Podcast
Books
Podcasts
Re-enchanting
1 min read

Holly Ordway: re-enchanting... Middle Earth

Why Tolkien’s world of hobbits, elves, wizards and warriors continues to enchant so many in our world.

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

a woman seated in front a mic, looks to the left will gesturing both hands to the right.

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Holly Ordway is a scholar of English literature who is a professor at the Word on Fire Institute in the USA and Houston Christian University. 

Holly has written about literary and imaginative apologetics, edited and annotated a volume of Gerard Manley Hopkins' poetry, and has also gone on to publish major books on the works of one of her literary heroes JRR Tolkien. These are the award-wining Tolkien’s Modern Reading: Middle-earth Beyond the Middle Ages and the recently published book Tolkien’s Faith: A Spiritual biography.

Today we’ll be exploring Holly’s own journey and why Tolkien’s world of hobbits, elves, wizards and warriors continues to enchant so many in our world.

Visit Holly's web site.

There’s more to life than the world we can see. Re-Enchanting is a podcast from Seen & Unseen recorded at Lambeth Palace Library, the home of the Centre for Cultural Witness. Justin Brierley and Belle Tindall engage faith and spirituality with leading figures in science, history, politics, art and education. Can our culture be re-enchanted by the vision of Christianity?

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Events
Books
Faith
1 min read

Seen & Unseen Live at Bradford Literature Festival with Lamorna Ash, Francis Spufford and Chine McDonald

We’re bringing Seen and Unseen to life through a string of live events. And you’re invited.

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

Over 500 events across historic venues, Bradford Literature Festival
Over 500 events across historic venues, Bradford Literature Festival

In a world marked by uncertainty and division, what does it mean to believe – in faith, in ourselves, in one another?

Join Dr. Belle Tindall, host of the Seen and Unseen podcast, for a live recording with Lamorna Ash, Chine McDonald, and Francis Spufford. From surviving personal crises to questioning cultural myths and navigating religious tradition, these acclaimed writers explore how belief shapes our identities, communities, and hopes for the future. 

This thought-provoking conversation moves between the personal and political, asking: in fractured times, how do we make sense of belief, and where might it lead us next? 

Details

Thursday, 3 July 2025 | 19:00 – 20:30

The Norcroft Auditorium, University of Bradford, BD7 1DP