The Take A Pew Podcast

Well, here it is!  The tables are turned on creator, co-host and jingler-in-chief, Ian Wishart.Soundman Mark takes off his headphones and takes on the co-pilot's seat as he and Simon interrogate Ian on all the usual parts of the show.Tales of Bournemouth, British Home Stores, Banking and Biblical underwear.  And an apparent in ability to answer a simple question.  Oh, and if you switch over to our YouTube channel to listen, you'll get to see a surprising pic of a wee Ian in 1969. #faith #fun #laugh #lifestory #christian #christianity #podcast Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

An ordinary young man quite happy being a motor technician until he is called to the cloth.  Meet the delightful Sean Beagley, Rector of Frimley in Surrey.  Get an insider's view of the joys and worries of becoming a Vicar, including a lot of bell-ringing debate.  Alongside some wonderfully retro film selections, an exceptional dinner party assembly, and all the usual Take A Pew shenanigans.   #fun #faith #christianity #avicarslife #surreal #lifestory #church #surreyThanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

Another marvelous guest pops into Take A Pew Towers for more fun- and faith-filled chat.  This time it's creator and long-time host of the brilliant Unbelievable? podcast, Justin Brierley.  We chat about early years in a cloistered Christian community, 20 years at Premier Radio, and new ventures with the Re-Enchanting podcast and new book - The Surprising Re-birth of Belief in God.  Honourable mentions along the way for CS Lewis, cheese & pickle sandwiches, Homer Simpson and the advantages of 24 hour days.  A right old chuckle.#faith #fun #faithstories #lifestory #'christian #christianity #podcast #surreal #flightsoffancyThanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

A 3-minute synopsis of Season 4 Episode 1 with Paul Kerensa.  Get a flavour of the fun, albeit no substitute for the full-fat version. #fun #faith #podcast #christianity #comedy #lifestory #snapshotThanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

Yes - the pew is back.  Huzzah!  And what a great way to kick off the new season with none other than Paul Kerensa.  Comedian, writer, podcaster, broadcaster, historian. Oh, and Occasional Preacher.  Cue a laughter-laden chat about the world of stand-up, some behind-the-scenes insight into TV comedy, amazing snippets of BBC history, and the all-important debate as to whether prawns can ethically eat prawn cocktail crisps.Check out Paul's rich and varied work at www.paulkerensa.comThanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

Wrapping up Season 3, it's the awesome Dianna Gwilliams.  A story which takes in motor racing in California and engineering sound at the Royal Albert Hall, through to being among the first women to be ordained in the Church of England and going on to become Dean of Guildford.  But what we really want to know is, what is her favourite board game?  Laughs aplenty along the way, of course.Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

Here we go - a surprisingly rare insight into the storytelling legend Bob Hartman.  Unlock essential knowledge of Bob's favourite type of food, musical artist and dinner party guests, among many other gems.  And a surprisingly firm consensus on the greatness of stairs. No, we don't know either.  Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

In standing feature My Favourite Things, we've had 125 Top-5 Films from our guests thus far. With a few duplicates.  Here, we present the selections of three vicars who are self-professed film enthusiasts. 14 films (one duplicate - can you guess what it will be?), and a wide and perhaps unexpected range of genres.  What would be your Top 5?Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

Here it is - our chat with the wonderful Sarah Whittleston.  Co-leader of Birmingham's Elim Life Church, national Elim prayer leader, and member of the Spring Harvest Planning Group.  Conversation ranging from Caerphilly to cancer, and grouting to grapevines.  With the hand of God through it all. Oh, and the usual hefty dose of giggles.     Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

A grand trip to the Old Deanery of St Paul's for a charming chat with the chap who oversees CofE church planting in London and supports others nationally to do the same.  A life journey which includes a Royal Navy escort for a trip to the beach, leading worship at the Albert Hall, planting a whole herbaceous border of churches in London, and supervising a sock-consuming spaniel.  All rather delightful...    Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

Yes, it's our first sequel, back with our first guest, Mark Potter.  Mark had been complaining that he'd missed out on all the latest features, so in this mini-episode, he gets his chance with the Great Eight, The Fabulous Take A Pew Dinner Party and more.  Expect an unfortunate Santa episode and the world premiere of My Least Favourite Things.  Sweet. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

Bristol-based speaker and writer Cathy Madavan joins us for an hour of sparkling chat.  Hear Cathy's life story, learn her Favourite Things, and be inspired by her Spiritual Pearl of Wisdom.  With a LOT of laughs thrown in for free :)  Also features a pig-penguin-pig vortex and more spaghetti than you would probably like.  And if you want Cathy's true impression of the show, stay right to the end. #christian #laugh #fun #funny #lifestory #podcastThanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

