Fr Peter's review of Giles Goddard's book, Generous Faith, by Giles Goddard, is printed in the Church Times issues for 19/08/2024 here Book review: Generous Faith: Creating vibrant Christian communities by Giles Goddard (churchtimes.co.uk) and reproduced below:

FOR many of us, the 1970s (or part of them) were a very badly behaved and hugely enjoyable decade. For some of us living in central London, it was a fascinating place, with little pockets where ordinary people still lived, unaffected as yet by “regeneration”, and stunning churches were served by devoted and characterful priests, many of whom, I fear, would not pass muster in our rather more dull and conformist times.

Only a few minutes’ walk from where this book was conceived was one such man. For decades, he served his small and densely populated parish (and the National Theatre), and his beautiful semi-hidden church, now no more, quietly offered worship and care to an amazing variety of people. His personality, his theology, and the practical expression of both were intertwined. He was not alone: I remember different parts of central London which were peppered with remarkable clergy, who did remarkable things. I owe my calling, I suppose, in no small part to their quiet and steadfast examples.

Times change. The South Bank is not just a hub of artistic creativity, but a frenzy of redevelopment. How is the Church to respond to all this? This book could be regarded, in the main, an attempt to answer that question. St John’s, Waterloo, commands an imposing location, just south of Waterloo Bridge. Giles Goddard has been its parish priest since 2009. He has been very active in such things as getting the Church to take issues such as climate change, interfaith work, and human sexuality more seriously. He has been very involved with the General Synod and Inclusive Church.

All these things appear in the text, mainly in relation to the parish. We are challenged to think about how one “grounds” the larger issues that should concern the Church today in a church community and the wider parish that it is called to serve. Sometimes, that can be straightforward; sometimes, it can be costly.

Another strand in the book relates to the building. St John’s was rebuilt after sustaining bomb damage during the Second World War. Is the building and its layout fit for its purpose in the 21st century? The answer to this was very clearly “No.” After the raising and spending of £5.5 million, the church and its facilities have been transformed. So, we have here a story about bricks and mortar, as well as one about people.

And, behind all that, we have a story about one man in particular: the author. Goddard is searingly honest about himself: his early traumas, his coming to faith, his leaving of it, his finding it again, and his sexuality. Who he is is part of what he does.

So, there is a lot going on in this book. In less skilful hands, this might be a recipe for an incoherent mess, but not here, and for two reasons.

First, style: Goddard’s text adopts a conversational tone, which makes this book very readable. Big ideas come out of remembered conversations, and ecclesiastical jargon is unpacked clearly. It is an interesting story about an interesting place (and interesting people).

Second, structure: Goddard cleverly frames his story with the shape of the liturgical year, starting with Advent and ending with Christ the King. This has the effect of enfolding the tales that he has to tell — personal, parochial, and institutional — within the greater narrative that should frame the life of any Christian.