For the lives of those we give the title Saint, and other historically noteworthy Christian men and women, written by their contemporaries, their own writings and stories about them painstakingly put together by modern day writers,

15 Days of Prayer with Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

by Constant Tonnelier

St. Thérèse of Lisieux lived for only twenty-four years, nine of these passed in a Carmelite monastery. Yet, in spite of this brief life passed in obscurity, her autobiography The Story of a Soul is a bestseller and her influence has spread worldwide. Since her canonisation in 1925 she has become one of the most admired and loved of saints. This book brings together Thérèse’s own thoughts and reflections on life with a continuous explanatory commentary by the author. Thérèse’s Little Way is firmly rooted in confidence and love. ‘To love until we die of love’ is her prescription for a happy life. Anyone setting out on a spiritual journey need not travel alone. This book is a perfect companion and guide.

Review by John Irvine (03/02/12)

Paperback
Price: £8.95
Publisher: New City
Published: 2011
ISBN: 978-1-565-48391-0

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Archibald G. Brown

- Spurgeon's Successor

by Iain H Murray

Mr. Murray has done the Christian world a great service by writing this biography of Archibald Brown. Mr. Brown was one of the great pastors and preachers of the late 19th and early 20th century yet today he is hardly known. This probably because up to now no complete biography of this life has ever been written.
Archibald Brown came from a wealthy family. But instead of following his father into banking he served the Lord as pastor in several churches in Central London and South Africa. His most notable work was in the East End of London where there he built a church to hold 3000 people whilst still in his twenties. At the same time he personally led extensive relief work to the poor and needy. Mr. Brown was a contemporary and great friend of C H Spurgeon. He trained at Spurgeon’s pastor’s college and some years after Spurgeon’s death served as pastor at the Metropolitan Tabernacle.
Like Spurgeon he loved doctrines of grace and loved preaching the gospel. He was, by all accounts a moving and powerful preacher who had the great heart for the lost. Few spoke with more tenderness and compassion.
Mr. Murray writes in an engaging and interesting way. He does not just give us the facts but draws out lessons for us today. There are fascinating sections about apostasy, revivals, sermon preparation and the use of musical instruments in worship.
I heartily recommend this biography. It will give you a glimpse of a man in love with his Saviour and on fire for the Lord.

Review by Alan Hill (21/01/12)

Hardback
Price: £16.00
Publisher: Banner of Truth Trust
Published: October 2011
ISBN: 978-1-848-71139-6

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All is Grace

- A Biography of Dorothy Day

by Jim Forest

This biography of Dorothy Day is a big book in every way. It has 340 pages with as many illustrations. It is the story of a remarkable woman who started life in San Francisco as a member of a poor family that had no religion. At an early age she was attracted to socialism, feeling for the homeless, the jobless and the suffering throughout her life. She was several times imprisoned for her political activities. She had unhappy love affairs, a brief marriage and an attempt at suicide. However, in spite of her political convictions, she always sensed the presence of God among the dispossessed and saw the face of Christ in the poor. She took delight in prayer and, wanting to take part in active worship, she was attracted first to the Episcopal religion but eventually joined the Catholic Church. She founded and edited the famous paper The Catholic Worker which combined faith with commitment to social justice. She died in 1980, aged 83, and there is a move now to have her canonised. This would be a remarkable accolade for a remarkable life.

Review by John Irvine (16/01/12)

Paperback
Price: £16.99
Publisher: Orbis Books from Alban Books
Published: May 2011
ISBN: 978-1-570-75921-5

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The People’s Theologian

- Writings in Honour of Donald Macleod

Edited by Iain D. Campbell & Malcolm Maclean

This book is a festschrift, that is a book honouring a respected person, especially an academic, presented to them during their lifetime. The person in question is Donald Macleod, the occasionally controversial Scottish theologian, author and preacher. This book was presented to him on the occasion of his formal retirement from the Free Church College earlier in 2011.
The book is divided into four main sections: biographical, historical theology, systematic theology, and theology and the church. twenty different people have made contributions. Unsurprisingly, the book does not have an overriding theme except that each article has some connection with Donald Macleod’s life or his interests.
The biographical section gives us a pen picture of the man himself although the contributors shy away from an unbiased assessment. Not surprisingly, given the purpose of this book, they avoid any real discussion of the more controversial events of his life.
The theological sections are, by and large, aimed at seminary students and serious students of the word. There is much that is helpful and edifying: particular highlights for me were the chapters on the theology of Samuel Rutherford and how a preacher should read the Scriptures.
For those who have a love of theology and especially reformed Scottish theology this book will be an enjoyable read.

