Rambling Rector has been judged runner-up in the blog category of the Church of Ireland Communications Competition 2013. The judges said: ‘An engaging and compelling blog voice on theology and everyday life. Cultivates readership. Good use of photos. Consistency in form and style. User–friendly archiving. Great job!’

This is astonishing, for I make no effort to toe any party line. I’d been thinking of starting the blog before I did, but was stimulated to act when the editor of the Cashel and Ossory Diocesan Magazine intimated that some of my pieces were too controversial for that august publication. So, thought I, time to publish them myself. Thank you, editor! Plenty people tell me that I make them think, which is one of my jobs as Rector. It is possible, I suppose, that the readers of the Diocesan Magazine don’t like having to think, but the first great commandment, ‘thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind‘ is a command to do just that.

Coo! Thank you for reading, encouraging and commenting. Keep ’em coming, and urge others to log-on.

The prize is an Eason’s ‘credit card’ to the value of 30 somethings, probably pounds Sterling since it came from Armagh.