
How do people come to faith? Catechesis 101
It was good to welcome over 450 clergy and LLM’s to five different Bishop’s Study Days across the Diocese of Oxford in November. We welcomed a guest theologian at each of the study days who gave us a deep dive into the Christian tradition.…

Come to the waters: preaching between Epiphany and Lent
Happy New Year! There are eight Sundays this year between Epiphany and Lent. As we continue our journey of renewing catechesis across the Diocese, may I offer you some suggestions for your preaching and notices and pastoral conversations? It…

Do not be afraid
There is a refrain which runs through Luke’s story of the birth of Jesus: “Do not be afraid!” How we need to hear it. The angel speaks with Zechariah: “Do not be afraid”. The angel visits Mary: “Do not be afraid”. The angel stands…

Let’s raise a glass
Let’s raise a glass this week to the people who... ...are making holes in oranges and assembling Christingles; to the wardens who open and close the church; to the volunteer cleaners who scrub candlewax out of the carpet and polish the…

The Four Temptations: an open letter to Parliament
Dear Members of Parliament and Peers, You will be held in prayer by the Diocese of Oxford this week as you continue to debate Britain’s exit from the European Union. The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke in the House of Lords debate last…

Lift up your hearts and sing
I’ve invited the Diocese of Oxford to dwell in the Word this year in two passages from Colossians (1.15-20 and 3.12-17). We are exploring what it means to be a more Christ-like Church, contemplative, compassionate and courageous for the sake…



This is our long story
The battles our grandparents fought did not end at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month when the artillery fell silent on the Western Front
Digital Discipleship
Bishop Steven reflects on the concerns of young people on artificial intelligence, and the Church’s responsibility to be vigilant and human.