Catherine Fox (1) (1961–)

Enjoyable account of Anglican life in a Cathedral city in England written by someone who knows. Its light hearted, witty, quick moving, sensitive on the whole, and takes the church, if not God, seriously. The book is dominated by the homosexual issue; there is one outrageous gay character and others more or less at ease with their situation. The evangelicals are none of them attractive, (we are told who is "good" and its never them). She is happy to refer to Trollope, who also didn't like evangelicals, and has Barchester as the neighbouring city.
Good understanding of church life in the suburbs as well as in the Cathedral, and explains the hierarchy for those not in the know, and to me who ought to know. Sensitive to country side and nice nature writing. Might be worth checking the next in the series.… (mer)

Acts and Omissions by Catherine Fox from SPCK Publishing is set in the fictional diocese of Lindchester. It follows the lives of the clergy and those whose lives are tied up with them through a year of their life. All life, all colour, all flovours of the church are characters here. There is plenty of romance, will they/won't they and the stuff of life and ministry.

The story is very firmly rooted in the Church of England and it's life and practices, but having been a Minister in a cathedral town, I recognize the characters and the life of a Cathedral Close.

It is interesting to have a novel set so firmly in church culture and happenings, probably not something you would find anywhere else. It is not a parody or assumption of what goes off among the lives of clergy, as mush fiction that involves the church is, but from someone who knows. That shows through ans I am grateful for the honesty of it. It goes a long way to showing that the lives of the clergy are quite normal, and not as rarefied as those outside seem to think.

I was slightly uncomfortable about the 'Is or isn't the Bishop gay?' theme that runs through much of the book. Having their sexuality questioned and gossiped about is a reality that so many have to live with, and is very painful; but maybe that is the point of raising it - to make people think.

All in all, it is an enjoyable story of real, human, rounded characters, with all their failings and foibles - with some real moments of hope and healing.… (mer)