“How do I like thee? Let me count the ways”
Inspired by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Facebook. Gotta love the AI image generator’s attempt to produce a “cloud of thumbs up emojis”. It really can’t do hands… or faces.
Published Writing
“Highways agency”
Prompted by the variable messages overhead as I drove home down the M5.
“Think chair”
Veronica Gosling sent out an invitation to ‘think chair’, so I wrote a poem.
Green Words
Two haiku, one responding to the news of record September average global temperatures, and one celebrating a bit of biodiversity that is often overlooked.
Good Money Week: how to set up a social enterprise
Clare Bryden. Good Money Week: how to set up a social enterprise, Church Times, 29 September 2023.
Churches can express their faith and respond to community needs through social enterprises. Clare Bryden explains how to set one up
Tax for good: Zacchaeus as social reformer
Clare Bryden. Tax for good: Zacchaeus as social reformer. Church Times, 30 September 2022.
Clare Bryden looks at how taxation can be used to make a fairer society
Good money after bad
Clare Bryden. Good money after bad. Church Times, 1 October 2021.
Clare Bryden suggests ten ways to use personal finance for a better world
“Elsewhere” in a Studio 36 publication
“Elsewhere”, my piece of St Loy Cornwall washed up in St Loyes Exeter, has found a small niche as part of Studio 36’s second COVID publication.
What can I do about the Climate Emergency? Part 9
One of a series of articles for Exeter Cathedral’s monthly news. It’s the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, and I’m looking at the emotive issue of food.
The Climate Emergency and #BlackLivesMatter
This was intended to be the last in my series of articles for Exeter Cathedral’s monthly News about what we can do about the Climate Emergency. White people say we want to be an ally to Black people. But are we ready for sacrifice?
What can I do about the Climate Emergency? Part 8
One of a series of articles for Exeter Cathedral’s monthly news. Coronavirus has given us an opportunity to rethink how much and how we travel. We need to use it; we only have 6 months and counting to ‘save the planet’.
What can I do about the Climate Emergency? Part 7
Part of a series of articles for Exeter Cathedral’s monthly News. Coronavirus has changed much, but it is an opportunity to reframe what we think of as ‘normal’.
What can I do about the Climate Emergency? Parts 5&6
One of a series of articles for Exeter Cathedral’s monthly News. We have 10 months and counting now to ‘save the planet’, so I suggest we increase the pressure on business, and put our money where our heart is.
What can I do about the Climate Emergency? Parts 3&4
One of a series of articles for Exeter Cathedral’s monthly News. We have 13 months to ‘save the planet’. This month’s suggestions are about saving energy in the home and putting pressure on the Government.
What can I do about the Climate Emergency? Parts 1&2
The first in a series of articles I’m writing for Exeter Cathedral’s monthly News, on the changes we can make in our own lives, and how we can encourage necessary structural changes. This time: calculating your environmental footprint, and taking a Sabbath.
“Looking slant” for Science and Belief blog
Ruth Bancewicz of the Faraday Institute asked me to write a piece for the blog “Science and Belief – A blog about the positive interactions between science and faith”. I finally took the opportunity to write up my reflections about “Green|Blue” more fully.
“Working with Gold” in Digby News
One of my undertakings as Artist in Residence with Digby Community Association was to write about my work for the “Digby News”, that is published each November.
Label-free
Clare Bryden. Label-free. The Porch Magazine, May/June 2017.
Who am I? I can and do slap any number of labels on myself. I am not alone. Other people slap labels on themselves. We slap labels on each other. Then the labels I give myself and others affect how I see myself, how I see others, how I expect them to see me, and how I interact with them.
Wiggle Room in the Universe
Clare Bryden. Wiggle room in the universe. The Porch Magazine, October 2016.
“Suppose you had the revolution you are talking and dreaming about. Suppose your side had won, and you had the kind of society that you wanted. How would you live, you personally, in that society? Start living that way now!” – Paul Goodman. Clare Bryden embraces Rebecca Solnit’s vision of Hope in the Dark.
What is Art?
Clare Bryden. Particulart: the art of knitting, chemistry, and gentle protest. Average Art Magazine, “What is Art?” issue, 1 December 2016.
Notes for a small island
Clare Bryden. Notes for a small island. Church Times, 28 October 2016.
As sterling wobbles, Clare Bryden investigates revolutionary approaches to money and economics
A hymn to bees
Clare Bryden. A hymn to bees. Third Way Magazine, March 2016.
As the first shoots and blooms appear, Clare Bryden welcomes the returning buzz of bees, and takes a year-round look at the complex threats to these and other pollinators so necessary to the interconnected web of creation.
When the world acted for the good
Clare Bryden. When the world acted for the good. Church Times, 2 October 2015.
Agreements on ozone show how countries can do the right thing, says Clare Bryden
More tea? Yes, and do take your time
Clare Bryden. More tea? Yes, and do take your time. Church Times, 11 September 2015.
A quick coffee might suit some, but there is no substitute for ritual, Clare Bryden discovers.
“The art of knitting, chemistry, and gentle protest” for Power Culture blog
RegenSW asked me to write for its new blog “Power Culture: exploring our energy generation through the arts”. It took me 44 years to learn to follow the energy, so here’s the story of how Particulart sparked and took on its own energy…
“Energy infrastructures inhabit our interior landscapes” for Power Culture blog
I am almost certain that Didcot Power Station’s looming bulk sparked my interest in energy and shaped my environmental interests and career. But I am not the only person which it has sensitised. Many regard it as a blot on the landscape, many others have seen its sculptural appeal. A guest blog for Regen SW.
