Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
By Nikolai Sverchkov (1817–1898), via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.
In Russia, when a blind beggar is laid to rest even the Emperor knows for whom the bell tolls.
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Anonymous, via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.
Guiseppi Garibaldi treasured the memory of a visit to Tyneside.
By Henri-Antoine Boissonnas (1833-89), via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.
Fyodor Dostoevsky listened with growing bewilderment to the celebrity peace activists gathered in Geneva.
By an anonymous artist, via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.
Izaak Walton recalls how George Herbert summarised the major feasts of the Church year.
By Georges de la Tour (1593–1652), via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.
In a sermon for Christmas Day, St Bede confronts his brethren with the truth about Mary’s wonderful child.
By Arthur Hughes (1832-1915), via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.
‘Alpha of the Plough’ thought the Victorians understood Christmas and New Year better than we do.