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Tales of a Country Parish: From the Vicar of Savernake Forest
“A delightful book from a gentle, generous spirit.” - SIMON RUSSELL BEALE
An uplifting, intelligent and often amusing meditation on life in a country parish during a curious year
“Philosophical speculation, country lore, rock music, spiritual exploration, erudite and beautifully written, this collection of reflections and meditations is a surprise and a delight. The kind of shot in the arm the Church of England badly needs - and is so rarely to be found.” - SALLEY VICKERS
During the unprecedented circumstances of Spring 2020, Colin Heber Percy began writing a daily newsletter of reflections and uplifting stories to stay in touch with his parishioners. Word spread, and soon his bulletins were being eagerly consumed by readers around the country and beyond.
In this thought-provoking and invigorating book, Heber-Percy draws upon a kaleidoscopic knowledge of nature, philosophy, poetry and music, as well as religious writings, and interlaces them with amusing and touching vignettes from his Wiltshire parish.
As he follows the changing seasons, Heber-Percy moves from the seemingly small and mundane to ponder big life questions - can you find heaven in a Londis shop, why is the Bible not like the Highway Code, what on earth we are all doing here - while gently offering up wisdom and sustenance for all, regardless of faith and creed.
An uplifting, intelligent and often amusing meditation on life in a country parish during a curious year
“Philosophical speculation, country lore, rock music, spiritual exploration, erudite and beautifully written, this collection of reflections and meditations is a surprise and a delight. The kind of shot in the arm the Church of England badly needs - and is so rarely to be found.” - SALLEY VICKERS
During the unprecedented circumstances of Spring 2020, Colin Heber Percy began writing a daily newsletter of reflections and uplifting stories to stay in touch with his parishioners. Word spread, and soon his bulletins were being eagerly consumed by readers around the country and beyond.
In this thought-provoking and invigorating book, Heber-Percy draws upon a kaleidoscopic knowledge of nature, philosophy, poetry and music, as well as religious writings, and interlaces them with amusing and touching vignettes from his Wiltshire parish.
As he follows the changing seasons, Heber-Percy moves from the seemingly small and mundane to ponder big life questions - can you find heaven in a Londis shop, why is the Bible not like the Highway Code, what on earth we are all doing here - while gently offering up wisdom and sustenance for all, regardless of faith and creed.
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2022
28 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 19, 2022
Just up the road from my house lives a retired vicar. She moved to our town when she finished working at churches further south in the county of Wiltshire where we live. Over the last few years my wife and I have got to know her, partly because she buys vast numbers of the greetings cards I make out of my photos which she sends to people when they are sad, happy, excited, ill, grieving, celebrating etc.. One of her close friends is Colin Heber-Percy, the author of this book and the last time we were round at her house she lent me a copy because she thought I might enjoy it.
She was right.
Rev. Heber-Percy is the vicar of Savernake Forest. This forested area of Wiltshire is one of my favourite places to go for a walk. In Spring 2020, when we were first locked down and unable to meet together, Heber-Percy began writing short daily meditations to send to his parishioners as a way of keeping in touch. His parishioners started forwarding his emails to their friends who wrote to the vicar asking to be added to the distribution list. In the end, the only sensible course of action was to collect all these pieces together and put them in a book that could reach a wider audience.
I took a liking to Rev. Heber-Percy very quickly. I know it’s all about personal taste, but I rapidly decided I would rather like to be a member of his church (that won’t happen because I don’t want to drive 30 minutes each way and, more importantly, past several other good churches, when I go to church). He’s the kind of man who writes this about one of the first weddings allowed (with limited congregation etc.) during COVID:
Somehow, that quote seems to simultaneously capture the sense of excitement for people finally able to get married or, in the vicar’s case, do some marrying, again and give a good idea of the kind of person this particular vicar is.
And so you open this book to settle down to a host of reflections. Sort of “Thought for the Day” if you are a BBC Radio 4 listener. And Rev. Heber-Percy is a very intelligent man. His meditations draw on observations of nature, his study of philosophy (with several quotes from philosophical works), his knowledge of classical literature, his reading of religious writings, poetry and music. Each short piece has a musical accompaniment and I believe there’s a Spotify list if you want to pursue that.
But all that literature and philosophy doesn’t make for a dry, dull book because everything is grounded in real world events, in community life, in day-to-day details of life through and between lockdowns. It is all very relatable and delivered with humour and intelligence.
I guess the book might not appeal so much if you have no interest in the spiritual side of life. And I guess it helps in my case that I share a faith with the author and an allegiance to the same religion. But it is a book full of gentle wisdom and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
She was right.
