The Revd Dr Sara Batts-Neale
@sarabn.bsky.social
Priest. Preacher, writer, thinker, creator of lists, prayer of prayer, wearer of waders, wader-in.
Looking forward to 4 January 2026
Thank you to the lovely audience member at @hayfestival who shared that her daughter had once corrected her pronunciation of ‘epiphany’ and told her it should of course be ‘epi-fanny’.
Which word have you royally mispronounced because you’d only ever seen it written down?
Which word have you royally mispronounced because you’d only ever seen it written down?
December 9, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Looking forward to 4 January 2026
The picture of a man trying hard to pay attention to his wife on her birthday whilst Joe Root was 97 not out
(said man has already been out to fetch tasty cake and lovely flowers)
(said man has already been out to fetch tasty cake and lovely flowers)
December 4, 2025 at 10:43 AM
The picture of a man trying hard to pay attention to his wife on her birthday whilst Joe Root was 97 not out
(said man has already been out to fetch tasty cake and lovely flowers)
(said man has already been out to fetch tasty cake and lovely flowers)
People have been telling me all autumn that the Festival of Light (held during the town's Christmas lights switch-on) is awesome. And I think I have to agree.
Although I would quite like to never see a tea light again.
Although I would quite like to never see a tea light again.
November 29, 2025 at 8:08 PM
People have been telling me all autumn that the Festival of Light (held during the town's Christmas lights switch-on) is awesome. And I think I have to agree.
Although I would quite like to never see a tea light again.
Although I would quite like to never see a tea light again.
I find this train advertisement rather begs the question "If you are surprised by vegetables, what did you think falafel were made of?"
November 4, 2025 at 9:42 AM
I find this train advertisement rather begs the question "If you are surprised by vegetables, what did you think falafel were made of?"
There was water dripping from the landing ceiling last night, so no water on in the house today. And I have broken my favourite teapot. Not the best Monday ever.
November 3, 2025 at 12:06 PM
There was water dripping from the landing ceiling last night, so no water on in the house today. And I have broken my favourite teapot. Not the best Monday ever.
This morning we are on an architecture tour of the Barbican. Revisiting the version of myself that walked from Liverpool St, through here, on my way to work.
November 1, 2025 at 12:12 PM
This morning we are on an architecture tour of the Barbican. Revisiting the version of myself that walked from Liverpool St, through here, on my way to work.
Successful trial of giving out hot chocolate drinks to people passing through the churchyard this evening. Quite pleased.
October 31, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Successful trial of giving out hot chocolate drinks to people passing through the churchyard this evening. Quite pleased.
Reposted by The Revd Dr Sara Batts-Neale
Slide through for a simple breakdown of the latest LLF update.
🚨PLEASE SHARE - setbacks like this show that we need as many people pushing for inclusion as possible
#churchofengland #livinginloveandfaith #equalmarriage
🚨PLEASE SHARE - setbacks like this show that we need as many people pushing for inclusion as possible
#churchofengland #livinginloveandfaith #equalmarriage
October 16, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Slide through for a simple breakdown of the latest LLF update.
🚨PLEASE SHARE - setbacks like this show that we need as many people pushing for inclusion as possible
#churchofengland #livinginloveandfaith #equalmarriage
🚨PLEASE SHARE - setbacks like this show that we need as many people pushing for inclusion as possible
#churchofengland #livinginloveandfaith #equalmarriage
Went to Brownies, was awarded a badge, discovered I still remembered the words and tune to Brownie Bells after 40+ years.
Excellent evening of vicaring.
Excellent evening of vicaring.
October 13, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Went to Brownies, was awarded a badge, discovered I still remembered the words and tune to Brownie Bells after 40+ years.
Excellent evening of vicaring.
Excellent evening of vicaring.
Tell me the central heating is on without telling me the central heating is on...
October 9, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Tell me the central heating is on without telling me the central heating is on...
Overhead at Liverpool Street today: "I can't really take the train seriously going from platform 8 since it always and ought to be going from platform 9."
Yep, I relate to that.
Yep, I relate to that.
October 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Overhead at Liverpool Street today: "I can't really take the train seriously going from platform 8 since it always and ought to be going from platform 9."
Yep, I relate to that.
