Ally Barrett

Please do share the post below widely.

A story from @Cambridge_Uni on the book I wrote with their Professor of Engineering and the Environment, Julian Alwood, climate change, the lack of quick fixes, and the need to show restraint. /2 cam.ac.uk/stories/promis…

@_F_B_G_ @AndrewGimson That's a lovely review!

Really pleased that the impish paradoxes of Twelve Churches came across so clearly @AndrewGimson in this learned and generous review! conservativehome.com/2026/01/02/but…

#Faith @ReverendAlly describes a project expressing theology through #art and #music #Echobox=1764327380" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2025/…

I'm worried too, that as a society we're not great at valuing life other than by productivity. That we can't really know how free our choices about our end of life are because of this (and so many other factors) - this not just a practical issue but a cultural & existential one.

🎶 When I Needed a Neighbour reimagined! Originally written for @christian_aid in 1965, this iconic song now has powerful new verses by @ReverendAlly to mark the charity’s 80th anniversary—performed by the amazing Kingdom Choir at Westminster Abbey: stainer.co.uk/when-i-needed-…

Come with us to @wabbey to mark 80 yrs of Christian Aid The day brought us together to recognise the influence of our shared endeavors, renew our dedication to the mission of hope & celebrate the spirit that drives our efforts forward.

@MadsDavies That would be cool 😀 It's been done before, by Sophie Hacker and (I think) Sarah Baldock at Wichester Cathedral, but it's the sort of thing that can be done more than once, and each iteration will be different . Do look up Sophie Hacker's work, it's amazing.

@ReverendAlly Wow! I hope we can cover this!

‘The power of faith expressed in Messiaen’s music…is so overwhelming that a non-believer might just be temporarily won over to the Lord’s message.’ Found this so interesting then tried to listen to the music 😬😬😬 lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v47/…

@MadsDavies I absolutely love the music - I have a bit of synaesthesia myself (though nowhere near Messiaen's level!) along with absolut pitch, and I love how visual the music is. Irs like bathing in sound and light all at once.

@MadsDavies I'm doing a collaboration on Messiaen's La Nativité, painting 9 pictures to be exhibited around a devotional performance of the work, during Advent. Messiaen's synaesthesia invites pairing his music with visual art and the idea of Spiritual synaesthesia is extra fascinating.

@_F_B_G_ I think we had quite a few more people this year but marginally fewer communicants.

Anecdotally from social media and on the ground here, we’ve had a busy Palm Sunday. I wonder whether a) the stats will show this too and b) if so whether it’s the signal that the bumper Christmas was the sign of something bigger going on.

New painting (ID: Great St Mary's and Cambridge market, as seen from M&S cafe.

Love to those finding Mothering Sunday complicated this year. As I remember the gift of mothering, and think about the daughter who I wish was celebrating with us, I’ve got the image of Jesus as Mother Hen in my mind. May all those who need it find comfort in the softness of the feathers and warmth of protective love.

@OSacrumCorIesu Useful reminder to work out what fasting looks like for me (I really should have eprked out a standard thing that I do every year by now)- probably more about overall quantity / no second helpings, and no sugary things all through Lent, perhaps? Will think further, tonight!

I’ve shared this Lenten disciplines sheet (the second page) quite widely now! Not sure where it comes from, but for anyone still thinking about and looking to build a healthy fast through the season of Lent, I think it’s excellent.

@t_david_lee @giles_fraser O God of earth and altar is so on theme it hurts.

@giles_fraser There's also G.K. Chesterton's "O God of earth and altar": hymnary.org/text/o_god_of_…

Just choosing hymn for evensong. Decided to go for this tonight. “Who so be­set him round with dis­mal sto­ries Do but them­selves con­found—his strength the more is. No foes shall stay his might; though he with gi­ants fight, He will make good his right to be a pil­grim.”

@revdwillrm I've always been interested in how Jesus says 'my hour has not yet come' but Mary seems to know that it kind of has. She'll have been waiting for this moment. Also interested that the sign is a blessing to everyone but Jesus' self-revelation seems to be just for the servants.

New painting: Clare College Cambridge, from the Fellows' Garden, with entertaining sky (and big thanks to @camdiary for a whole bunch of beautiful reference images to be inspired by).

'Women of the Nativity' is a collection of nine imagined stories told from the perspective of women, recreating the events of the Nativity. 📝 Written by @paulargooder. 🎨 Accompanied by paintings from @ReverendAlly. Find out more at cofe.io/WomenNativity.

@pastoralfi @CHPublishing @pastoraalfi Yay! The link is still there, but just on a different page: chpublishing.co.uk/features/women…

@pastoralfi If there's an issue with the ebook (rather than the separately downloaded images) on your device, maybe @CHPublishing could advise?

If you're using Women of the Nativity during advent you can access the pictures (for a limited period, non-commercial use) from this page: chpublishing.co.uk/books/97817814… Also, we're on the second print run so books should be back in stock!

@pastoralfi @CHPublishing Yes, I just had a look and couldn't find the link (it was there the other day, so may be a glitch?) Messaging CHP is definitely the right call. Enjoy using it!

@ReverendAlly Thanks it looks like I've bought the downloaded book...am searching for the link for the images..have messaged @CHPublishing for help. But in the meantime thank you for the stunning pictures!!