Anglican priest diocese of Oxford, Academic Dean Lambeth Research Degrees in Theology, early medieval church historianhttps://bsky.app/profile/marklaynesmith.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/marklaynesmith.bsky.social/post/3lxkbxu3cn222Excited to share open access my new article on the Gregorian mission to Kent and why it stalled (Augustine heads back to Rome a month after setting out). TLDR version: Bede was wrong about nerves; the bishop of Arles was sitting on the money Pope Gregory was hoping to use https://doi.org/10.1017/S002204692400153229 Aug 2025 14:39 +0000at://did:plc:chbvkv3mhjajkd4cutug6rn6/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxkbxu3cn222https://bsky.app/profile/marklaynesmith.bsky.social/post/3lvic6lpz6k2rNeed a Biblical commentary? A while back I scoured the amazing Internet Archive to compile a database of some of the better academic and homiletical commentaries. Here's the list https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vT3bwA8r2hPsgTwNpB8Ow8QJy_K7Sso77O5DPOf0rFvPA16wxtwixwrIKLsVCrkoUT7IjfzeuJvI-Y8/pubhtml?fbclid=IwY2xjawL7__lleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHiXk3s4a-DJSBq9VbHcEy4j2ioWStzqtmkhsZJuoBVcjlb_M3AwSa25bR0Hl_aem_8PuXHpELJPDNjfBCWOUhFw03 Aug 2025 08:47 +0000at://did:plc:chbvkv3mhjajkd4cutug6rn6/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvic6lpz6k2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/marklaynesmith.bsky.social/post/3lvibs2pjjs2rFor late antique and medieval scholars, those who haven't come across it: the amazing Links Galore - my go-to for tracking Latin sources especially saints' lives and patristics https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRkUFBfVVqv5Tr2aZS4apFNpTJ-ys6VqeQxgsAI1v7cH5putIgchYWJAVGHuu0lWGmdD2DU7Vb1o7XH/pubhtml03 Aug 2025 08:40 +0000at://did:plc:chbvkv3mhjajkd4cutug6rn6/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvibs2pjjs2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/marklaynesmith.bsky.social/post/3lvdgvegcbs2eTime (aged 50) to let go of that 1990/1 History Boys vibe. My homemade A-level Tudor History ringbinder.01 Aug 2025 10:28 +0000at://did:plc:chbvkv3mhjajkd4cutug6rn6/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvdgvegcbs2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/marklaynesmith.bsky.social/post/3lvdfwv6wk22eUnfortunate sign wearage or sociopathic lorry driver...01 Aug 2025 10:11 +0000at://did:plc:chbvkv3mhjajkd4cutug6rn6/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvdfwv6wk22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/marklaynesmith.bsky.social/post/3lvdaynkof22eA couple of psychological reflections on today's gospel (Mt 13:53-end): 1/ Jesus 'can't do many miracles' in Nazareth because people didn't have enough belief. I wonder if pre-emptive rationalism and false humility might hinder more liberal Christians from even praying for certain things...01 Aug 2025 08:42 +0000at://did:plc:chbvkv3mhjajkd4cutug6rn6/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvdaynkof22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/marklaynesmith.bsky.social/post/3lvc2mad46k2eFirst post on Bluesky marks my final day after 20 years as Anglican Chaplain to the University of Reading on behalf of Oxford Diocese. A wonderful time and very grateful for kind colleagues. Moving next to become vicar at St Nicolas church Earley @oxforddiocese.bsky.social.31 Jul 2025 21:15 +0000at://did:plc:chbvkv3mhjajkd4cutug6rn6/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvc2mad46k2e