Yep, I relate to that.
Making the most of a day off
September 20, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Making the most of a day off
Weather precluded planned rowing today but I walked in woods & saw my parents & brother which was good. Means no last chance to check gloves etc are OK ahead of next week's Great River Race though
September 12, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Weather precluded planned rowing today but I walked in woods & saw my parents & brother which was good. Means no last chance to check gloves etc are OK ahead of next week's Great River Race though
A rather pleasing series of comments on my feed this afternoon
September 4, 2025 at 3:55 PM
A rather pleasing series of comments on my feed this afternoon
Celebrate with me, folks. Almost two months after we moved and the toolbox has now moved back out to the garage where it ought to be.
August 31, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Celebrate with me, folks. Almost two months after we moved and the toolbox has now moved back out to the garage where it ought to be.
The line in this that stands out, a blinking indicator still going in the wreckage of the car crash, is that Citizen Church had staff costs of £300k a year.
An Anglican priest who established a breakaway church in Cardiff was inadequately prepared for his responsibilities in the Church in Wales, having being appointed to lead a city-centre resource church a week after his ordination, a tribunal has concluded
Welsh discipline case examines ecclesial and financial misconduct at Cardiff church-plant
Tribunal concludes that an Anglican priest appointed to lead a city-centre resource church a week after his ordination was inadequately prepared for his responsibilities
www.churchtimes.co.uk
August 28, 2025 at 7:07 AM
The line in this that stands out, a blinking indicator still going in the wreckage of the car crash, is that Citizen Church had staff costs of £300k a year.
Three days immersed in a community of people who dare to long for a world that embodies love, compassion, light and hope. Thank you @greenbeltfestival.bsky.social
August 25, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Three days immersed in a community of people who dare to long for a world that embodies love, compassion, light and hope. Thank you @greenbeltfestival.bsky.social
Happy @greenbeltfestival.bsky.social Eve to all who travel tomorrow and thank you to everyone who's been there ages already making the place beautiful and ready
August 20, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Happy @greenbeltfestival.bsky.social Eve to all who travel tomorrow and thank you to everyone who's been there ages already making the place beautiful and ready
who posted a flowchart recently on accepting donations of things to churches? I saw it, laughed, scrolled on and now I can't find it - was it @gerrarrdus.bsky.social or @davewalker.bsky.social ? Did I dream it?
August 14, 2025 at 11:26 AM
who posted a flowchart recently on accepting donations of things to churches? I saw it, laughed, scrolled on and now I can't find it - was it @gerrarrdus.bsky.social or @davewalker.bsky.social ? Did I dream it?
@watfordgap.bsky.social Sawbridgeworth, 23
August 7, 2025 at 3:22 PM
@watfordgap.bsky.social Sawbridgeworth, 23
Back to Wivenhoe this week for a combination of cricket, football and rowing which was rather lovely. Excited by chat about this year's Great River Race in September which I am a team member for.
August 2, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Back to Wivenhoe this week for a combination of cricket, football and rowing which was rather lovely. Excited by chat about this year's Great River Race in September which I am a team member for.
First Sunday in my new parish, and rather joyful. A couple of moments in our worship this morning where the choir and I took each other by surprise... and it felt appropriate to preach a bit about the Lord's Prayer, such a foundational prayer, at the start of ministry here.
July 27, 2025 at 6:01 PM
First Sunday in my new parish, and rather joyful. A couple of moments in our worship this morning where the choir and I took each other by surprise... and it felt appropriate to preach a bit about the Lord's Prayer, such a foundational prayer, at the start of ministry here.
First night of the Proms. Splendid. Sancta Civitas - which I have only known as a chorus member - was more glorious and goosebump-inducing than I had hoped.
July 19, 2025 at 7:16 AM
First night of the Proms. Splendid. Sancta Civitas - which I have only known as a chorus member - was more glorious and goosebump-inducing than I had hoped.
@robbsutherland.bsky.social and his first Synod speech...
July 12, 2025 at 2:53 PM
@robbsutherland.bsky.social and his first Synod speech...
And we're underway, for what will be my final York General Synod sessions.
July 11, 2025 at 1:24 PM
And we're underway, for what will be my final York General Synod sessions.