A Love Surpassing Knowledge: The spirituality of Edward King by Michael Marshall (Gracewing, £14.99 (£13.49); 978-0-85244-990-5).

“Bishop Edward King, in his day, as a spiritual counsellor, teacher and pastor, called the church, the clergy and the laity, to a renewed inner life of the Spirit as a matter of first importance. This exploration of his spirituality, drawn from his teaching and his writings and the example of his own life - although at the time when the church and the world were vastly different from those of today — still speaks with remarkable relevance, not only to those who are ordained with the prime responsibility for the cure of souls and Christian formation, but also to those seeking, as well as giving, spiritual guidance.”

Henry Beeching, Dean of Norwich: Professor, poet, priest by Peter Fanning (Sacristy Press, £25 (£22.50); 978-1-78959-249-8).

“This first full-length biography covers Beeching’s character and his many interests and achievements, from the satirical and scandalous ‘Balliol epigrams’ to sermons during the First World War and the creation of the Memorial Chapel at Norwich Cathedral.”

A World Transfigured: The mystical journey by Philip Sheldrake (Liturgical Press, £19.99 (£17.99); 978-0-8146-8512-9).

“Philip Sheldrake demonstrates the importance of the mystical dimension of religious belief and practice. Using the words of the great theologian, Karl Rahner, Sheldrake makes the case that the Christian of the future will be either a mystic or nothing at all. In our contemporary world, this judgment applies equally to other religions as well.”


Selected by Frank Nugent, of the Church House Bookshop, which operates the Church Times Bookshop.