People who associate religion with sanctimonious self-righteousness need to take on board the case of the late Sir David Amess, who was the very opposite. The many tributes paid to him since he was stabbed to death doing his constituency duties last Friday all refer to his warmth and kindliness – even to an air of innocent mischief – that the more perceptive observers have linked to his deep Catholic faith. He epitomised the truth that it is impossible to hate the people you pray for. His life was an essay in what Christian joy really looks like: the pleasure of being alive, the enjoyment of the company of others and the satisfaction of doing good works.