St Paul's Cathedral
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When St Paul’s was constructed under the stewardship of Sir Christopher Wren, it was by a male dominated workforce – almost exclusively male – except for one woman: Jane Brewer, who cast and polished the golden pineapple found on the Cathedral’s south west tower. Find out more about Jane, and the curious pineapple architectural details to be found all over London! Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson.
Why do some places feel full of spiritual meaning and some feel desolate? There is a rich understanding of place in the Bible, which is full of stories of the surprising places where God is encountered, often interwoven with hospitality and welcoming the stranger. Andrew Rumsey will explore what place means in our spiritual lives, in the search for meaning and identity, in the Bible, as well as in our own local neighbourhoods, parishes, city and nation. The Right Revd Dr Andrew Rumsey is the Bishop of Ramsbury and was formerly the vicar of Gipsy Hill in the Diocese of Southwark. He is also a musician and poet, who in 2023 released an album, Evensongs. His latest books are 'Parish: An Anglican Theology of Place' and 'English Grounds: A Pastoral Journal'.
Selina Stone and Paula Gooder explore the practice of tarrying - waiting on God – which is at the heart of Selina Stone’s Lent book Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book for 2024. They talk about favourite Bible stories about tarrying including Gethsemane, Jacob and the Angel, and Hagar in the desert, as well as the importance of bodies in our spiritual lives, being honest about disappointment, and about how to keep a good Lent.
On the 7th May 1913, the Suffragettes brought the fight for women’s votes to St Paul’s, when a plot to blow up the Bishop’s throne was narrowly foiled – after a Virger found the ticking bomb at the Cathedral’s east end. This podcast episode explores this fascinating story, and how it was reported at the time. Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson.
James Baldwin is best known as a novelist and essayist, but he grew up in the church, steeped in scripture, and was a celebrated preacher when he was young. Though he later criticized the church, it gave him his vision of the world. Jarel Robinson-Brown introduces his life and work, and explores how he can help us as Christians to broaden our horizons, to be more honest, more imaginative and challenge us to ask ourselves what kind of world we hope for. A handout referred to in this talk can be found at https://www.stpauls.co.uk/sites/default/files/2024-02/James%20Baldwin%20timeline%20handout.pdf
Anderson Jeremiah and Paula Gooder talk about Jesus in the Bible, in history, and in our lives. They explore his suffering, death and resurrection, how much stories and images of him matter, and how we can live as disciples of Jesus today.
John Donne is one of England’s greatest poets and preachers, famed for lines such as, ‘No man is an island…’ and ‘Never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.’ He is also a former Dean of St Paul’s, and certainly one who lived many lives in one lifetime. Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson.
Christmas at St Paul’s in 1940 was as normal as it could be, considering it was wartime. This, however, would all change on the night of the 29th December during a bombing raid of the city. This was the time when one of the most famous photographs of the Second World War was taken – one of St Paul’s appearing through the smoke of the surrounding fires. Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson.
The Bible is full of angels, from the cherubim in Ezekiel’s visions, to the strangers appearing to Abraham, to the messengers that bring the good news of Jesus’s birth to Mary and the shepherds in the Christmas stories. Paula Gooder explores what angels are and what they do in the Old and New Testaments. Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral and a distinguished Biblical Scholar, writer and speaker. The author of many books, in 'Heaven' she explored what the Bible says about angels.
Bishop Arun Arora and Canon Paula Gooder share their passion for Advent, explore why Advent is the season for a ‘spiritual MOT’, and also reflect on some of the inspiring stories of faith, from Stormzy to Santa, in his new Advent book 'Stick With Love'. They talk about the difficult questions to be faced about unanswered prayer, finding hope instead of despair in a deeply troubled world, and why stories are essential in the life of faith. The Rt Revd Arun Arora is the Bishop of Kirkstall in the Diocese of Leeds, having previously served as Vicar of St Nics, Durham, and before that as Director of Communications of the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England. His new book 'Stick with Love; Rejoicing in Every Tongue, Every Tribe, Every Nation' is The Archbishop of York's Advent for Book 2023. Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, a distinguished New Testament scholar and the author of numerous popular and academic books including her Advent books 'The Meaning is in the Waiting' and 'Journey to the Manger'.
Bob Gilbert talks about the wonders of inner-city nature, the pleasure and inspiration to be drawn from observing and connecting with the everyday, and explores whether it's possible to feel as close to God in the ordinary streets of a city as in the natural world. Bob Gilbert is an urban naturalist, broadcaster, author and a long-standing campaigner for inner-city conservation. His book 'Ghost Trees: Nature and People in a London Parish' was longlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing. His latest book is 'The Missing Musk: A Casebook of Mysteries from the Natural World'.
