The Life of St Giles - a Living Text

The Mass of Saint Giles, by The Master of St Giles c1500 (The National Gallery)

My parish church is dedicated to St Giles whose feast day is September 1st. Surveying recent scholarship on surviving manuscripts shows how the ‘Life of St Giles’ is a living text - how his story has evolved as he inspired each new generation. How do we respond to the text today?

Sermon - The beginning of the end

This Small House, Richard Woods, 2022

Sermon preached at the Sung Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 28th August 2022 (Year C, 11th after Trinity, Proper 17) based on the text of Hebrews 13.1-8, 15-16 and Luke 14.1, 7-14.

“It’s the beginning of the end!”

screams an article I was sent this week - bemoaning what it claims to be a growing culture of commercialization in churches and cathedrals; some of which have played host to mini-golf courses, model dinosaurs and helter-skelters during the summer months. It describes such initiatives as pursuing "the lowest common denominator” which means - and I quote - “higher purposes” are squeezed out.

Apparently, "God has left the building."

The bilious broadside is illustrated with a photograph of the latest contemporary art installation in Southwark Cathedral, which has been on display for the past few months.

Start:Stop - The Pride Busters Raid

The Flood, Norman Adams, 1961

Introduction

You can hear an audio recording of this reflection at this link. 

Hello and welcome to Start:Stop in the beautiful surroundings of St Stephen Walbrook. Every Tuesday morning we start the day by stopping to reflect for a few moments inspired by an event from this week in history, through the lens of a reading from scripture, with time for reflection and prayer - all lasting no more than ten minutes. You’re welcome to stay for as long as your schedule allows. 

In the early hours of 17th May 1943, 617 Squadron RAF Bomber Command executed “Operation Chastise”. The mission was immortalised in the film “The Dam Busters”.

On being awarded ten thousand pounds after the war in payment for his design, the inventor of the famous "bouncing bombs", Barnes Wallis, refused to accept the cash; reputedly explaining his decision by quoting this passage from scripture:

Prayers of Intercession - Servant of All

Jesus washes the disciples feet by Luke Allsbrook, 2017

Prayers of Intercession written for the Sung Eucharist at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 21 October 2021 (Year B, Trinity 20, Proper 24) based on the text of Hebrews 5.1-10 and Mark 10.35-45

(Divine) ‘Nature and Personhood’ ? - A personal reflection on the Christian Aid Annual Lecture 2021

Reh im Klostergarten (Deer in Monastery Garden) by Franz Marc, 1912-13

Distinguished economist Sir Partha Dasgupta gave the address at the first Annual Christian Aid Lecture that took place at St Martin in the Fields on 6th September 2021 which can be viewed at this link. His lecture set out to show how our disconnection from nature results not only in environmental damage but impoverishes our understanding of the economics of poverty and development. The themes raised in his lecture; stability, regulation and transformation of behaviour through communitarian institutions; the importance of relationship; have obvious parallels in Christian communities, particularly monastic communities of the nature envisaged in the Rule of St Benedict. 

Prayers of Intercession - Open our hearts and minds

Sadao Watanabe, Woman of Canaan, Smithsonian American Art Museum

Prayers of Intercession written for the Sung Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 5th September 2021 ((Year B, Trinity 14, Proper 18) based on readings from Mark 7.24-end and James 2.10-17.

Start:Stop-Checkmating God

Start:Stop offers busy commuters the chance to start their day by stopping to reflect for ten minutes. Reflections begin each quarter hour from 7.45am until 9.00am. Thank you to everyone who joined me today at St Stephen Walbrook. My reflection is below.

Thank you for joining us for Start:Stop. This reflection will last around ten minutes and you are welcome to come and go as your schedule dictates. During Lent our reflections are inspired by Dr Jane Williams book The Merciful Humility of God. Today we look back to the Feast of the Annunciation, which was celebrated yesterday, with the help of St Teresa of Avila, who among other things is the patron saint of chess. We begin with a short bible reading which can be found on page 211 of the New Testament section of the bibles.