Church 'must ditch materialism'

A "celebrity" vicar who spent three weeks living as a hermit for a BBC documentary has accused the Church of England of lacking holiness and urged bishops to slash their pay.

Peter Owen-Jones, one of the Church's best-known clerics, said that the Church had become too associated with the trappings of money and power and must rediscover its essential spirituality.

The Sussex parish priest, who was an advertising executive before he was ordained, shot to prominence after presenting a BBC series on the history of the Church two years ago.

In his new three-part documentary, which begins on Jan 4 on BBC2, Mr Owen-Jones travels to China, India and Egypt to explore Zen Buddhism, Hinduism and ascetic Christianity, including the stint in the cave. Read more
No comments will be posted without a full name and location, see the policy.