From the editor’s desk
What is The Salvation Army? The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity seeking to share the good news of Jesus and nurture committed followers of him. We also serve people without discrimination, care for creation and seek justice and reconciliation. We offer practical support and services in more than 700 centres throughout the UK. Go to salvationarmy.org.uk/find-a-church to find your nearest centre.
PROOF, if it is needed, of the popularity of crime fiction is the fact that Agatha Christie is, according to Guinness World Records, the bestselling fiction author of all time. Add to that the evidence of the success of the more recently published Richard Osman murder mysteries, and there can be no doubting the verdict that book readers love a good whodunnit. This month a new author is adding to the choice of detective novels for would-be Miss Marples or Hercule Poirots. Murder before Evensong is the Rev Richard Coles’s debut novel. It tells the story of the fictional Rev Daniel Clement, a priest at a village church, who tries to solve the murder of one of his parishioners. In an interview in this week’s War Cry, Richard tells us about his inspiration for the book. ‘I like writing and getting ideas for characters, places and people on a page,’ he says. ‘I’m also fascinated by crime novels and how they work.’ Richard goes on to explain that it was important for him that the novel’s central character was a clergyman. He says: ‘I’m interested in de-mystifying and re-mystifying what the priest does. A lot of people imagine that we float about in a holy way, but actually we are dealing with a nuts-and-bolts reality, like everyone else.’ Richard also explains what faith means to his central character. ‘His Christian faith is who he is,’ he says. ‘It’s something he lives and breathes. It’s not an accomplishment, like playing the accordion. It’s Daniel’s reality.’ Murder before Evensong is a novel and Daniel Clement is a fictional character, but millions of Christians will understand how a person’s faith can be central to who they are. Among them are the people featured every week in the War Cry who live out their faith through their words and actions, making a difference for good in their own lives and in their communities. There is no mystery about the life-improving ad the War C e re ry change God can make to anyone. v ’ u
What is the War Cry? The Salvation Army first published a newspaper called the War Cry in London in December 1879, and we have continued to appear every week since then. Our name refers to our battle for people’s hearts and souls as we promote the positive impact of the Christian faith and The Salvation Army’s fight for greater social justice.
WAR CRY Issue No 7580
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Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN
CONTENTS
Tel: 0845 634 0101 Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@satcol.org Founder: William Booth General: Brian Peddle Territorial Commander: Commissioner Anthony Cotterill Editor-in-Chief: Major Mal Davies
FEATURES
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in TV comedy 5
Model students Gallery displays schoolchildren’s work
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Pew-dunnit Murder mystery novel set in a church
INFO
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‘People have been at breaking point’ Working in an ICU during a pandemic
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Split the difference Couple cope differently with separation
Published weekly by The Salvation Army © The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory ISSN 0043-0226 The Salvation Army Trust is a registered charity. The charity number in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 214779, in Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399. Printed by CKN Print, Northampton, on sustainably sourced paper
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Editor: Andrew Stone, Major Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow Production Editor: Ivan Radford Assistant Editor: Sarah Olowofoyeku Staff Writer: Emily Bright Staff Writer: Claire Brine Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk Graphic Designer: Rodney Kingston Graphic Designer: Mark Knight
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War Cry World
12 Team Talk 13 Past Times 14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: BBC STUDIOS/RANGABEE PRODUCTIONS