The Canterbury Preacher’s
Companion 2025

Author Catherine Williams (ed.)
Publisher Canterbury Press £19.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781786225559

This book has become an annual institution under the wise and careful editorship of Rev Catherine Williams, who leads the Daily Prayer podcasts and is therefore the melodious public ‘voice’ of the Church of England. It covers the lectionary for year C (the year of Luke),  beginning in Advent 2024. There are two sermons for each Sunday of the Church year – for the principal (Eucharist) service and for the second service (usually Evensong). There are third options for special Sundays such as Mothering Sunday or Remembrance, including some ‘all-age’ material. The final part of the book comprises sermons for saints’ days or festivals, generally on weekdays. In other words, this is a comprehensive compendium of resources for the ecclesiastical year. The quality of the material is strong throughout, as you would expect from such renowned preachers and writers as Kate Bruce, Isabelle Hamley, Rachel Mann and Liz Shercliff – but all the authors make sound and entertaining contributions.

The editor rightly emphasises that these sermons are designed to fire the imagination. They really should not be copied and read out verbatim, for a sermon should always be unique in time and place and congregation – an intersection with the divine. But readers may discover here the germ of an idea, or a stunning interpretation, which can inspire first the preacher, and then the congregation.

There is a wonderful introduction to the book from Rev Lucy Winkett, Rector of St James’s, Piccadilly, who provides some memorable, thought-provoking phrases. I particularly liked: ‘Within contemporary British society, preaching a sermon is frankly quite weird.’ This reminds us of course that the world has moved on in the last thirty years or so and that most communication simply represents shallow sound bites. Nonetheless, as Winkett reminds us, preaching is surely a privilege and should not be taken for granted. So, ‘stay close to the edge, stay close to the truth and keep looking for fresh perspectives…remain attentive to the Spirit.’ This highly recommended book will certainly help you do that.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Stephenson