St Paul's Cathedral

[The images referred to in this talk can be found at https://www.stpauls.co.uk/sites/default/files/2026-01/2025%20-%207%20Dec%20St%20Pauls%20UNDERHILL%20SLIDES.pdf] Evelyn Underhill is best known as a theologian, mystic, and spiritual director – remembered by the Church each year on the 15th June. In the 1900s, long before her fame, she travelled extensively in Italy and France, painting, drawing and writing as she journeyed to glorious cathedrals, rural churches, and historic museums. Marking the 150th anniversary year of her birth, this event explores her lesser-known art and writing. The Revd Ayla Lepine will guide us on a pilgrimage with Underhill as a companion through the sacred art and architecture of Chartres, Amiens, Assisi, Siena, Venice, and beyond. The Revd Dr Ayla Lepine is Associate Rector at St James’s Church, Piccadilly, before which she was Ahmanson Fellow in Art and Religion at the National Gallery. She has a PhD in art history from the Courtauld Institute of Art and her book 'Women, Art, God' will be published in 2026. She is a trustee of Art and Christianity, a Visiting Scholar at Sarum College in Spirituality and the Imagination, and a member of the St Paul’s Cathedral Visual Arts Committee.

This year has seen significant change for the Roman Catholic Church following the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo in May. In this conversation, Anna Rowlands and Paula Gooder reflect on a year of continuity and change for the Roman Catholic Church, looking back at the legacy of Pope Francis and exploring the shape of Pope Leo’s papacy so far. Join us as they explore the legacies, priorities, and distinctive styles of these remarkable figures. They discuss the formative years which shaped them, the theological and pastoral themes which marked Francis’ pontificate, and the early signs of continuity and change in the era of Pope Leo. Professor Anna Rowlands is the St Hilda Professor of Catholic Social Thought & Practice at Durham University, and the author of 'Towards a Politics of Communion: Catholic Social Teaching for Dark Times'. She has interests in everyday ethics and the way that academic research and teaching can engage in wider forms of public benefit and the common good. Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral.

In this episode, we take a closer look at the life and legacy of Josefina de Vasconcellos, the remarkable sculptor responsible for 'Mary and Child' which can be found in the Crypt. 'Mary and Child' was the first freestanding sculpture by a woman to be installed at the Cathedral. Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson.

In this reflective evening, Paula Gooder offers a range of reflections for the Advent season around the theme of waiting. For rights reasons, the music performed at the live event is not included in this recording. You can watch the pieces of music as they were performed elsewhere as follows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI1TrxsrTsA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxXbcjiZLec https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIyJpkuX9Fo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZZADVYZoIU Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral and a leading Biblical scholar and teacher. She is the author of many books including 'The Meaning is in the Waiting' and 'Journey to the Manger'.

Did you know the current St Paul's Cathedral is the fifth Cathedral on the site? Before today's building, there was Old St Paul's, a magnificent medieval cathedral with an enormous spire. Take a trip into St Paul's past and present with today's podcast episode all about the medieval Cathedral's birth, life and dramatic end. Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson.

Acts 16:16-18 tells the story of a slave girl who is said to have a ‘Pythian spirit’ which enables her to tell oracles, and we are told that the apostle Paul cast out the spirit from her. Drawing on her Yorùbá heritage and her personal autobiographical experience of having a great-grandmother who was a powerful Oracle in Nigeria, Olabisi Obamakin will look at that this story in a new light and will ask whether we should see the Pythian slave girl as possessed or powerful. Drawing also on 'Butterfly Fish', a novel by Irenosen Okojie that explores Nigerian worldviews and beliefs, Olabisi will show how the New Testament can be read in a new and powerful way through the lens of a Nigerian/British woman. Dr Olabisi Obamakin is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Theological Education at Durham University. As a Nigerian/British woman, she has a special interest in widening participation into Theology and has spoken about her work to multiple academic and public audiences including at Exeter Cathedral and on BBC Radio Devon.

