A podcast for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

This latest episode, in National Gardening Week, features a gospel full of rural imagery: sheep, gates and pastures, read by Alan Titchmarsh, gardener and broadcaster. The podcast was recorded at the Cloister Entrance, the gate leading to the Abbey’s cloisters, with Alan Titchmarsh’s reading recorded remotely.

Introduced by the Reverend Canon Dr James Hawkey, Canon Theologian, it is fifteen minutes long with a reading, short address, anthem, prayers and blessing.

The Dean of Westminster, The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle said:

One of the people who taught me theology was Nicholas Lash. He wrote a book about the Trinity and gave the last chapter the title ‘Gardening’. He wrote about God’s garden made ‘in the beginning’ and reminded us that the Garden of Eden ‘does not lie behind us, but ahead of us, in hope, and, in the meantime, all around us as our place of work’. In our latest podcast you will hear us trying to find the words we need to do that work. It is, if you like, a kind of gardening.

The Dean of Westminster gives the address, and Alan Titchmarsh reads John 10: 1-10. The anthem, O God Thou Art My God, composed by Henry Purcell, sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey conducted by James O’Donnell, was kindly supplied for the podcast by Hyperion Records.

Social distancing following government guidelines was observed by everyone who took part. It was edited and posted remotely by Abbey staff working from home.

Listen to the podcast