Avril Burrell from Buckley rated this title 5 star and wrote:
" James Thompson is certainly well known and admired as the Animal
Padre. However, little has been known about his early life. 'Young
Spiritual Tramp' is written with honesty, sincerity and great humour. As
a sensitive young fellow he suffered at the hand of bullies and turned
for refuge in religion as a youth. But such a youngster was hardly to
keep on the straight and narrow himself when even a deacon who denounced
drink from the 'set fawr' (Welsh for the raised pew of the deacons!) is
to be found with a crate of ale in the back of his car! And then when a
welsh lay preacher, with fiery fervour from the pulpit, preaches on his
own, hither to, secret temptation then not only are sedate ladies and
young girls shocked to the core; the author himself ceases to be pious
and fluctuates between differing lifestyles. Much - much - more is to
follow; not least his breath taking elopement as a young Baptist
minister in 1954. This author appears as intensely sincere, irresistibly
humorous and incredibly revealing. Yes, and he is also increasingly
heart touching. For there are parts in this book when one can laugh out
loud, and others when one could almost weep."
Ted Moorcroft from Wirral
rated this title 5 star and wrote: "A most gripping account of a
young man’s struggle with life, Rev. James Thompson, whilst walking you
through his earlier years questions many things, but never his own
destiny to become a priest in God’s service. His first-hand experiences
with many leading denominations are fascinating. Indeed they’re
enlightening."
Animal Padre's
