Home
Welcome to SM4!
Worship & Music
St Paul’s Cathedral has been here for over 1,400 years. It has been built and rebuilt five times, and always its main purpose has been as a place of worship and prayer.
Visit Us
St Paul's, with its world-famous dome, is an iconic feature of the London skyline. Step inside and you can enjoy the Cathedral's awe-inspiring interior, and uncover fascinating stories about its history.
Learning & Faith
Education is a core part of the Cathedral's work, delivered through a variety of events by St Paul's Forum, St Paul's Institute and the Schools & Families department.
History & Collections
For more than 1,400 years, a Cathedral dedicated to St Paul has stood at the highest point in the City. The present Cathedral is the masterpiece of Britain's most famous architect Sir Christopher Wren.
Support Us
Behind the scenes, the cost of caring for St Paul's and continuing to deliver our central ministry and work is enormous and the generosity of our supporters is critical.
Venue Bookings
Widely considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful buildings and a powerful symbol of the splendour of London, St Paul’s Cathedral is a breathtaking events venue.
Worship
| 7:30am | Morning Prayer |
| 8:00am | Eucharist |
| 8:30am | Doors open for sightseeing |
| 12:30pm | Eucharist |
| 4:00pm | Last entry for sightseeing |
| 5:00pm | Choral Evensong |
Read Sermons
You can also watch sermons online.
For details of preachers please see our service schedule.
'This new work Mary brings a woman into the heart chamber of this space, a woman who may not have the strength of the battle field but who had the strength of a mother...'
04 September 2016Bishop Richard looks at the resilience of St Paul’s Cathedral – and London - Out of the Ashes.
25 August 2016
Sermon preached on Sunday 21st August 2016 by The Revd Helen O'Sullivan - Chaplain
What is it that brings you to the Eucharist, to the celebration of Holy Communion?
21 July 201618 July 2016
Sermon preached at Sung Mass, Thomas the Apostle (3 July 2016) by the Revd. James Milne, Sacrist
Moving on after the EU Referendum requires an understanding of true strength, explains St Paul's Sacrist.
01 July 2016
Sermon preached at Evensong, Friday 1 July 2016 by Revd. Michael Hampel, Precentor
On the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, Canon Michael looks at the power of art amid the horror of war
24 June 2016When fear drives us, we separate ourselves from those we see as 'other', says Canon Tricia
22 May 2016We know how the world came into being - the Bishop of Kensington asks why
24 April 2016
Sermon preached on 24 April by the Revd Canon Mark Oakley, Chancellor
Canon Mark looks at the call offered by Jesus as Word as we celebrate one of the great men of words - Shakespeare
23 April 2016
Sermon preached at Evensong on St George's Day (23rd April 2016) by Revd Prebendary Alan Green
Revd Prebendary Alan Green stands up for Saint George and reminds us of London’s long history of welcoming refugees.
17 April 2016
Sermon preached on 4th Sunday of Easter (17 April 2016) by the Very Revd David Ison, Dean
Facts, faith and trust - the Dean considers how we make decisions
27 March 2016
Sermon preached on Easter Day (27 March 2016) at the Eucharist by the Very Revd David Ison, Dean
What’s been your experience in one way or another of having your own world changed for ever? The Dean asks.
Sermon preached on Easter Day (27 March 2016) by Revd Canon Michael Hampel, Precentor
We will find God somewhere - everywhere - says Canon Michael
20 March 2016
Sermon preached on Palm Sunday (20 March 2016) by Revd James Milne, Sacrist
The pilgrim Egeria helps Revd James Milne discover God afresh - she's his Saint for our Day
Sermon preached on Palm Sunday (20 March 2016) by Revd Canon Michael Hampel, Precentor
Ancient shrines and Coca-Cola signs: Canon Michael stresses how the Passion is contemporary
15 March 2016
Sermon preached on the Fifth Sunday of Lent (14 March 2016) by the Very Revd David Ison, Dean
The Dean asks: How's your Lenten disciple going?
