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January 11th, 2013

Church Times cartoons

I’m pleased to be able to announce that I’m going to return to doing a weekly cartoon in the Church Times newspaper.

Hopefully I should start again in a week or two – quite possibly the 25 January. The plan is for the cartoons to cover a slightly broader range of subjects than they have until now, so although some will be on my usual ‘things that go on in churches’ theme there will also be some more topical ones too. That is the idea anyway.

I was in two minds about it, I must admit. Doing the weekly cartoons wasn’t doing me any good, and I thought, for various reasons, that the series might have run its course. But on the other hand there are people who do really enjoy them, and I think I might still have one or two things to say. And in any case I really can’t do anything else.

I’m going to need quite a lot of help if I’m to avoid collapsing into a miserable heap like last time. Talking to other human beings in actual real life is the main thing that helps my creativity, so I need to find new ways to do so. Perhaps meeting up with people individually or in a group for a chat, I don’t know. Though receiving ideas though electronic means helps too. Suggestions as to ways I can do this welcome.

Thanks to everyone reading this blog for your support.

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25 Responses to “Church Times cartoons”


  1. Sara from the Library says:

    Hurrah. At last my CT sub, that was free, that I then failed to cancel the direct debit for, will have something in that I understand.

    Talking always good. If you ponder something with a quorum of three, I’m in.

    January 11th, 2013 at 3:23 pm
  2. Jane says:

    Wonderful news Dave, looking forward to them, I’m not one for much social networking & live in the North (Liverpool) but if you are in the area…. maybe you could let dioceses know when you’re around for ideas over coffee…..

    January 11th, 2013 at 3:43 pm
  3. Dave says:

    Sara – Thank you. On the plus side you’ve had access to unrivalled coverage of ordinations, clergy retirements, deaths, etc.

    Jane – I like the idea of diocesan coffee mornings. Though whether many clergy would down tools upon my arrival in town is, I think, questionable.

    January 11th, 2013 at 4:45 pm
  4. Bex says:

    Excellent, really looking forward to seeing these out & about again – your calendar has kept me cheerful for the past year … I should have made another one from yours – I’m “stuck with” WW2 posters this year LOL. I think this necessitates another ‘ideas evening’ …

    January 11th, 2013 at 4:49 pm
  5. Chris Carnall says:

    That is really great news, Dave! (Providing, of course, it doesn’t become a burden). I’d love to help but a) live in North Yorks b) lack the necessary imagination and c) am feeling a bit grumpy with the Church at present.

    I’m hoping that c) will pass, but can’t see any remedy for a) & b) at present! ;-)

    January 11th, 2013 at 4:56 pm
  6. Zam says:

    Wonderful that you will be back. We always looked for your cartoon as soon as the CT arrived – best comment in it! Re networking: while recognising that actually meeting up is the gold standard, at least social virtual networking enables some interaction and communication. We live in a fairly isolated situation in Scotland and find computers to be an absolute lifeline. But find what works for you.

    January 11th, 2013 at 4:58 pm
  7. Phil H says:

    I think this is a perfect opportunity for a Google video hangout or equivalent. Pick a time (I could do a weekday lunchtime) and be there. Probably a day before your cartoon will be submitted.

    Some of us will turn up and discuss. I bet someone will be early, even if there’s no need to bagsy a pew.

    Phil

    January 11th, 2013 at 5:45 pm
  8. Katharine Holden says:

    A deputation of Jehovah’s Witnesses knocked on my door this morning to proselytize. When they said they wanted me to know the Lord, I said I already know the Lord; I’m Episcopalian. As with various other religious door-to-door folks in the past, I watched their faces as they mentally sifted over my answer. I mean, I could SEE them thinking “Episcopalian? Is that Christian? Oh, that’s right–sort of Catholics, Hmmm, well, not Christian enough.” Full speed ahead with the proselytizing.

    Ugh! That whole my Christianity is more Christian than your Christianity gets up my nose.

    Ugh!

    (Okay, I’m done now.)

    I wish you well in your weekly endeavor. You can do it. And if you can’t one week, tell them you have severe diarrhea. The word “diarrhea” is magic. Once the word “diarrhea” is said out loud, no one ever questions the afflicted person’s need to miss a deadline.

    January 11th, 2013 at 6:50 pm
  9. Dave says:

    Chris – thank you. Actually great imagination isn’t really what is needed, just to hear people’s experiences of church is really the thing. And actually bad ones are almost better good ones as there is often (but not always) humour to be found there.

    January 11th, 2013 at 6:57 pm
  10. Dave says:

    Phil – I will have to try this. I see you can have 9 people. Don’t they all talk at once?

    Katharine – thanks for the tale. Your final paragraph made me smile significantly.

    Zam – thank you. Yes, it is great the way we can be connected these days. Just need to find the best way to make it work as you say.

    Bex – Thanks! Yes indeed, all for another ideas evening.

    January 11th, 2013 at 7:09 pm
  11. Richard says:

    I am always happy to discuss the reversing manoeuvre with you, and draw diagrams to illustrate the various errors into which our parishioners fall during its execution.

