Reflections from Torch Trust

This week we revisit a selection of Marilyn Baker's reflections, exploring faith, hope and everyday life. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

In honour of Valentine's Day on the 14th, we're exploring how weddings can be made more accessible and sight loss friendly with the help of two people who speak from experience: Niall, who got married 5 years ago and is visually impaired, and Linn who got married 4 years ago and is blind.

The 08th of February in 2026 marks Autism Sunday, and this week on Reflections we chat with the Sensory Healthy Church about how they're helping churches become more accessible for those living with sensory conditions like Autism and ADHD. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

We're covering plenty in this week's edition of Reflections, including hearing about some new technology for those living with sight loss to help them access live events, we've got the latest news on Torch Holidays which are taking place in 2026, and we'll be marking national story telling week with a quick catch up with our torch resource curator and finding out what's currently in the Torch library too.

On Reflections this week, we're going to hear the testimony of Doctor Trevor Stammers, a man of science, an expert in medical ethics, and a GP on the verge of total burnout, who in conversation with Mark Maddavan, shares the story of how in a single hour his world went dark, lost his sight, but found God. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

We've reached the middle of January, when Christmas seems like a distant memory, and spring is still far away. So in this episode, we speak to opera singer and psycho therapist Victoria Oruwari who gives us some tips on how to find joy in the middle of the heart of the winter. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

Most of us has felt that God can seem far away sometimes, no matter where we are on our faith journey. In this episode, we hear from Torch CEO Sarah Dawkins who talks about how we can hold on to a bigger truth, that God is always with us no matter what. And Marilyn Baker reflects on how God have used people to give her practical help in her own life. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

In the first 2026 edition of Reflections, we dive into the journey of the three magi through a poem and a creative piece by our late friend and former Chair Of Trustees, Dr. Mike Townsend. Coptic Christmas is taking place the day after Epiphany.

The very best of the Reflections podcast from 2025!

In this Christmas Day Special, we journey to Nigeria, Sweden and Norway to hear how Christmas is celebrated there. We hear the Nativity reading from Luke 2 1-20, Catherine Campbell's Christmas day reflection from her book Journey With Me Through Christmas and we hear from visitors to Sight Village London about what Christmas means to them.

On the final Sunday in Advent, churches around the world light the candle that symbolises love. In this episode we hear from Catherine Campbell, the author of Journey With Me Through Christmas as she reflects on who has shown her Christlike love and what love in action looks like to her.

For the third Sunday in Advent, we focus on the theme of joy. In this episode, Torch Together Coordinator Becky Davies reflects on what makes her feel joyful and Chair Of Trustee tony Brown shares a funny story about Billy Graham, a Limousine and a very surprised police officer.

The second Sunday in Advent is all about peace. In this episode, Torch's head of Production Paul Rhodes reflects on how the fact that he never worries about anything makes him experience peace, the peace the shepherds must have felt when the angels revealed the news of the birth of Jesus and we hear a few more bits from last year's carol service. All excerpts from Journey With Me Through Christmas are featured with the explicit permission of the author and IVP books.

It's the first Sunday in Advent, and in churches all around the world, one candle is being lit to signify hope. So this episode features a hopeful reflection from Vicki Bryson, a snippet from last year's carol service and a excerpt of the book Journey With Me Through Christmas by Catherine Campbell, which focuses on the theme of hope and waiting. All excerpts from Journey With Me Through Christmas are featured with the explicit permission of Catherine Campbell and Inter-Varsity Press.

It's easy to talk about the more challenging aspects of being blind. And although it's important to do so, to improve quality of life for blind and partially sighted people, it's also important to stop and appreciate when being blind can give you advantages in life. In this episode, we're hearing from Stephanie Sergeant about the many ways she feels being blind has blessed her.

With so many things going on in the world today, from wars and famines, to increased costs of living, it's easy to feel anxious and perhaps a little sad and confused. Today's episode reflects on how we can still turn to God's promise of hope in these confusing times. We hear from Marilyn Baker herself, as well as torch staff member Sarah Brookman.

Remembrance Sunday is marked on the closest Sunday to Remembrance day itself and features many of the same rituals, including the wearing of poppies and the two minutes silence. This week's episode features a conversation between Producer Linn davies and former staff member Matthew Horspool, taken from our Insights podcast, about things blind and partially sighted might find tricky around this day and how churches can support them.

