Encountering the Sacred
I have seen the sun break through
to illuminate a small field
for a while, and gone my way
and forgotten it. But that was the
pearl of great price, the one field that had
treasure in it. I realise now
that I must give all that I have
to possess it. Life is not hurrying
on to a receding future, nor hankering after
an imagined past. It is the turning
aside like Moses to the miracle
of the lit bush, to a brightness
that seemed as transitory as your youth
once, but is the eternity that awaits you.
Taking RS Thomas’ poem “The Bright Field” as their starting point each of our speakers will be speaking about their own encounter with the sacred.
The Church of England and BBC’s Richard Coles chairs the evening and is joined by Neil MacGregor, Nicola Green and Ben Okri
You may also like
Introducing St Martin’s Digital
Welcome to our new digital platform: St Martin’s Digital.
Sermon (20.09)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 20th of September 2026, by Revd Dr Sam Wells.
Contemplative Prayer (19.09)
Nazareth Contemplative Prayer on Saturday 19th of September 2026, with Revd Catherine Duce at Waterloo Place, London.
Great Sacred Music: John Rutter (24.09)
A sequence to speak to heart, head and soul, exploring through songs and readings the great classical music of our religious heritage.
Reflections from Bread for the World (16.09)
Reflections: ‘The Hound of Heaven’ by Revd Dr Sam Wells. Preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields during Bread for the World on Wednesday 16th of September 2026.
Sermon (13.09)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 13th of September 2026, by Revd Andrew Woodward.
Great Sacred Music: Hildegard of Bingen (17.09)
A sequence to speak to heart, head and soul, exploring through songs and readings the great classical music of our religious heritage.
Contemplative Prayer (12.09)
Nazareth Contemplative Prayer on Saturday 12th of September 2026, with Revd Richard Carter in St James’s Park, London.
Sermon (06.09)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 6th of September 2026, by Revd Dr Sam Wells.
Contemplative Prayer (05.09)
Nazareth Contemplative Prayer on Saturday 5th of September 2026, with Maddie Naisbitt at Wimbledon Park, London.
Reflections from Bread for the World (02.09)
Reflections: ‘Healing the Brokenhearted’ by Revd Catherine Duce. Preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields during Bread for the World on Wednesday 2nd of September 2026.
Great Sacred Music: Henry Purcell (10.08)
A sequence to speak to heart, head and soul, exploring through songs and readings the great classical music of our religious heritage.
Sermon (30.08)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 30th of August 2026, by Revd Philippa Boardman.
Contemplative Prayer (29.08)
Nazareth Contemplative Prayer on Saturday 29th of August 2026, with Revd Richard Carter in Ithaca, Greece.
Reflections from Bread for the World (26.08)
Reflections: ‘Threads of Love’ by Maddie Naisbitt. Preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields during Bread for the World on Wednesday 26th of August 2026.
Great Sacred Music: International Literacy Day (03.09)
A sequence to speak to heart, head and soul, exploring through songs and readings the great classical music of our religious heritage.
Sermon (23.08)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 23rd of August 2026, by Revd Dr Sam Wells.
Contemplative Prayer (22.08)
‘The Fruit of the Spirit’: Nazareth Contemplative Prayer on Saturday 22nd of August 2026, with Revd Catherine Duce at Primrose Hill, London.
Great Sacred Music: World Lake Day (27.08)
A sequence to speak to heart, head and soul, exploring through songs and readings the great classical music of our religious heritage.
Reflections from Bread for the World (19.08)
Reflections: ‘Staying With’ by Revd Janet Allan. Preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields during Bread for the World on Wednesday 19th of August 2026.
Sermon (16.08)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 16th of August 2026, by Jolley Gosnold.
