He left home for the stage then left the stage for the church.  Or rather brought the stage to the church.  Rob is the only Bishop for the Arts in the Church of England, he's currently the Vicar of Christ Church Streatham, and brings us another fascinating "back story".  Including rubbing theatrical shoulders with the stars, enlisting Sir David Attenborough to help with the conservation of a lesser-spotted Spire, rich and varied ministries in Hong Kong and Australia, and an extraordinary thread that holds it all together. A charming and fascinating episode.  Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

Ian and Simon haul the pew to darkest Surrey to meet with Wes Sutton, director of the Acorn Christian Healing Foundation and Associate Minister at St Alban's Church Hindhead. It's a bit like a very wise father trying to enlighten two slightly annoying children.  Some genuinely important insight into healing alongside a surprisingly dangerous dinner party guest and a debate on the relative merits of whale-song.  Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

Not an Easter Special, but it IS Easter, and this is quite special, sooo...We reckon you'd be hard-pressed to find another show that includes references to Dostoyevski, Pot Noodles, otters, and cinematic redemptive theology.  Deep and daft in equal measure.  Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

In this, our 30th full episode, we chat with Glen Scrivener,  multi-media evangelist and director of Speak Life. Naturally, we learn of Glen's Top 5 films and favourite holiday destination.  But we also catch up with his exhausting plate-spinning activities, discover the surprising salvific potential of cricket, and unearth strong feelings about Monopoly, DIY and musical resolutions (including a little bonus at the end).  Oh, and there are some inspirational thoughts about faith, doubt and encountering Jesus. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

The magic (not literally) Steve Legg puts up with Ian and Simon for an hour. Tales of Bournemouth, Boys' Brigade, Barclays, Box Office and Bionics, and of Baffling audiences around the world on his 35-year (and counting) road trip to spread the gospel through straitjackets and sleight of hand.  As well as confirming not everything in life always goes to plan.  Certainly the only place where you can discover Steve's Top 5 films alongside exploring an intriguing rumour about the Fifteen Commandments and the pros and cons of dentistry on a unicycle.    Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

In another Earth-shattering episode, we chat with Shere Rector Tim Heaney.  Tim brings his encyclopedic buffery to the Top 5 Films feature, within a journey that takes in such varied topics as beach snowmen, quintessential Cornish candlelit cavalcades, Dubai churches with 100 different congregations, a surprisingly in-depth analysis of photographer Lee Miller, a second appearance of sloths on the podcast and a controversial preference for cheese on a trifle.  We would say you had to be there, but actually it's just as good to plug in and listen.   Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

YES - WE'RE BACK!  And we open Season 3 with the effervescent Nottingham vicar George White.  We chat about how priesthood hijacked his plans for heavy metal drumming stardom, the surprising influence of Pink Floyd, and why Simon needs to check his Double Decker technique. Plus, George hosts the first sitting of The Fabulous Take A Pew Dinner Party, new for Season 3. And we laugh a lot!Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find more Take A Pew stuff on https://www.youtube.com/@thetakeapewpodcast/

We round off our little retrospective with Simon's ever-unpopular Random Questions as posed to your guests.  What would your answer be?  Something to try round the Christmas table, perhaps.  The team's favourite line - "doughnut." 

In the penultimate instalment of our Season 2 snippets, we revisit all of the "Is It True" conundrums that our guests helped us with.  You'll have to listen to the episodes to get the answers, though :)The Team's favourite answer - "complete twaddle."

BOOM!  Please accept this special episode with our festive compliments.  A wide-ranging chat which encompasses the moving, the amusing, the inspiring and the downright odd as the legend that is Ish replays his life so far, warts and all, and selects his perfect Christmas lunch guests (from within, to be fair, quite limited parameters).  Laugh?  Yes, we did.

In the second of our Season 2 snapshots, we bring you the multiple-choice category presented to each of our fabulous guests in our game of My Favourite Things.  Every one is a vital issue for our time.  Apparently.  Enjoy!  

The first of our four-part mini-series featuring bite-size tasters of all of the questions in a few of our regular features.  Just to give you an idea of what our 13 guests had to put up with.  Here we have the conversation starter - "where did life start for you?"  Oh, dear. 

Season 2 bows out in West London, with Pat Allerton, lockdown's Portable Priest and Vicar at St Peter's, Notting Hill.  In the short time since recording, Pat has become a father to a beautiful baby girl and a beautiful baby book.  Quite a month!  Featuring the usual slightly unorthodox chat about sub-duvet fire extinguishers, latent violence, unrealised thespian ambition, over-hyped donkeys, and the relative merits of steak and kidney and lemon meringue in a pie.  And a rather uncomfortable shirt incident.  Marvelous.