“Knitting and other revolutionary acts”
Clare Bryden. Knitting and other revolutionary acts. Third Way Magazine, May 2015.
As competing political voices reach election crescendo, could it be that artistic, home-spun forms of activism are more positive and quietly persuasive? Clare Bryden hails the rise of ‘Craftivism’ and explains how knitting can change the world.
Cultural highlights of 2014
Clare Bryden. Cultural highlights of 2014: The Bookshop in Wigtown, Scotland. Third Way Magazine, February 2015.
What the frack?
Clare Bryden. What the frack? Third Way Magazine, October 2014.
Depending who you ask, hydraulic fracturing – fracking – is either a panacea for our energy crisis or an environmental apocalypse in waiting. Clare Bryden drills through the propaganda in search of some answers.
A Spirit of Our Time
Clare Bryden. A Spirit of Our Time. Resurgence Magazine online, September/October 2014.
Clare Bryden introduces Simone Weil, whose life and philosophy were one and the same.
Ethics on hold?
Clare Bryden. Ethics on hold? Third Way Magazine, November 2013.
Is the smartphone in your pocket fuelling violence on the other side of the world? Clare Bryden asks some uncomfortable questions about our complex relationship with gadgets – and investigates new ways to connect more ethically.
How Place Shapes Prayer
Clare Bryden. How Place Shapes Prayer. Reform Magazine, November 2013.
Clare Bryden explores the spirituality of place in a Benedictine community in Worcestershire.
Far more than two’s company
Clare Bryden. Far more than two’s company. Church Times, 11 October 2013.
Crowdfunding is one way of raising finance which can benefit church and community projects, and offer ethical projects for donors and investors, Clare Bryden discovers.
Blackberrying for beginners
Clare Bryden. Blackberrying for beginners. Resurgence Magazine, Sep/Oct 2013.
Shortlisted essay from the Resurgence & Ecologist Nature Writing Competition.
An appeal to inner values
Clare Bryden. An appeal to inner values. Church Times, 30 August 2013.
Good causes will get further by emphasising their intrinsic worth rather than external rewards, argues Clare Bryden.
Review of “Counter-Tourism: The Handbook”
Clare Bryden. Review of “Counter-Tourism: The Handbook” assembled by Crab Man. Third Way Magazine, June 2013.
Digging where we stand
Clare Bryden. Digging where we stand. Third Way Magazine, June 2013.
Driven by restless searching, our modern world often seems to undermine the very community we crave. But Clare Bryden believes that’s an invitation to dig deeper for the roots that truly sustain us.
As if people mattered, 40 years on
Clare Bryden. As if people mattered, 40 years on. Church Times, 24 May 2013.
E. F. Schumacher’s ideas still need to be reckoned with, argues Clare Bryden.
Visit a mythical land – our own
Clare Bryden. Visit a mythical land – our own. Review of “Mythogeography: A Guide to Walking Sideways” by Phil Smith. Reform Magazine, April 2013.
Peril of eating all the pie.
Clare Bryden. Peril of eating all the pie. Review of “The Price of Inequality” by Joseph E. Stiglitz. Church Times, 12 October 2012.
Clare Bryden studies an analysis of the economic crisis.
It’s the equality, stupid
Clare Bryden. It’s the equality, stupid. Church Times, 30 July 2012.
Measures of wealth and poverty are complex and subtle; but there is one simple factor, argues Clare Bryden.
A fresh way to share good ideas
Clare Bryden. A fresh way to share good ideas. Church Times, Issue 7786, 8 June 2012.
TED talks are spreading in influence. The Church can learn from them, says Clare Bryden.
Review of “Sharing Possessions”
Clare Bryden. Review of “Sharing Possessions” by L.T.Johnson. Modern Believing, Volume 53:2, April 2012.
Listen intently and then get your hands dirty
Clare Bryden. Listen intently and then get your hands dirty. Church Times, Issue 7749, 23 September 2011.
After a year living in community at Mucknell, Clare Bryden offers a Benedictine perspective on the crisis in sustainability.
Lessons on sustainable living, with the green monks [and nuns!] of Mucknell
Clare Bryden. Lessons on sustainable living, with the green monks [and nuns!] of Mucknell. Guardian, Comment is Free: Belief, 15 September 2011.
Spending a year with Benedictine monks has taught me how to cultivate a healthy environmental idealism rooted in reality.
Presence
A poem inspired by Iona, and commended in Earthing Faith’s “Inspired by Creation” competition, October 2010.
Green, not grandiose
Clare Redfern and Clare Bryden. Green, not grandiose. Church Times, Issue 7693, 27 August 2010.
Churches should join forces with the Transition movement to promote sustainable living, say Clare Redfern and Clare Bryden.
Waiting for the Fionnphort Bus
Poem published in Poetry Scotland, Late Spring 2010.
Climate Change, a new prophetic ministry for Anglican Religious?
Clare Bryden. Climate Change, a new prophetic ministry for Anglican Religious? Mucknell Abbey, March 2010.
“The world’s faith communities are among the oldest and most enduring of institutions. You can, and do, inspire people to change. As we take the final steps on our journey to Copenhagen, that inspiration is critical.” — UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.
