Leisure Bound & Free by Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Paul Crittenden

Jeffrey Paul Crittenden authors new book, Leisure Bound and Free

Following the critical success of Leisure Resurrected, Dr. Jeffrey Paul Crittenden’s latest theological and historical study invites communities of faith to rediscover the transformative power of ancient pilgrimage.

Published by Cascade Books, an imprint of Wipf and Stock, Leisure Bound and Free: Communities of the Pilgrim expands on Dr. Crittenden’s exploration of leisure by examining the historical development of pilgrimage within the ancient world. Drawing from Greek, Roman, Jewish, and early Christian traditions, the book explores how travel evolved from civic, sporting, and cultural pursuits into a distinctly spiritual practice that shaped the life and identity of the early Church.

Through a historical and theological lens, Dr. Crittenden traces the influence of Roman transportation and taxation systems, the impact of Constantine’s fourth-century building projects, and the emergence of sacred destinations such as the Church of the Nativity and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In doing so, he examines how pilgrimage transformed both the geography of the Christian movement and the lived experience of faith communities.

Moving beyond historical analysis, Leisure Bound and Free offers a compelling vision for the contemporary church. Dr. Crittenden invites congregations to reimagine themselves as communities of pilgrims by embracing hospitality, movement, and spiritual formation as central expressions of Christian life. Rather than viewing institutional change as decline, the book presents it as an opportunity to recover the communal and missional practices of the early Church.

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Toronto Book Launch

The Toronto book launch will be held at St. Andrew’s United Church on September 20 at 1:00 p.m., sponsored by Emmanuel College, Centre for Practical Theology and the congregation of St. Andrew’s United Church (Toronto). Additional regional book launches will be announced soon.

Interested in bringing Leisure Bound and Free to your community? To inquire about a book launch, author talk, lecture, or community event, contact Dr. Crittenden at mailto:jcritte@uwo.ca.

Scholarly Endorsements

“Jeff Crittenden maps the contours of ancient leisure through a penetrating study of devotional journeys. Historically rich yet accessibly written, his work offers an essential guide to Christian practices of pilgrimage and the deep roots of tourism and travel. To travel with him is to join communities of pilgrims, returning with insights that will enliven our own communities and enrich the wider leisure field.”

Paul Gilchrist
Principal Lecturer, University of Brighton

“Leisure as an interdisciplinary field of study has long since abandoned or lessened the focus on religiosity that is linked to recreation, travel, sport, and play. While this has implications on the breadth of ways that leisure can be philosophically explained, it also excludes important touchstones in history that Crittenden’s book provides.”

Rasul A. Mowatt
Professor, North Carolina State University