It has become my usual practice to share some of the stats from this blog over the past year because I think it is interesting. Whilst my numbers are by no means stratospheric, this blog has been read nearly quarter of a million times this year. Readers access what I write from all over the world – the overwhelming majority from Britain and America – but I see people accessing material from some very interesting places indeed. I am amazed at where certain posts end up, not so much the countries where it is read, but the other platforms onto which they find themselves and the places where they get passed around.
My other reason for doing this is because the top posts reflect what you have been reading most. It provides me with an opportunity to say thank you for reading. Bloggers naturally write to be read. There is little point doing this if nobody reads it. Certain posts have been read by thousands upon thousands of you. I really want to note that I am grateful for every one of you that has clicked a link and read anything I post here. Time is precious and there are many more ways you could spend yours than reading the thoughts of some tinpot pastor from Oldham. So, truly, thank you for reading.
The most regular comment I get when I meet people for the first time is, ‘I often enjoy your blog’ usually followed up with ‘I don’t always agree with it’. As I say every year, I am not really aiming for full agreement and think it would be weird in the extreme if I somehow managed to get it! I am quite happy to settle for interesting and, even when not that interesting, at least making you think a bit (whether you agree with me or not). So, I hope – regardless of where you sit on any of this content – it has been interesting for you this year and has, for the most part, made you think a bit. If I am even close to achieving that, I am fairly happy.
So, today, I share the most read posts written in 2023 numbers 10 to 6. Tomorrow, I will share the five most read posts written in 2023.