This is the second of the memoirs by The Reverend Richard Coles and tells of his time newly ordained and working as a parish priest.

The chapters are written thematically, so we have his musings and anecdotes about funerals, weddings, baptisms and notable events in the Christian calendar including, of course, Easter and Christmas. It's entertaining and thoughtful. 

As the action of both Richard Coles' novels 'Murder Before Evensong' and the new book 'A Death in the Parish' is set in a country parish, around the life of the Canon Daniel Clement, I thought it would be interesting to take a look back at the Rev Coles' own experience in the job.  

There's a lot covered here with humour and sensitivity, occasionally a little frustration, but also some revealing insight.

The vicar can often feel they are working the crowd, doing a turn, being the host of a party, Rev Coles says, of the difficulty of finding the time and place to engage spiritually himself. And sometimes there is a huge gap between the two. He recalls a friend, the vicar who carefully guided a couple through their marriage preparation, asking them finally if there was anything they wanted to ask about their forthcoming ceremony. Yes, they said, we're having a pirate theme and will you dress up as Long John Silver?

A great book to dip into, and to read enthusiastically from cover to cover!