The Cross and the Colliery (SPCK, 2007)

The Cross and the Colliery is a short, well written book in which Tom Wright explores the very heart of Christian belief. In typical fashion he takes a complex subject and makes it crystal clear. He does so by using eight sermons he preached at Easter 2007. These were delivered as ‘meditations’ on a daily basis from Palm Sunday to Easter morning.

He sets his message in context by giving his talks in a very challenged community – that of Easington where all measures of social deprivation are high. So what is so different about the way this book treats the central Christian message?

I read it twice (once skimmed and once in detail – going through the well chosen Biblical reference). The message was clear. Tom Wright tells us of his and the church’s love of music. He describes church music as often in four parts and draws an analogy between these and our own and our church community’s place within the framework of Christianity.

Thus he describes the Old Testament as the foundation (or bass part) to our belief. The main tune (or treble part) is the story of Jesus in the New Testament. But this is not just a two part story or harmony. There are many other important potential parts. Two really important ones are the tenor part (our community’s influence) and the alto which is where we come in ourselves. This sets out the framework in which we function as Christians and some of the influences on us in that context.

>In this book then Bishop Tom explores this concept in more detail and gives biblical references to support is view. He uses this to help us to understand the significance of this most crucial journey through Easter week. In my view it is a superbly perceptive piece of writing and typical of Tom Wright. He takes a subject we are inclined to want to make more difficult than it needs to be and clarifies it brilliantly. The book is therefore highly recommended. It would be particularly good to read in the approach to Easter.

by Rob Wilson