READING LIST FOR THOSE EXPLORING VOCATION (LONG LIST)
The following list, while not exhaustive, does try to include a wide range of viewpoints—thus reflecting the breadth of the Church of England. The titles in bold are a good place to start. Most of the books are still in print and should be readily available, although you may have to order them.
If you have difficulty getting hold of particular titles, the staff at Church House Bookshop in London will almost certainly be able to help you. The website is at http://www.chbookshop.co.uk and you can call them on 020 7898 1300.
ON VOCATION
How to Find your Vocation John Adair (Canterbury Press, 2000)
Called or Collared Francis Dewar (new edition, SPCK, 2000)
This is our Calling Charles Richardson (SPCK, 2004)
Steel Angels: The Personal Qualities of a Priest Magdalen Smith (SPCK, 2014)
Responding to God’s Call, Christian Formation Today Jeremy Worthen (Canterbury Press, 2012)
The Disciples’ Call Edited by Christopher Jamison (T&T Clark, 2013)
Vocation Stephen Platten (SPCK, 2007)
Vocation Margaret Magdalen (Grove Booklet S105, 2008)
1 of 10
The Preaching Life Barbara Brown Taylor (Canterbury Press, 2013)
Discernment Reading the Signs of Daily Life by Henri Nouwen (SPCK, 2013)
ON YOUNG VOCATION
Hearing the Call: Stories of Young Vocation Lawson & Mursell (SPCK, 2014)
I think it’s God Calling: A Vocation diary Katy Magdalene Price (BRF 2015)
ON ORDAINED MINISTRY
Being a Priest Today Christopher Cocksworth & Rosalind Brown (Canterbury Press, 2002) Ministry in Three Dimensions Steven Croft (DLT, 1999)
The Christian Priest Today Michael Ramsey (SPCK, 2009)
Ministry and Priesthood Alastair Redfern (DLT, 1998)
Finding Your Leadership Style Keith Lamdin (SPCK, 2012)
Tools for Reflective Ministry Sally and Paul Nash (SPCK, 2012)
Skills for Collaborative Ministry Nash & Pimlott (SPCK, 2008)
Developing Faithful Ministers Tim Ling and Lesley Bentley (SCM Press, 2012)
Ordained Local Ministry in the Church of England Andrew Bowden, Ed. (Continuum, 2012)
Mindful Ministry Judith and Ross Thompson (SCM Press, 2012)
Facilitation Skills for Ministry Jo Whitehead (SPCK, 2013)
Developing in Ministry Neil Evans (SPCK, 2012)
2 of 10
Moving on in Ministry Tim Ling (Church House Publishing, 2013)
What Clergy Do: Especially When It Looks Like Nothing Emma Percy (SPCK, 2014)
Growing Women Leaders: Nurturing Women's Leadership in the Church Rosie Ward (BRF, 2008)
First Generation of Women Priests: Women Priests - The First Ten Years Christina Rees, Ed. (Canterbury Press, 2012)
Gifted to lead: The Art of Leading as a Woman in the Church Nancy Beach (Zondervan, 2008)
The Life and Work of a Priest John Pritchard (SPCK, 2007)
The Widening Circle: Priesthood as God’s way of blessing the world Graham Tomlin (SPCK 2014)
ON LITURGY AND WORSHIP
Holy, Holy, Holy: Worshipping the Trinitarian God Christopher Cocksworth (DLT, 1997)
Creating Uncommon Worship Richard Giles (Canterbury Press, 2004)
Good Worship Guide Robert Atwell (Canterbury Press, 2013)
Why Sacraments? Andrew Davison (SPCK, 2013)
Sacraments and Worship Maxwell E. Johnson (SPCK, 2012)
Liturgical Spirituality Anglican Reflections on the Church’s Prayer Stephen Burns (Seabury, 2013)
Liturgical Sense Louis Weil (Seabury, 2013)
Joy: The Meaning of the Sacraments Peter Waddell (Canterbury Press, 2012)
The Eucharistic Liturgies Bradshaw and Johnson (SPCK, 2012)
The Study of Liturgy Jones Ed. (SPCK, 1992)
Echoing the Word Paula Gooder and Michael Perham (SPCK, 2013)
3 of 10
Celebrating the Eucharist Simon Jones (SPCK, 2011)
ON ANGLICANISM
The C of E: The State it’s In Monica Furlong (SPCK, 2006)
How to be an Anglican Richard Giles (Canterbury Press, 2011)
