Are you superstitious? When I was young, I was superstitious about cracks in the pavement and would not so much walk as hopscotch my way along paths so as to avoid bringing bad luck upon myself by a misplaced step. I remember being in my grandmother’s garden one early summer’s evening and picking some beautiful, … More Sacred Music – Seek him that maketh the seven stars
You probably know King David by his unlikely victory over the giant Goliath, with a carefully placed stone right between the eyes. What you probably didn’t know is that it has long been thought that he suffered from depression. The Psalms, a book of Hebrew hymns, many of which are said to have been written … More Sacred Music – King David
A sermon for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Given at Christ’s Hospital on Sunday, 18 September 2022 Pluralis Majestatis. The Majestic Plural. Or, as many of us know it: The Royal We. It is an idiosyncrasy of those who occupy high office, most especially monarchs, that they refer to themselves not in the first … More The Royal We
In our Chapel at Christ’s Hospital, we use the Book of Common Prayer for the recitation of the Offices. When it was clear that we were heading towards a pandemic, I flicked through the Prayers and Thanksgivings to see if I could find anything appropriate and I came across this prayer, to be used ‘in … More ‘In the time of any common plague or sickness’: a reflection on humility
A few years ago, a colleague and I devised a game to play in the Common Room at break time. I seem to recall that it was inspired by a newspaper article about some of the most stupid job titles given to roles being advertised at the time. The aim of our game was simple: we … More Manager of the Deceased: why Christians should keep on praying and acting
On Mothering Sunday, we have been invited to join a National Day of Prayer during the Covid-19 epidemic. Here is a simple liturgy which you may find helpful. It is in both PDF and Word form so that you can use it as it is or adapt it for your own circumstances. The Lord be … More The Light Shines in the Darkness
The woman said to Peter, ‘You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing round it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself…They asked him, … More Honesty and Grace: a homily for Ash Wednesday
‘With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with tens of thousands of rivers of oil?Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin … More What does the Lord require of you? One last homily for Benenden School
He doesn’t know it, but Eamonn Holmes has played an important part in my spiritual journey and will always have a special place in my heart. Perhaps he’ll read this blog and then he’ll know. If you are reading this, Eamonn, yours will forever be the voice with which I got ready for school; you … More Why Eamonn Holmes will always have a special place in my heart – #JustAPriest25
One of my favourite films is Groundhog Day. It is a 1993 comedy, starring Bill Murray as cynical TV weatherman named Phil Connors, who is sent, much to his disgust, to cover an annual 2nd February Groundhog Day Parade in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. He films a half-hearted report on the day’s events, gets snowed in and … More Groundhog Day – a Reflection on Attentiveness for Candlemas
The Truth Shall Make You Odd 