Richard Holloway

Richard Holloway, former Bishop of Edinburgh, talks to Michael Berkeley about faith, doubt, compassion and the powerful emotions stirred up by his favourite music.

In 1948, at the age of just 14, Richard Holloway left his home in a small town near Glasgow to train for the priesthood at an Anglican monastery in Nottinghamshire. Nearly four decades later, after working in some of Scotland’s most deprived inner-city parishes, he was appointed Bishop of Edinburgh and Primus of the Church of Scotland. But in 2000 he resigned, unable any longer to reconcile his religious doubts, and his views, especially on gay rights, with church orthodoxy.

As he’s navigated his unusual spiritual journey he’s remained an honest, compassionate voice, cutting through dogma and unafraid to engage with uncertainty and celebrate our humanity.

Richard Holloway has presented many radio series and has written 33 books, the latest being Stories We Tell Ourselves: Making Meaning in a Meaningless Universe, an exploration of how we can try to make sense of our fleeting lives in a post-religious world.

For Richard Holloway, listening to music is a deeply emotional experience; he chooses pieces by Rachmaninov, Elgar and Brahms, and a psalm and a hymn that bring back powerful memories of life in the seminary as a teenager.

And Robert Burns’ Ca’ the Yowes reminds him of the joy of singing with his family around the kitchen table.

Producer: Jane Greenwood

A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 3