Arthur's Call

‘Arthur's Call’ is an absorbing and moving book from the British theologian and Methodist Minister, Frances Young. I found the narrative compelling; it intertwines personal memoir and theological reflection, through Young’s description of her experiences with her son, Arthur, who has severe learning disabilities.

Young describes with great honesty her life as a mother who, with her husband, cared for her son at home for his first forty-three years.  She reveals the complex realities of living with and caring for someone with severe learning disabilities. It shares the painful, joyous, and challenging moments that often remain unseen or unspoken in our society.   

The interplay of personal narrative and theological contemplation provides a rich, thought-provoking backdrop. Young reinterprets the Christian faith, the nature of God, and the role of suffering and vulnerability, through the lens of her lived experience.

Some of Frances Young’s struggles reflect the challenges all parents face navigating the emotional and practical dilemmas of bringing up a family, and this aspect of the book is also interesting and helpful.  However, I found her growing conviction that those who know and meet Arthur receive a gift of ministry most profound.  Arthur highlights our human vulnerability, points to a Christ who was rejected and reminds us of a wholeness that incorporates impairments.  He teaches us something about the deep nature of worship which can be wordless and always involves us in being caught up in something bigger than ourselves.

‘Arthur’s Call’ left me with a strong sense of gratitude that Frances Young has been prepared to share her deep spirituality and personal experience with such openness and clarity.  It offers an inspiring testimony of love and hope.

Ruth Peniket