Christian Selvaratnam

For several years, I successfully convinced my children that I was a Time Lord!

In the UK.

Church in a post-Christendom society?

The next AI tool you use might not need a supercomputer—or even the cloud. It could run fast and locally on your phone or PC. Small language models are catching up, and they’re cheaper, leaner and apparently just as smart for many tasks.

arxiv.org/pdf/2506.02153

Logo the Yorkshire Rose with text

Happy #YorkshireDay—where the tea is strong, the pews are hard, and the sermons last longer than the roast.

One of the elect!

Are you Mac or PC, heaven or hell?

I suspect a corrupted font. All fonts or just one… delete and reinstall from clean source.

Has something of a Scott of the Antarctic look.

I don't know of any other profession in which it is quite as easy to fake it as in ours. By adopting a reverential demeanor, cultivating a stained-glass voice, slipping occasional words like
"eschatology" into conversation …we are trusted, without any questions asked …

Eugene H Peterson

By reforming its position on sexuality of clergy, Church ... Synod approves change that no longer requires openly gay candidates for priesthood to take vow of celibacy

Bishop Martin Gorick is mistaken: removing Issues in Human Sexuality does not mean same-sex clergy need not be celibate. The House of Bishops Pastoral Guidance on Same Sex Marriage (2014) upholds that expectation.

observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

I think you’ve misunderstood.

Many clergy use the chance to visit churches they’ve belonged to, or where friends or former curates now serve. In a city like York, with many connections, that’s normal. It’s unhelpful to assume motives without evidence.

There’s a trick: place the lens on one finger, then use another finger—and your other hand—to hold your upper and lower eyelids apart.

Congratulations to the eight newly appointed Honorary Canons of Manchester Cathedral, who have been recognised for their dedicated service to our diocese and the wider Church.

You can learn more about them here 👇
www.manchester.anglican.org/honorary-can...

Celebrating our new Honorary Canons - Diocese of Manchester Congratulations to the eight newly appointed Honorary Canons of Manchester Cathedral, who have been recognised for their dedicated service to the diocese and the wider Church.

I’m delighted to have been appointed by bishop David as an honorary canon of Manchester Cathedral, ‘in recognition of my contribution to church planting’. If you’re near Manchester, do join the installation service during evensong at Manchester Cathedral on Sunday 5 October 2025.

Either way, let’s hope they balance the books and not just account for their time.

Sri Lanka words

Obviously I’m pleased, but a bit odd

AI produced picture of a strawberry and cream sandwich

The Japan-inspired strawberries and cream sandwich 🍓🥪, have you tried one?

HMRC is investigating—if it counts as luxury finger food or a dessert, it could attract 20% VAT. Sweet treat or taxable snack?

I’m not excusing mistakes or commenting on any case, but it feels like the Church struggles to imagine how leaders can fail and yet be restored.

Forgiveness, renewal and reconciliation are central to the gospel, yet, it seems, we often echo cancel culture more than the hope we proclaim in Christ.

I used to be Verger there!

Deacon‘s being ordained

Deacon‘s being ordained

Deacon‘s being ordained

Deacon‘s being ordained

Great to celebrate four new deacons in the Diocese of York today, or St Hild students

Well done, Josh!

Equivalent of one child in every British classroom now born via IVF, data shows Proportion of women giving birth after fertility treatment up by more than a third in a decade, figures reveal

Interesting to see new HFEA data: 1 in 32 children—roughly one in every British classroom—now born via IVF. What was once ethically controversial is now normalised, raising questions about future technologies like gene editing and selection.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Hello, Andrew!

Happy octennial!

What’s common knowledge in my field but shocks outsiders?

That the General Synod of the Church of England has three houses, detailed standing orders and live-streamed debates, but more tension than a reality TV final.

By making the Bible downloadable from Amazon?

I prefer the phrase ‘church dad’.

—if you could keep the sermon under 25 minutes, that’d be great.

… to move the font without a faculty.