    January 11th, 2013 at 7:28 pm
  12. Archdruid Eileen says:

    If I had a subscription to the Church Times, I’d be delighted. As it is, I shall wait several years until you post the cartoons on here, and be delighted then.

    January 11th, 2013 at 7:57 pm
  13. Ian says:

    My mother in law will delighted. I’ve no idea if she likes your cartoons, but the more I sit chortling at her copy of CT, the less she has to talk to me!

    January 11th, 2013 at 9:38 pm
  14. Pam says:

    That’s good news Dave, I like the fact that you’re able to broaden things out a bit. I hope this includes not having to be laugh out loud amusing every week – sometimes cartoons can say things better than a thousand words of comment.

    I’d be happy to take part in any form of meet up, online or with enough notice offline. I can get into London fairly easily by train and to other places by car. And I can also work out how to ‘hang out’ on Google + if that’s needed.

    January 12th, 2013 at 12:36 pm
  15. Fimb says:

    Ace news, will help #Bex come up with some ideas!

    January 12th, 2013 at 1:31 pm
  16. Liz from the sewing room says:

    Please can you remember that not all your readers are Anglican, and funny things happen in Methodist churches too. And probably lots of other ones too. And if you have a gathering in Manchester area, please count me in

    January 12th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
  17. Martha S. says:

    This is great news, Dave; I join with all others in welcoming you back and wishing to help support the cartooning “habit”! How about soliciting cartoon ideas from your groupies now and again, or even hosting a monthly/quarterly contest — winner gets their idea fully fleshed-out into a cartoon through your drafting and captioning genius!

    January 12th, 2013 at 5:34 pm
  18. alison says:

    Good luck Dave – I have nothing but admiration and best wishes for your choice – really hope it goes well.
    I’m semi-retired and keep human contact by being in lots of groups of one kind or another (mainly based around the church or in the village where I live), volunteering and learning a language at the local adult education college. Of course with this method you might find yourself doing so many courses, or being in so many groups and societies that you haven’t got time to cartoon!
    On the plus side there is certainly enough material for a years worth of cartooning – if only I had your talent!
    Best wishes in all your endeavours!

    January 12th, 2013 at 6:45 pm
  19. Breige says:

    I don’t get Church Times – Northern Irish Catholic and not on the mailing list – but I love your cartoons and wish you well with the coming months. Working from home a lot myself, you have my sympathy and my prayers in the weeks ahead.

    My own work involves being creative and it’s sometimes (often!) difficult to be creative “to order”. Find I work best when trust that God is in the work, and trust the process, however arduous and tedious it may seem at times.

    You’re good at what you do . . . laughing in the wilderness . . . I for one am glad of your wry wit . . . Glad of its reminder that our God has a sense of humour . . . he surely must spend a lot of his time laughing at us . . .

    . . . hang in there.

    God bless

    Breige

    January 12th, 2013 at 9:48 pm
  20. Deacon Susan in California says:

    This is the best news I’ve heard so far this year, dave. Welcome back. Being in Northern California, I am not around the London area much, not at all actually, and if I could afford a family visit, my brother is in Cornwall… But a google chat room of some sort, or skype, could offer you that special Episcopalian left coast perspective. I love the way you maximize your talent with honesty and vulnerability.

    January 13th, 2013 at 4:51 am
  21. Z says:

    A completely unexpected benefit of blogging, for me, was meeting people. I’ve found fellow bloggers to be hugely supportive and great fun, and also that they are willing to travel miles to meet up. I’ve also found that saying when you’re down and need support is very good for me. Just acknowledging it helps but in addition, people are often diffident and don’t like to interfere, but as soon as they know they’re needed, they do all they can.

    January 13th, 2013 at 12:09 pm
  22. Dave says:

    A huge thank you to everyone who has written here and emailed me about this – it means a lot to have so much support. Thank you!

    January 13th, 2013 at 6:28 pm
  23. Joy says:

    Hi Dave
    This is good news and you have my sympathy about working in isolation. I work from home and find the lack of personal contact very difficult sometimes, it is hard to keep on track when it is much easier to mess about rather than getting down to it. I wish I could say the house was an example of the perfect clean home as a consequence but it isn’t. I visit the local coffee shop at least once a week and although often no one talks to me at least it makes me feel part of the human race, you also get to hear lots of interesting conversations – some people live unbelievable lives!
    However if you want to meet up for a chat I’m only in Slough and have lots to say about churches – my own and the one I work for – but to be honest most of what happens is replicated in sports clubs, drama groups etc across the country.

    January 14th, 2013 at 10:38 am
  24. Peter D says:

    That’s good news regarding the new cartoons. It may be enough to get me to subscribe to CT.

    January 14th, 2013 at 11:29 am
  25. Mark Miller says:

    This is great news Dave – and good that you’re watching your health as well.

    I’m very happy to extend an invitation to the Durham Diocese, or (perhaps a simpler option) is to email you my weekly Things That Irritate Me About The Church Of England list?

    January 17th, 2013 at 8:49 am