14 March 2016
Sermon preached on the Fifth Sunday of Lent (14 March 2016) by Revd Canon Michael Hampel, Precentor
Canon Michael stresses the importance of listening to people's stories
01 March 2016When Canon Mark grows up, he wants to be just a little like bit like his Saint for our Day - Desmond Tutu
25 February 2016
Sermon preached on the Second Sunday of Lent (21 February 2016) by Revd Canon Tricia Hillas, Pastor
Dolly Parton's authenticity makes Canon Tricia ask - what do we mean by 'saint'?
23 February 2016
Sermon preached on the Second Sunday of Lent (21 February ) by the Very Revd David Ison, Dean
The Dean examines violence in our culture - and our lives
15 February 2016CS Lewis - why his writing and life inspire the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral
10 February 2016
Sermon preached on the Sunday before Lent (7 February 2016) by Revd Canon Tricia Hillas, Pastor
God knows us all by name, notes Canon Tricia - including people in a 'swarm'
03 February 2016What does it mean for the Church to live as a community of love, asks Revd Rosemary Morton
Canon Tricia considers moments that define our lives - in a world of light and dark
29 January 2016A powerful message from Canon Philippa - everyone has a part to play in seeing Christ in other people
17 January 2016The Dean looks at how the generous love of Jesus impacts lives
25 December 2015
Sermon preached at Midnight Eucharist (24-25 December 2015) by the Very Revd David Ison, Dean
It’s a great occasion, being here, isn’t it? It’s a special service, says the Dean ...
21 December 2015The mystery of the Virgin Birth can't be explained in Just A Minute, says Revd Michael Hampel
20 December 2015The Virgin Mary, the Virgin Queen and the story of salvation - visiting preacher Revd Antony Hodgson reflects on the significance of Mary
14 December 2015So many stewards, roles old and new - but we can't do everything, says Rev Canon Michael Hampel
08 December 2015Where are the Church’s modern prophets calling on the western world to drop clean water, food, schools and internet access – instead of bombs? asks Revd Michael Hampel.
30 November 2015What to make of the rule of God in a world of terrorist atrocities? Revd Tricia Hillas sees victories won by fear as short-lived.
16 November 2015If your God is compassionate and merciful, how can you act with neither compassion nor mercy? The Dean reflects on religious violence.
10 November 2015The Dean issues an invitation to stop being ordinary and get in touch with the spirit of Remembrance
02 November 2015The Revd James Milne considers martyrs, saints and a lively children's party.
12 October 2015
Sermon preached on Sunday 11 October by the Very Reverend David Ison, Dean of St Paul's Cathedral
The Dean of St Paul's looks at two inspirational women and asks - 'What is your motto in life?'
06 September 2015The Reverend Canon Tricia Hillas looks at what makes us angry and grace in relation to the story of the prophet Jonah.
The Reverend Canon Tricia Hillas looks at the refugee crisis, giving us practical ways how we can help.
23 August 2015The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at Jesus as the 'Son of Man' and says "it’s ordinary human faithfulness and endeavour which defeat tyranny and death".
16 August 2015The Reverend Rosemary Morton looks at the story of Jonah and the whale and says "perhaps we are more like Jonah than we like to admit."
09 August 2015The Reverend James Milne looks at how worship transforms us and says "let us dedicate ourselves anew faithfully and constantly to offer worship to the one who made and sustains us, that God’s great act of creation may continue in our lives."
The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at the tensions of being a Christian in the wealthy West and says: "we may struggle with the instruction to give away all that we have and go follow Jesus but we could surely manage giving away a tenth or at least setting it as a tentative goal towards which to work."
02 August 2015The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at the migrants in Calais and says "I believe very strongly in the shared responsibility of all human beings for everything which happens in this world".
The Reverend Christine McSpadden looks at the language of love and says "the church becomes a bit squeamish" when talking about sexual love.
12 July 2015The Reverend Canon Tricia Hillas look at prisoners of conscience and says: "God is for us – and stands ready to bring hope and power, yes even into the sorriest prison cell."
08 July 2015The Very Reverend Philip Buckler preaches at the Festival of the Friends of St Paul's
05 July 2015In the week in which we remember the 10th anniversary of the London bombings, the Dean looks at the 'power of imitation' and says "may we imitate the power of love we see in Christ, to live not for evil, but for good."
The Reverend Canon Tricia Hillas looks at talking and listening, and says "Something terrible begins when we seek to silence one another."
