Martin Luther King at St Paul's

Explore the films, resources and reflections to mark 60 years since Dr Martin Luther King Jr's historic visit to St Paul's Cathedral.

On 6th December 1964, Dr Martin Luther King Jr preached to a packed St Paul’s Cathedral.

On a flying visit on his way to Norway to collect his Nobel Peace Prize, he addressed a congregation of 4,000 people on The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life, providing the British public with a rare opportunity to hear him in person. Afterwards he gave a press conference in the Cathedral’s Chapter House about race relations in the UK. 

A series of special services and events took place from September 2024 to March 2025 to mark the historic 60th anniversary of this visit.

During this special season of events, we celebrated the ongoing resonance that Dr Martin Luther King Jr's teachings and principles have for us, and considered how he responded to the extreme and violent opposition he encountered, and how we might engage in the ongoing struggle for racial justice ourselves. 

As well as talks, services and sermons, we had:

  • newly commissioned music;
  • written reflections for Black History Month;
  • a creative writing afternoon;
  • a day retreat.

Our events drew to a close with a creative interpretation of Compline in March 2025. 

You can also sign up up for our Learning newsletter at the bottom of this page to be the first to hear about new events as they are published.

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a black and white photograph of Dr Martin Luther King Jr preaching from the pulpit at St Paul's Cathedral

Resources including films, sermons and reflections

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