Early November, so it could be fireworks as we travel to Wales to meet the hard-rockin', pasty-munching, high-flying Rob Parsons.  (That'll make sense once you've listened, honest!)  A simply wonderful conversation which was inspiring, touching, amusing and (as usual) a little baffling. Don't miss this one!

The pew trundles off to Elstead in Surrey for a delightful sojourn with Hannah Moore; Rector, Priest-in-Charge AND Vicar of a clutch of local parishes.  Cue tales of a joyful South African upbringing, a life surrounded by dogs, boat building and the now-familiar dodging of the call to ministry until it's absolutely unavoidable.  Plus we ask "What Would Jesus Play?" and Simon poses a rather mischievous Random Question.  

Nice little summer break, but now we're back with a BANG.  Incredible chat with the mighty Paul Cowley, erstwhile inmate, soldier, health club manager and vicar.  Founder of two charities supporting ex-offenders, the force behind Alpha in Prisons, and now director of rehabilitation at Iceland Foods.  Paul tells his inspiring story and puts up with our nonsense. Perhaps surprising that, within such a dramatic tale, we could conjure up a few giggles, but we did.  Don't miss this one!

Yes, we've put together a (less than) five-minute version of our latest, LIVE, episode.  Just to provide a handy insight into what this, and all the other episodes, are all about. Sort of. Anyway - for those with busy lives... 

Woohoo - recorded in front of a live audience, here's our chat with Surrey Rector Nick Aiken on the 40th anniversary of his ordination.  As to be expected, the conversation encompasses halcyon days in Singapore, pivotal Saturday mornings in Northern Ireland, balloon whisks, sloth tenpin bowling and, of course, a dragon disguised as a seahorse.  Oh, and what it's like to serve a parish for 29 years. Please excuse the odd crackle and pop from the live sound.Oh, and we reference a few photos, which you can see on our YouTube version of the show -  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsOBlwwGkxxTyzA0IkvvEAw

Yes, we're in distinguished company this time, with the rather splendid Bishop Pete Broadbent.  Former long-standing Bishop of Willesden, currently helping to shape the vision for the Diocese of London, life-long Spurs fan, and proponent of the Punjabi Picnic.  Charming tales of balmy childhood summers watching cricket, the joys of real ale and a glimpse into what it's like to oversee 108 churches.  A really interesting chat, with many Take A Pew chuckles along the way.  

The pew returns to Kentland to meet the Reverend Tim Saiet.  Let us tell you a story....  a Liverpool lad with a few O-levels makes the grade as a Royal Marine Commando,  learns to relish the art of professional Apres-ski, forges a career in the world of high-end magic to the stars, and then....becomes a Vicar in leafy Kent.  You couldn't make it up, you may say.  And we didn't.  Find out how on earth that can happen, as well as enjoying some typically Take A Pew chat about rusty cars, Cadbury's Buttons puddings, and sock-skating.  As well as (spoiler alert) some Spiritual gems. 

Here you go - a delightful episode featuring the Reverend Jenny Ingram, vicar of All Saints Earls Barton.  Sharing some inspirational thoughts on life as a priest as a young woman, as well as debating such varied topics as guinea pig buses and burials, biblical BBQs and blinding (possibly literally) pickle sandwiches.  As well as a jingle singalong.  Such a great chat and such a great listen!

Yes, we realise that we're releasing this on 1 April, but it's not a joke - we really have been speaking with the legend that is Jeff Lucas - international preacher and best-selling author (among many other things).  As you would expect, there are plenty of laughs, but we also touch on mental health, and get a charming childhood memory and a challenging Spiritual Pearl of Wisdom.  And then there's chat about divine greengrocery, the pitfalls of arctic exploration and the advantages of non-pooing robotic dogs.  All in all, it's quite a good episode :)

The pew pootles down to Romsey to meet with Sim Dendy, Senior Leader of Freedom Church, author of the great book Simply Church, speaker and host of the Leadership Podcast with Sim Dendy (that's lucky!).  Some surprisingly sensible chat alongside the usual quota of the surreal, ranging from infant map-reading, cat rescue, debating whether Debbie McGhee appears in the Bible and just what it would be like to have gherkin toes.  Just the standard Take A Pew Podcast stuff, then.    

Cor blimey, guv'nor - we've only gone and gone to the East End of London.  And we're meeting the Rector of All Hallows, Bow - the Reverend Cris Rogers.  Prolific author, host of the Making Disciples Podcast, leader of the Spring Harvest Planning Group and part-time Ghostbuster, Cris is a busy boy.  We had such a laugh talking about cow-tipping, Haribo-gorging, skatepark-churching, forest-picnicking and banana-growing. With a twist.   And those definitely are onion bhajis, right? (You'll have to listen to see what I mean.)  

