In this special end-of-year reflection episode of The Sacred, we're slowing down and seeing the season out with some of Elizabeth's favourite poems. Take a moment to sit with darkness and light, to reflect on the year, and to rest in words that have carried us through conversations about grief, migration, identity, hope and moral courage.Elizabeth reads some of the poems that have steadied her this season, from William Stafford and W.H. Auden to John Donne and Alfred Lord Tennyson.Poem credits: 'A Ritual to Read to Each other' from book 'Ask Me' by William Stafford from Graywolf Press. 'September 1, 1939' by W.H. Auden.'Nativity' by John DonneExcerpt from 'In Memoriam' by Alfred Lord Tennyson.📝 We’d be so grateful if you could fill out out listener survey. If you’ve been nourished by The Sacred, we’d really love to hear from you. We'd love to know what’s helping, or what’s not and what you’d like to see more of. Here's the link: https://biblesociety.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3WMJCr2xnXcxIq2🌟Wherever you are, we hope you find rest and time to slow down in this season. We’re grateful to be on this journey with you and we’ll see you in the new year!

Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with Andrew Graystone about his role in uncovering the serial abuser John Smyth and the institutional cover-ups within the Church that kept the truth hidden.

Andrew is a Writer, Broadcaster and Activist. He shares the story behind his new book Bleeding for Jesus and the hidden patterns that shape the lives of Christian leaders.

He reflects on why institutions so often cover up wrongdoing, what it really costs to tell the truth, and how ordinary people can resist cultures of fear.

He speaks about his own experiences of humiliation and redemption, how shame shapes our public life, and why hospitality - opening your door, your life, your table - can be a radical spiritual act.

This is a tender and hopeful conversation about what it means to live with courage and integrity when systems around us bend towards self-protection.

Please could you fill out our listener survey? We’d be so grateful. https://biblesociety.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3WMJCr2xnXcxIq2

🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast

📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/

💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

👉 Follow and Buy Andrew’s book ‘Bleeding for Jesus’: https://x.com/AndrewGraystone

Support links:

- Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (MACSAS)⁠www.macsas.org.uk⁠

- National Association for People Abused in Childhood⁠www.napac.org.uk⁠

- Samaritans⁠www.samaritans.org⁠ or by phone on 116 123

- The Survivors Trust⁠www.thesurvivorstrust.org⁠

- Safe Spaces⁠www.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk ⁠or by phone 0300 303 1566

- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy⁠www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/information-about-counselling⁠

Chapters:

00:00 Could you fill out our listener survey?

01:15 Trailer and intro

02:24 What is Sacred to you? Andrew Graystone answers

10:00 Navigating Privilege and Inequality

13:17 Principles of Living and Values

18:00 Challenges of Hospitality and Community

20:23 The Titus Trust and John Smyth Abuse Revelation

31:49 Understanding Abuse and Its Impacts

38:40 The Role of Institutions in Abuse

43:09 Bystander Effect and Institutional Failures

51:36 Anger, Gentleness, and Advocacy

56:43 Closing Reflections on Power and Presence

Keywords:

Andrew Graystone, Elizabeth Oldfield, The Sacred podcast, John Smyth abuse, Church abuse cover-up, Christian leaders accountability, False Profit book, exposing institutional abuse, faith and courage, standing up to power, moral courage, church scandals, abuse in Christian institutions, protecting the vulnerable, institutional failure, covering up wrongdoing, speaking truth to power, courage in faith, navigating shame, humiliation and redemption, pastoral accountability, moral imagination, ethical leadership, Christian ethics, religious institutions and abuse, confronting toxic power, survivors of abuse, advocating for victims, truth-telling in institutions, faith and justice, everyday courage, confronting secrecy, resisting culture of fear, hospitality as spiritual act, radical hospitality, opening your home to others, integrity and faith, walking with survivors, spiritual formation, institutional reform, uncovering abuse, moral responsibility, restorative justice, rebuilding trust, abuse survivors stories, church accountability, ethical decision making, courage under pressure, exposing wrongdoing, Christian leadership lessons, protecting the marginalized, personal integrity, confronting moral failure, courage in difficult times, learning from shame, Cathay Newman, Channel 4

In this live episode of The Sacred, Elizabeth Oldfield sits down with Channel 4 journalist Cathy Newman to the moments that guided her toward investigative journalism and a lifelong commitment to seeking truth.

They talk about:

✍️Investigative journalism and its role in holding power accountable

⛪ Investigating John Smyth's abuse in the Church of England

✖️Navigating public scrutiny, social media abuse, and global debates

🌍The importance of diverse perspectives in newsrooms for more accurate reporting

Cathy shares candid insights about truth, bias, and the pursuit of justice in journalism, highlighting the human stories behind the headlines and why public service media matters now more than ever.

🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast

📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/

💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

👉 Follow Cathy: https://x.com/cathynewman?lang=en

Hosted by How the Light Gets In

Keywords:

Cathy Newman, Cathy Newman interview, Channel 4 News, Investigative journalism, Holding power to account, Accountability journalism, Truth in journalism, Media bias, Bias and perspective, Post-truth world, Public trust in media, Ethics in journalism, Moral courage, Whistleblowers, Abuse of power, Church abuse investigations, John Smyth investigation, Political scandals UK, Truth seekers, Journalism and justice, Cathy Newman The Sacred, The Sacred podcast, Elizabeth Oldfield, Courageous conversations, Speaking truth to power, Newsroom diversity, Media responsibility, Reporting on conflict, Gaza reporting ethics, War reporting challenges, Human nature and journalism, The human condition, Understanding truth, Misogyny in media, Online abuse journalists, Jordan Peterson interview, Public backlash, Investigative reporting stories, Exposing wrongdoing, Social justice journalism, Fact-based reporting, Trustworthy journalism, Impactful storytelling, Power dynamics, UK journalism, Female journalists UK, Journalism values, Holding leaders accountable, Media integrity, Hard-hitting interviews