Dr Braxton is a Christian, whereas Dr Pinn is a Secular Humanist. While their respective traditions have often stood in bitter opposition, in a deeply divided world, Braxton and Pinn demonstrate that constructive dialogue is essential. This “master class” offers a compelling model for engaging across religious, ethical, and cultural differences. Through frank, personal, and deeply informed discussion, Braxton and Pinn tackle urgent topics such as ongoing violence against historically minoritised communities, the rise of religiously unaffiliated groups, and the Black Lives Matter movement. They also delve into profound philosophical questions of religion, moral evil, and hope. Discover how open exchange, respecting rather than masking differences, fosters the common good. This unique event invites us to learn how to be better people who can, in turn, transform our world into a more inclusive and loving place. Brad R. Braxton is President of and Professor of Public Theology at Chicago Theological Seminary. He is the Founding Senior Pastor of The Open Church and formerly served as the Director of the Center for the Study of African American Religious Life at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. His most recent book is 'Open: Unorthodox Thoughts on God and Community'. Anthony Pinn is the Agnes Cullen Arnold Distinguished Professor of Humanities and professor of religion at Rice University, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Professor Extraordinarius at the University of South Africa and a visiting scholar at Harvard Divinity School. He received his BA from Columbia University, Master of Divinity and PhD in the study of religion from Harvard University.

Today’s podcast episode is all about the Great Model hiding up in our Triforium. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren to demonstrate his plans for the new Cathedral to King Charles II, the Great Model is a fascinating insight into what St Paul’s might have looked like. Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson.

[This talk makes reference to a handout which you can find at https://www.stpauls.co.uk/sites/default/files/2025-10/Ludlow%20Nicaea%20handout.pdf] 2025 marks 1,700 years since the formation of the Creed of Nicaea, and around the world many Christian churches from many different denominations are marking the anniversary. But what is so important about it and why do we still say it so many years on? Morwenna Ludlow gives a very brief history of how the Creed of Nicaea came to be, what it sought to address, and how it relates to other creeds and early statements of faith. Morwenna Ludlow is Professor of Christian History and Theology at the University of Exeter, and holds an honorary position as Canon Theologian at Exeter Cathedral. Her particular interest is on the early church and the reception of early theology by modern thinkers, alongside implications for the world today.

Like Churchill himself, St Paul’s Cathedral defied the Blitz and stood as a beacon of hope in the darkest days of the Second World War. Allen Packwood revisits some of the key moments when their paths crossed and considers how they influenced one another. A sermon by Ray Pentland CB from the Service of Evensong prior to this event is referenced several times in the talk. To read the sermon please visit https://www.stpauls.co.uk/sites/default/files/2025-09/Evensong%20sermon%20Anniversary%20of%20the%20Battle%20of%20Britain%20Ray%20Pentland%20CB.pdf

Some of the psalms were written as much as 3,000 years ago in a world very different to our own. So how do we read them? And what does a psalm read like when we read it today? Martin Wroe reflects on what makes a psalm a psalm. Is there a distinction between psalms and prayer, or psalms and poetry? One of the challenges of reading the Psalms is that they are populated so densely with shepherds and royalty, characters that most of us do not encounter in our everyday lives. So what are the characters that walk through the psalms of our lives? And how is the divine presence disclosed to us today? Martin Wroe makes his living as a writer and volunteers as associate vicar of St Luke’s, Holloway, in north London. He contributes to BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day, is a former chair of the Greenbelt Arts Festival and his most recent book of poems is 'This Heart: Poems from the universe inside'.

