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Being Reverend: A Diary
Matt Woodcock returns with this sequel to the bestselling ‘Becoming Reverend’.Follow Matt’s journey as he starts work at one of Hull’s oldest, biggest and emptiest churches. It’s a shadow of its former self, with a small congregation and huge bills to pay. Adding the entrepreneurial (and somewhat excitable) Matt to their clergy line-up is the last throw of the dice for this 700-year-old institution.But is Matt ready for such a tough first assignment? Are his new flock – or his new colleagues – ready for the whirlwind that’s about to descend? And can Matt realize his vision of a thriving church without wrecking his home life in the process?As this real-life diary reveals, Matt’s life being Reverend can be every bit as fraught, funny and fascinating as it was becoming one.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 3, 2021
An interesting combination of uplifting and depressing but often accurate about clergy life. At least he recognised his wife's sacrifices for his calling!
December 5, 2020
Honest, raw and so true to life
Disclaimer at the start: I was in the brass ensemble that played in the infamous nativity (where did you find a fourth verse for Silent Night from, Matt?) and am now a member of the Hill Monster choir so I know many people mentioned in these pages...
And what a brilliant job Matt has done here. He has captured the characters of the church in an accurate yet loving way and hasn't sugar coated some of the issues facing a huge church in the centre of a city many people roll their eyes at the mention of. His honesty, both in respect of his home life and beginning his ministry, shines through and you can hear his voice loud and clear in the pages of this book.
Even if you think church and the like is just for the 'God botherers', read this book. It's more than a vicar's diary, it's the story of a city and a family growing to love it.
Disclaimer at the start: I was in the brass ensemble that played in the infamous nativity (where did you find a fourth verse for Silent Night from, Matt?) and am now a member of the Hill Monster choir so I know many people mentioned in these pages...
And what a brilliant job Matt has done here. He has captured the characters of the church in an accurate yet loving way and hasn't sugar coated some of the issues facing a huge church in the centre of a city many people roll their eyes at the mention of. His honesty, both in respect of his home life and beginning his ministry, shines through and you can hear his voice loud and clear in the pages of this book.
Even if you think church and the like is just for the 'God botherers', read this book. It's more than a vicar's diary, it's the story of a city and a family growing to love it.
December 25, 2021
After the novelty and highs of clergy training and IVF conception, Matt’s 2nd book describing his uphill grind to breath life into an ailing church while co-parenting young twin girls made me feel similarly exhausted and weary as reader. Top marks though for describing the realities of clergy life and its impact on family. Some wonderful, heart warming stories shared about his parishioners and local people.
August 17, 2021
Brilliant read, I got married at Hull Minster so know many of the people Rev Matt refers to. This book is funny, well written and a must read for everyone, regardless of religious beliefs.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews