus</a>, <em>Michael Hodges</em> Lost in translation – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/ch/on-biblical-translations-in-the-lectionary">Mass-goers may struggle with the new approved lectionary,</a> <em>Richard J Ounsworth</em> The Garden – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/mist-and-moments-of-delight/">Closing the loop between truth and beauty in Autumn</a>, <em>Charlie Hart</em> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/are-papal-priorities-right/">The truth about the Tridentine Mass</a> – <em>Father Anonymous</em> <strong>Travel & Pilgrimage</strong> Scotland’s Sacred Isle – <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/scotlands-spiritual-isle/">Paying homage to a holy past</a>, <em>William Cash</em> On Pilgrimage<strong> </strong>with <em><a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/on-pilgrimage-with-rosemary-hill/">Rosemary Hill</a></em>

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