Timothy Biles' In Every Corner Sing: the diary of a Country vicar, does what it says on the tin! In other words it is a no frills account of the day to day life of Reverend Biles, a 64-year-old parish priest working in rural Dorset.
This is a no-holds-barred report of the events of Biles' ministry, the people in his parish and his strongly held and often thought provoking political and theological opinions.
In the preface, Biles thanks the parishioners he has mentioned in the book for allowing their names and stories to be used, and their involvement is indeed crucial. Sometimes it is hard to keep track of who is who, as Biles has contact with so many people. And, I’m sorry but I cannot help but be reminded of the parson and his parishioners in Postman Pat!
The insight Reverend Biles provides into ministry life is intriguing, and his views and opinions are a mix of the 'old school' traditional position, and more forward thinking ones. One comment he makes about the perception of his parishioners is that unless they are visited by the vicar then the Church has forgotten them – something I think will still ring all too true with many rural vicars.
The problem, Biles suggests, is a failure to build up lay ministry and non-stipendiary ministry, resulting in a misconception that the church is the priest, rather than the people. This is a position he greatly regrets.
Happily, however, In Every Corner Sing is a set text on ministerial training courses and so hopefully will inspire and influence ordinands to broaden their parish's perception of what Church is.
On the other hand I hope trainee ministers will dismiss Biles' lament at the modern emphasis on clergy having a day off. He states: ‘Days off! They are a waste of time and I don't believe in them!’ and he goes on; ‘Being a priest is a way of life which I can't shed one day a week.’
This confusion between being a priest and doing the job of a priest is all too common, and leads, I believe, to burnout and exhaustion.
This Country Vicar's Diary will appeal, I would suggest, mainly to contempories of Biles who perhaps have some experience of parish life, or indeed those considering a move to rural ministry. They will relish the insight he provides and the wry humour he pokes at some of the funnier elements of ministry.
Slightly tedious in places, however, it can be a touch too opinionated, although Biles' charisma and commitment to his job pervade the book and encourage the reader to be forgiving about its faults.
Em Coley is a curate at Wendover and Halton
