Where was God at Aberfan? John Humphrys in conversation with Libby Purves
John Humphrys was the first reporter on the scene of the Aberfan disaster. Wednesday (21 October) marks the 60th anniversary of the disaster, in which 116 children and 28 adults died when slurry from a hillside coal-heap slid on to the Welsh village, burying classrooms at Pantglas Junior School.
On the podcast, this week, Mr Humphrys speaks to Libby Purves about his memories of Aberfan and how witnessing such suffering made him unable to believe in a merciful God. This leads to a wider discussion about whether belief is possible in the face of suffering.
John Humphrys was a presenter of Today on Radio 4 from 1987 to 2019 and presented the BBC’s flagship Nine O’Clock News from 1981 to 1987. His books include In God We Doubt: Confessions of a failed atheist (Hodder & Stoughton, 2007).
Libby Purves is a journalist and author, who has written for The Times since 1982. She was a broadcaster on Radio 4 for 40 years. She is the author of 12 fiction and non-fiction books, including That Was Midweek That Was: The story of a radio programme 1979-2017 (Songsend Books, 2017).
This episode is produced by Alexis Condon.
Read this week’s featured headlines here:
• Attitudes to Christianity and Britishness reflect deep anxiety, Theos report says: www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/16-october/news/uk/attitudes-to-christianity-and-britishness-reflect-deep-anxiety-theos-report-says
• Churches appeal to Ukrainians to stand firm: www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/16-october/news/world/ukrainian-church-leaders-urge-faith-and-resilience-amid-russian-attacks
• And the Church Times is now on TikTok! Follow our official account for news updates, behind the scenes content, and more. Find us at: www.tiktok.com/@thechurchtimes
Picture credit: Alamy
Music for the podcast is by Twisterium.
Try 10 issues of the Church Times for £10 or get two months access to our website and apps, also for £10. Go to www.churchtimes.co.uk/new-reader
9 Oct 2026
Steve Chalke on choosing welcome over isolation and division
The Revd Steve Chalke is a Baptist minister and the founder of the Oasis Charitable Trust. He recently co-founded the We Are United campaign, which aims “to create at least 1,000 Festive Tables of Welcome across the country in the month-long run-up to this Christmas”.
On the podcast this week, Ed Thornton visits Steve Chalke at Oasis St Martins Village in South London, a hub for community transformation. Mr Chalke talks about the role of faith-based groups in delivering social change, his new voluntary government post as Enrichment Ambassador for Civic Engagement, and about the We Are United campaign.
Read his Church Times article about the campaign here: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/2-october/comment/columnists/steve-chalke-let-s-choose-connection-over-division
Read more about We Are United here: https://peopleunite.org.uk/
Steve Chalke’s books include:
• A Manifesto for Hope: Ten principles for transforming the lives of children and young people (SPCK, 2023).
• The Lost Message of Paul: Has the Church misunderstood the Apostle Paul? (SPCK, 2019).
• Being Human: How to become the person you want to be (John Murray Press, 2016).
Read this week’s featured headlines here:
• Bishops decry Green motion on Zionism: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/9-october/news/uk/bishops-and-british-jewish-leaders-voice-concern-about-green-party-motion-on-zionism
• Our door is open to church voices, say Conservatives: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/9-october/news/uk/our-door-is-open-to-church-voices-say-conservatives
• The last temptation of TikTok: interview with Pippa White: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/9-october/features/features/the-last-temptation-of-tiktok
Music for the podcast is by Twisterium.
Try 10 issues of the Church Times for £10 or get two months access to our website and apps, also for £10. Go to www.churchtimes.co.uk/new-reader
2 Oct 2026
Archbishop of Canterbury on how dyslexia has shaped her life and ministry
“I think it’s really important to recognise that we’re all made differently,” the Archbishop of Canterbury says. Since being diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 15, it has shaped her educational and professional experiences, including her time as Chief Nursing Officer and as the Bishop of London.
Before the start of Dyslexia Awareness Week, on this week’s podcast, multimedia reporter Amelia Braddick sits down with Archbishop Mullally at her office in Lambeth Palace to talk about her experiences of dyslexia. Drawing on her faith and ministry work, the Archbishop reflects on how she came to see neurodiversity as part of human difference, rather than as a flaw.
Their conversation covers:
• Diagnosis and faith
• Coping strategies
• Strength and creativity
• Church inclusion
This year, Dyslexia Awareness Week runs from 5 to 11 October, focusing on dyslexic adults and their experiences of work and the workplace. Read more about Dyslexia Awareness Week here.
Read this week’s featured headlines here: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/support-us/awareness-events
• Emotional PM sets out his stall at first Labour Party Conference in office: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/2-october/news/uk/emotional-pm-sets-out-his-stall-at-first-labour-party-conference-in-office
• Synod hopefuls set out stalls as voting begins: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/2-october/news/uk/synod-hopefuls-set-out-stalls-as-voting-begins
• How 'dem dry bones' speak to today’s world: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/2-october/features/features/how-dem-dry-bones-speak-to-todays-world
Music for the podcast is by Twisterium.
Try 10 issues of the Church Times for £10 or get two months access to our website and apps, also for £10. Go to www.churchtimes.co.uk/new-reader
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