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Columba
Examines the life, character and achievements of St Columba, and the distinctive nature and current relevance of Columban Christianity and its key strands - pilgrimage, penitence and politics. This saint's message has never been more timely than now, 1400 years after his death.
Water: A Spiritual History
How water has been worshipped, understood and used spiritually from healing springs to modern spas, in a journey through holiness, health and hedonism.
The Celtic Way
'The Celtic Way' provides a balanced, factually based introduction to the Celtic Church. This edition includes a new introduction in which Ian Bradley reflects on the changes and developments that have taken place in the Celtic Christian scene since this title first appeared.
Pilgrimage
This book explores the phenomenon of Christian pilgrimage, pointing to its origins in the exodus and subsequent wilderness experience of the Jews, the medieval heyday when millions of pilgrims spend months traveling across Europe, and the modern revival that has blurred the lines between pilgrimage and tourism and made places such as Iona, Taize, and Santiago di Compostella the mecca for contemporary seekers and travelers. Lavishily illustrated, the book begins with the history and then covers pilgrimages in Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Norway, France, Spain, Italy, Bosnia-Herzogovina, and Poland. Providing a mixture of history and fact with vivid personal experiences and pilgrims' own accounts and prayers, Ian Bradley brings to life one of the most vibrant expressions of Christian spirituality.
God Save the Queen
At a time of renewed interest in the monarchy (stimulated by the marriage of Prince William of Wales and the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II), the institution is analyzed and dissected from almost every point of view apart from the sacred -- which arguably stands at its heart and is its ultimate raison d'etre. Commentators assess the constitutional and philanthropic aspects of monarchy and its tourist potential; gossip magazines report on the Royal Family as a soap opera. This lack of attention is in marked contrast to the sacred origins of monarchy and the manifest importance of religious belief in the life of the present monarch. Ian Bradley traces the religious dimension of monarchy and argues for its importance as a spiritual force in British life, as well as exploring what this might mean in a society that is both multi-faith and increasingly secular.
Water: A Spiritual History
Water has long been associated with the magical, the mysterious and the divine. From sacred springs to holy wells, and from hydropathic cures and temperance reform to the modern spa, Ian Bradley explores how water's creative, health-giving and restorative powers have been conceived, worshipped and marketed in an essentially spiritual way. In pre-Christian times, springs and rivers were seen as the dwelling places of deities with magical life-giving and curative powers, associated especially with the feminine and with ritual cleansing and rebirth. With the coming of Christianity, water was incorporated into Christian ritual and tradition through baptism and the cult of holy wells. From the 16...
Celtic Christianity
The current fascination with Celtic Christianity is the latest manifestation of a lingering love affair stretching back over the last 1300 years. This book explores how the native Christian communities of the British Isles from the fifth to the tenth centuries have been idealised and appropriated by succeeding generations who have projected their own preconceptions and prejudices on to a perceived 'golden age' of Celtic Christianity. It provides a fascinating study of the making of myths and the chasing of dreams.Key Features* First ever comprehensive and chronological survey of the development of the concept of 'Celtic Christianity'* Important new insights into the religious, cultural and intellectual history of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England* Rich collection of sources with illustrations throughout the text
Daily Telegraph Book of Hymns
Here are the full original texts of 150 of the best loved hymns in the English language. Each is accompanied by a fascinating commentary, giving biographical details of the author (such as the Calvinist creator of Rock of Ages who once calculated that the average human sins 2,522,880,000 times); notes on the circumstances in which the hymn was written; and variant versions. Each hymn is prefaced by an urbanely written and agreeably subjective commentary with a wealth of anecdotes and a few ribald parodies. This charming book should also be required reading for all those responsible for choosing hymns in church. Ian Bradley writes with wit, elegance and charm and is quite exceptionally knowledgeable about his subject.
You've Got to Have a Dream
Arguing that the musical is the "most ubiquitous and dominant cultural icon of our age," scholar Ian Bradley unpacks the theological significance of the musical. Bradley argues that musicals provide millions of people around the world not just with entertainment but also with spiritual and theological values, a philosophy of life, and an encounter with God. In addition, he offers his thoughts on what the popularity of the musical might mean for the future of the church.
Arthur Sullivan
This book charts the life of Arthur Sullivan—the best loved and most widely performed British composer in history. While he is best known for his comic opera collaborations with W. S. Gilbert, it was his substantial corpus of sacred music which meant most to him and for which he wanted to be remembered. His upbringing and training in church music, and his own religious beliefs, substantially affected both his compositions for the theatre and his more serious work, which included oratorios, cantatas, sacred ballads, liturgical pieces, and hymns. Focusing on the spiritual aspects of Sullivan's life—which included several years as a church organist, involvement in Freemasonry, and an undying attachment to Anglican church music—Ian Bradley uses hitherto undiscovered letters, diary entries, and other sources to reveal the important influences on his faith and his work. No saint and certainly no ascetic, he was a lover of life and enjoyed its pleasures to the full. At the same time, he had a rare spiritual sensitivity, a sincere Christian faith, and a unique ability to uplift through both his character and his music that can best be described as a quality of divine emollient.