Rev. Heber-Percy is the vicar of Savernake Forest. This forested area of Wiltshire is one of my favourite places to go for a walk. In Spring 2020, when we were first locked down and unable to meet together, Heber-Percy began writing short daily meditations to send to his parishioners as a way of keeping in touch. His parishioners started forwarding his emails to their friends who wrote to the vicar asking to be added to the distribution list. In the end, the only sensible course of action was to collect all these pieces together and put them in a book that could reach a wider audience.
I took a liking to Rev. Heber-Percy very quickly. I know it’s all about personal taste, but I rapidly decided I would rather like to be a member of his church (that won’t happen because I don’t want to drive 30 minutes each way and, more importantly, past several other good churches, when I go to church). He’s the kind of man who writes this about one of the first weddings allowed (with limited congregation etc.) during COVID:
”Would you all please stand for the bride.
And, on her father’s arm, Natasha begins to walk up the aisle of St Michael’s to ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ by Bon Jovi.
To be honest, if Natasha had asked for ‘Too Drunk to F**k’ by the Dead Kennedys, I’d probably have said yes.
Somehow, that quote seems to simultaneously capture the sense of excitement for people finally able to get married or, in the vicar’s case, do some marrying, again and give a good idea of the kind of person this particular vicar is.
And so you open this book to settle down to a host of reflections. Sort of “Thought for the Day” if you are a BBC Radio 4 listener. And Rev. Heber-Percy is a very intelligent man. His meditations draw on observations of nature, his study of philosophy (with several quotes from philosophical works), his knowledge of classical literature, his reading of religious writings, poetry and music. Each short piece has a musical accompaniment and I believe there’s a Spotify list if you want to pursue that.
But all that literature and philosophy doesn’t make for a dry, dull book because everything is grounded in real world events, in community life, in day-to-day details of life through and between lockdowns. It is all very relatable and delivered with humour and intelligence.
I guess the book might not appeal so much if you have no interest in the spiritual side of life. And I guess it helps in my case that I share a faith with the author and an allegiance to the same religion. But it is a book full of gentle wisdom and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
April 15, 2023
This was a difficult book to rate. Because the book is a compilation of newsletter entries, it reads very differently from your typical book. Some entries were thought provoking and allowed me to see God, or the things of God, from a new perspective. Other entries were simply entries-not good, not bad. I wish I could have followed these newsletters in real time. I think it also would have been more powerful to read in the midst of the 2020 year.
November 5, 2025
I found this book in a little free library late last year, and finally made myself finish it today. It’s a hard one to rank, since it’s a collection of parish newsletters written by a priest in rural England. In them, he weaves together stories from his life and the life of his parish, philosophy, history, and (always) scripture. Certain bits are just outstanding. What probably intrigued me the most about this volume is how he has found a style of writing which manages to integrate his gifts and life history in service of his community. Someday, I hope my writing will find a way to serve my own parish and broader community, and perhaps this will be one model to draw from.
Read
September 28, 2023This was my favourate book of 2023 so far.
Colin Herber-Percy thinks deeply, linking his extensive reading with common happenings over the seasons.
He includes links to Spotify so the reader can listen to the soundtrack while reading and meditating on his thoughts.
Here is an example of his stories:
During apple harvesting season:-
In Psalms the human is thought of as the apple of God's eye
Now in old English the apple also meant special or loved child. His own oldest child had worked on an apple orchard the previous year, but this year, he was away at University, and Herber-Percy missed his company while driving him to and fro the apple orchard. Perhaps God misses us that way too, when we go on about our important lives, and forget to spend time with God.
I really enjoyed this book of thoughts.It was well-presented, it linked to a lot of other scholars, plus the music, and it encourages the reader to think about the ordinary in a deeper way.
It was a lock-down project.
(I wonder how many more books were generated during the Pandemic)
Colin Herber-Percy thinks deeply, linking his extensive reading with common happenings over the seasons.
He includes links to Spotify so the reader can listen to the soundtrack while reading and meditating on his thoughts.
Here is an example of his stories:
During apple harvesting season:-
In Psalms the human is thought of as the apple of God's eye
Now in old English the apple also meant special or loved child. His own oldest child had worked on an apple orchard the previous year, but this year, he was away at University, and Herber-Percy missed his company while driving him to and fro the apple orchard. Perhaps God misses us that way too, when we go on about our important lives, and forget to spend time with God.
