P is for Pilgrim, by Stephen Cottrell 

A simply written, evangelistic book for young and old from the Archbishop of York - but very Anglican 

P is for Pilgrim. The Christian Faith – A Journey From A to Z
By Stephen Cottrell
Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN 978-1399805278
Reviewed by Pieter Lalleman

 
The Archbishop of York presents the content of the Christian faith in a large-format, 64-page book.  (The pages are unnumbered but I believe the publisher.) Under each letter of the alphabet Cottrell briefly discusses various elements of our beliefs. Under the letter G, for example, he discusses Gospel (six lines), Gift (three lines) and Grace (four lines). In addition, there are some Bible verses (NIV) and song texts printed. The book is full of beautiful illustrations by Jack Seymour in the same style as the cover. It’s a simply written, evangelistic book for young and old.
 
The introduction is fairly long and personal. Here the archbishop argues ‘that teaching is an important part of what a bishop is supposed to do’ and he claims that there is no similar book available. His actual teaching is light on the Old Testament and on the more difficult aspects of the atonement. Words like Lamb, Judgement and Sacrifice are missing and there is much emphasis on God’s love. It’s also a very Christocentric book and it repeatedly emphasises inclusiveness, which will please many of us. Under the heading You, the bishop states that ‘You are a child of God.’ This is disputable.
 
It is surprising that this book, presented as a general introduction to the faith, is in fact rather Anglican, although not where I expected it. What Cottrell writes about baptism almost suggests that he favours believers’ baptism by immersion. No, the Anglicanism sits in other concepts he has selected, which include Bishop, Confirmation, Mass, Ordination, Saint and Seven Sacraments. These all get a solid Anglican explanation. And I almost laughed when under Pilgrim I read that Christians go on pilgrimage not only to Jerusalem but also to Canterbury, York and Walsingham.
 
This Anglicanism came as a surprise and the unsuspecting buyer/giver/reader might be forgiven for feeling a bit let down by the difference between appearance and reality. This means that the book can be given only to certain people and that for me as a member of a free church, it is not a first choice.
 

The Revd Dr Pieter J. Lalleman is the minister of Knaphill Baptist Church