“I cannot understand the use of the word "medieval" to describe adherence to Bible teachings. The point is that the medieval period was a time when the teachings of the Bible were neglected; that is why we had the Reformation. In this country, the Jacobean period tried to undo this, and that is why we had the great Evangelical Revival in the eighteenth century. Now we have secularists and liberal theologians obscuring Bible teaching, and this is why we have organisations like Reform. Finally, however much some people may disagree with Bible teaching, they ought surely to accept that Christians believe what Christians have always believed.”

“Aye, indeed, resident.....a bit more than last ten years, The State has not been the same since Cromwell's death. I suppose being narrow minded is better than having no mind at all.....giving up reason is akin to having one's brain sucked out with a straw. Anybody who gives any credence to the religious rubbish below are surely mentally ill. Wake up.....think a little (but more is better) and enjoy life before death.”

“..And the state is the answer John? Look at the damage the so called 'state' has done to the UK in the last 10 years. What a narrow minded view..”

“Why in 2010 are we even debating this rubbish ? Anything to do with religion, all of them, belongs to the Dark Ages. It is about time the state took over all churches and had them converted into flats, social housing preferably, and had most vicars arrested for obtaining by deception. The age of reason emerged about 450 years ago, enough of this emotional clap trap.”

“I sat with my wife and four children in the pews the day that the Curate delivered his sermon.

Contrary to what is reported in the press, it was a thoughtful, compassionate exposition of the Bible passage 1 Peter 3 v 1-12.

My wife and the majority of women of the church were not offended by his sermon, in fact seem to find the sermon helpful and engaging.

The Church is not the market place, not a public space but in fact is the family home of the St Nicholas Church family. The Curate is preaching to and looking after the pastoral needs of the churches members.

Today he preached the second half of the sermon addressing the husbands. He clearly told us men to Honor our wives, listen to them, put their physical, emotional and spiritual needs before our own.

He reminded us to look to the inner beauty of our wives. Seems healthy advice to me. A lesson that the secular world could do with hearing.

By the way the churches four services today were as vibrant and full as they always are if not fuller (the additional twitchy journalist or two, looking for another scrap to devour). About a thousand people over four services, not really a dwindling congregation contrary to the reports. Made up by people from all manner of professions, journalists, writers, teachers, police officers, photographers, bankers, doctors, builders.

As a footnote to all the angry cyber bullies, the Curate is an excellent loving husband and father!”

“I am not sure a healthy marriage is one where one partner is submissive to the other (whichever way round it is) surely equality is the healthy option. Being a doormat is not good for anybody.”

“I remember not so many years ago when canvassing in elections some wives used to say to me - "I don't know how I will vote, I will ask my husband."
Suffragettes such as my great grandmother campaigned hard for women to get the vote and achieve greater equality with men. It is sad that some men would clearly like to return to the past.”

“Just want to encourage all of you who have commented on here to have a listen this week to the second part of the sermon about the way husbands should treat their wives that, as programmed, was preached this morning.

Might make a few people feel a bit humble about the fact that they jumped on the bandwagon before actually hearing the whole thing!”

“Dear SevenoaksTeen,

Oh dear oh dear, you have so much to learn my love, particularly before you try to lecture me. And btw, I am guessing you are in the failed-the-eleven-plus-private-school-sector!

When you next turn to the Bible for advice on Christian marriage why not flip to 1 Corinth 7:9 - the Saintly Paul giving us the benefit of his wisdom - "For it is better to marry than to burn with passion".

Looking around me in the Church this morning (aside from my mum and dad glowing within their own private Valentines Day bubble) all I could see was real saddo's.

Get yourself a life girl. And a boyfriend too maybe....”

“For the Sevenoaks 'congregation' who just use the church to 'get into church schools', I don't suppose they are bothered. As long as they turn up every week and look 'like they are regular churchgoers' it is ok. They may have to be prodded every now and to stay awake. I don't suppose those 'christians' who just go to church for weddings and funerals are bothered about his speech.”