Review by Alan Hill (07/12/11)

Paperback
Price: £14.99
Publisher: Mentor, imprint of Christian Focus
Published: 2011
ISBN: 978-1-845-50584-4

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Confessions

by Saint Augustine

The publisher has neglected to give the reader the publishing history of this book. We are told that the ‘original Edition’ was published in 1955 (or at least the introduction to the work) and that the editor was Albert Cook Outler. The hieratic language of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries is imitated, and even in Chapter 1 we have the famous line that forms the core of the familiar ‘St Augustine’s Prayer’ couched in Prayer Book/KJV language.:- ‘for thou hast made us for thyself and restless is our heart until it comes to rest in thee.’ There is no doubt however, that St Augustine is able to speak to the contemporary reader, despite any misgivings about archaic language forms, in this attractive edition of this vital Christian text.

Review by Ian Gibbs (18/11/11)

Paperback
Price: £10.99
Publisher: Hendrickson from Alban Books
Published: November 2011
ISBN: 978-1-598-56639-0

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Great Christian Thinkers: From the Early Church Through the Middle Ages

by Pope Benedict XVI

This new book by the present pope is a collection of seventy brief biographies of Christianity’s greatest thinkers and writers from the the first to the fourteenth centuries. It covers both men and women, popes and politicians, poets and missionaries, theologians and mystics, from the east and the west. Not only the well-known and celebrated are included, like Thomas Aquinas, St Jerome, St Augustine, St Gregory and St Hildegard, but also lesser-known saints who were in their time influential teachers and witnesses to the faith. This is not a book to be read continuously from cover to cover, but is ideal to be kept at the bedside for occasional reading and reflection. It could also be used by small groups in the classroom or congregation for discussion and sharing of ideas.

Review by John Irvine (05/11/11)

Paperback
Price: £12.99
Publisher: SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge)
Published: July 2011
ISBN: 978-0-281-06474-8

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John Paul II - The Path to Sainthood by Michael Collins
ISBN: 978-1-856-07730-9 Price: £12.50	Published: 30 June 2011
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F.F.Bruce: A Life - The Definitive Biography of a New Testament Scholar by Tim Grass
ISBN: 978-1-842-27737-9 Price: £14.99	Published: April 2011
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Blessed John Paul II Edited by Renzo Sala
ISBN: 978-0-854-39814-0 Price: £3.95	Published: 2011
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G.K.Chesterton: A Biography by Ian Ker
ISBN: 978-0-199-60128-8 Price: £35.00	Published: 21 April 2011
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Consecrated Spirits - A Thousand Years of Spiritual Writings by Women Religious Compiled by Felicity Leng
ISBN: 978-1-853-11952-1 Price: £14.99	Published: 31 August 2011
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The Select Practical Writings of John Knox by John Knox
ISBN: 978-1-848-71102-0 Price: £16.00	Published: July 2011
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Meister Eckhart - Mystical Theologian by Oliver Davies
ISBN: 978-0-281-06410-6 Price: £14.99	Published: February 2011
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Wigglesworth - The Complete Story by Julian Wilson
ISBN: 978-1-860-24840-5	Published: 08 July 2011
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Marthe Robin - A Prophetic Vision of the Gospel Message by Bernard Peyrous, translated by Kathryn Spink
ISBN: 978-1-847-30237-3 Price: £15.99	Published: 2010
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The Life and Times of Charles Henry Mackintosh by Edwin Cross
ISBN: 978-1-853-07246-8 Price: £16.00	Published: Spring 2011
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Women of Faith & Courage by Vance Christie
ISBN: 978-1-845-50686-5 Price: £8.99	Published: 2011
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15 Days of Prayer With Saint Clare of Assisi by Marie-France Becker
ISBN: 978-1-565-48371-2 Price: £8.95	Published: 2011
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Compelled by Joy - A Lifelong Passion for Evangelism by Michael Green
ISBN: 978-1-844-74542-5 Price: £9.99	Published: June 2011
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John MacArthur - Servant of the Word and Flock by Iain H. Murray
ISBN: 978-1-848-71112-9 Price: £14.50	Published: 08 August 2011
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