This fascinating and persuasive book is both a history of workplace chaplaincy and a vigorous exploration of ‘secularization’, identified as ‘the major issue facing the Church’ (xi). Secularization is represented not only as the dominant culture in society but also as the necessary focus of theology and of pastoral care: chaplaincies build a bridge between the church and industrial societies and the traffic goes both ways. Torry welcomes this, seeing some chaplaincy work, and some quoted modern and postmodern theology, as inspired afresh by experiences of the word made flesh. Moreover, while also acknowledging cases where transcendental experience is under-played, he generally acclaims the challenge to us to articulate theological commitments intelligibly. This book itself challenges those of us whose religious experience is made secure by a familiar habit of church.