Rev William Henry, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and I were interviewed on Sunday Sequence (27 Oct) about my latest book, Considering Grace: Presbyterians and the Troubles, co-authored with Jamie Yohanis.
You can listen to the interview here:
Considering Grace records the deeply moving stories of 120 ordinary people’s experiences of the Troubles, exploring how faith shaped their responses to violence and its aftermath.
It is the result of a research project commissioned by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and is the first book to capture such a full range of experiences of the Troubles of people from a Protestant background.
The stories in the book range from those of Presbyterian ministers, victims, members of the security forces, emergency responders, healthcare workers and ‘critical friends’ of the Presbyterian tradition.
Further information about the book is available here.
The book will be launched on Tues 5 Nov at 12.30 pm in Assembly Buildings (Church House), Belfast, with refreshments from noon. Regional launches will follow throughout November in Londonderry, Armagh, Ballymena and Enniskillen.
The interview covers a range of topics, including how I got involved with the project and the process of the research itself.
Rev Henry and I emphasise that while the book contributes to the historical record of people’s experiences, it is also a book about the present and the future. It is hoped that reflection on the stories in the book will raise questions about how we might all live together better in light of the tragedy of the past.
Rev Henry describes how in many cases ministers acted as ‘first responders’ to tragedies; while I explain how many people were critical of the church’s actions during the Troubles, while still remaining committed to their local congregation. I say that the Presbyterian Church’s willingness to be self-critical through this project is an important aspect of dealing with the past. We also discuss changing attitudes towards ecumenism.