On Priesthood by Stephen Cottrell

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I am sorry to say I didn’t connect with this book – given the existing abundance of books on vocation it is maybe difficult to find anything new to say, but the expectation was that Stephen Cottrell would nevertheless bring fresh insight. But I found the reflections dry, and often wrapped up some tightly in “churchy” language that they became platitudes.

It was also disappointing that the production of the book was poor – Hodder & Stoughton have clearly opted for a hard-back binding in that this would often be given as a keepsake gift to the newly ordained. The pages of the first copy I received fell out as so as I opened it, the replacement copy was little better – but maybe this is not actually an issue if few are inspired to return and re-read the reflections over the years of their ministry – it would at least look nice strategical placed on the study bookshelf in the background Zoom calls.