St Paul's Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral Institute and the Associateship of King’s College London present the Reverend Richard Coles and Baroness Ayesha Hazarika as they discuss trust in contemporary media. This lecture brings together two figures who are very familiar with the power and influence of media to explore how the media earns trust, how it loses it, and what is at stake when it fails. Drawing on their experience across broadcasting, politics, and public communication, they reflect on media credibility and the conditions under which public discourse can still function. The Revd Richard Coles is a writer, broadcaster, and Church of England priest. Until his retirement from parish ministry in 2022, he served as Vicar of Finedon in Northamptonshire, where he led the parish for over a decade. Alongside his ministry, Richard has had a distinguished media career, including twelve years co-presenting BBC Radio 4’s 'Saturday Live', and frequent appearances on television programmes such as 'Have I Got News for You' and 'QI'. Often described as one of Britain’s most recognisable clergy voices, he writes and speaks widely on faith, culture, and contemporary life, and is the author of numerous books, including the bestselling 'The Madness of Grief'. The Baroness Hazarika MBE (Ayesha Yousef Hazarika) is a member of the House of Lords and a prominent political commentator, writer, and former senior adviser. A member of the Labour Party, she was appointed to the Lords in March 2024. She served for over eight years as a senior political adviser in government and opposition, including as Chief of Staff to Harriet Harman, and played a key role in preparing Ed Miliband for Prime Minister’s Questions, major speeches, and televised debates. Her work also engaged closely with questions of media ethics and public trust, including Labour’s response to the Leveson Inquiry into phone hacking. She is now a regular commentator across the BBC, Sky, and ITN, and writes for publications including the Financial Times, The Guardian, and New Statesman, offering sharp analysis of politics, media, and public communication. About us: St Paul’s is a Cathedral – a vibrant working church, a national treasure, a London icon. A sacred space to connect with God. A seat of Christian worship. The Church of the Diocese of London for over 1,400 years. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the late 17th century, it’s a place where architecture lifts your eyes and your spirit. Where liturgy meets learning. Where discovery meets debate. And where centuries of heritage are held in the hands of today’s creators and craftspeople. It’s a home for both soaring music and silent prayer. For the deep thunder of the organ, the hush of footsteps on stone, the harmony of voices rising beneath our dome. Where gold leaf meets marble. Where light and flame flicker and colours mesmerise. Where sound lingers. Step inside, and you’ll see, hear, feel the extraordinary – and become part of it. https://www.stpauls.co.uk/

Reflecting on death and mortality may not sound like an obvious starting point to inspire social justice. Yet, Simon Cuff suggests that mortality and limitation can, in fact, serve as the grounds for creativity for those seeking justice. Here Simon Cuff explores a theology of mortality and considers how a recognition of ultimate human limitation can fuel those working for justice that enables the flourishing of all. Fr Simon Cuff is Rector of St Mary-le-Bow on Cheapside, Vice-Chair of the Just Money movement and Trustee of Migrants Organise. He is the author or editor of a number of books exploring a variety of theological themes, most recently Waiting on the Lord: Reflections For A Priestly Life for those exploring and preparing for vocations to priesthood. About us: St Paul’s is a Cathedral – a vibrant working church, a national treasure, a London icon. A sacred space to connect with God. A seat of Christian worship. The Church of the Diocese of London for over 1,400 years. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the late 17th century, it’s a place where architecture lifts your eyes and your spirit. Where liturgy meets learning. Where discovery meets debate. And where centuries of heritage are held in the hands of today’s creators and craftspeople. It’s a home for both soaring music and silent prayer. For the deep thunder of the organ, the hush of footsteps on stone, the harmony of voices rising beneath our dome. Where gold leaf meets marble. Where light and flame flicker and colours mesmerise. Where sound lingers. Step inside, and you’ll see, hear, feel the extraordinary – and become part of it. https://www.stpauls.co.uk/

The founding of the first universities in the early 13th century led to the establishment of theology as an academic discipline. This had a profound impact not only on how we understand theology, but also on particular topics such as ordination. In this talk, Lydia Schumacher explores the impact this had on women’s ordination, how women were ‘defined out’ of ordination, and how their prior roles in ordained ministry were soon forgotten. Join us to dive into this history and explore what it means for us today. Lydia Schumacher is Professor of Historical and Philosophical Theology at King’s College London. She is a specialist in medieval theology and church history and has published six monographs in this field, including Divine Illumination (2011), Theological Philosophy (2015), and Early Franciscan Theology (2019).

