St Paul's Cathedral

Paula Gooder, one of the best-known and best-loved Biblical scholars and teachers of our times, says that the Bible tells a much more complicated story about our bodies than that. She will explore what a Biblical spirituality for the whole person might be and reveal how we are called to relate to God with the whole of our selves – body and soul, mind and heart. Recorded 15 June 2016.

Podcasts of Canon Mark Oakley talking about TS Eliot’s Four Quartets at St Paul’s Adult Learning reflective day in April 2016. TS Eliot’s Four Quartets is a classic in the great tradition of Western spirituality. By turns mystical, musical, philosophical and fragmentary, the Four Quartets scrutinise our relationship to time, the universe and the divine. In these podcasts, Mark Oakley first introduces the whole sequence, and then in the following four podcasts explores each of the Quartets by turn. The first two podcasts are rerecorded after the event as the podcast was lost, and the last three are ‘live’.

Podcasts of Canon Mark Oakley talking about TS Eliot’s Four Quartets at St Paul’s Adult Learning reflective day in April 2016. TS Eliot’s Four Quartets is a classic in the great tradition of Western spirituality. By turns mystical, musical, philosophical and fragmentary, the Four Quartets scrutinise our relationship to time, the universe and the divine. In these podcasts, Mark Oakley first introduces the whole sequence, and then in the following four podcasts explores each of the Quartets by turn. The first two podcasts are rerecorded after the event as the podcast was lost, and the last three are ‘live’.

Podcasts of Canon Mark Oakley talking about TS Eliot’s Four Quartets at St Paul’s Adult Learning reflective day in April 2016. TS Eliot’s Four Quartets is a classic in the great tradition of Western spirituality. By turns mystical, musical, philosophical and fragmentary, the Four Quartets scrutinise our relationship to time, the universe and the divine. In these podcasts, Mark Oakley first introduces the whole sequence, and then in the following four podcasts explores each of the Quartets by turn. The first two podcasts are rerecorded after the event as the podcast was lost, and the last three are ‘live’. Recorded April 2016.

Canon Mark Oakley, a thought-provoking speaker at St Paul's, dives into T.S. Eliot's 'Burnt Norton' with poetic insight. He uncovers how the poem intricately examines the concepts of time and memory, revealing spiritual reflections woven through its verses. Oakley sheds light on the circularity of time, suggesting that grasping its nature leads to true understanding. Using vivid imagery, he emphasizes the fleeting beauty of existence and the significance of moments that connect our past and future, inviting listeners to explore their own spiritual journeys.

Canon Mark Oakley, a renowned speaker and educator, delves into T.S. Eliot’s 'Four Quartets', exploring its profound spiritual and philosophical themes. He highlights Eliot's journey from St. Louis to England and the intricate nature of his poetry. Oakley emphasizes the importance of embracing confusion in poetry, suggesting that grappling with its challenges can lead to richer insights. He also reflects on how Eliot's work captures the essence of time and meaning during a tumultuous period, revealing deep personal and spiritual explorations.

Poetry is what we reach for when we are falling in love, when we are grieving and when we search the great mysteries. It’s easy to think the language of faith is in creeds, sermons and certainties, but Mark Oakley says that it is poetry that is the person of faith’s native language. In this talk he will invite us on an adventure into poetry’s power to startle, challenge and reframe our vision: like throwing a pebble into water, the words of a poem cause a splash whose ripples can, if we let them, transform the way we see the world, ourselves, and God. Recorded 8 November 2016.

St Augustine described the Holy Spirit as ‘the bond of love’. In anticipation of the great feast of Pentecost, Jane Williams will explore the Spirit’s loving action in our lives and world, while also exploring how we can understand the Spirit’s presence in places and times of damage, difficulty, and grief. Recorded 1 May 2016.

Life is at once wonderful and terrible, beautiful and appalling. It is one of the greatest stumbling blocks to faith for the believer and the non-believer alike. How can we live with this contradiction? And how can we believe in a just and loving God in the face of all the evils of the world? Richard Harries, former Bishop of Oxford, and Loretta Minghella, the Chief Executive of Christian Aid, speak about the reality of suffering and evil in the world, and how in the face of it we can possibly live lives of hope and believe in a God of love. Recorded 11 October 2016.

Holiness can sound like something lofty and abstract, beyond the reach of ordinary people. Judy Hirst says that in reality ‘holiness is about learning to entrust yourself to the God who loves you. It is about taking the risk of allowing God to interact with the truth of ourselves, no strings attached’. Recorded June 2016.