Tales of a Country Parish

Rural priest Colin Heber-Percy began writing an early-morning newsletter - a collection of daily reflections, stories and prayers - to stay in touch with his parishioners and comfort those on their own during the unprecedented circumstances of Spring 2020. Word spread, and soon his uplifting bulletins were being eagerly consumed by readers around the country and beyond. In these wise, kind and surprising contemplations, Heber-Percy draws upon a kaleidoscopic knowledge of art, nature, music and metaphysical poetry, as well as religious texts, and interlaces them with amusing and touching vignettes from his Wiltshire parish. He meanders from the many breakdowns of his rusty Ibiza, to the dramas of the village carnival and the joys and agonies of leading worship on Zoom with one parishioner regularly reading the gospel accompanied by her noisy budgie on her shoulder. As he follows the changing seasons, Heber-Percy moves from the seemingly small and mundane to ponder big life questions - what it's like to be a mouse, why the Bible is not the Highway Code, what on earth we are all doing here - while gently offering up wisdom and sustenance for all, regardless of faith and creed.