Rebuilding Jerusalem
The Church’s Hold on Hearts and Minds
by Stephen Platten
Paperback
Price: £14.99
Publisher:SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge)
Published:23 August 2007
ISBN:978-0-281-05697-2
GoodBookStall Review:
Not a travel book about the Holy Lands, but an in depth investigation into whether the Church of England has lost the hearts of the people of England. The first few lines of Blake’s epic poem, which in itself almost turned into a second anthem for England, reminds us, admittedly rhetorically, of our green and pleasant land where Jerusalem was builded. Through his observations the Bishop of Wakefield questions if indeed the land became a place where Blake’s dream was fulfilled or if it did not then could it ever really happen? Looking at the churches historical background, through revivals and changes, through Tractarianism and Evangelicalism right up to the present day the question is asked “what is the future?” Bishop Stephen writes with an enthusiasm which questions, quite rightly, the antipathy of some towards the need for an established church and gives us plenty of ideas, based on others stories and anecdotal quotes, which should move us forward. So many of us take for granted that the Church of England will always be there, but modern life is never to be taken for granted. If change is signalled then this book will be a good starting point for the entire establishment
Reviewer: Ian Gibson (29/11/07)
Not a travel book about the Holy Lands, but an in depth investigation into whether the Church of England has lost the hearts of the people of England. The first few lines of Blake’s epic poem, which in itself almost turned into a second anthem for England, reminds us, admittedly rhetorically, of our green and pleasant land where Jerusalem was builded. Through his observations the Bishop of Wakefield questions if indeed the land became a place where Blake’s dream was fulfilled or if it did not then could it ever really happen? Looking at the churches historical background, through revivals and changes, through Tractarianism and Evangelicalism right up to the present day the question is asked “what is the future?” Bishop Stephen writes with an enthusiasm which questions, quite rightly, the antipathy of some towards the need for an established church and gives us plenty of ideas, based on others stories and anecdotal quotes, which should move us forward. So many of us take for granted that the Church of England will always be there, but modern life is never to be taken for granted. If change is signalled then this book will be a good starting point for the entire establishment
Reviewer: Ian Gibson (29/11/07)