‘One sometimes finds what one is not looking for…’ Undoubtedly one of the greatest in a pantheon of great Scots is Sir Alexander Fleming, whose discovery of penicillin in 1928 revolutionised medicine, and has saved millions of lives. Today, a memorial plaque in the Crypt of St Paul’s marks the place where his ashes were laid to rest. Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson.
Artificial intelligence is in the news. Eve Poole and Paula Gooder talk about what AI really is and whether we should be frightened by it, hopeful, excited or all three. They explore the role that philosophers and theologians need to have in developing AI, and why it draws us into the big questions about existence: What does it means to be human? What is a soul? What really matters about human life? Dr Eve Poole is an expert in leadership, and was Third Church Estates Commissioner from 2018-2021. Awarded an OBE in 2023 for services to education and gender equality, her latest book is 'Robots Souls: Programming in Humanity'. Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, a distinguished New Testament scholar and the author of numerous popular and academic books.
What does it mean when – from our internal assumptions to our shared cultural understandings – God is presented as white? Chine McDonald reflects on what happens when we face hard and painful truths about race, identity and the imago Dei - the idea that every human, no matter what their colour, has a special quality that resembles the divine beauty of God. Chine McDonald is the Director of Theos Think Tank.
In September 1666, five days would change the history and future of London - and St Paul's Cathedral - forever: The Great Fire of London. The medieval Cathedral of Old St Paul's was at first considered safe, however it would not remain so. This episode explores what happened during this catastrophic fire - and just what came next. Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson.
[The text of the pieces of music in this audio file can be accessed at https://www.stpauls.co.uk/sites/default/files/2023-09/Texts%20and%20Tranlations.pdf] Mary the mother of Jesus is a polarising figure. Is she Queen of Heaven, the New Eve, an ordinary person called to do extraordinary things, the ultimate good girl, a feminist foremother, or is her story altogether more complex? She is also the subject of countless paintings, poems and works of music, sometimes overlaying our sense of her presence in the Bible. Rowan Williams considers contrasting aspects of Mary’s story in the Gospels and the church, her place in our faith, and why she still matters so much. Dr Rowan Williams is a poet and theologian, and was the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury.
What does it mean to bring our imaginations to reading the Bible? Professor Judy Fentress-Williams says the Bible is there to guide us, challenge us, confuse us, inspire us, and that bringing our honest questions to the text can lead us into deeper truths and a deeper relationship with God. Biblical scholars Judy Fentress-Williams and Paula Gooder talk about the beautiful, inspiring and difficult parts of the Bible, why we should read it like poetry, and what Biblical authority really means. Dr Judy Fentress-Williams is Professor of Old Testament at Virginia Theological Seminary. Her latest book is 'Holy Imagination: A Literary and Theological Introduction to the Whole Bible'. Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, a distinguished New Testament scholar and the author of numerous popular and academic books.
Julian of Norwich was a 14th century mystic, theologian and writer. Her revelatory visions of God’s love for all creation went against the prevailing and sometimes harsh doctrine of the times, and have inspired many since. Claire Gilbert explores how Julian’s spirituality can help awaken and transform our ecological consciousness, showing us how to live in such a way that we cease to do harm to creation and each other. Dr Claire Gilbert is the Director of Westminster Abbey Institute and was formerly policy advisor to the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England in environmental issues. Her latest book is 'I, Julian', a fictional autobiography of Julian of Norwich.
For all of his undisputed genius, even Sir Christopher Wren was fortunate enough to be blessed with some architectural good fortune; the greatest would become one of the best-known spaces inside St Paul’s Cathedral: the Whispering Gallery. Explore the science and story behind the Gallery, 257 steps up inside the Dome of the Cathedral. Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson.
Content warning: This podcast contains references to miscarriage, medical procedures and execution, which some may find distressing. Sir Christopher Wren is known as one of the greatest architects of all time, but his own first love was actually science. His scientific achievements are as varied as they are numerous, ranging from meteorology, physics, astronomy and physiology. Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson.
An academic lecture entitled 'The Revolutionary Children of God: Cultivating a Faith the Creates Communion', in which Willie Jennings' explores the question 'who are my people?' and considers theological issues of belonging for Christians. Part of the Koinonia lectures for 2022-23, co-organised by the Diocese of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, which offer an opportunity to engage with the latest research from a wide range of theological and ecclesiological thinkers.
