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Ian Black

@ianblack-62.bsky.social
265 followers 132 following 409 posts

Anglican priest, spiritual writer, still curious and questioning. Dean of Newport in South Wales. Posting in a personal capacity. 💻 deanofnewport.wordpress.com

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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Lots of excitement in the Cathedral this evening - and not just from the parents dropping off the choristers.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Today’s maths test. How many zeros does a zettajoule have? From the Guardian.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
You shop, we … drop? 🙃
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Grumpiness met with grace. Sermon this morning at Newport Cathedral. (Apologies - no picture, Wordpress is playing up) deanofnewport.wordpress.com/2026/09/27/g...
deanofnewport.wordpress.com
Grumpiness met with grace
Grumpiness and grace mix in our readings this morning. The people are grumpy in the first reading (Exodus 17:1-7). They want water and so blame Moses for their troubles. They harp back, romanticisi…
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I think I’d be Olympic standard on this rowing course! 😱🐊🚣‍♀️
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Like so many others, I can remember where I was 25 years ago when I learned of the planes crashing into the World Trade Centre towers. I was standing by my car on a country lane having had a head on collision ... Image: Coventry Cross of Nails in Newport Cathedral.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Here’s how you can donate to the RNLI. 🚤 rnli.org/support-us/g...
rnli.org
Donate to the RNLI and help save lives at sea
Your donations really make a difference. We depend on your generosity to educate people to stay safe and prevent tragedies on and offshore. Donate here.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Climate Change and the Audacity of Hope. Sermon for Christ in Creation Sunday, Newport Cathedral this morning. deanofnewport.wordpress.com/2026/09/06/c...
deanofnewport.wordpress.com
Christ in Creation: Climate Change and the audacity of hope
What a summer it’s been. Record temperatures, longest spells of unbroken heat and dry weather. The hills have literally been on fire with the smell of the smoke even reaching the Deanery. It has be…
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
It’s a beautiful day… morning sunlight through the trees at Newport Cathedral before Morning Prayer.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
One of my favourite saints day today - Aidan of Lindisfarne. His shrine is remembered in Bamburgh Church, photo taken a few weeks ago on holiday. A missionary, prepared to go into unknown places ‘and never be the same’, but be blessed in the encounters.
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Reposted by Ian Black
FT Weekend @ftweekend.com · 16/08/2026
How a Welsh convent altered a photographer’s perspective: ft.trib.al/aEMwc4s
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
40 years on. Meal this evening in the Alnwick Garden Tree House to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary tomorrow. It seems like no time at all and I am a very lucky man.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Finding a cooler place in Edinburgh today for the Fringe. Came up to see the uber talented Tom and Becky from Lamphouse Theatre and their show War of the Worlds (on a budget). If you’re up here this week, well worth it at the Pleasance Courtyard.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Our guest for afternoon tea this afternoon and a sculpture of the sound wave made by the Roseate Tern (there are a lot of them here).
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Warm, friendly welcome at St Michael’s Alnwick at their Parish Eucharist this morning, marking Mary Sumner Day, complete with intercessions written by ‘someone in the Diocese of Monmouth’!
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
This seems the perfect opportunity to get the children to write a story with the title ‘the day the scarecrow came from the sky’! www.facebook.com/share/1EjpYV...
facebook.com
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Thoughtful piece from Katherine Randell on AI, young minds, and how AI is a danger to fresh thinking. Long read, but worth it, which is part of her point.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
It’s taken a few episodes, but I’ve finally got into BBC1’s The Rapture. Now I’m hooked. share.google/v8qeFuIQ9TFt...
share.google
The Rapture
As temperatures rise, a convicted murderer foretells apocalyptic disaster - is she a manipulative psychopath or does she know the truth? High-stakes thriller crackling with danger.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
St Davids Cathedral in the morning sunshine. Here to represent fellow deans as Sarah Rowland Jones steps down as Dean. And taking advantage of their cafe for a red velvet Welsh cake. During the Eucharist the choral scholars sang from the organ loft. The sound floated in that wonderful space.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
My SPCK royalty statement arrived today with this line about AI "In future publications, you will notice that the copyright page includes the following statement: 'This book is the work of human minds and hands, inspired by God. No part was written by AI technology.'"
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Again, as night draws in I can smell smoke this evening. I wondered who had lit a bonfire yesterday and this morning. Sadly it’s much more serious. Smoke from wildfire the size of 300 football pitches can be smelt 30 miles away www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Blaenavon mountain wildfire smelt 30 miles away in Cardiff
One woman said she is concerned for her family's health because of the volume of smoke in the air.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
What is this? Not seen any of this for a long time. The air is so much fresher.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
As a type 1 diabetic I’m very impressed at Alexander Zverev competing in Wimbledon. It shows that with careful management we can overcome significant challenges, but I’m still impressed. And the tech he used is a game changer, even at the altar. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis...
bbc.co.uk
Wimbledon 2026: Why is Alexander Zverev allowed to use mobile phone during matches?
Our Ask Me Anything team explain why Zverev is exempt from Wimbledon's in-match mobile phone ban.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Out on the road this afternoon - first visit to St Augustine’s Rumney for their final Choral Evensong of the choir year. A small group of teenagers singing confidently and giving up a summer afternoon to be there. A pleasure to be with them.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Sermon this morning with a mash up of Rebekahs' blind arranged marriage, Paul's angst and turmoil, and Jesus drawing us closer for rest in our heavy burdens, with the American Declaration of Independence 250th anniversary added in for good measure. deanofnewport.wordpress.com/2026/07/05/a...
