A Sparkle from the Coal

Author Barbara Howard
Publisher SCM Press £35
Format pbk
ISBN 9780334066293

This impressive book is a tribute to the theological writings of Rowan Williams and especially the way his exceptional imagination has provided new understandings of God’s constant love, in contrast to the ambiguities of our frail lives. Howard’s title is a quote from the Cloud of Unknowing, and is a metaphor used by Williams to denote the ‘sparking’ of our yearning for God from within our hard hearts. Howard uses many illustrations from Williams’ books, but is particularly adept at interpreting his vivid poetry and relating his verse to both scriptural interpretation and theological discourse. This is no mean feat, for Williams is a formidable polymath, with a seemingly inexhaustible knowledge of languages, literature, philosophy, history and art as well as scripture. He is also a foremost expert in the west on the Eastern Orthodox Church. The great value of this book is twofold: it explores and elucidates the thinking of one of our great modern theologians; and it demonstrates how human imagination can renew faith and draw all of us closer to God. Expensive but highly recommended.

Reviewed by MALCOLM DAWSON

Theology and imagination