Re-enchanting... kings, queens and the church

Justin and Belle talk to historian Suzannah Lipscomb about devoting her life to understanding the past, the way the British monarchy shaped Christendom, and how she puts faith and the tumultuous history of the church together.

Nick Jones

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

A seated podcast guest talks into a mic while stretching out a hand for emphasis.

Suzannah Lipscomb is an award-winning historian, author and broadcaster who has brought the loves, lives and intrigues of the sixteenth century to millions of people through TV shows, podcasts and writing. She is the author of several books, including 1536: The Year that changed Henry VIII and The Voices of Nîmes: Women, Sex, and Marriage in Reformation Languedoc.

Justin and Belle talk to historian Suzannah about why she has devoted her life to understanding the past, the way the British monarchy shaped Christendom, why she is focussed on uncovering the real stories of women in our history books, and how as a Christian she puts faith and the tumultuous history of the church together. Look out for a bonus conversation at the end of the show when Suzannah reflects on the problem of suffering as a Christian.

For Suzannah Lipscomb: https://suzannahlipscomb.com/

For Re-Enchanting: https://www.seenandunseen.com/podcast T

here’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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Hospitality

Podcasts

Re-enchanting

26 February 2025

1 min read

Jo Swinney: re-enchanting... hospitality

Jo talks about how sharing food is at the heart of a shared life.

Nick Jones

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

A woman sits at a table and talks with a microphone on a stand in front if her,

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Jo Swinney is director of communications for the Christian environmental conservation charity A Rocha International.

Jo's parents Miranda and Peter Harris were the founders of A Rocha. Miranda's tragic death in 2019 was a shock to all those who knew her. Jo’s book ‘A Place At The Table: Faith, hope and hospitality’ pairs her own words with writings she discovered of her mother’s to celebrate her life and to explore how sharing food is at the heart of a shared life.

Justin and Belle hear about the events the led up to Jo writing the book and how we can re-enchant the gift of hospitality in an increasingly lonely world.