In Depth:  Esme Shirt

My mother once came by a second-hand winter coat for me. As I put it on she made me solemnly promise that I would not reveal its dubious origins to anyone. (Sorry, Mother, I just have!) Family honour was fine with sibling hand-me-downs but not with the receipt and use of goods which had been worn by people who were not blood relatives.

Those days and attitudes are long gone from Britain’s middle classes. Wear your second-hand coat with pride. Schools have jumble sales; churches have clothes swaps; and there never was a better time to frequent the charity shops. While the chancellor reduces VAT in order to persuade us to spend more money and thus kick-start the economy, many of us would like to find ways of spending less.

Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith lives in retirement with his wife Arlette. Ordained into the Anglican church after the war, he edited Crusade magazine, was Secretary of CPAS, and became Bishop of Thetford and President of Evangelical Alliance. But he is most well-known as a hymn writer. EN had the opportunity to interview him at his home in the countryside just outside Salisbury.

Q: Could you begin by telling us how you became a Christian ?

'I have some delicious sweets in my pocket and at the end I shall give one to the best behaved boy or girl . . .'

'Ten points to the team who are best at sitting and listening . . .'