The Rev Richard Coles is a writer, broadcaster and Church of England clergyman
July 2022
The joy of crime fiction: authors from Lee Child to Paula Hawkins pick their favourite books
Val McDermid, Nicci French, Anthony Horowitz and more reveal what makes a great novel, celebrating writers including Patricia Highsmith, Donna Tartt and Dennis Lehane
June 2022
The Seafood Cabin, Argyll: ‘Exactly right’ – restaurant review
The Kintyre peninsula is wonderfully empty – let’s hope the splendid Seafood Cabin doesn’t change that, says Rev Richard Coles
July 2021
My summer of love
My summer of love: ‘Under the spell of ecstasy, strangers went straight to limitless intimacy’
We danced in water features, stupefied with drugs. And while my big crush was unrequited, the whole season was irresistible fun
June 2021
June Plum, Wellingborough: ‘Strong, clean flavours that delight’ – restaurant review
Books that made me
Reverend Richard Coles: ‘A collapsing ancien régime is like Disneyland to me’
December 2019
On second thoughts
How Princess Anne made me a monarchist
Richard Coles
I used to believe the royal family enshrined inequality. Now I see it as an impartial bulwark against the rise of tyrants, says vicar and presenter Richard Coles
March 2018
The BBC is driving its presenters to despair
Richard Coles
Complaints about the BBC’s U-turn on tax aren’t the whines of rich luvvies, says Richard Coles, parish priest of St Mary the Virgin, Finedon
July 2016
Reverend Richard Coles on The Water Babies: how a vicar saved a chimney sweep
Richard Coles on how Charles Kingsley’s 1862 novel combined God, science and social outrage to make the world a better place
March 2015
King or queen for a day
If I were king for a day, everyone in the UK would have a decent home
Richard Coles
I can think of nothing more important for my realm than its housing – especially the parts that fake period features have disfigured
December 2014
Obituaries of 2014
PD James remembered by Richard Coles
Richard Coles: the crime writer was courteous and perspicacious – and alert to the gap between what was said and what was done
April 2013
Silence: A Christian History by Diarmaid MacCulloch – review
Diarmaid MacCulloch considers the role of silence in church tradition and finds it not always a positive one, writes Richard Coles
July 2012
Olympic torch route: the Guardian relay
Olympic torch route, day 45: Wellingborough shrugs off past disaster to welcome the flame
The Rev Richard Coles says the town is happy to have the torch despite its Great Fire, 274 years ago
January 2012
Religion for Atheists by Alain de Botton – review
Alain de Botton's attempt to encourage secular society to steal religion's most fruitful ideas is admirable but ultimately hollow, says Richard Coles
November 2011
Cif belief
St Paul's, the church's reality check
Richard Coles
Richard Coles: The Occupy London protest has been a PR disaster for us, but Christianity started badly too. We can learn
October 2011
Charity muggers can take the enjoyment out of giving
'Charity muggers', or street fundraisers, are a familiar sight in our town centres. But their pushiness, says the Rev Richard Coles, makes it easy to forget how good it is to give
April 2011
My royal wedding: 'The kids said that Harry and Pippa ought to marry next'
Writers and broadcasters including Julie Myerson, Billy Bragg and Katharine Whitehorn give their reflections on the royal wedding
October 2010
Unwed Ed
Ed Miliband's unmarried status, despite being a father, was one of the more surprising controversies sparked by his election. Does it matter?
July 2010
Cif belief
Heaven knows why Jeffrey John provokes such animosity
Richard Coles
Richard Coles: Now that homosexuality is less frowned upon than ever, why is the church opposed to consecrating a gay priest?
