A fascinating follow-up to Andrew Motion’s clarion call last week for students to improve their biblical literacy. It turns out from The Guardian’s – admitttedly unscientific – biblical knowledge test that Motion has been vindicated. It seems that the younger you are, the less you know about the Bible. The average score for those under 15 was 5/10; those who were three score years and ten – 70 or above – achieved an average of 8/10.

A couple of points worth noting. Firstly, this test was on prompted awareness. Respondents were presented with multiple-choice answers. Undoubtedly, if people were asked to answer the questions without help, the scores would have been a lot lower. Secondly, over 5,000 people took part in this little test. The equivalent test on the BBC was, at one stage, the most emailed story that day. Editors take note; readers are interested in content of the Bible – if it’s creatively presented. Photo: Samson captured by the Philistines - wallyg