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. 

Start:Stop : The Fire of God's Love

The Apostles Speaking in Tongues - Nicholas Pope

Introduction
Good morning and welcome to Start:Stop.

My name is Phillip Dawson. Reverend Stephen is away today, he returns next week. This reflection will last ten minutes. The readings and prayer responses can be found on the leaflet on the table, please do take a copy.

Well….who isn’t talking about “that” sermon?  Bishop Michael Curry’s words at the Royal Wedding on Saturday certainly set the media on fire this weekend! This morning we’ll be reflecting more about the transformative power of God’s love using the imagery of fire, with the help of the Venerable Bede, whose feast day the church celebrates on Friday – and brothers John and Charles Wesley, who are remembered on Thursday.

First, a reading from scripture, which you can find on page 70 in the Old Testament section of the church bibles. This passage describes the moment before Moses receives the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, fifty days after Passover.