To anyone with an interest in or concern about dementia I would unhesitatingly say: whatever else, get this book! This applies to people facing a diagnosis of dementia, their families, professional carers, and especially local churches to whom the book is specifically directed. Malcolm Goldsmith has recently retired as a parish priest and research fellow with the Stirling Dementia Services Development Centre. Those who have heard Malcolm speak or read his previous books such as Hearing the Voice of People with Dementia will hardly need a second invitation.

This book, with its foreword by the Bishop of Brechin, marks the culmination of many years' work. Although short, it is truly comprehensive. I can give only a flavour of the contents. Part One relates the title (taken from Psalm 137) to the situation of the Jews in captivity in Babylon and describes the new model of dementia care that has emerged in recent years following the seminal input of the late Tom Kitwood. Part Two enables us to get our heads round dementia and related conditions, has a rich chapter on communication, and offers understanding and advice for family carers. Part Three is addressed to the local church and is strong on pastoral visiting and implications for worship. Part Four offers a moving theological reflection and real grounds for hope.

Each individual chapter concludes with a relevant prayer reflection. Helpful appendices offer forms of service to be used on admittance to a care home and in loving memory of those in care, together with a suggested model letter of agreement between a local church and a care home - even if this is not used, it focuses the mind powerfully! All too often relations with care homes are somewhat uneasy.

Difficult aspects of the subject receive honest treatment: sexuality, so-called 'challenging behaviour', the person's 'right to know', and the exhaustion and guilt often experienced by spouses and other family members. We are given helpful excerpts from a wide variety of writers about dementia and Malcolm's own words are often eminently quotable. I give four examples: 'Although dementia is a devastating disability, it is not always and irrevocably a journey through hell'. 'When there are problems communicating with people with dementia, invariably the problems reside with the person who does not have the disability'. 'Remember, an important part of good dementia care is to focus upon the things that people are still able to do rather than on what they are no longer able to do'. 'When people disturb our worship do we believe that they are disturbing God? If not, then surely we can live with it'.

All in all, the book is very comprehensive. I found the list of references extraordinarily full. I would wish to add only a very few. Although there is much reference to the work of Kate Allen and John Killick, it is surprising that their book Communication and the Care of People with Dementia (Open University Press, 2001) is not listed. Reference is made to Jackie Treetops' Holy, Holy, Holy but not to her even better A Daisy among the Dandelions (both published by Leeds Faith in Elderly People). It is good to find CCOA publications receiving appreciative comments, although the ground-breaking Dementia - A Christian Perspective by Alison Froggatt and Eileen Shamy is still worthy of mention.

Malcolm Goldsmith has expressed the hope that a copy of this book will reach every minister and local church. It deserves to do so. If it does - and is not only read but implemented - there should be a very real change in the way in which people with dementia (and indeed other marginalised people) are accepted, affirmed and cared for. And that is an outcome devoutly to be desired!