Neil Rees
The Bohemian queen who was a catalyst for the English Reformation
11 May 2026 is the 660th anniversary of the birth of Anne of Bohemia, wife of King Richard II of England, who played an important role in the history of the English Bible. This is the story …
Who was Mother Julian of Norwich and why is she important?
8 May is the traditional day to remember Mother Julian of Norwich. She is important because her book remains a classic of Christian spirituality and is the first book in English known to have been written by a woman. This is her story …
The backstory to St George and his flag
23 April marks St George’s Day, which often passes unnoticed. But who was St George and why is he England's patron saint? This is the story …
Which type of tree did Zacchaeus actually climb?
20 April is the feast day of Zacchaeus of Jericho. We all know the account of Zacchaeus climbing a tree to see Jesus. However, it turns out not to have been a sycamore tree at all. This is the story …
How the Moon sets the religious calendar
Mankind has always been drawn to look at the moon. The Moon’s creation was explained in the book of Genesis and it plays a vital role in setting the dates of religious festivals. This is the story …
Quoting the Bible from space
Recently, Christian astronaut Victor Glover was reminded of the memorable Christmas Eve reading from Genesis on Apollo 8 in 1968, and he was asked to give an Easter message from Artemis II. This is the story …
The biblical backstory of Iran
Iran is back in the headlines. The word “Iran” does not appear in the Bible, but the names of preceding peoples and empires occupying that land today are written into the biblical narrative. This is the story …
Was there an eclipse at the Crucifixion?
The Gospels describe three hours of darkness from noon at the crucifixion of Jesus, prompting debate over whether this was an eclipse. This is the story …
Why is the British monarch also called Defender of the Faith?
The British monarch traditionally bears the title “Defender of the Faith” which also appears on British coins as “F.D.” As it’s been back in the news lately, now’s a good time to consider it in more detail.
The backstory to Palm Sunday most evangelicals miss
29 March is Palm Sunday, or the sixth Sunday in Lent, which kicks off Holy Week. The events of this day echo a historical episode from Jewish history which most evangelicals miss. This is the story …
The dilemma of war for Christians
With wars constantly in the news, it is good to reflect on the biblical ethics of conflict.
The little-known story of the woman who rescued Mothering Sunday
15 March 2026, or the fourth Sunday in Lent, is Mothering Sunday in Britain and Ireland. The tradition nearly died and was rescued by a determined vicar’s daughter about a hundred years ago. This is the story …
The story of the Bible’s female leaders
8 March is International Women’s Day. In the Bible we can read about the roles that many women played in leadership and ministry. This is the story …
Who was St Piran and why is he the patron saint of Cornwall?
5 March is St Piran’s Day, the feast day of the patron saint of Cornwall. But who was St Piran, and what do we know about him? This is the story.
How Greenland got the Bible
Greenland has been in the news recently. Despite a Christian presence for a thousand years, Greenland has only had the whole Bible since 1900. This is the story …
How digital technology is bringing the Welsh Bible to more people
The digital age is making the Welsh Bible even more accessible.