The title seems to promise all. What does Rowan Williams think of the varying Anglican Identities which he encounters in his role as Archbishop of Canterbury? Many of us would like to know the answer to this. However, we will not find them by reading this book.

Instead, we have a collection of Archbishop Rowan?s theological writings which reflect o­n the thought of a number of Anglicans. To be more accurate, these are Rowan Williams?s thoughts o­n a number of English divines, ranging from Tyndale and Hooker through to John Robinson and Michael Ramsey. All were male. Most were bishops. All are very dead.
There are highlights in this collection. Amongst them is a piece o­n BF Westcott ? ?The Fate of Liberal Anglicanism?. This title in itself might be thought of as the subtext to several of the essays, not least those which deal with John Robinson and the Honest to God controversy. Indeed, the predominant mood towards several of the liberal strands emerging from Church of England is hesitant and wary. This alone might give Rowan Williams?s detractors pause for thought.

The essays in this collection were intended for a theologically literate audience and it is a pleasure to find o­neself reading a serious book by a bishop, nay an archbishop, who has something significant to say.

Ultimately, it is the false expectations generated by an inappropriate book title which disappoint, not the text of the book. However, what lingers longest in the mind is the Archbishop Rowan?s wistful thought in the introduction that these pieces might ?allow and encourage readers a pause for mind and feeling to be reintroduced to ?passionate patience??.

Anglican Identities by Rowan Williams is published by Darton Longman Todd and costs ?7.95.

Songs of Praise is already a successful brand name and must be well o­n its way to becoming a denomination. With a weekly televised worship experience, a new monthly Songs of Praise magazine and now liturgical books following the church year, it can o­nly be a matter of time before people are given the opportunity to register as belonging to Songs of Praise when they go into hospital.

The Lent and Easter book which bears the Songs of Praise name contains material gathered together and written by Andrew Barr. Mr Barr was for some years involved in the production of the television programme and is now the convenor of the Scottish Episcopal Church?s Liturgy Committee.
The book is attractive and up to the high visual standard that people will expect from Lion Publishing. Pictures, prayers and homely stories are woven around memories of bringing the Songs of Praise experience to television through the years.

This book is more likely to be read by those who feel better connected to the church in their hearts than by their attendance, than any number of Lent books recommended by Bishops and Archbishops. Mission can be a gentle thing: photographs of holy daffodils and the poem Footprints are just what many want and what many will find here and enjoy. This is a well-produced book which belongs on every church bookstall in the Lentan-springtime of the year.

Songs of Praise: A Lent and Easter Companion costs ?9.99 and is published by Lion, in conjunction with the BBC.