Rev. Robin

A photo of Hind Rajab with a mortarboard hat on pretending to be graduating from university. Writing over the photo says: Justice for Hind Rajab.

Two years ago today, Hind Rajab was killed by Israeli forces. She was five years old.

On 29th January 2024, Hind and her relatives were fired on by an Israeli tank when trying to flee to safety. Everyone in the vehicle was killed by the initial attack except Hind and her 15-year-old cousin, Layan.

The cover page of the Iona Community Prayer Book 2026 opened in the Adobe Acrobat app on iOS.

My joy today has been receiving the Iona Community Prayer Book in PDF form. I always manage to lose the physical book, but hopefully this year I'll actually be able to keep up with my daily prayers!

There are certainly too many people with too much power who view Huntington’s ‘Clash of Civilisations’ thesis as desirable. Perilous times indeed

You are right. This further exposes it.

A liberal “rules-based international order” is meaningless if a state can bomb a capital city and extrajudicially “capture” a sitting President without facing immediate sanctions.

The Telegraph used to be full of many opinions I disagreed with, but that were nevertheless well written and genuinely made me think.

Now, its politics and opinion pages seem like mere GB News in print—a real loss.

Am I the only one to grow increasingly disappointed in The Telegraph’s political reporting?

On the advice of my old school English teacher, I've continued to read the newspaper opposite to my politics.

Robin, in a white clerical collar and black double-breasted cassock, sitting on a pew with a glass of amber coloured punch in one hand and a mince pie in the other hand on his lap. He is pretending to have nodded off to sleep.

And with all the Christmas celebrations done, and a glass of parson's punch in hand, the Minister said, “Now, I'll be back in January and before then I'll…” and with that he went to sleep. 💤

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎄🎉

It must have been so tempting to pass a note back asking, “Is this a theological or liturgical question?”

Robin, wearing a black suit with a white clerical collar, holding a whisky glass of amber coloured liquid and ice. A Christmas tree is in the background.

Checking into the #ClergyMaltClub with a Whisky Mac. I've had a relatively light Christmas, with a Carol service on Sunday and no Christmas Eve services. That said, I will be in the pulpit in the morning and will be serving parson’s punch and mince pies after the service!

Doesn’t John 1:1 tell us the Word was God? YouTube video by Dan McClellan

A gentle reminder (via @maklelan.bsky.social) for those planning to preach on John 1 tomorrow! youtu.be/_4C_yLvioUA

A question for those criticising people imprisoned on remand for going on hunger strike: If you were due to spend years of your life incarcerated before being able to access a trial, how would you protest your treatment by the state in a more effective way?

I'm genuinely curious…

Is anyone else sick of the fake-apology ads on social media?

“We sincerely apologise…
That our product works so well!
Here is a sale so you can buy more of it…”

No, thank you!

A copy of ‘Original Blessing’ by Matthew Fox.

A recent quiz told me that if I were an Anglican, I would be a Matthew Fox kind of Anglican, so I am now finally reading some Fox.

Have I picked the best starting point for gaining a general understanding of Fox’s theology?

When you make yourself a cup of tea only to realise the last of the milk is off 😭

On this day of All Hallows, I can't help but remember The Rev. James Reeb, the Unitarian Universalist martyr murdered while marching against white supremacy in 1965.

The fight against racism continues. Love will prevail.

Clergy of all denominations need to be active in opposing racism, not just by speaking fine words from our pulpits, but by being present on our streets.

On Saturday 9 August 2025, Rev. Robin Hanford, minister of Hinckley Unitarian chapel, joined a Stand Up to Racism counter-demo, where he experienced physical and verbal abuse from militant right-wing protestors. A spate of online threats followed, including from prominent far-right leaders. Despite this, Robin feels empowered to continue to stand up and be counted in an ever-polarised society. What made you attend the counter-demonstration? The week of the demo, I remember seeing local Facebook groups advertising an anti-immigration demo in a town near Hinckley, where I'm the minister. It played on the fears of local people, linked to an alleged sexual assault case that was weaponized against male asylum seekers. Fast-forward to Saturday, and part of me wanted to concentrate on writing my Sunday service. But eventually, the other part won out. It's all very well preaching to my congregation about how we should stand up for what's right, but it doesn't make much difference if I don't attempt to do that. So I thought, right, I'm going to go. What happened during the counter-demonstration? Unlike other counter-protests where the police keep both groups separate and distanced with a no-man's land in between, we had a scattering of police officers around us which meant that people from the main protest who were particularly aggrieved at our presence could get to us quite easily. There were about 1,000 people at the main demonstration, and 35 of us. Eventually, a decision was made by the police or the organisers of the counter-demo that we should move away The police led us from the front, with no protection behind us, which meant far-right activists could pick us off one by one. Somebody tried to swipe my legs out from under me. Someone else grabbed the lapels of my jacket. Then somebody seized the collar of my shirt and said they would take my clerical collar "through any means necessary" Someone wished death on me to my face, which was haunting. You were filmed by far-…