14 June 2015The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at the Church and the State and says: "God is Lord of all creation – not just of the religious people."
The Very Reverend David Ison looks at the modern mantra of 'choice' and says "God chooses us: and asks us to choose God in return."
07 June 2015The Reverend Susie Simpson looks at those locked away in prison and says "our mission as chaplains is to help them to believe that they can start a new life...No matter how many times they fall, we return to them and encourage them to pick themselves up and try again."
The Reverend Christine McSpadden looks at people who are spiritual but won't accept religion, and says: "This isn’t surprising. I don’t think the church, on the whole, has done a great job lately of showing Jesus to the world."
24 May 2015
Sermon preached on the Day of Pentecost (24 May 2015) by the Very Reverend David Ison, Dean
The Very Reverend David Ison looks at the idea of equality and, on Pentecost Sunday says "God shows no partiality and is available to all"
14 May 2015
Sermon preached on Ascension Day (14 May 2015) by the Reverend Canon Michael Hampel, Precentor
The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at the power of words and on Ascension Day says "without the resurrection, our faith is naught. Without the ascension, our faith is hidebound."
10 May 2015The Reverend Canon Mark Oakley looks at the Christians of Laodicea in relation to the recent General Election and says "if we as Christians fail to step up to the debates...we will be the church of St Laodicea."
03 May 2015The Reverend Canon Alison Joyce looks at the amazing victory of Christ over the powers of death and destruction and tells us what it means to strive to live the Christian life.
26 April 2015The Reverend Christine McSpadden looks at want and says 'God provides. Enough. Every day...And that is more than enough.'
12 April 2015The Reverend Christine McSpadden looks at hope against hope and says at this Easter time "we glimpse the eternal in us and in our world".
05 April 2015
Sermon preached on Easter Day (5 April 2015) by the Very Reverend David Ison, Dean
The Very Reverend David Ison looks at The Soldier, the poem of Rupert Brooke mentioned in the Dean of St Paul's Easter Day sermon of 1915.
Sermon preached on Easter Day (5 April 2015) by the Reverend Canon Tricia Hillas, Pastor
The Reverend Canon Tricia Hillas looks at the sorrow of Jesus' followers on this day of celebration for Christians and says that however bright the light of Easter shines within us, it is enough.
02 April 2015
Sermon preached on Maundy Thursday (2 April 2015) by the Reverend Canon Tricia Hillas, Pastor
The Reverend Canon Tricia Hillas looks at the Jewish ghettos of the Second World War and Jesus's betrayal and arrest on Maundy Thursday.
22 March 2015The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at the heightened tension of Passiontide saying it is a time "when we focus on Jesus’ death so that we can all the more celebrate his life in two weeks’ time."
20 March 2015The Right Reverend Nicholas Holtam looks at the work of the United Guilds in London.
01 March 2015The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at the persecution of Christians around the world and the upcoming UK election, saying: "If the only way we can take up our cross right now is to use our faith, our intelligence and our vote to campaign for the Kingdom of God, it is a start."
15 February 2015
Sermon preached on the Sunday before Lent (15 February 2015) by the Reverend Prebendary
Duncan Ross
The Reverend Prebendary Duncan Ross talks about the challenges we face at Lent and says: "Lent is not just about us and our failings, but about daring to open ourselves to the living God."
The Reverend Dr Gregory Platten discusses the importance of silence and says: "Silence is powerful because it is of God, it is divine."
08 February 2015The Very Reverend David Ison looks at worship and power - not God’s power over us, but the power God gives to us.
01 February 2015The Reverend Marjorie Brown talks about Candlemas and how it reminds us of birth and death, and how they are connected, and of God’s faithfulness at both the beginning and the end of our lives.
11 January 2015The Reverend Will Adam looks at the terror attacks that gripped France in early January 2015, then looking at the Baptism if Christ, which he says "brings about a transformation".
04 January 2015The Reverend Canon Mark Oakley discusses the idea of strangers - from Paddington Bear to Jesus - and concludes that the stranger is not the enemy.
28 December 2014On the Feast of the Holy Innocents, The Very Reverend David Ison looks at innocence, concluding 'this day of commemoration of the innocent challenges those of us with power to repent of the ways in which we ourselves abuse the innocent to make ourselves feel better'.