Being Anglican Alastair Redfern (DLT, 2006)
Anglicanism: A Very Short Introduction Mark Chapman (OUP, 2006)
Thirty Nine New Articles Martyn Percy (Canterbury Press, 2013)
Anglicanism Martyn Percy (Ashgate, 2013)
The Anglican Understanding of the Church Paul Avis (SPCK, 2013)
What Anglicans Believe Samuel Wells (Canterbury Press, 2011)
Anglican Theology Mark Chapman (T&T Clark, 2012)
The Anglican Spirit Michael Ramsey (Seabury Books, 2004)
A Guide to the Church of England Martin Davie (Continuum, 2008)
SCM Studyguide to Anglicanism Stephen Spencer (SCM Press, 2010)
Anglican Identities Rowan Williams (DLT, 2014)
Apostolic Women,Apostolic Authority: Women in Today's Church (Canterbury Martyn Percy & Christina Rees Series Eds (Canterbury Press Studies in Anglicanism) Norwich, 2010)
4 of 10
ON SPIRITUALITY
Praying the Jesus Prayer Together Simon Barrington-Ward and the Brother Ramon (BRF, 2001)
Praying Through Life Stephen Cottrell (CHP, 1998)
God of Surprises Gerard Hughes (DLT, 2008)
Holiness Donald Nicholl (DLT, 2004)
How I Pray John Wilkins Ed (DLT, 1993)
The Collage of God Mark Oakley (Canterbury Press, 2012)
The Return of the Prodigal Son Henri Nouwen (DLT, 1994)
Spiritual Formation Henri Nouwen (SPCK, 2011)
Living Faithfully John Pritchard (SPCK, 2013)
Living the Gospel Stories Today John Pritchard (SPCK, 2012)
How to Live Stephen Cottrell (CHP, 2011)
Everyday God Paula Gooder (Canterbury Press, 2012)
Spirituality: A Very Short Introduction Philip Sheldrake (OUP, 2012)
Finding Sanctuary Christopher Jamison (Phoenix, 2010)
Into the Silent Land Martin Laird (DLT, 2006) Rowan Williams, Geoffrey Rowell & Kenneth Stevenson Eds (OUP, Love’s Redeeming Work 2003)
This Sunrise of Wonder Michael Mayne (DLT, 2008)
The booklets in the Grove Booklet series ( www.grovebooks.co.uk ) are often good introductions to aspects of spirituality.
5 of 10
ON BIBLICAL STUDIES
Introducing the Old Testament J Drane (Lion Hudson, 2011)
Introduction to Biblical Studies Steve Moyise (Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2013)
The Bible: A Beginner’s Guide Paula Gooder (One World Publications, 2013)
Lion Handbook to the Bible Pat and David Alexander (Lion Hudson, 2009)
The Complete Bible Handbook John Bowker (Dorling Kindersley, 2004)
Scripture, A Guide for the Perplexed William Lamb (T&T Clark, 2013)
Introduction to the New Testament Raymond Brown (Yale UP, 2007)
How to read the Old Testament Etienne Charpentier (SCM Press, 1982)
How to Read the New Testament Etienne Charpentier (SCM Press, 1982)
Reading the Old Testament John Barton (DLT, 1996)
How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth S.G. Fee (Zondervan, 2003)
The Bible Book: A User’s Guide Nick Page (Collins, 2008)
Introduction to Biblical Studies 3 rd Ed. Steve Moyise (T&T Clark, 2013)
ON CHRISTIAN FAITH AND THEOLOGY
Reasonable Belief Anthony Hanson (OUP, 1990)
The Essence of Christianity Brian Hebblethwaite (SPCK, 1996)
Christianity: A Beginner’s Guide Keith Ward (Oneworld, 2007)
Christian Theology, 5th Ed . Alister McGrath (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010)
6 of 10
Theology: The Basics Alister McGrath (Wiley Blackwell, 2011)
Theology: A Very Short Introduction David Ford (OUP, 2013)
What is the Point of Being a Christian Timothy Radcliffe (Continuum, 2005)
Mere Christianity C. S. Lewis (William Collins, 1952)
Being Christian Rowan Williams (SPCK, 2014)
Tokens of Trust Rowan Williams (Canterbury Press, 2007)
How to Be a Bad Christian Dave Tomlinson (Hodder Faith, 2012)
Unapologetic Francis Spufford (Faber, 2012)
On Christian Theology Rowan Williams (Wiley Blackwell, 1999)
ON SELF-KNOWLEDGE AND PASTORAL RELATIONSHIPS
Knowing Me Knowing You Malcolm Goldsmith & Martin Wharton (SPCK, 1993)
