Sermon on the 75th Anniversary of the start of the restoration of St Olave Hart Street

A sermon given at St Olave Hart Street on Sunday 21st June 2026 during a service marking the seventy fifth anniversary of the start of the restoration of the church after World War II, based on readings from Ephesians 2:19-22 and John 2.19-22 and the words given by Bishop Arne Fjelbu and King Haakon VII at St Olave Hart Street in June 1951. More information and pictures of the service are at this link.

Thought for the Day-Freedom

Paul and Silas in Prison, Washington Allston, Kemper Art Museum

A Thought for the Day given at a lunchtime service of Holy Communion at St Olave Hart Street on Tuesday 12th May 2026 based on the text of Acts 16.22-34.

Sermon-Asking for God’s Blessing

A sermon given at St Olave Hart Street on Rogation Sunday 10th May 2026 based on readings from Acts 17.22-31 and John 14.15-21.

Thought for the Day-My peace I give to you

Dove, Pablo Picasso, 1949

A Thought for the Day given at a lunchtime sermon of Holy Communion at St Olave Hart Street, City of London on Tuesday 5th May 2026 based on the text of John 14.27-end.

Thought for the Day-To be called Christians

The Good Shepherd, Niels Larsen Stevns, 1921

A Thought for the Day given at a lunchtime service of Holy Communion at St Olave Hart Street on Tuesday 28th April 2026 based on readings from Acts 11.19-26 and John 10.22-30.

Sermon-The Gate to Salvation

Christ a la Porte from La Passion, Georges Rouault, 1939

A sermon given during Holy Communion at St Olave Hart Street on Sunday 26th April 2026 (Year A) - also the day of the London Marathon which passes nearby and “Vocations Sunday” in the Church of England and based on readings from Acts 2.42-47 and John 10.1-10. 

Thought for the Day-Seeing Salvation

Earthrise by William Anders, Apollo 8, NASA, 1968

A Thought for the Day given at a lunchtime service of Holy Communion at St Olave Hart Street on Tuesday 7th April 2026 based on John 20.11–18

Easter Vigil Sermon-The green blade riseth

The nave of St Olave Hart Street following bomb damage c1941

A sermon given during the Easter Vigil at St Olave Hart Street on Saturday 4th April 2026 based on the Vigil Texts of Genesis 1.1 – 2.4a, Exodus 14.10-end; 15.1a, Jeremiah 31.31-34 and the texts at Holy Communion Romans 6.3-11 and Matthew 28.1-10 and the astounding history of this church.

Sermon-Rooted in the Cross

A sermon given during a service of Holy Communion at St Olave Hart Street on Palm Sunday 29th March 2026 (Year A) based on readings from Matthew 21.1-11 and Matthew 27.1-54

Sermon-Love at the Cross

Memorial to John Letts in St Olave Hart Street (from 'A London Inheritance')

A sermon given during Holy Communion at St Olave Hart Street on Sunday 15th March 2026 (Mothering Sunday) based on readings from Colossians 3.12–17 and John 19:25b–27. 

Sermon-God so loved the world

The Kiss, Edvard Munch, 1897

A sermon given during a service of Holy Communion at St Olave Hart Street on Sunday 1st March 2026, the Second Sunday of Lent based on readings from Romans 4:1–5, 13–17 & John 3:1–17

Thought for the Day-Marked by God's Mercy

Detail of East Window of St Olave Hart Street

A Thought for the Day given at a lunchtime service at St Olave Hart Street on Ash Wednesday 18th February 2026 at 12.30pm based on the texts of Joel 2.1-2, 12-17 & Matthew 6.1-6, 16-21

Thought for the Day-Critical Examination

De Pannenkoekenbakster (The Pancake Maker), Jan Miense Molenaer, 1645

A Thought for the Day given at a lunchtime service at St Olave Hart Street on Shrove Tuesday 17th February 2026 at 12.30pm based on the texts of James 1.12-18 and Mark 8.14-21.

Sermon-Lord, it is good for us to be here!

St Olave Hart Street in 1941 prior to restoration

A sermon given during a service of Holy Communion at St Olave Hart Street, City of London on Sunday 15th February 2026 (Year A, Sunday next before Lent or Quinquagesima, based on the text of Matthew 17.1-9.

Thought for the Day-Loving Tradition

Mardi Gras on the Boulevards, Camille Pissarro, 1897, Harvard Art Museums

A Thought for the Day given at a lunchtime service of Holy Communion at St Olave Hart Street on Tuesday 10th February based on the text of Mark 7.1-13 and preparations for Lent, which begins next week.

Sermon-Hidden in Plain Sight

The Black Boy, William Lindsay Windus, 1844

A sermon given during Holy Communion at St Olave Hart Street on Sunday 8th February 2026 based on the texts of Romans 8.18-25 and Matthew 6.25-end on the day the church marked Racial Justice Sunday.

Baptism Homily-The Original "Glow Up"

The Street Light: Study of Light, Giacomo Balla (1909)

A homily given during Holy Baptism at St Olave Hart Street on Saturday 7th February 2026 based on an extract of a text written by Terry Pratchett ‘The Little Spark’ and Mark 10.13-16.

Sermon-From the crib to the cross, from revelation to response

An old man writing a book by candlelight, Godfried Schalcken (1643-1706) 

A sermon given during a lunchtime service of Holy Communion at St Olave Hart Street on Tuesday 3rd February 2026, marking the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple or Candlemas. A version of this sermon was also given during the Church of England’s National Online Service on Sunday 1st February 2026 which you can watch below or at this link.

Sermon-The Conversion of Paul

Conversion of St. Paul, by Roy Ruiz Clayton 

A sermon given during Holy Communion at St Olave Hart Street on Sunday 25th January 2025 (Year A) The Conversion of Paul – based on readings from Galatians 1.11-16a & Matthew 19.27-30

Sermon-Word of the Father now in flesh appearing

A homily given during a service of Holy Communion at St Olave Hart Street on Thursday 25th December 2025 based on the text of Isaiah 52.7–10, John 1.1–14.