Sermons by Chris Hollingshurst

Baptism of Jacob

This morning  we will be baptising Jacob [the youngest member of our Sunday congregations].  Felicity [his mum] has been worshipping with us for some time and is known to many of us, and we [will] rejoice with her as water is poured onto Jacob’s young forehead. Like most people,… Read more

Sermon by Chris Hollingshurst on Sunday 17th August 2025

Faith, courage, patience and readiness

Extempore prayer It barely seems possible that football’s Premier League season begins again on Friday. Quite apart from the fact that the cricket season still has weeks to run, I’m really not ready to leave the summer behind yet.   But it’s happening, and as an Arsena… Read more

Sermon by Chris Hollingshurst on Sunday 10th August 2025

The Collect

As I speak you will find it helpful to have in front of you the words of today’s Collect, which you can find on page 12 of the service booklet. I want to structure my thoughts around it to reflect together during the next few minutes… Like all Collects, today’s Collect begins… Read more

Sermon by Chris Hollingshurst on Sunday 3rd August 2025

Good Samaritan

Extempore prayer It may be that, for many here – not all, but many - the greatest difficulty we have with this morning’s gospel is over-familiarity. Jeus is asked ‘who is my neighbour?’ and responds with a parable – a story with a point. A man is left battered a… Read more

Sermon by Chris Hollingshurst on Sunday 13th July 2025

End of Academic Year | Choir Valedictory

May I speak… Well now - this evening is an occasion to be grateful and to celebrate!  On this last day of the Choir year, we give thanks to God for the ministry of music in this place: for our Canon Liturgist, our Master of Choristers, and all who support them in bringing their gift… Read more

Sermon by Chris Hollingshurst on Sunday 6th July 2025

Thomas the Apostle

The Thomas of today’s gospel reading has been, for centuries, held under a collective judgement and disapproval, poor man. Doubting Thomas, the one less believing than the others. Somehow a failed disciple. A man who misses the mark. That seems harsh when we know that a week had passed be… Read more

Sermon by Chris Hollingshurst on Thursday 3rd July 2025

Sermon for Easter 7

Easter 7, Year C [Ezekiel 36.24-28]  Acts 16.16-34; John 17.20-26 May I speak… As I was preparing to preach today, I came across these words: No land in sight. Kept on sailing.  It seems that these words formed a brief entry the ship’s log of Christopher Columbu… Read more

Sermon by Chris Hollingshurst on Sunday 1st June 2025

64th Anniversary of Consecration and Community

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Well, here we are, once again worshipping God on a spring day in the Easter season 😊 Today there are signs and metaphors of new life everywhere we look – and I, for one, am feeling thankful. This weekend we are al… Read more

Sermon by Chris Hollingshurst on Sunday 18th May 2025

Easter 2 Sermon

This week, I came across a quote from an eighteenth-century atheist French philosopher called, Denis Diderot. In case you are wondering, that particular school of thought isn’t at the top of my reading list but, as I stumbled upon it in passing it provoked a reaction in me.  Diderot… Read more

Sermon by Chris Hollingshurst on Sunday 27th April 2025

A Sermon for Easter Sunday

Let us pray. This Easter Evening, help us O Lord to open our hearts and minds to what you would have us receive from you, and strengthen our faith in the power of your resurrection. Amen. As someone said, a lot can happen in seven days – and it has been quite a week here as, once again… Read more

Sermon by Chris Hollingshurst on Sunday 20th April 2025

A Sermon for Mothering Sunday

I recall from when my now adult children were very young that dressing them could sometimes be challenging. They would need to be in the mood to be dressed and, as they began to learn to speak, gradually began to express their opinions about the outfits that had been selected for them. My wife, th… Read more

Sermon by Chris Hollingshurst on Sunday 30th March 2025

A Sermon for Lent 2

Before ordination, I worked as a logistics and distribution planning manager for a major parcels company. It was fascinating. Whether I was dealing with road-borne parcel traffic, or express air parcels, the issues were the same: how to get the parcels to their destinations for the lowest cost tha… Read more

Sermon by Chris Hollingshurst on Sunday 16th March 2025