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It's probably too obvious that the analogy which immediately springs to mind is that of the curate's egg - good and bad in parts, though mostly, I'm afraid, bad. I could say that it was clichéd, predictable, stereotypical; that it exuded an utterly Anglican prevailing niceness where even the baddies resemble nothing more than miffed pussy cats and the vandalism is (in an inner city!) only accidental. It did not prove, for me, particularly thought-provoking, nor indeed did I find it it particularly funny. On the plus side, however, the cast were good, very good.

I await LSV's comments with interest, his experience of English Anglicanism is much more recent than mine but this old Anglo-Catholic found a few irritating technical niggles. Where were their clerical advisers?

Let me nit-pick. The vestments and the use of the Collect for Purity indicate that the morning service was to be a rather low-church celebration of the Eucharist yet the altar did not appear to be dressed for communion. (Back me up here Christopher). It would be a most appalling solecism for an Archdeacon to wear a purple scarf: was this what Helio would call a 'mistake' or is it supposed to tell us something about his character? If so, it is just about the most 'in' reference I have ever come across. Then there was the side-splitting hilarity of Nigel's art-critique of the damaged window - Fauvist Brutalism coming from the influence of Burne-Jones - there'll be hernias in the Shankill over that one but don't they realise the danger of that sort of thing makeing the programme inaccessible? ( ;-) @ PeterM)

One of my oldest friends recently became the vicar of a London parish. Judging by conversations we've had, a documentary on his experiences over the last year would not only have been a lot more interesting, it would also have been a hell of a sight funnier and it would have been a very different story.

Parrhasios

"inaccessible? ( ;-) @ PeterM)"


Enough of that sort of thing! I've been on my very best behaviour staying away from the 'Open Thread', the one on which my comments started out with (I think/hope) reasonable intentions but ended up with mischievousness getting the better of me. Brian is probably due an apology but I wouldn't want to end the frisson! (Brian, ;-) and a :-) too)

Now I'm going to have to go and watch it.

I shouldn't bother.

What we got was a vicar who smokes, drinks, swears, flirts with a teacher and grovels to an MP - add to that obscene graffiti, loud-mouthed workmen and crassly crude comments (not least from the vicar himself).....no wonder I could hardly contain my laughter.(?)

As a Christian minister - who loves to laugh,and who does appreciate some of the humorous things that can happen in and around a church - I'm afraid this left me cold.

Surely the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ can do better than to spend money producing stuff like this?

Only saw about five minutes of it.

Media rarely get the simplest religious things right - how many times have we seen "Popes" wearing mitres with cassocks/

Absolutely!

Have just noticed that in the picture at the top of this thread the archdeacon is wearing a pectoral cross - now that has to be a mistake. This biggest, most glaring 'mistake' of all, however, is on the moral level. Anglicanism sees compromise, equivocation and accommodation, not as failures or weaknesses, but rather as virtually summa bona. If this vicar had been a true Anglican instead of some sort of closet dissenter the window would have got fixed, the child would have got the school place, and judicious juggling would have seen both weddings take place on bank holiday weekend. Dawn French eating a dozen Christmas lunches to satisfy everyone was much more authentic and don't you knock it, ye of lesser faiths...

The evangelicals got bashed tonight. Not sure that the particular flavour portrayed was that of any of own little community. More little irritating technical niggles and keep asking myself "Is this supposed to be funny?" If you aren't amused at the notion vicars might enjoy sex there really are not a lot of other gags to tickle the old fancy.

After watching the first five episodes of Rev, I think it's absolutely wonderful.
So what if the vestments aren't quite correct and horror of horrors the Archdeacon is wearing a purple scarf? This series is sweet, funny, thoughtful and full of heart with some great characters. Tom Hollander is excellent and I'm really hoping there is going to be another series.

#1 -

Thanks, Parrhasios, for awaiting my comments. I have just watched the first few minutes of the episode William linked to, but clearly it was not to the liking of my computer. The poor machine is obviously prejudiced against religious comedies! So my review will have to wait (but then again, as wheels turn ever so slowly in the Anglican Church, this "period of reflection" - a.k.a. "stalling and procrastinating" - is par for the course!)

I am not really sure whether I can actually give a critical assessment of the Anglican Church. The problem is that it is not clear which bit of the blessed smorgasbord one is supposed to assess!

But, if I remember, I will try to attempt it. You have been warned!!

I am a bit like Jonesy in Dad's Army being just a step behind.

I viewed half of the episode last night not because I was disgusted but because I had to go out. But I have to make a few comments on what I did see.

The 'Rev' managed in that first half of the programme to swear, drink, shoplift, abuse himself and flirt with the local headmistress. He had also been censured for a two minute sermon (that was three minutes too long according to his Bishop).

It seemed to be that the writers were trying to get every sin packed in in order to raise some laughs (of which there were very few)

I wondered if there were any similar characters in the Bible and do you know what I found some. In Matthew 23 Jesus informs us that the religious leaders of his day were scribes, pharisees, hypocrites who were like whited sepulchres on the outside but on the inside were full of all uncleanness.

I guess because of the Equality legislation these days all the minority groups are protected so it is open season on the Christians (other religions seem to be out of bounds too).

If my mechanic was as inept at his job as this 'Rev' is then my car would never be on the road. I don't think I will rushing to watch the next episode.

I suppose the point most people seem to miss with "Rev" is that it is trying to say that vicars are human and as in last night's episode can go off the rails occasionally, just like normal folk!

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?