25 December 2014
Sermon preached on Christmas Day (25 December 2014) by the Very Reverend David Ison,
Dean
The Very Reverend David Ison preaches on Christmas Day.
14 December 2014In the second of a special series of sermons entitled Advent: a world turned upside-down, The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel discusses Investing in one another in a world of self-promotion
07 December 2014The Very Reverend David Ison looks at fairness, concluding "God doesn’t do ‘fair’: but God is just, and kind."
In the first of a special series of sermons entitled Advent: a world turned upside-down, The Reverend Canon Mark Oakley looks at Patience in a world of impatience.
16 November 2014The Reverend Guy Treweek looks at risk and fear and concludes 'Our faith journey is impossible on our own'.
Heather Richardson speaks at the Barts Service of Remembrance.
26 October 2014The Reverend Sarah Eynstone looks at the idea of self-worth in society through the story of Jesus' account of the wedding feast to the Pharisee.
12 October 2014The Very Reverend David Ison asks 'do you like hearing stories?' and tells us that 'everyone is welcome to God’s table'.
The Reverend Aidan Platten discusses the rise of social media and the friendships formed there, but says 'the most sustaining relationships are those that are incarnational'.
28 September 201421 September 2014
The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel, reveals his favourite Bible story - about the evil tax collector Zacchaeus - and discusses how Matthew the Apostle had also been a 'wicked' tax collector.
14 September 2014
The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at sites of Christian worship, notably the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, but concludes that all churches are 'made holy more by prayer than by any artefacts or antecedents'.
Sermon Preached on Holy Cross Day (14 September 2014) by
The Reverend Canon Mark Oakley, Chancellor
In the second of a series looking focusing on William Shakespeare's 450th birthday, Canon Mark Oakley, discusses 'Shakespeare, Tragedy and the Christian: Not in our Stars, but in Ourselves'.
07 September 201431 August 2014
17 August 2014
10 August 2014
03 August 2014
27 July 2014
The Very Reverend David Ison asks 'what do you think about the devil?'
13 July 2014The Reverend Canon Tricia Hillas discusses 'Scarcity and Sufficiency'
15 June 2014The Reverend Prebendary Douglas Dettmer askes:
08 June 2014
Sermon
preached on the Day Of Pentecost (8
June 2014) by the very Reverend
David Ison, Dean
29 May 2014
Sermon
preached on Ascension Day (29
May 2014) by The Reverend Canon
Tricia Hillas,
Pastor
The Reverend Canon Tricia Hillas discusses 'Ascension: Absence, Presence and more than a Brief Encounter'.
25 May 2014The Right Reverend Christopher Herbert (Bishop of St Albans, 1996-2009) discusses the Beauty of God.
18 May 2014The Right Reverend Tom Butler (Bishop of Southwark. 1998-2010) describes an alternative to the current Anglican Covenant and concludes 'it might not be the new Jerusalem...but...it might be a decent suburb of it'.
14 May 2014
Sermon preached
on the Feast of
Matthias (14
May 2014) by
the Reverend
Canon Tricia
Hillas,
Pastor
The Reverend Canon Tricia Hillas discusses 'h
11 May 2014
Sermon
preached on
the Fourth
Sunday of
Easter (11
May 2014)
by the Very
Reverend
David Ison,
Dean
04 May 2014
The Right Reverend John Gladwin (Bishop of Chelmsford, 2004-2009) looks at the position of the Church in society and says "the Church has a rich and unrivalled resource in its faith and history for making a vital and critical contribution."
27 April 2014The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at the difficulty we face in proving God's existence and concludes 'I have received too much evidence that Jesus is the Messiah to have the luxury now to deny it'.
20 April 2014
Sermon
preached
on
Easter
Sunday
(20
April
2014)
by
The
Reverend
Canon
Michael
Hampel,
Precentor
The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at gratitude and says that we should all 'resolve to be more grateful to God and more affirming of each other.'
17 April 2014
Sermon
preached
on
Maundy
Thursday
(17
April
2014)
by
the
Reverend
Canon
Michael
Hampel,
Precentor
On Maundy Thursday, The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at leadership and says it is 'not about crowns and coronets but about towels and basins'
06 April 2014
Sermon
preached
on
the
Fifth
Sunday
of
Lent
(6
April
2014)
by
the
Very
reverend
David
Ison,
Dean
How well do you get on with your family, friends and neighbours?