deanofnewport.wordpress.com
All planning built on trust, hope and dignity of all
Screenshot What a collection of readings this morning. We have Isaac and Rebekah being set up on a blind date (Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67), Paul oversharing about not doing the thing that he wa…
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
It took me a moment but I don’t think I’ll be able to read Revelation 6 & 8:1 quite the same again. From the back page of today’s Church Times.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
First opportunity to mow since it stopped raining and the heat returned to normal summer setting. The slopes haven’t got any easier.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Sermon this afternoon at the civic service. A pleasure to welcome the new mayor, MSs and councillors to the cathedral.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
New Statesman podcast on the plotting to overthrow Starmer and how it has been going on since at least last autumn despite all the pretence and involving Cabinet Ministers. Also why the previous MP gave up his seat - youtu.be/Q9XBmQZ8MMg
youtu.be
Andy Burnham storms Westminster | UK Politics | The New Statesman
YouTube video by The New Statesman
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Today’s heatwave check in - 36°C in the shade.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Just sotted the death announcement for the Eddie Burns who wrote the hymn 'We have a gospel to proclaim'. I wish there was a livelier tune for it, but the words have stood the test of time. www.lep.co.uk/news/tribute...
lep.co.uk
Hymn writer Eddie Burns from Fulwood passes away
Tributes have been paid to Eddie Burns, a former Fulwood vicar and writer of a world-famous hymn, who has sadly died.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Temperature outside the front door, in the shade, north facing verses in my study just now (15:40).
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
I delayed the start of Morning Prayer by a few minutes earlier so we could delight in this sight (and take photos!). It is my favourite effect of light in the Cathedral.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
BBC seemed obsessed with the delayed 1055 Avanti West Coast from Manchester to Euston today. I found the draw of my Tax Return more appealing.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
A delight to spend time with Samu and Mlamuni this afternoon.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
At Abergavenny today for a clergy day. A view of St Mary’s Priory I’ve not seen before from the vicarage garden - probably the best view.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
AI, Tower of Babel and Pope Leo's Encyclical. Sermon this morning at Newport Cathedral. deanofnewport.wordpress.com/2026/06/07/a...
deanofnewport.wordpress.com
AI, Tower of Babel and a Papal Encyclical
Artificial Intelligence, AI, has quickly become part of our life. While it doesn’t appear in the Bible,  if we dig down a little into the our readings this morning we can find connections, cha…
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Today’s post.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Just seen an update that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has raised the mileage rate for the first time since 2011 to 55p/m. There's an extra 5p if you have a passenger, but not per passenger. www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
Travel — mileage and fuel rates and allowances
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Pentecost and God's confidence in humanity. Sermon for Pentecost at Newport Cathedral today. deanofnewport.wordpress.com/2026/05/24/p...
deanofnewport.wordpress.com
Pentecost – God’s confidence in humanity
This past week three of us, along with colleagues from St Davids and St Asaph, have been in Bristol for the National Cathedrals Conference. We joined representatives from other cathedrals from the …
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Day at the Hay Festival. Excellent talk by Liam Byrne being interviewed by Anna Foster on populism and how to respond, then Janina Ramirez and Elodie Harper talking to Samira Ahmed on women’s stories in history.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Gala dinner and we have each been given our own bus by CCLA.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Today’s key note address by David Olusoga on the impact and benefit of cathedrals. National Cathedrals Conference at Bristol Cathedral.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Excellent presentation by Chine McDonald yesterday on this report. Reading it last night I found it translates to Wales well and there is much in it that provides useful reflection. I’m sure it will pop up in sermons and addresses! www.churchtimes.co.uk//articles/20....
churchtimes.co.uk
Theos report celebrates ministry of England’s cathedrals — but highlights financial ‘perma-crisis’
Research identifies ‘warm but passive’ attachment of general public
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
National Cathedrals Conference underway in Bristol. Here with colleagues and reps from England, Wales and Ireland for the next four days.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Services in the Cathedral for 7th Sunday of Easter (17th May) - including a choral spectacular with three cathedral choirs of Newport, Llandaff & Brecon. 8.00am Holy Eucharist 10.30am Cathedral Eucharist 4.00pm Welsh Three Choirs Festal Evensong with the choirs of Brecon, Newport and Llandaff.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Ascension - more than a firework. Humanity in the heart of God. Sermon for Ascension Day, Newport Cathedral. deanofnewport.wordpress.com/2026/05/14/a...
deanofnewport.wordpress.com
Ascension – more than a firework. Humanity in the heart of God.
Ascension Day is one of those days that has us either scratching our heads or looking on incredulous at a prescientific world that thought the earth was flat. Jesus is presented as some kind of div…
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Today is a Rogation Day, when we pray for the land. Seemed appropriate to pray for Wales as a new government is formed and for the Westminster Parliament as, well ? I really hope we are not going into the same psychodrama we saw previously. There are serious issues and we need a stable government.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Is there any evidence that Andy Burnham would have won the Gorton & Denton bye election if he’d been able to stand? I don’t like the arrogance that assumes he s a shoe in to re-enter Parliament. Something seems to have shifted in UK politics. I think Starmer is toast and Rachel Reeves with him.
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Ian Black @ianblack-62.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
With the choir for Evensong at St Mary’s Abergavenny this afternoon. And they even have a Richard Coles doll!
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