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.

Thought for the Day-God Save our Gracious Church

King Charles III (b. 1948) by Peter Kuhfeld (b. 1952), Royal Collection Trust.

A meditation drawing on the imagery of Proverbs 8.1-17 and Revelation 21.22-22.4 and on the words of the first verse of the national anthem, offered during a lunchtime service of Holy Communion at St Olave Hart Street on Tuesday 8th September 2026. Following the service, at 1pm, a 62 gun salute was fired at The Tower of London, nearby.

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.

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 - All will be thrown down

A sermon given during the Sung Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 17th November 2024 (Second before Advent) based on the text of Mark 13.1-8.

Thought for the Day-The Parable of the Sower

Green Ears of Wheat, Vincent van Gogh, 1888

A Thought for the Day given at the lunchtime service of Holy Communion at 11am on Wednesday 24th July 2024 at St Giles-in-the-Fields based on the text of Matthew 13.1-9

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 - What did you come here to see?

“Visit Me” – illustration for Christianity Today magazine by Kumé Pather

A sermon given during Holy Communion at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 17th December 2023 (The Third Sunday in Advent) based on readings from  1 Corinthians 4.1-5 and Matthew 11.2-10.

Life Alone – A Half Day Retreat at The Royal Foundation of St Katherine

Edward Hopper, Chair Car, 1965

It was a great pleasure to lead a contemplative retreat for members of the parishes of St Giles-in-the-Fields and St George’s Bloomsbury at The Royal Foundation of St Katherine on Saturday 16th December 2023. I provided two addresses based on the text of ‘Life Together’ by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and a short homily during Holy Communion, offering points for reflection during the periods of silence that characterised the day.  

Sermon - Stir-Up Sunday

Nativity in the Rubble, Manger Square, Bethlehem, 2023

A sermon given during Holy Communion at St Giles-in-the-Fields on “Stir Up” Sunday 26th November 2023 (The Twenty Fifth Sunday after Trinity) based on readings from Jeremiah 23.5-8 and John 6.5-14