The visual arts in the Church of England, 1935-56

I'm very pleased to be able to say that my article for Studies in Church History 44 (2008) on this topic is now available online in SAS-Space. It tried to catch some of the energy of a small group of critics, artists and clergy who saw a need for renewal in religous art, and thought they knew how to make it happen. Reading it again, five years after first beginning to write it, I'm still quite pleased with it (which one doesn't always find.) As well as my regular subjects George Bell and Walter Hussey, there are appearances for Henry Moore, John Betjeman and Kenneth Clark, amongst others.

Christ the King, Sophiatown

I note an intriguing report on the consecration of a new mural in this Johannesburg church, which replaces one painted between 1938 and 1941 by an Anglican nun, of which only photos remain (Guardian, May 22nd). It seems to have been more or less unreported in Britain, despite that period seeing the beginnings of much discussion and campaigning in favour of new art in England.