A podcast for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

The latest edition, released ahead of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale on 12th May, includes a gospel reading by Victor Funtanares, an Abbey Oblate and NHS paediatric nurse who is treating children with COVID-19 at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital. The reading, from John 14: 1-14, has the comforting words of Christ to his disciples as he prepares to depart from them, promising to remain with them through the Holy Spirit.

The episode is introduced by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, with an address by the Reverend Mark Birch, Minor Canon and Precentor. A recording of the Abbey Choir performing Charles Villiers Stanford's anthem Beati quorum via is kindly supplied by Hyperion Records.

The podcast was recorded earlier this week in the Abbey’s Florence Nightingale Chapel which was dedicated in 1950 to remember all those in the nursing professions from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth who died during the Second World War.

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