The story of Christianity is full of paradox—spaces of violence and division becoming arenas of hope and redemption. In this episode, I sit down with priest and author Fergus Butler-Gallie to talk about his book Twelve Churches, which traces the history of Christianity through twelve remarkable church buildings across the globe. From Bethlehem to Birmingham, Rome to Japan, these spaces reveal the comedy and tragedy, unity and division, beauty and brokenness woven into the Church’s story. Together, we explore how these places still point us back to Jesus and what they teach us about power, authenticity, and hope in a fractured world.

Fergus Butler-Gallie is an author, journalist, and an ordained Anglican priest who was educated at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and has served in London and Liverpool. He is the author of A Field Guide to the English Clergy, which was named a Best Book of the Year by The Times (London), The Mail on Sunday (London), and BBC History; Priests de la Resistance!, which was a Spectator Best Book of the Year; Touching Cloth; and Twelve Churches. He is Editor-at-Large for The Fence, and his journalism has appeared in publications including The Times (London), The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph (London), Financial Times, and The New Statesman (UK). He won the 2022 P.G. Wodehouse Society (UK) Essay Prize.

Fergus' Book:

Twelve Churches

Fergus' Recommendation:

The Man in the Red Coat

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