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Touching Cloth

Confessions and Communions of a Young Priest

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

A laugh-out-loud memoir of becoming a 21st-century priest, Touching Cloth is also a love letter to the Prayer Book, Liverpool, lager, funerals, homemade lemon curd, and, above all, to what the Church of England can be at its best.

The very word 'reverend' inspires solemnity. To be a priest is to dedicate one's life to quiet prayer and spiritual contemplation. Isn't it?

Fergus Butler-Gallie reveals what it's like to become a priest in the twenty-first century. Find out why black really is slimming, how to keep a straight face when someone is inadvertently hot-boxing a funeral, and which royal-themed biscuit tin can best contain a very loud personal alarm that no one knows how to switch off. Spot a sweet old lady trying to pay for a taxi with coinage from fascist Spain? Congratulations, shepherd, she's your problem now.

Behind the daily scrapes is an all-too-human love letter to the Church of England, and the amazing variety of people who manage to keep it going, providing a listening ear, company and community at a time when so many people desperately need it, as well as a reflection on what it means to follow a spiritual path amid the chaos of the modern world.

©2023 Fergus Butler-Gallie (P)2023 Penguin Audio Christian Living Christianity

Critic reviews

"Touching Cloth is a delight - a masterclass in the way pleasure, laughter and even God can be found in the most mundane moments of daily life." (Edward Stourton, author of Confessions)

"A warm-hearted and frequently hilarious insight into the daily life of the clergy that won over this inveterate atheist." (Nick Pettigrew, author of Anti-Social)

"Funny and touching in equal measure, the diary of a priest that ranges from slapstick to the hauntingly profound." (Tom Holland, author of Dominion)
All stars
Most relevant
I have personally meet the author and I found him to be a very thoughtful. I found this to be touching and has help me on my journey and I hope I we meet him again and look forward to more book from him

author store is very touching

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Such a joy to listen to and incredibly immersive, thanks to the narration by the author. I am about to listen to another one of his titles due to having enjoyed this so much.

Amusing, entertaining, but also deeply spiritual

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I absolutely love this book. Perhaps it’s because I’m a Christian, or perhaps because of the way in which the dry humour creates a palpable vision that leaves you in stitches.

I’d say this would definitely be enjoyable for those who don’t even ‘believe’ in the man upstairs. People are people, and the author highlights the good the bad, the ugly, and the funny bits of humans.

Compassionate. Witty. Hilarious.

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I laughed out loud. A holy version of this is going to hurt! I will never look at a Vicar in quite the same way again. Really funny. Thank you.

OMG This book is so funny.

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Not just funny, although it is. A deeply theologically rich, warm and moving reminder of why the Church of England's presence in every community matters so very much. And a reminder of the personal cost paid by able, committed people who choose to work within the church despite its very variable (to put it charitably) care for them. Recommended.

Deeply True

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