04 April 2014How do you choose your Master, Prime Warden or Upper Bailiff? Or your Lord Mayor? And how much does it matter who gets chosen? Is it simply about seniority and willingness, and ability to wear gorgeous robes and big hats with dignity? Or is our capacity to lead, our ability to enable others, at the heart of the office which we hold?
16 March 2014
Sermon
preached
on
the
Second
Sunday
of
Lent
(16
March
2014)
by
the
Reverend
Canon
Philippa
Boardman
'Counting the Cost'
09 March 2014The Country and Western singer Mac Davis may not be a household name but his song 'O Lord it's hard to be humble
05 March 201404 March 2014
02 March 2014
'Don't do something – just sit there'
23 February 2014The Very Reverend David Ison looks at the different ways we approach our lives and concludes that that 'God looks to the good of the whole and sees us as a creation to be loved rather than a problem to be solved'.
16 February 201409 February 2014
02 February 2014
26 January 2014
The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at prophecy and testimony and concludes that they are the 'vehicles whereby divine and human encounter one another'.
19 January 2014The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at truth and revelation and concludes 'God has been in the business of revelation from the beginning of the world'.
05 January 201429 December 2013
22 December 2013
The Very Reverend David Ison looks at Heaven and says 'Heaven starts now by building our relationship with God in Jesus Christ through prayer, worship and service.'
15 December 2013The Very Reverend David Ison discusses hell and says 'God is not Mr Nice or Mr Nasty - God is Mr Love.'
08 December 2013The Very Reverend David Ison looks at judgement and says 'it’s learning to judge ourselves truly that’s the basic life skill'.
Christina Rees speaks about the awkwardness of Advent and asks 'as we contemplate the Second Coming, for what am I still waiting and watching?
01 December 2013The Very Reverend David Ison discusses death and says that it is love and relationships that give our life meaning in the face of death.
24 November 2013Samuel 8: 4-20 John 18: 33-37
27 November 2012The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at inclusivity, referring to the vote on women bishops and Jesus' representation in Holman Hunt's 'The Light of the World'.
19 November 2012
12 November 2012
The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at the human quest for life by focusing on the often ignored statue to the Kinder Transport at Liverpool Street Station.
08 November 2012'Shemas and shibboleths'. The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel, Precentor, looks at the 'extraordinary' behaviour of religious people and Jesus' response to the hierarchy of the Commandments.
23 October 2012The Very Reverend Dr David Ison looks at the meaning of the Sabbath, Pharisees and how complex issues can’t be resolved by simply quoting individual texts.
16 October 2012The Right Reverend Michael Colclough looks at Jesus' meeting with a stranger asking how he could inherit eternal life, and how Jesus wanted to love the man into the Kingdon of Heaven, but in the end the important thing was what the man wanted.
30 September 2012The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at the idea we all go to heaven or hell, and asks, 'is it that simple?'.
19 September 2012The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at risk taking under the dome of St Paul's Cathedral and how there is no desire to bury our heads in the sand.
17 September 2012The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at the natural human instinct to take sides, but that 'sitting on the fence' allows people of faith to focus entirely on God.
28 August 201226 August 2012
Professor Peter McCullough looks at both the simplicity and complexity of sharing, as well as what we mean by 'communication'.
05 August 2012The Dean of St Paul's looks at passion and sex in the Bible, particularly in the Song of Songs.
The Dean of St Paul's looks at the Olympic crowds and says that in his day, Jesus was the crowd-puller - the 'attraction that people wanted to see'.
01 August 2012The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at Miracle and Parable - and asks, are they two sides of the same coin?
30 July 2012The Dean of St Paul's looks at the power of crowds, focusing on the summer riots of 2011 and the uplifting nature of the Olympic Torch.
23 July 2012The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel looks at the life of Mary Magdalene – the First Apostle
17 July 2012
Sermon
preached
on
the
sixth
Sunday
after
Trinity
(15
July
2012)
by
The
Reverend
Andrew
Hammond
'Daring to be Christian'. The Revd Andrew