Faith, Hope and Autism is a warm and witty guide that uses personal stories to help you understand how autistic people experience the world and how to make every member feel they truly belong.
What does church feel like if you're autistic? And how can churches become places where autistic people truly belong?
John Allister - a Church of England vicar who is also autistic - shares honest stories, practical insights, and heartfelt letters to his younger self. He opens up a window into the joys and challenges of growing up autistic, discovering faith, and finding a place in the church.
Blending personal experience with down-to-earth guidance, John helps readers understand how autistic people experience the world, why inclusion matters, and what real welcome can look like.
This book is for anyone who wants their church to be more open, kind, and full of belonging - whether you’re a church leader, have an autistic friend or family member, or are autistic yourself. Warm, witty, and deeply human, Faith, Hope and Autism is a powerful invitation to see the church - and each other - differently.
"What a well written book! Scholarly, practical, honest and full of humour, this should become a primer for churches who wish to better understand people with autism. Nothing is whitewashed or brushed under the carpet, neither is it catastrophised, but calmly looked at through the lenses that God would have us place in our glasses. Christ-centred and Gospel focussed. Add this to your library!” -- Jonathan Macy
"Allister provides a series of bite-size reflections on what it’s like being autistic as well as letters to his younger (undiagnosed) self. This book is well-informed, biblical, pastorally sensitive, frequently funny, and very easy to read. An absolute gift for both autistic and Christian communities!" -- Joanna Leidenhag
"This book has so much to offer! It’s theologically rich and anchored in the practical. It’s clear and accessible with the great gift of authenticity. It will be a really useful resource for people with Autism Spectrum Condition finding their place in the church and the world, and also for churches looking to be more inclusive. The letters to Past John are full of honesty, vulnerability and also, and very importantly, hope. It will have a huge value for everyone involved in pastoral ministry and leading worship." -- Revd Dr Jenni Williams
| Contributors | John Allister |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 9781786227225 |
| Format | Paperback |
| First published | February 2026 |
| Dimensions | 140mm x 216mm x 17mm |
| Weight | 0.29 kg |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 192 |
| Publisher | Canterbury Press |
This is a ground-breaking book by someone who has thought deeply and widely on neurodiversity and faith. John Allister offers a compelling personal and pastoral vision within a clear biblical framework. This should quickly become essential reading for anyone who longs to see all the gifts God has given to his church fully celebrated and deployed to his glory. It is a creative and moving invitation for the church to reflect on its practice and continue learning how to put this into action.