Friendship, with a few exceptions, is the human relationship that has received the least theological attention over the centuries. Friendship, both in Greek and Roman philosophy, and in some theological writings, has been treated with suspicion. Steffan Mathias explores friendship in a positive light within the Bible, in theological tradition, and in the contemporary church. Steffan proposes friendship as a site of divine life, as something which can offer the church new avenues to think about community, discipleship, and human relationships. Revd Dr Steffan Mathias is Vicar of St Peter’s Streatham, and an independent scholar focusing on Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, with a PhD from King’s College London focusing on afterlife and memorialisation in the Old Testament. He is an external tutor at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, and St Augustine’s College of Theology in the South East. His PhD was published as Paternity, Progeny, and Perpetuation Creating Lives after Death in the Hebrew Bible in 2020.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Cumberland Lodge and the St Paul’s Cathedral Institute, The Rt Hon Rory Stewart OBE takes on on some of the most pressing questions of our time. A former UK Cabinet Minister, diplomat, and bestselling author, Rory brings a unique perspective to the table from extensive experience across the Middle East, and as the MP for Penrith and the Border. His acclaimed books, including 'Politics on the Edge' and his latest, 'Middleland: Dispatches from the Borders', explore the complexities of governance, community, and identity. This conversation is held in partnership between Cumberland Lodge and The St Paul’s Cathedral Institute.

To mark Refugee Week 2026, Paula Gooder chats to Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani about her life, her faith, and her own experience as a refugee. Bishop Guli was born in Iran and fled to the UK when she was a teenager following the murder of her brother during the Islamic Revolution. In this conversation, Bishop Guli reflects on her experiences, on the history of Christianity in Iran and the theme of migration in Scripture. She traces the importance of faith in her life and uncovers what it means to have courage and hope in God. The Right Reverend Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani is Bishop of Chelmsford and a member of the Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords. She previously served as the first Bishop of Loughborough, in the Diocese of Leicester, from 2017 to 2021. Guli arrived in this country as a refugee from Iran, aged 14. Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, a Biblical Scholar and the author of many academic and popular books on theology, faith and the Bible.

The story of William Tyndale and Cardinal Wolsey is a fascinating tale of spies and espionage. Tyndale was a wanted man – working in exile to complete his translation of the New Testament. In order to supress his work, Henry VIII and Cardinal Wolsey dispatched a diplomat-spy to make sure Tyndale’s writings were never imported to England. Yet Tyndale and his contacts found ways to smuggle his New Testament into England anyway, all whilst Wolsey’s man was on their trail. Charlotte Gauthier unravels this daring cat-and-mouse game, which culminates in Tyndale’s betrayal and death in 1536. Dr Charlotte Gauthier is an historian of religious conflict and diplomacy with a PhD from Royal Holloway, University of London. She is Assistant Director of Discipleship for Southwark Diocese and a Visiting Tutor at St Augustine's College of Theology and City St George’s, University of London. Charlotte has written numerous articles on history and ideas for leading publications, and has appeared on television, radio, and podcasts.

This year marks the 800th anniversary of the death one of the most popular and well-known Saints – St Francis of Assisi. Francis inspired the life and work of Clare of Assisi and Angela of Foligno. Whilst Clare and Angela may not be as well-known as Francis, their theology gives us a glimpse into the intriguing world of mysticism and highlights the remarkable contribution of women theologians in the medieval period which has, all too often, been overlooked. Michael Hahn introduces the theology of Francis of Assisi, and unveils the thought of Clare of Assisi and Angela of Foligno. Dr Michael Hahn holds the Dom Gregory Dix Chair in Christian Spirituality at Sarum College in Salisbury. His research is on the early Franciscan mystical traditions and he is Senior Editor of the journal Franciscan Studies.

This year marks the 500th anniversary of the publication of William Tyndale’s English translation of the Bible. Branded as heretical, this translation was a pivotal moment in the Reformation which had a lasting impact on the church in England. Diarmaid MacCulloch uncovers the importance of Tyndale’s translation, its place in the history of the English Reformation, and how these factors shaped the church in England. Diarmaid MacCulloch is Emeritus Professor of the History of the Church at Oxford University and one of the UK’s leading historians. His books include the magisterial 'A History of Christianity' and the definitive biography of Thomas Cromwell, which won the Whitbread Biography Prize.

It's indisputable that music is a huge part of life at St Paul's, but many people don't know the full variety of what can be heard within our walls. In this episode we explore all things music at the Cathedral - from daily Evensong performed by our very own talented musicians, to musical guests past and present such as Paul Robeson who sang at Evensong in 1958 or even legendary poet and singer Patti Smith who performed a concert here in 2024. Produced and presented by Douglas Anderson. Image credit: Charlie Bibby/FT