Swift to Hear Michael Jacobs (SPCK, 2000)
Still Small Voice Michael Jacobs (SPCK, 1993)
Handbook of Pastoral Studies Wesley Carr (SPCK, 1997)
Bloomsbury Guide to Pastoral Care Flanagan and Thornton (Bloomsbury, 2014)
Seeing in the Dark Christopher Chapman (Canterbury Press, 2013)
The Integrity of Pastoral Care David Lyall (SPCK, 2001)
Reflective Caring: Imaginative Listening to Pastoral Experiences Bob Whorton (SPCK, 2011)
Man’s Search for Meaning Viktor E. Frankl (Rider, 2004)
7 of 10
The Undiscovered Self Carl Jung (Routledge, 2002)
ON DIVERSITY ISSUES
Equals Jenny Baker (SPCK, 2014)
The Re-Enchantment of Morality Richard Harries (SPCK, 2008)
Ethics Matters Peter Vardy (SCM Press, 2012)
Christian Ethics: A Very Short Introduction D. S. Long (OUP, 2010)
Permanent, Faithful, Stable Jeffrey John (DLT, 2012)
Like the Wideness of the Sea Maggi Dawn (DLT, 2013)
Women in Waiting Julia Ogilvy (Bloomsbury, 2014)
A Public Faith Miroslav Volf (Brazos, 2013)
ON MISSION AND EVANGELISM
Mission-Shaped Church: Church Planting and Fresh Expressions of Church Graham Cray (foreword) (CHP, 2009) in a Changing Context
Presence and Prophesy Mision Theological Advisory Group (CHP, 2002)
Beyond the Good Samaritan Ann Morisy (Geoffrey Chapman, 2003)
Creating the Future of the Church Keith Elford (SPCK, 2013)
Developing Healthy Churches Robert Warren (Church House Publishing, 2012)
Healthy Churches Handbook Robert Warren (Church House Publishing, 2012)
8 of 10
101 Great Ideas for Growing Healthy Churches John Adair, Ed. (Canterbury Press, 2012)
SCM Studyguide: Christian Mission Stephen Spencer (SCM Press, 2007)
Lost Church: Why We Must Find it Again Alan Billings (SPCK, 2013)
Creating Community: Ancient Ways for Modern Churches Simon Reed (Bible Reading Fellowship, 2013)
Everyday Church Tim Chester and Steve Timmis (IVP, 2011)
Mission-Shaped Church Graham Cray (Church House Publishing, 2009)
ON RELIGIOUS LIFE
Anglican Religious Communities Year Book Current edition (Canterbury Press)
Unveiled: Nuns Talking Mary Loudon (Ebury/Vintage, 1993)
Sing a New Song: The Christian Vocation Timothy Radcliffe, OP (Dominican Publications, 1999)
Refocusing the Vision: Religious Life into the Future Barbara Fiand (The Crossroad Publishing Co, 2001)
Searching for God Basil Hume, OSB (Gracewing, 2002)
New Habits Isabel Losada (Hodder & Stoughton, 1999)
Finding the Treasure Sandra M. Schneiders, IHM (Paulist Press, 2000)
Selling All Sandra M. Schneiders, IHM (Paulist Press, 2001)
Community and Growth: Our Pilgrimage Together Jean Vanier (DLT, 1989)
CHURCH NEWSPAPERS
The Church Times and The Church of England Newspaper
9 of 10
NOVELS WITH THEOLOGICAL THEMES
Henderson the Rain King by Saul Bellow A Glass of Blessings by Barbara Pym The Diary of a Country Priest by Georges Bernanos Miss Garnet’s Angel by Sally Vickers The Brothers Karamazov by Fydor Dostoyevsky Mr Golightly’s Holiday by Sally Vickers Silence by Shasuko Endo The Devil’s Advocate by Morris West Angels and Men by Catherine Fox Shoes of the Fisherman by Morris West Darkness Visible by William Golding Lazarus by Morris West Rites of Passage by William Golding The Clowns of God by Morris West The Spire by William Golding Eminence by Morris West The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene Gilead by Marilynne Robinson Monsignor Quixote by Graham Greene
Burnt-Out Case by Graham Greene
Narziss and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
Glittering Images by Susan Howatch
Death in Holy Orders by P D James
Children of Men by P D James
Therapy by David Lodge
Brittle Joys by Sara Maitland
Black Robe by Brian Moore
The Statement by Brian Moore
The Bell by Iris Murdoch