Last week, the Festival of Preaching welcomed around 300 clergy and lay preachers. The event brought together inspiring talks and workshop from well-known preachers from around the world.
In today’s episode, we’re bringing you one of the lectures from the festival: Colin Heber-Percy asks: Is writing a sermon like caging a bird?
The Revd Dr Colin Heber-Percy is Team Vicar of Savernake in Salisbury diocese.
He is the author of Lost in the Forest: Finding joy in losing your way (Octopus Books £10.99 (Church Times Bookshop £9.89). You can read our review here: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/11-september/books-arts/book-reviews/book-review-lost-in-the-forest-notes-on-not-belonging-from-the-english-countryside-by-colin-heber-percy
He is also a writer and screenwriter, and has written numerous articles on faith and film, the philosophy and theology of cinema.
Read this week’s featured headlines here:
• Muslim scholar in awards débâcle deserves apology from Lambeth Palace, says Moderator of Church of Pakistan: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/25-september/news/uk/muslim-scholar-in-awards-d%C3%A9b%C3%A2cle-deserves-apology-from-lambeth-palace-says-moderator-of-church-of-pakistan
• End ICE deal, say faith leaders: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/25-september/news/world/end-ice-deal-say-faith-leaders
• Churches spear US lawsuits: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/25-september/news/world/churches-spearhead-us-lawsuits
• Good Money Week: Better ways to spend – from housing schemes to microfinance:
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/25-september/features/features/good-money-get-a-home-to-call-your-own
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/25-september/features/features/good-money-from-small-seeds-to-nurturing-growth
If you enjoyed today’s talk, you can also listen to Colin Heber-Percy in conversation with Dr Andrew Rumsey, now Bishop of St Albans, from the 2023 Festival of Faith and Literature: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/14-april/audio-video/podcast/colin-heber-percy-in-conversation-with-andrew-rumsey-at-the-festival-of-faith-and-literature
Music for the podcast is by Twisterium.
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