for me, but for my family, my congregation, and those who care for me. While I'm glad I took the decision to go, it's not one l'd ever make flippantly. How have your congregation reacted? They've been very supportive and concerned for my safety and that of my partner, which I appreciate. It's led to some interesting conversations, too. While Unitarians know that ministers are free to act independently of their congregation, the general public doesn't. It can look like a minister speaks for the entire congregation, which is never the case. As a movement, that's something we need to have a discussion about. Many far-right extremists refer to themselves as patriots. Do you consider yourself to be a patriot? While I wouldn't describe myself as a patriot, there are things do that could be considered patriotic. I grew up in a family that put football flags on the car windows and cheered the team on. I'm pleased to inherit a cultural heritage that's long sought to look out for each other, going back to the Tolpuddle Martyrs, and to the Diggers and Ranters of the Commonwealth period. I'm proud of the radical English tradition. Patriotism is also about making sure everybody in your community and country is able to live well - something Unitarians have done for decades. Hinckley Unitarians were first and foremost in building local libraries and hospitals. It's important to distinguish between patriotism and nationalism, because the far right doesn't want there to be any difference. There's a political, nationalist move to unite working class communities who feel, correctly, that they've been left behind by wealthy millionaires and billionaires. Rather than stirring tension on a class basis, far-right British politics is taking an aggressive nationalist route that will lead to a very dangerous place if we're not careful. While it might seem convenient to retreat into a comfortable isolationist sphere, it won't be productive in the short or long term. We've seen the potential d…

Now that everyone has had their opportunity to get their copy of the October issue of The Inquirer, I’m sharing the interview that Laura did with me in full about my attendance at a Stand Up To Racism organised counter demonstration.

Quakers and Creeds: The Role of Creeds in Church and State - Woodbrooke In this session, we’ll explore key questions such as: • What should the relationship be between Church and State? • “Thy Kingdom come”? This session is

I'm delighted to be part of a @woodbrooke.bsky.social session on the role of creeds in the relationship between church and state.

In a personal first for me, I'll be offering a critical perspective on Nicaea while in dialogue with a Roman Catholic Bishop!

www.woodbrooke.org.uk/courses/quak...

In case anyone was wondering what the book was, it was ‘Tales of the City’ by Armistead Maupin.

Amazing how an author can make such interesting subject matter so incredibly dull. An absolutely excruciating read.

Preacher's plea for 'Christian compassion' over assisted dying EXCLUSIVE: Pamela, a terminally ill lay preacher, has shared her view as the Bill faces another hurdle in the House of Lords.

Palela’s story is so important. I have head many like it during my life and ministry. www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2105...

I'm watching ‘Dexter’ for the first time. It is excellent, but the opening credits annoy me.

I get why they choose to show coffee beans in a blade grinder for the aesthetics, but I'm sure that anyone meticulous enough to be a Dexter-style serial killer would use a burr grinder.

I am relieved to hear that, as storing things up for the upcoming rant has been my only motivation in making it this far in 😂

Has anyone ever given up entirely on a book you are meant to read for a book group because you find it so frustrating?

I am sorely tempted.

It is always wonderful to be back at @hmcoxford.bsky.social, and it was great to meet Lisa Smars and catch up with all she is doing for the college!

‘Apocalypse Working Group’ would be a great band name.

If there is one thing joining a book group has done, it has freed me from the shackles of attempting to finish every work of fiction I begin to read.

My fiancée has finally twisted my arm into reading one of her favourite book series. However, I'm finding it hard going as one of the main characters is so annoying as to be completely insufferable.

I've never hoped so eagerly for a literary character to be killed off!

Even as a Christian who operates largely outside the bounds of Nicene-Chalcedonian orthodoxy, I agree with @leedshewitt.bsky.social on this!

The implications of Nicaea on church history and doctrine simply can't be overstated, and folks in the pews should be well informed about it.

Rather than sub-tweeting, are we now sub-instagram storying and sub-blueskying each other? 😂