The mayor, a fervent advocate of 'progress', razed historic streets and ancient trees to make way for tower blocks and motorways, in a city not short of concrete.

He has also been a fervent advocate of ending police stop and search.

He always remained a fervent advocate of clarity and rigour in philosophical argument.

He was a scholar, a collector and a fervent advocate of colonial expansion.

It was his client's 'fervent belief in his innocence' that kept him going.

It's always been comfortable with its doubts, it doesn't require fervent belief from its members and it's there at the crucial moments: birth, marriage and death.

More likely it's out of a blind rage that they are of enormous consequence, coupled with a fervent belief that they frankly ought not to be.

Each approach to identifying a location has been different, varying in degrees of scientific procedure, empirical investigation, informed hypothesis, wishful thinking, fervent belief, and sheer fantasy.

And they will not allow facts to get in the way of their fervent beliefs.

Although the internet makes music more freely available, it also fuels the kind of fervent fan chatter about lost recordings and alternate versions that creates the market for rarities albums.

I remember one lady in the congregation who was one of his most fervent fans.

The team's fans are known to be very fervent fans and full of passion.

And when we falter, as we will, let redemption – through commitment and through perseverance and through faith – be our abiding hope and fervent prayer.

Those in the sanctuary are separated from the altar, participating in the service through fervent prayer with the aid of the icons.

He applied himself to the meanest and most painful labour in a perfect spirit of penance and humility; fasted much, and spent time in fervent prayer.

It's okay to have earnest prayers, fiery prayers, fervent prayers.

A fervent supporter, then, definitely.

Despite this, he was (according to his own account) not a fervent supporter of their cause.

An inspiring speaker, he drew thousands of fervent supporters to rallies in major cities, while inspiring equally fervent denunciations by mainstream politicians and newspapers.

Our background, our upbringing, should by rights have made us fervent supporters of 'demolition'.

It ended months of indecision that had driven even his most fervent supporters to the brink of despair.