Client Services is the first point of call when you get in touch with Torch, and this week's episode features new team leader Julie Jones. Julie talks about differences between life in South Africa and the UK, her sight loss journey and the main areas she'd like to focus on in her new job.

It's nearly the end of October. And since this is the first Sunday after the clocks have gone back, Marilyn reflects on different aspects of time, from how Jesus always made time to heal those who needed it, to how time is a love language.

This episode features some reflections from Marilyn's personal podcast Hope For The Heart. She touches on how different people in the Bible dealt with the huge responsibilities and blessings they were entrusted, including Mary, who became the earthly mother of Jesus. She also shares a real life story about the positive effects of love and faith.

In this week's episode we give you a special edition celebrating Sight Loss Sunday. This is Torch's invitation to churches to wake up to the gifts of blind and partially sighted people. We hear this year's sermon by Phil Bryson and reflections on what it's like to be blind and partially sighted and in leadership roles. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

Today Autism and neurodiversity is something we're getting a much better understanding of, though, if you've met one Autistic person, you've only met one. When author Robert Noble was growing up in the 50s and 60s however, his conditions were not well understood, landing him in a variety of different situations from the funny to the frustrating. In this episode, Robert talks about his book, I'm Autistic, get me out of here! and what it was like growing up Autistic and with a Christian faith. He also talks about his passion for music and his work with street children in Kenya. The sale of his book will go towards this work. To learn more about his work, visit neemasociety.com. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

This week, we're sitting down to speak with Revd Canon Michael Mitton, writer, speaker and director, who is going to lead the upcoming 2025 Torch Retreat. We talk about how he got into writing, and dig deeper into the subject of God through the four Seasons, which he will be talking about at the retreat.

Angels appear frequently in the Bible, and many of us probably have an idea of what angels might look, feel or sound like. This episode features an interview with Stephanie Sergeant, who shares the many ways she believes angels have come to her aid. Marilyn also shares a remarkable angel encounter of her own.

This week we'll hear from Torch Churches Partnership Coordinator Vicki Bryson about some of the events Torch has participated in recently. This episode also features a devotion by Zoe Byron, Torch's head of comms, which was first featured on Pure 24 7 breakfast bites.

Sight Loss Sunday is an annual event in which Torch is encouraging churches to focus on blind and partially sighted people and their gifts and presence in church life. This year's Sight Loss Sunday takes place 12 October. In this episode, we first speak to Torch CEO Sarah Dawkins about how her awareness has evolved regarding issues blind and partially sighted people face since she started working for Torch. We then speak to Torch's Churches Partnership Coordinator Vicki Bryson, who brings some practical steps both church leaders and blind and partially sighted people can take to ensure better inclusion and fuller participation in church life. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

This week, Marilyn chats with author and friend Tracy Williamson about her book 'Unashamed', which is a powerful exploration of how we can experience restoration from life's hurts with God's help.

This week Marilyn Baker sits down to talk to Reflections producer Linn Davies-who is a trained journalist, Afrobeats singer and writer. Linn talks about working for the BBC, growing an online platform, writing thrillers and the inspiration behind the featured songs.

Accessible Christian literature remains at the heart of Torch's mission. And this week we meet the new resources curator, Janette Sturgis, whose working on expanding our library and bookshop offerings. She talks about her love of working in retail, her evolving understanding of disabilities, and shares details about some new discipleship books which she's particularly excited about.

This week we sit down to a conversation with Torch's newest trustee Philip Rice. He talks about his love of the Torch Holidays and his passion to bring children and young people to torch-making the client base more age diverse.

In this episode we talk to Sarah Brookman, the visionary behind the new Torch Chaplaincy telephone service, which aims to support people going through life changes relating to sight loss. We also hear from Heinrich Barth, one of the chaplaincy volunteers who lost his sight following an brain aneurism in 2019. The conversation with Heinrich is taken from season one of Torch's podcast Walking By faith.

In this weeks episode we hear from Gareth Davies who's married to Torch Together coordinator Becky Davies. He talks about what makes a good Torch holiday volunteer and shares part of one of the talks he gave on one of the most recent holidays.

In this episode we speak to Phil Bryson who is a vicar at St Dionysius Church in Market Harborough. He shares how, after becoming partially sighted, he lost his self-confidence and how he now sees it as a strength in his job. He also talks about his long and prayerful way towards fulfilling his calling in church leadership.

