St Olave's Church, Chichester

St Olave's Church in Chichester sits between two business premises, and looks rather uncomfortable as though being squeezed by its modern, up-start neighbours. Parts of it are Saxon, and some have suggested that it was founded by Earl Godwin, father to King Harold, or by Scandinavian merchants, considering its dedication. Although rather tiny inside, which we might expect, it is no longer primarily used for worship but for the distribution of books. I have often though that I should be pleased to run a Christian bookshop should I no longer pastor a church, though I daresay the costs and losses would not have me doing it for long. The friendly staff of St Olave’s relieved me of nearly fifty pounds by their crafty discounting of several books on church history.  

Books are valuable, and the link between the printing presses and the great Reformation of religion in the sixteenth century is incontrovertible. Furthermore, Christians who ‘read around the subject', to misappropriate a clichéd school teacher’s stock phrase from an end-of-year report, develop a healthier, sturdier faith. Yet whatever we read, or watch online (which is more likely in this awful century), may the scriptures be our number one port of call. My favourite meal is a roast dinner: I enjoy the Yorkshire pudding, the veg, the potatoes and the gravy, but unless the roast beef is in the centre of the plate, the rest is incomplete and fundamentally lacking.