The newest issue of Faith and Freedom is out now.
In this new issue (Volume 79, Part 1, Spring and Summer 2026, Number 202) we are delighted to include some of the papers, addresses and reflections given at the MOSA (Ministerial Old Students’ Association) meeting held at Harris Manchester College at the end of June 2026 with the theme of ‘Exploring Spiritual Experience’.
Our cover picture includes ‘Paths up the Mountain’ a picture by Dr Marianne Rankin, one of our speakers and also a painter who mixes Oriental and Western styles. As such it is a great illustration of one of the themes of this issue. Dr Rankin contributes Alister Hardy and Research into Spiritual Experience. A former Chair of the Alister Hardy Society and a former Director of Communications for the Alister Hardy Trust, and the author of An Introduction to Religious and Spiritual Experience, Dr Rankin re-acquaints us with the work, thought and activity of Alister Hardy. This was an important part of Harris Manchester College for such a long time as well as for Faith and Freedom which carried regular reports and papers from Sir Alister Hardy and his co-workers in what was initially called the Religious Experience Research Unit. Alister Hardy began his research by asking a simple question:
Have you ever been aware of or influenced by a presence or power, whether you call it God or not, which is different from your everyday self?
We are pleased to include too Peter Godfrey’s Morning Devotions from 30th June. These Devotions, which incorporate Cliff Reed’s reading ‘Partakers of the Divine’, proved such an appropriate focus for our day’s activity.
At the end of our gathering Jo James delivered a masterful summary of all our deliberations. A pattern in spiritual experience: a plenary summary to Manchester College Old Students Association was delivered with such erudition and insight on our last morning and summarised our experience so fluently that there was much demand to see Jo’s remarks committed to print. It is so kind of him to bring all his thoughts together in time for this issue.
The Sermon has always been an important literary form, for Unitarians and others. We have perhaps lost sight of what a powerful means of communication it can be but in this issue we also celebrate the Sermon with four marvellous examples of preaching in different places and different contexts. The first is Jim Corrigall’s Becoming a Servant-Leader preached at the ordination of the Rev Robert Foreman at Padiham last November. Moving on consecutively the next is Feargus O’Connor’s exposition of The Global Ethic delivered at an inter-faith event held at Golders Green in May. The third sermon – When the Spirit Will Not Be Contained – was preached in the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian meeting-house in Downpatrick on the occasion of the annual meeting of the Remonstrant Synod of Ulster on the day of Pentecost in May 2026. The Remonstrant Synod dates back to 1830 but has undergone a revival in the last couple of years and now again meets as a public body which is exploring its purpose and direction in the 21st century. There was added poignancy to the occasion in that the preacher, Brian Moodie, minister of Dromore and Banbridge, was attending the Synod for the last time before returning to his native South Africa. Our fourth sermon is Robin Hanford’s address given at the College Service on Wednesday, 1st July. It was an exemplary expression of the connection between Unitarianism, spirituality, academia and ministry. As such it fits perfectly with our emphasis in this issue on Sermons – as Literature.
Following the Sermons we have A Tribute to Dan C. West one of our most loyal supporters and contributors in recent years who died in March 2026. Dan was a Presbyterian minister, an academic and a college administrator who supported our journal with powerful articles that questioned the way we looked at the world and those in power.
All this is followed by reviews contributed by Professor David Williams (Paul Morland. No One Left: Why the World Needs More Children) and Rev Jim Corrigall (Sean J. McGrath, The Lost Road – A Search for the Soul of the West).
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