Lent book focuses on finding hope in our lives
Finding hope in our journeys is the theme of a compelling new volume that has been chosen by the Archbishop of Wales as her 2026 Lent Book.
In the book, Trystan Owain Hughes reflects on his own experience of suffering and how he clung to hope through both a gruelling 140-mile pilgrimage and a second ‘pilgrimage’ through a long recovery from a serious back injury. For Trystan, pilgrimages are journeys that share certain core elements and when we recognise these elements in our own lives, whether we’re navigating grief, faith, work, education or illness, we come to understand ourselves more deeply and discover God’s light breaking through in the places we least expect.
The book, which is published in both English and Welsh, includes a concise study guide designed to stimulate deeper reflection and to lead people through Lent. The season of Lent, which this year begins on February 18, is the six-week period leading up to Easter and is traditionally a time of reflection.
The book has already received praise, from many senior figures in the Christian world, including Rowan Williams (former Archbishop of Canterbury), Rob Parsons OBE, and Professor Dee Dyas (Director of the UK Centre for Pilgrimage Studies).
The author, Rev Dr Trystan Owain Hughes, is Director of Ministry Development in the Church in Wales, advising the Welsh bishops on matters of ministry and faith, and Canon Emeritus at Llandaff Cathedral. Trystan’s aim in the book, he says, is to inspire people to find hope in their lives in the run-up to Easter.
“In To Hell’s Mouth and Back I want to inspire readers to find hope and joy in every part of their lives – in moments of quiet, in walks in the countryside or in a local park, in time spent with family or friends, or in work or hobbies,” says Trystan.
“In the book, I explore both the suffering and the unexpected joys of my own transformative journeys. Through this, my hope is that something of my story might resonate with other people’s and will encourage them to keep walking their paths with faith, courage and, above all, hope.”
“It’s time we move Lent away from simply being a time to ‘give up’ things to being a time to ‘open up’ the journeys in our lives to God’s peace, hope, joy, and compassion.”
In endorsing the book as her official Lent Book, the Archbishop of Wales, Cherry Vann, said: “Weaving together his experience of walking an ancient pilgrim’s way in his beloved North Wales and his experience of serious injury, Trystan Owain Hughes describes in this compelling book how we can learn to see God at work in our lives, even in the darkest of times. Through vivid narrative and honest reflection, peppered with references to poetry and novels as well as scripture, he draws us to reflect on our own journeys and pilgrimages, both seen and unseen. With questions for reflection at the end of each chapter, this is a wonderful and enriching book for both individuals and study groups to engage with and I am delighted to recommend it as a Lenten read”.
It is Trystan’s seventh published book. In 2010 his book Finding Hope and Meaning in Suffering (SPCK) was chosen as the Archbishop of Wales’s Lent Book, and in 2020 his book, Opening our Lives was the official BRF Lent Book and was also chosen as the Archbishop of Wales’s Lent Book.
To Hell’s Mouth and Back: Pilgrimage, Suffering and Hope is published by the Bible Reading Fellowship, it costs £9.99 and it can be ordered online here or at any good booksellers.
The Welsh-language edition is entitled Trwy’r Anialwch: Pererindod, Dioddefaint a Gobaith, it costs £9.99 and it can be ordered online here or at any good Welsh-language booksellers.