Sermons

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

Sermon for VJ Day 80th Anniversary

In the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen Mrs. Elizabeth Hartwell worked at the old Guildford telephone exchange on North Street, and on the morning of August 15th, 1945, she was among the first in our town to hear those crackling words coming through the telephone l… Read more

Sermon by Bob Cooper 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

Lord, Teach Us to Pray

HOMILY "Lord, Teach Us to Pray" – Luke 11:1 There seems to be a variety of cooking shows on our TV screens and with it a plethora of well-known celebrity chefs. We are fascinated with how these professionals can transform ordinary ingredients into extraordinary yummy meals. W… Read more

Sermon by Paul Thompson on Sunday 27th July 2025

Trinity 5 | 20 July 2025

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to truly see each other - not just glance at one another as we pass by, but really see the person standing before us. Our readings this evening invite us into that ki… Read more

Sermon by Bob Cooper on Sunday 20th July 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

Luke 10 | Third after Trinity

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. I have always worked on the maxim that if I am never in fashion, then I cannot be out of fashion and consequently have seldom succumbed to the zeitgeist of passing fads. And so, forty years after the its publication, and six… Read more

Sermon by Bob Cooper 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

Trinity Sunday | 15 June 2025

When I was a parish priest, I would always invite a guest preacher on Trinity Sunday as frankly it is always a tricky one on which to preach and so the way around this was to invite someone else. I am glad to see that Fr Simon is carrying on this great tradition; however this time it is me that is… Read more

Sermon by Bob Cooper on Sunday 15th June 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