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A Nottingham ‘vicar-theologian’ is calling for us to rediscover and celebrate our ‘Englishness’, including local legends like Robin Hood, in a new book on faith and English culture. The Faith of the English: Integrating Christ and culture,’ published this month by SPCK (£12.99) ISBN: 9780281061112, and written by the Revd Canon Dr. Nigel Rooms, Associate Priest at Bestwood Park with Rise Park and Director of Ministry and Mission for the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham, will be launched locally the day after St George’s day, on Tuesday 3rd May 2011 outside England’s oldest pub - Ye Old Trip to Jerusalem in Nottingham. (Nigel will have signed copies of the book available from 11am). Nigel Rooms hopes the book will help people to rediscover a pride in being English and make sense of how our culture relates to the Christian faith, he writes: “The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, who is of Ugandan origin, has called for a renewed celebration of all things English...There is a way to recover England and Englishness from the racists and the more of us who can do that the better.” The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler said: “Nigel Rooms tackles a vital question for the people and the Christian people of England. Just what is Englishness and what are the implications for being an English Christian or a Christian in England? He writes with warmth, vigour and a passion for being Christian and being English in a way which is truly reflective of Christian love and inclusiveness. I hope many will read, and be encouraged to do the Englishness course which goes with the book. We can be richer as a nation, and richer as Christians if we take Nigel’s work seriously”. The book also suggests we have a lot to learn from the legend of Robin Hood, which is a central chapter in the book and is described as a ‘foundational English story’. Nigel Rooms writes: “There is no doubt that Englishness oozes out of the Robin Hood legends and we can be justifiably proud that the values encapsulated in the stories are now known worldwide.” Nigel claims the story of Robin Hood has an interesting relationship with the Christian faith and also displays many of the English traits that make up our culture, including our humour, courtesy, class consciousness, and sense of fair play. “Robin is good and honest and embodies at least something of what it is to be truly Christian. These qualities again are in opposition to the hierarchy of the Church, especially monks and nuns of the monasteries (but interestingly, not really the bishops).” The book goes on to claim that the legends set out a ‘tantalizing vision’ of an outlaw with a realizable alternative kingdom, “Robin Hood represents that deep-seated understanding of and longing for such a kingdom among the English people.” Robin Hood can simply be all things to all men – a sort of middle way. Examining six elements in English culture that seem to encapsulate what it means to be English, the book explores how we can laugh at some and be rightly proud of others. Nigel states: “It is perhaps fair to say that there is not enough laughter in the Church, and here our English culture has something to teach Christians.” He also identifies the English ‘stiff upper lip’ and calls for us to talk more and get feelings out in the open. Kate Fox, author of ‘Watching the English’, gave a warm endorsement for the book, and wrote: "A highly original, intriguing, intelligent and in many ways endearingly English book." Nigel said he hopes the book will be used as a study guide for Christian groups to begin to look at our culture and learn from it. He recommends Christians finding new ways to celebrate their faith in an English way, including creating shrines, or holy places; through festivals like celebrating St George’s Day and through taking part in pilgrimages – such as St Hugh’s Way, a new pilgrimage route created from Leicester to Lincoln a few years ago. The book also includes a study guide for church groups and individuals to begin to delve deeper into the issues raised.
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