Baptism Homily-Another verse in an ancient song

State Baptism of a Child of Noble Blood, Anonymous, c1612, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A homily given on the baptism of [N] by The Reverend Phillip Dawson at St Olave Hart Street in the City of London on Saturday 19th September 2026.

Great Fire Anniversary Sermon-Stirring Up Old Coals

The Great Fire of London, depicted by an unknown painter (1675), as it would have appeared from a boat in the vicinity of Tower Wharf on the evening of Tuesday, 4 September 1666.

A sermon given at St Olave Hart Street on Sunday 6th September 2026 during a service of Holy Communion on Great Fire Anniversary Weekend. The service took place the day after our Faith & Fire Discovery Day, exploring the Great Fire through the lens of science and faith. The sermon is based on readings from Romans 13.8–end, Matthew 18.15–20 and the words of an Great Fire Anniversary Sermon preached at St Olave Hart Street on 2nd September 1682 by Reverend William Wray, the text of which can be read at this link. 

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-Seeing the real Unjust Steward

 

Brian Bilston, Refugees, 2016

A sermon given during Holy Communion (BCP) at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 28th July 2024, The Ninth Sunday after Trinity based on the text of Luke 16:1–9

Using Brian Bilston’s “Reverse Poem” refugees as a way of re-reading the parable of the Unjust Steward.

Sermon at St Paul's Cathedral - Passion Sunday

A sermon given during Choral Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral on Sunday 17th March 2024, ‘Passion Sunday’ - Lent 5 (Year B) based on the text of Romans 5.12-end

Reflection for the National CofE Online Service - Passion Sunday

Patrick Hayman, Christ Carrying the Cross

It was a great pleasure to introduce the Church of England’s National Online Service on Sunday 17th March 2024 – ‘Passion Sunday’ – Lent 5 (Year B). My homily, based on the text of John 12.20-33 is below. You can watch a recording of the service at this link. 

Thought for the Day - Everyone is searching for you, Jesus

Faeq Hassan, The Three Wise Men, 1964

A “Thought for the Day” given at Mattins at St Giles-in-the-Fields at 1pm on Wednesday 10th January 2024 based on the text of Mark 1.29-39 and 1 Samuel 3.1-10, 19-20

“All men seek for thee.”

 

Everyone is searching for you, Jesus - the disciples say. 

 

Everyone.

 

This season of Epiphany is bookended by the celebration of events in which a search for Jesus is fulfilled and a new journey begins.

Sermon - Signs of the (Christmas) Times

Fairy and Christmas Ornaments – Christmas Card by Andy Warhol 1953-1955

A sermon given during Holy Communion at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 24th December 2023 (The Fourth Sunday in Advent) based on readings from Philippians 4.4-7 and John 1.19-28

Sermon - What are we doing here?

The Choir Singer, Allan Rohan Crite, 1941

A homily given at Choral Evensong at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 19th November 2023 based on readings from 1 Corinthians 14.6-19 and Psalm 96.