Voices of Church of England speak through in new podcasts

The Church of England and Premier Christian Radio have joined forces to feature people who are part of today's Church of England via a series of monthly podcasts.

In the 'People and Places' series, journalist Howard Dobson travels to meet a variety of Church of England people across the country, and series presenter Cindy Kent, from Premier Christian Radio, contributes topical interviews recorded at Church House in London and Premier.

Among the interviewees are priests, people training to be priests, ordained pioneer ministers, project coordinators and volunteers. They were recorded everywhere from the Greenbelt Festival to a 'clean' comedy club in Birmingham, a coffee shop in Harrow (a youth pastor's 'second office') to Westminster Cathedral, Kensington Gardens to the Derbyshire Dales and many other locations.

In the latest 15-minute podcast, Kent interviews the Bishop for Urban Life and Faith, Rt Rev Stephen Lowe. Dobson, meanwhile, talks money and debt with the Church of England's national Stewardship and Resources Officer, John Preston, and meets Bingley-based General Synod member Zahida Mallard.

Peter Crumpler, Communications Director for the Church of England's Archbishops' Council, said: "This series of Church of England podcasts provides an opportunity to go behind the scenes of the Church all over the country.

"We're interviewing people from a wide range of backgrounds with interesting things to say about what it's like to be part of the Church today."

Peter Kerridge, Chief Executive, Premier, said: "I'm pleased that Premier Christian Radio has joined forces with the Church of England to produce 'People and Places', and look forward to hearing future editions."

The podcasts are supported by a collection of profiles of the people interviewed, on the Church of England website.

They are available online at www.cofe.anglican.org/podcast and www.premierradio.org.uk/ondemand.aspx and via iTunes -