I really enjoyed this book of thoughts.It was well-presented, it linked to a lot of other scholars, plus the music, and it encourages the reader to think about the ordinary in a deeper way.
It was a lock-down project.
(I wonder how many more books were generated during the Pandemic)
April 30, 2022
This is a book of essays or sermons which were written during the first year of the pandemic and emailed to the members of Colin Heber-Percy's church. Subsequently they were shared with friends and neighbours and then seemed to go viral. They are beautifully written (as you would expect from someone who in a previous life was a scriptwriter for the BBC), poignant and thought provoking. I took my time with this book, as I read one essay a day, which gave me time to think about what was being said.
February 23, 2025
Reading Colin’s words, is just like talking to Colin in person, such a wholesome wonderful man with a world of knowledge, kindness and understanding.
I have enjoyed reading this especially from knowing the small hamlet and the surrounds villages.
A throw back to what Covid-19 was like. I forgot about some of the barbaric things we had to do.
But to read all that Colin and his trusty stead, I mean Ibiza, did during the pandemic is wonderful and I can imagine brought joy to everyone who spoke and saw him through the year and more.
Look forward to your next book x
I have enjoyed reading this especially from knowing the small hamlet and the surrounds villages.
A throw back to what Covid-19 was like. I forgot about some of the barbaric things we had to do.
But to read all that Colin and his trusty stead, I mean Ibiza, did during the pandemic is wonderful and I can imagine brought joy to everyone who spoke and saw him through the year and more.
Look forward to your next book x
July 21, 2025
A specific sort of read, which, despite being introduced as being relevant to one and all, is very much based on the Christian Bible. For me this is a book best read in small sections as it is packed with interesting ideas and thoughts that take time to digest. The gentle pace of the read belies this, which for me, was a strength of the book; fascinating reflections and thinking, quietly expounded.
May 10, 2023
Tales of a Country Parish by Colin Heber-Percy was a tender read.
Set throughout the first year of the 2020 Pandemic, Heber-Percy intertwines his every day musings with biblical and philosophical quotes without even nearing a “preachy” tone. It’s a perfect balance, both humorous and touching.
I’d definitely recommend picking this up if you are looking for a thoughtful and reflective read that touches on nature, history, philosophy and the painful events of 2020 that we are still living to this day.
Set throughout the first year of the 2020 Pandemic, Heber-Percy intertwines his every day musings with biblical and philosophical quotes without even nearing a “preachy” tone. It’s a perfect balance, both humorous and touching.
I’d definitely recommend picking this up if you are looking for a thoughtful and reflective read that touches on nature, history, philosophy and the painful events of 2020 that we are still living to this day.
February 11, 2024
I greatly enjoyed this book. A collection of reflections from a viccar in the Church of England during 2020. It was so sweet, sorrowful, bittersweet to read and be reminded of life during the pandemic- all while intertwining Christian theology into his reflections.
August 10, 2022
Just beautiful, funny, heartfelt, and moving. I loved every moment.
November 7, 2023
This is definitely a book to be savoured. I made the mistake of wanting to know: what happens next. So I shall be reading it again, much more slowly…
March 1, 2024
I adore this man and wish this book never ended. Just about convinced me to convert to Anglicanism.
May 21, 2024
Filled with philosophical and theological insights this was a joy to read.
Will definitely be reading again
Will definitely be reading again
May 22, 2024
I enjoyed his writing style - a very pleasant read. Would love to read another book of his not written during covid.
June 7, 2024
An invite into the faith, musings, and daily happenings of a rural vicar. A poetic memoir I won’t forget anytime soon.
September 9, 2024
I listened to this on audio.
September 4, 2023
best non-fiction book I‘ve read all year.
highly recommend
highly recommend
November 24, 2023
A banal title for a deeply moving thoughtful book
This book stops you in your tracks. The writer has that amazing skill of clarity, so that one exclaims: Yes - you have got that so clearly - why haven't I thought of it myself. It is a book to which one is bound to return time and time again. In short it is a real and rare treasure,
This book stops you in your tracks. The writer has that amazing skill of clarity, so that one exclaims: Yes - you have got that so clearly - why haven't I thought of it myself. It is a book to which one is bound to return time and time again. In short it is a real and rare treasure,
September 24, 2025
This book is a collection of newsletter messages written by a vicar during the Covid lockdown. I’m unsure how the rate it, honestly. Maybe a 3.5? The messages were often thought provoking, but (not surprisingly, since it was a series of newsletters) it did drag in some places. I think this book would be better enjoyed at a slow and leisurely pace.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews