DAVID Campton is a Methodist minister and the Superintendent of Belfast Central Mission (BCM), a social care charity providing support to individuals, families and communities all across Northern Ireland through the work of almost 20 projects.
Doodlings and Doggerel is Rev Campton's first published anthology of poems that he has written over the last 30 years.
An "enthusiastic amateur", he brings a combination of understanding, knowledge, perception and form to each piece, allowing the reader to briefly join him on a private journey of comprehension of the wider world, his personal surroundings or what might have been going on in his head at that time.
"Many of these works are strongly influenced by spiritual, Biblical or theological themes, but some are reflections on everyday life, the world at large, including local, national and global politics, and my state of mind," he said.
"Those that were not written for public performance were essentially written as therapy and would never have been collated into a collection had it not been for a sermon by Michaela Youngson, a former President of the Methodist Church in England.
"She spoke at an event in 2019 about how 'Prophet Poets' can create words shaped by the modern world to offer possibilities and open opportunities to those who read them. I had such an extensive back catalogue of various scribblings that I decided then to compile them into one place over the course of a four-month sabbatical I took later that year."
Mr Camptons's blog, 'Virtual Methodist', had been a vehicle for showcasing a number of works over the years and he has collated, edited and refined the collection to those featured in his new book.
Doodlings and Doggerel will be launched on Saturday (7.30pm) in the Agape Centre on the Lisburn Road in Belfast. In addition to hearing about the inspiration behind the book and the journey to the final published product, Mr Campton has invited contemporaries, colleagues and friends to read selected poems from the book.
Proceeds will go towards the chaplaincy programme at Copelands, the new residential and dementia care home that has been built by BCM on the Co Down coast road between Donaghadee and Millisle.
Copelands provides care for up to 60 residents across six purpose-built wings inspired by a 'household' model of communal living. The residents enjoy multiple indoor spaces and outdoor areas and gardens to enjoy, in addition to the world-class views out across the Irish Sea or the rolling drumlin countryside.
To purchase Doodlings and Doggerel (£6.50), visit belfastcentralmission.org. For more information on Copelands, visit copelands.org.uk.