Calling all podcast lovers! We are pleased to let you know that season 2 of our podcast Walking By Faith is coming out. This episode features the first of the Walking By Faith conversations, and a conversation with Torch friend and client Bernie Warren. And former Reflection's producer Linn Ball reflects on what she'd like to have written on her plaque should she ever get a bench in her honour.

In this episode, producer Linn Davies is in conversation with Revd Samuel Affel from the Ghana Bible Society about their cooperation with Compass Braille to launch a Braille Bible in Assante Twi. As well as talking about the importance of accessing scripture in ones native language, Samuel also talks about what education and employment is like for blind and partially sighted people in Ghana.

This week on Reflections we mark 2 special occasions - Trinity Sunday, and a special Father's Day sermon from Rev John Beauchamp too.

In this Pentecost Sunday episode, we dive deeper into the events of the first Pentecost, also dubbed The Church's birthday. We will explore everything from bible readings and reflections to a fictional account of what it might have been like to be there when the holy spirit descended on the disciples.

In this ascension day episode,, we hear a reflection from Torch's Church Partnership Coordinator and ordained priest Vicki Bryson about the significance of the ascension on how we live life on earth today. We also hear from Revd Canon Jean Kerr about some new resources for the 10th anniversary of Thy Kingdom Come.

As Foster Care Fortnight draws to a close, we're chatting to Dr Krish Kandiah, the founder of the Christian organisation ‘Home For Good', a charity dedicated to finding a home for every child who needs one.' Krish is a also a Foster Carer, as well as being a government advisor, and his insight into this area is second to none. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260, email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

This week Reflections talks to Nayoung Lee, a clarinettist from South Korea who now lives in the UK. Nayoung shares her experiences of school and church life growing up, why she chose to come to the UK and how climbing mountains made her appreciate life and God in new ways.

Tony Brown has been acting Chair of Trustees for Torch for some time now. And in this episode, we get to know the man behind the role. He talks about how he got involved with Torch and shares some highlights of his recent cruise along the west coast of Africa.

Torch started out as a charity with the mission of providing blind and partially sighted people with accessible Christian literature and this is still at the heart of Torch's work. In this episode, we're going to hear what happens behind the scenes in the production department, whether it is Braille, giant print or audio.

This week we hear from the Archdeacon of Sefton and Knowsley, Rev Pete Spiers, who chats about his disability, identity, and reflects on his love of God, finding faith and the Easter story too. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

This one hour long Easter special dives into the sombre events of Good Friday and the joyous events of Easter Sunday through Bible readings by David Suchet, and Easter talks by Torch's Church Partnership Coordinator, and ordained vicar Vicki Bryson. We also hear from Phil Hanna, a member of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and Ray Campbell who grew up in Jamaica about their Easter traditions, and what the crucifixion and resurrection mean to them.

In the Palm Sunday edition of Reflections, Torch's Church Partnership coordinator Vicki Bryson, who's also an ordained vicar, gives a talk on how shouts of “Hosanna” on Palm Sunday turned into shouts of “Crucify him” a few days later, and what Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday mean for us today.

In this episode of Reflections, we hear the fascinating story of Emily Owen, a Christian author who has had to learn to navigate the world with deafness after NF2A caused her hearing loss. She shares how becoming deaf has impacted how she worships God, and how her journey gave voice to her writing and the project she's currently working on.

This week we hear a special sermon from Rev Canon (Emeritus) Steph van der Toorn that explores the peaks and troughs of motherhood, and considers the struggles that so many can battle with too.

In this episode, we meet weight lifter Ines Higgins as well as park runner and volunteer Alison Evans who are both blind. They both share how they've found great communities through their fitness journeys and give some tips on how to get moving.

In this episode of Reflections, we take a closer look at healing, which is a controversial topic in the disabled community. We hear from blind priest Melissa Carter who gives us her take on the subject, and delve deeper into the story of the bleeding woman

In this week's episode of Reflections, Linn talks to Torch CEO Sarah Dawkins about a new and exciting project where Torch will give cuddly toy lambs with a Jesus story book audioplayer embedded to blind and partially sighted children. We also hear the story book version of The Prodigal Son, read by David Suchet.

In this episode of Reflections, Linn talks to Torch's Becky Davies about what to expect for this year's online Lent group. We also hear an extract from At home in Lent by Gordon Giles, the book the group will be discussing.