The pew goes back into URC land for a splendid chat with Mike, Camberley minister, former Army Chaplain, and host of the Network4Community Facebook Live phenomenon.  Expect the usual curious conversation covering Bolton, Banking, Bangladesh, Basra, Bastion, Beef dripping, Bankside Picnics and Bicycles .

Yes, we're back!  And what a great way to start the new season with pastor, writer, speaker, teacher, husband, father, and podcaster the Reverend Doctor Ian Stackhouse of Guildford Baptist Church, Millmead.  With the premiere of our new picnic feature and all the usual slightly off-the-wall canter through Ian's life and loves, join us for another chuckle-filled glimpse into the world of a minister. (You can catch Ian's rather more cerebral take on life in his own podcast "Conversations through Uncharted Waters".)   

If you haven't had a chance to listen to the Podcast, here's an idea of what it's all about.  Equally, if you have been with us on the journey, here's a reminder of the good times we had.  Featuring some of the highlights as well as some behind-the-scenes, never-been-heard footage and out-takes, we hope it will inspire you to catch up with the Take A Pew saga and gird your loins for Season Two, coming in February 2022.  

Our last show before Christmas, and it's a cracker.  We meet the Reverend Ravi Holy (yes, really), former anarchist punk with a youth dedicated to alcohol and drugs, now with a life dedicated to Parish ministry.  Oh, and stand-up comedy.  Our wide-ranging chat weaves in and out of Eton College, movie-geekdom, garlic presses and spam (the processed meat, not the junk mail).  Perfect listening for an evening by the roaring fire with a nice glass of, er, apple juice.  

The pew wends its way to deepest Dorset as we meet the Reverend Lewis Pearson.  We show that you can take the boy out of Norf London...... and perfectly satisfactorily install him in rural ministry.  Discussion covers the evangelical use of pom-poms, the joy of liturgical colours, the practicality of automatic weapons and the relative viscosity of custard.  We also discover that levitation is alive and well in the Winterborne Valley.  So just the usual Take A Pew fare then.  We hope that you enjoy it, and we thank you so much for liking, sharing, subscribing.   

Yes - we finally made double figures.  And what a guest in Gavin Calver!  Latest incarnation of a Christian family dynasty, former leader of Youth for Christ and Spring Harvest and current CEO of the Evangelical Alliance.  So we dug deep into our powers of insight, pressing Gavin on priority issues including spacehoppers, superyachts and sandwiches.  Enjoy the chuckles, and please subscribe to the channel!

The Two with the Pew cross the border into Roman Catholic Land to meet with Father Alex Hill, parish priest in West Byfleet, Surrey, and a former Anglican vicar.  We journey from Guildford to Strawberry Hill, Notting Hill to Harlesden, and back to Guildford.  Highlights include pickled onions, chasubles, super powers and of course an elk and a shark.  Come aboard the usual train of interest and inspiration (from the guest) and inane idiocy (from the hosts).  

More fun adventures in pewland.  We join United Reformed Minister Lucy Brierley on her journey from Swanage to Woking by way of Oxford, Namibia, Cambridge and Tottenham.  Travel chat ranges from seaside tearooms to geckos and, er, quite a lot of chocolate.  Hop aboard! 

Another jolly road trip for the Pew Crew.  This time to visit the Revd Julian Staniforth, Rector of the Six Benefice in the Diocese of Canterbury.  Tales of Teletext, Aerobatics and Lockdown live-streaming.  And of course a sober discussion of whether God is a Fish.     

Ian and Simon meet Guildford Town Centre Chaplain, Noelle Coe.  There ensues the usual zany mishmash of life-story, ministry tales and random questions.  And a slightly different take on the "perfect" packed lunch!

Wimbledon - the home of tennis and the home of our guest this time, the Reverend Charlie Lamont, priest-in-change at St Andrew's.  Cricket, kottu roti and kangaroos.  Ian and Simon chuckle at the idea of St Peter the womble, and lose it at the thought of Charles the Sturgeon.  Yes, it's another madcap episode of the Take A Pew podcast.   

Well - here you go - what we call the "as you do" episode, due to the ridiculous nature of Neil's journey through life.  Window-cleaning, sheep-shepherding, Taliban-tea-ing, beach-preaching (is that maybe just breaching?) and pizza-baking.  We give you.... the Reverend Neil Lambert.

The pew heads to Bristol as Ian and Simon look to discuss Solicitors, South Sudan and Steak Slices with the Revd Ian Wallace, Rector of Yate Parish and former Tearfund director.  

Ian and Simon take their pew to Guildford to meet Chris and to chat about faith, logistics, tomatoes, a gerbil and an octopus. Obvs.

Ian and Simon take their Take A Pew pew to explore the life and times of the Revd Mark Potter, Curate of the Parish of Wisley with Pyrford.  Rolled ham, Chewbacca and murderous chickens.