The Bible proclaims that we are all wonderfully made in God’s image, but the continuing marginalisation of disabled siblings in our churches and society indicates that we have a long journey towards recognising the value, and giftedness, of all. Dr Naomi Lawson-Jacobs and Emily Richardson, co-authors of 'At The Gates: Disability, Justice and the Churches' are in conversation with Reverend Zoe Heming. Naomi and Emily centre their book around disabled Christians’ own stories, and call for churches to move from a care-based approach to disability, to one that is focused on justice, equality and access to churches for disabled Christians. Dr Naomi Lawson Jacobs (they/them) is an independent researcher and disability equality trainer who works in the voluntary sector and in churches. Naomi’s book At the Gates: Disability, Justice and the Churches, co-written by Emily Richardson, shares disabled people’s stories of marginalisation in churches, their cries for justice and their transformative theologies. The book is based on Naomi’s PhD research (SOAS, University of London). Naomi has been involved with the planning of the annual Inclusive Church disability conference for many years, and they write and speak widely on disability and justice in church and society. Emily Richardson is a writer and speaker whose interests include theology, inclusion and communication - particularly social and digital media. She studied theology at St Andrews and now works for a large church as communications coordinator. She has just co-written At the Gates: Disability, Justice and the Churches with Naomi Lawson Jacobs .
It’s certainly accurate to say our Geometric Staircase is iconic; an architectural jewel and a source of curiosity, wonder and fascination. Its official name is the Dean’s Staircase, and it has featured in a number of films over the years, such as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, too. Discover the science behind its remarkable design in this podcast episode. Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson.
2023 sees the first coronation of a British monarch in 71 years – His Majesty King Charles III and the Queen Consort. 2023 is also the 300th anniversary of Christopher Wren’s death, and in this podcast episode we explore his long standing and sometimes surprising royal – and coronation – connections. Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson.
Christopher Wren: The Quest for Knowledge is a special exhibition opening on the 27th April at St Paul's. It explores the life and work of Wren through archive material and personal artefacts. Discover more about this new exhibition, included with sightseeing admission, and then come and visit for yourself! Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson.
From the earliest years of Christianity to the present day, the practice of silent prayer is where many have sought, and found, the presence of God. But it is not always as simple as it sounds. Richard Carter was for many years a member of the Melanesian Brotherhood in the Solomon Islands where silence was a daily part of the spiritual life of the community. In London he is the founder and leader of the Nazareth Community where contemplative prayer is the basis for their contemporary rule of life. He will offer a ‘beginner’s guide’ to silence, reflecting on its nature, practice, joys and pitfalls, and how we can find it in our noisy city and busy lives. The Revd Richard Carter is Associate Vicar for Mission at St Martin-in-the-Fields in central London, and the author of The City is my Monastery: A contemporary rule of life.
Professor John Barton, one of the great Biblical scholars of our time, introduces his bestselling book The History of the Bible, the culmination of a lifetime’s work. He explores the Bible’s long evolution, how much good translations matter, and what contemporary scholarship reveals about the Bible, including how as contemporary Christians we understand its place at the heart of our faith. The Revd Professor John Barton is the Oriel & Laing Emeritus Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture at the University of Oxford, a Senior Research Fellow of Campion Hall, Oxford and an Anglican priest.
From the writers of the psalms 3,000 years ago to our own prayers in church every Sunday, faithful people have prayed to God to bring justice to the earth, and yet terrible suffering and injustice continue in every part of the world. Why doesn’t God answer our prayers? Selina Stone has wrestled with this question through many years working at the front line of injustice as a community organiser. She reflects personally and theologically about the question of prayer and its relationship to a transformed world. Dr Selina Stone is Postdoctoral Research Associate in Theological Education at Durham University where her research focuses on diversity and belonging. Her PhD is in Pentecostalism and Social Justice and she has worked previously as a lecturer in theology, leadership and social justice and as a community organiser in London.
As we prepare to open a new exhibition to mark the 300th anniversary of his death, it seems an apt time to ask, who was Sir Christopher Wren? He was an astronomer, scientist and geometrician – but later in life would become known as the greatest architect of his time. This episode explores Wren’s life, work, legacy – and impressive body of work. Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson.
The handouts referred to in this talk can be found at https://www.stpauls.co.uk/sites/default/files/2023-02/DYNAMIC%20OF%20SPEXX%20DIAGRAM.docx and https://www.stpauls.co.uk/sites/default/files/2023-02/GS%20ST.%20PAUL%27S%20QUOTATIONS.docx St Ignatius was a rare and gifted teacher of prayer. Breathtakingly free in his approach to prayer and extraordinarily modern in his understanding of human psychology, his insights have offered a way for countless people to be in touch with God’s limitless desire to break through and surprise us, and our own built-in ability to respond. Gemma Simmonds introduces his teaching about prayer, using silence, imagination and the everyday reality of our lives to discover how to we can be in touch with our capacity to know and feel the presence of God in all things. Sr Dr Gemma Simmonds CJ has taught Ignatian Spirituality at Heythrop College, is Senior Lecturer in Pastoral Theology at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, Cambridge and the author of The Way of Ignatius: A Prayer Journey through Lent.
