"Nigel Farage has refused to rule out a link between paracetamol and autism" is the lead item on LBC News. Why? Why? He's not a doctor, he's not an expert, he's not a Minister, he's not the PM, he's not the opposition. Why is his bullshit the most important item on the news? Why?

The autumn equinox is here in the northern hemisphere, meaning that the new season has officially begun. This woodblock print by Hiroshige captures the colours and feeling of autumn beautifully. 🍁 Maple Trees at Mama, Utagawa Hiroshige 1 (1797 - 1858) , 1857. EAX.4362

If you’re on academia dot edu, let me suggest that you strongly consider deleting your account.

In 1973, a decent sherry party could be had for 50p per head.

Looking for a hi res copy of "The Temple Well-purged" from Foxe's Acts & Monuments for publication in a monograph. Grateful for any suggestions for sensibly-priced sources. Doesn't seem to be in BM, V&A or Rijksmuseum. Getty want £375!!!! Wikimedia copy here is a bit too "photocopy".

St Michael's, Baddesley Clinton (Warks) sits in a woodland clearing with no sign of a village to be seen. Your reach it down a path from the NT house. Blocky nave looking like a dolls house. Very plain chancel of 1630s. Late C15 tower.

The world may be going to hell in the proverbial handcart but right now the worst part of all feels like Melvyn Bragg's retirement from In Our time. I can't begin to imagine who could succeed him.

Book now! Annual Conference: The Twentieth-Century Cathedral Saturday, 4th October 2025 St James-the-Less, London SW1V 2PS www.tickettailor.com/events/theec... @c20society.bsky.social

Beautiful snow leopard at Chester Zoo. Proud father of a 2 month old cub (who stayed hidden).

This is a realy powerful piece. How on earth did we get to where we are now?

Characteristically good analysis here by @timothysnyder.bsky.social. On-point insight to the psychology of autocracy below. Helpful for historians as well as political commentators.

Loving this series of "live" tweets of the 1830 French Revolution.

Came across this fascinating piece among my great grandfather's papers; he was a RN Chief Gunner in early C20 & WW1. HMS Excellent was in service 1787-1835 during the French Revolutionary/Napoleonic wars and fought in Nelson’s fleet at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797.

Very grateful to Christopher Howse for his review of @ecclsoc.bsky.social Stained Glass Revivals in today's @telegraphnews.bsky.social. "Learned & beautifully illustrated". Also grateful to all the authors for sharing their expertise. Copies available to buy here: www.ecclsoc.org.uk/news/stained...

This is going to be so good.

There’s a HUGE Elon Musk shaped hole in the Government’s new plans to improve our elections: shady billionaires like Musk can still donate massive amounts of money with no cap: effectively buying our democracy. Add your name to call for a cap on donations today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...

Fab new buses around where I live. Love the Fritz Lang vibe.

I am going to keep screaming this EVERY time: do you know how fucking many hoops animal behaviorists have to jump through to get research alleging that animals feel happiness or sadness published and the WALL STREET JOURNAL prints that LINES OF CODE WITH NO BRAIN STEM can SELF REFLECT

I love the way Microsoft Outlook is now asking me for dual factor authentication to log off.

Annual Conference: The Twentieth-Century Cathedral - Saturday, 4 October, 2025 - Abstract 2 Coventry Cathedral: Prof Louise Campbell, University of Warwick; expert in architecture from late C19 and author of books on Coventry and Basil Spence Book here: ecclsoc.org.uk/news/annual-...

AGM Annual Lecture now available online “St Stephen’s Chapel, Westminster and the House of Commons, 1292-1950” by Professor John Cooper: www.ecclsoc.org.uk/news/agm-ann...

This is incredibly powerful and moving.

What do you mean, “it's a bit wonky”? St Mary, Lapworth, Warks.

I humbly suggest to the Royal Horticultural Society that by asking their members to download an app, use facial recognition, dual factor authentication & a QR code just to book tickets they have badly misjudged their demographic.

We've got some new space for volunteers in one of our projects! Taking place in the archive, you'll be recording details of historic building plans. It's a great chance to develop your archive skills and contribute to local heritage! Interested? Get in touch at [email protected]

The Westerkerk, Amsterdam, 1620-31, by the Dutch Renaissance architect Hendrick de Keyser. I don't know what to make of the exterior. Medieval massing and Classical nods. Strange elongated height. Love it.

Remains of the archbishop’s palace at Maidstone. Rather picturesque.

Sabine Frommel's talk on 'Leonardo da Vinci and Architecture' explores how Leonardo's architectural studies evolved over nearly 50 years. From fortifications to painted architecture, discover how his work shaped Renaissance architecture. #Leonardo #RenaissanceArt

I hate endnotes when I'm writing. I hate endnotes when I'm editing. I hate endnotes when I'm reading. Message ends.

I visited the Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam in May. Remarkable in so many ways, not least that it wasn't destroyed during the Nazi occupation. Completed in 1675 by master mason/architect Elias Bouman, its scale and prominent location suggest a surprising degree of confidence in difficult times.

I know it’s a bit hot but we’re a little slow with the #parkypetition today - just 400 signatures when we need c630 by 0845 tomorrow to keep on track for 100,000 by September 10. Please get your friends to sign!

Oxford's Divinity School was looking good in the evening sun today.

This is EXCELLENT news. www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...

There's a Mackintosh church! How did I not know this? Wow.

ICE just abducted a leading contender for the New York City mayorship for asking to see a warrant. I need everyone to understand that they are not a law enforcement agency — they are Donald Trump’s secret police.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71... Come on folks, the #parkypetition is in danger of falling behind the run rate - we need c650 signatures a day if we’re to hit our 100k target by September 10 and today we’ve only done about 500. Let’s have a big push to get above 46,000 tonight

Martin Phillip Fjellanger Let this man go viral Los Angeles

The @ecclsoc.bsky.social conference proceedings just landed on the doormat. A real beauty. Wonderful chapters by Robert Walker, Jim cheshire, Jasmine Allen, Martin Crampin and Diana Coulter. Thank you all.

Excellent thread here.

I recently heard a high-profile pundit argue that the Trump movement cannot be Fascistic as -its supporters don't wear uniforms; -Trump dislikes foreign wars; -he hasn't tried to amend the Constitution. It's a dangerously complacent view, that misses the sheer gravity of the current situation. 🧵

This is 1 of the most egregious examples of the current crisis which has hit Scottish churches. Such a significant place. Only William Laud would be pleased. He lambasted Burntisland as looking ... : 1/2

This is an encouraging development.

Come and hear author/editor John Cooper talk about the fascinating St Stephen's Chapel at @Ecclsoc on 13 June at 7.15pm. Free online lecture; book online at www.tickettailor.com/events/theec.... David Stancliffe & Diarmaid MacCulloch also speaking at AGM earlier.

The BBC news is giving a lot of attention to Trump’s restrictions on international students yet is largely uninterested in the U.K. government’s pursuit of the same policy goal. Why?

"A well-delivered lecture isn’t primarily a delivery system for information. It is an ignition point for curiosity, all the better for being experienced in an audience." Marvellous defence of the increasingly maligned university experience by @patporter76.bsky.social thecritic.co.uk/university-a...

I enjoyed preparing this lecture, despite it being outside my normal area. Always good to see whether principles you see in one period still hold in another. Much here about worship in the Early Church to ponder and why it mattered to Wesley.

Perfectly put.

First copies of the book have arrived. Hardback and softback. 750 more to follow in a couple of weeks. Rather fine though I say so myself 😊 sarumchronicle.wordpress.com/churches/