There are crypts, and then there are crypts. The largest crypt in Europe is none other than our very own here at St Paul's. But what is a crypt for, and why is ours so unique? Find out in the first episode of the new series of Stories from St Paul's. Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson

What has Jesus to do with trauma? Many people who experience trauma find solidarity in Jesus' experiences. Some would even claim that Jesus is a trauma survivor himself. Others may find the horror of Jesus' crucifixion to be re-traumatising. What do these perspectives mean for how we think about and relate to Christ? Karen O'Donnell explores these questions to enrich our understanding of Christ and humanity. Dr Karen O'Donnell is Academic Dean and Lecturer in Liturgy and Theology at Westcott House, Cambridge, and an Associate Lecturer at Cambridge University. Her latest books include Survival: Radical Spiritual Practices for Trauma Survivors and Pregnancy and Birth: Critical Theological Conceptions (with Dr Claire Williams).

Over the course of Western history, how have religion and medicine worked together to tell women how their bodies work, and what they should do with them? How have Eve and Mary been used to convey these messages, and how has their role been challenged? Helen King explores the potential of both Christianity and medicine to work towards a healthier approach to the body. Helen King is Professor Emerita at The Open University, where she researched and taught the history of the body. She is an elected lay member of the Church of England's General Synod and a trustee of WATCH (Women and the Church). Her latest book is 'Immaculate Forms: Uncovering the History of Women's Bodies'.

80 years after Dietrich Bonhoeffer's execution in Flossenbürg concentration camp in 1945, Rowan Williams reflects upon how his legacy could help the church remain truthful in a post-truth world. In a time of uncertainty, what does it mean to live with courage, integrity, and radical hospitality? Dr Rowan Williams is a poet and theologian, and was the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury.

Are men facing a "crisis," and what does that mean for us all? Will Rose-Moore explores what it really means to be a man today, how "masculinity" isn't one thing, but many, how the Bible portrays men, and new ways of thinking about masculinity, moving away from power and violence, and embracing diversity. The Rev’d Will Rose-Moore is Assistant Curate at St John the Baptist, Loughton in Chelmsford Diocese. He is studying for a PhD in Theology with Westcott House in the Cambridge Theological Federation and Anglia Ruskin University, and is also a Research Associate for the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence, Bristol. His first book is 'Boys Will Be Boys, and Other Myths: Unravelling Biblical Masculinities'.

‘Hope shows up when we are fighting for justice. Hope shows up when we show up making clear that the way things are is not the way they are destined to be, that the way things are is not God's promise for us.’ Join Kelly Brown-Douglas and Paula Gooder, as they reflect together on vocation and preaching, on racial justice and, most importantly, on hope. Kelly Brown-Douglas is an African-American priest in the Episcopal Church in the USA. She is a leading voice in womanist theology and racial justice, and is a brilliant preacher and communicator. Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral.

On 9th April 1945, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was killed in Flossenbürg concentration camp. A German Lutheran pastor and theologian, he was imprisoned for his opposition to the Nazis during the 1930s and 40s. 80 years on, Bonhoeffer’s writings, especially his reflections on the Sermon on the Mount and what this means for discipleship, remain as inspirational as ever. Join Andreas Loewe and Paula Gooder as they discuss Bonhoeffer’s enduring legacy and impact. The Very Revd Dr Andreas Loewe is Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne. His book, written with Dr Katherine Firth, 'Journey with Bonhoeffer: Six Steps on the Path of Discipleship' is available in the UK at https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9780647532928 Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

Rose Hudson-Wilkin is the Church of England’s first black woman bishop. Overcoming challenging beginnings in Jamaica and discrimination in the UK, she became one of the first women to be ordained priest in the Church of England, going on to be the first black female priest to be Chaplain both to the Queen and the Speaker of the House of Commons. She will reflect on ‘a wonderful life and a wonderful God’. Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin is the Bishop of Dover. Appointed MBE for services to young people and the church in 2020, her autobiography 'The Girl from Montego Bay' is published in 2025.

Who was Grinling Gibbons? Not just a man with a fantastic name, but also the master carver behind the incredible carvings around the Cathedral, including those in the Quire stalls and the floral garlands on the North exterior of the building. Find out more about his life and his contributions to St Paul’s, as well as how they’ve evolved over time through numerous restoration projects, in today’s podcast episode. Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson.