Christopher Howse

Saint Helena and the Emperor Heraclius restore the Holy Cross to Jerusalem after its recapture from the Persians. Altarpiece by Miguel Jimenez and Martin Bernat, c.1485

The wondrous cross

29 April 2017 9:00 am

How did the cross, from being such a loathsome taboo that it could scarcely be mentioned, change into an image…

Piety and wit

21 January 2017 9:00 am

During the second world war, while one brother was editing Punch as a national institution (‘Working with him was a…

Piety and wit

19 January 2017 3:00 pm

During the second world war, while one brother was editing Punch as a national institution (‘Working with him was a…

The answers

10 December 2016 9:00 am

Say so 1. Theresa May 2. David Cameron (overheard on air, speaking to the Queen) 3. Jeremy Corbyn 4. Stephen…

Christmas Quiz

10 December 2016 9:00 am

Say so  In 2016, who said:   1. ‘Brexit means Brexit.’ 2. ‘We’ve got some leaders of some fantastically corrupt…

The answers

8 December 2016 3:00 pm

Say so 1. Theresa May 2. David Cameron (overheard on air, speaking to the Queen) 3. Jeremy Corbyn 4. Stephen…

Christmas Quiz

8 December 2016 3:00 pm

Say so In 2016, who said: 1. ‘Brexit means Brexit.’ 2. ‘We’ve got some leaders of some fantastically corrupt countries…

To zyxst and back again

20 August 2016 9:00 am

What the Great Eastern was to Brunel, the New English Dictionary was to James Murray (1837–1915) — an unequalled task…

The gospel truth

30 July 2016 9:00 am

More brides in Britain go down the aisle to Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive’ than to any other tune, Simon…

‘If ever there was a Renaissance Man, John Dee was it’: from ‘The Order of the Inspirati’, 1659

Away with the angels?

14 January 2016 3:00 pm

I remember the shock, like a jolt of static electricity. One day, between taking my degree and beginning my first…

The answers

10 December 2015 3:00 pm

On the record 1. Jean-Claude Juncker 2. David Cameron 3. Sir Tim Hunt 4. Jeremy Corbyn 5. President Vladimir Putin…

Christmas Quiz

10 December 2015 3:00 pm

On the record In 2015, who said:1. We must get the cow off the ice. 2. It’s decision time —…

The answers

10 December 2015 3:00 pm

On the record 1. Jean-Claude Juncker 2. David Cameron 3. Sir Tim Hunt 4. Jeremy Corbyn 5. President Vladimir Putin…

Which happy breed?

Christmas Quiz

10 December 2015 3:00 pm

On the record In 2015, who said:1. We must get the cow off the ice. 2. It’s decision time —…

Remembering P.J. Kavanagh

17 September 2015 1:00 pm

‘Elms at the end of twilight are very interesting,’ wrote Gerard Manley Hopkins in his journal: ‘Against the sky they…

Photograph by Charles Sturge

Remembering P.J. Kavanagh

17 September 2015 1:00 pm

‘Elms at the end of twilight are very interesting,’ wrote Gerard Manley Hopkins in his journal: ‘Against the sky they…

Christmas Quiz

11 December 2014 3:00 pm

So they say In 2014, who was quoted as saying:1. ‘There is no status for the partner of a head…

The two billionth view

Christmas Quiz

11 December 2014 3:00 pm

So they say In 2014, who was quoted as saying:1. ‘There is no status for the partner of a head…

The Christmas Quiz answers

12 December 2013 3:00 pm

Says who? 1. David Cameron. 2. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby. 3. Nick Clegg. 4. Prince…

Christmas Quiz

12 December 2013 3:00 pm

Says who? In 2013, who said:1. ‘To me it’s not a marriage, it is, if you like, a Ronseal deal.’2.…

The Christmas Quiz answers

12 December 2013 3:00 pm

Says who? 1. David Cameron. 2. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby. 3. Nick Clegg. 4. Prince…

Christmas Quiz

12 December 2013 3:00 pm

Says who? In 2013, who said:1. ‘To me it’s not a marriage, it is, if you like, a Ronseal deal.’2.…

The answers

13 December 2012 2:00 am

Weird world1 Mark Rothko’s2 George Washington3 Nadine Dorries4 The Duchess of Cornwall5 Sakhalin6 The 158th Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race7…

The answers

13 December 2012 2:00 am

Weird world1 Mark Rothko’s2 George Washington3 Nadine Dorries4 The Duchess of Cornwall5 Sakhalin6 The 158th Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race7…