The Mysteries: Music and Poetry
(Palm Sunday – Sunday 24th March 2024 at 7pm)
When watching live, you can increase the quality of the video to 720p by pressing the ‘settings cog’ button on the video menu. You can also unmute and change the volume.
The Mysteries: Music and Poetry
The poetry of Ruth Padel and cellist Adrian Bradbury playing some of Bach’s sublime Cello Suites lead us into Holy Week and Easter.
Ruth Padel’s fifteen new poems follow the shape of prayers in the Rosary. First five Joyful Mysteries, addressing Christ’s birth; then five Sorrowful Mysteries, following his Passion; and finally five Glorious Mysteries of Christ’s resurrection. But also the story of Mary, for the poems ask us to follow her experience in particular – as a girl surprised by an Angel into motherhood, grief, loss, and finally Resurrection. Tonight, these poems partner the music of Bach. Not music from his Passions but the more individual and intimate music of his Cello Suites, I and V, which are shrouded in mystery themselves, unknown for two hundred years after their composition. This evening is a hauntingly beautiful conversation or prayer between Bach, cello, and poet leading us on a spiritual journey from joy to tragedy and ending in jubilation.
Ruth Padel Poet
Adrian Bradbury Cellist
You may also like
Bread for the World (15.11)
A service of Bread for the World, an informal Eucharist led by Revd Catherine Duce.
Wiping Away Our Tears (12.11)
We gather as LGBTQIA+ people, allies and those who seek a church where all belong, just as we are.
Sermon (12.11)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 12th November 2023, Remembrance Sunday, by Revd Sally Hitchiner.
Parish Eucharist (12.11)
Service of Eucharist for Remembrance Sunday with preacher Revd Sally Hitchiner.
Contemplative Prayer (11.11)
Nazareth Contemplative Prayer on Saturday 11th November 2023, with Revd Richard Carter.
Morning Song (10.11)
Sung Morning Prayer led by Revd Dr Sam Wells with music performed by The Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields directed by Polina Sosnina.
Great Sacred Music: World Science Day (09.11)
A sequence to speak to heart, head and soul, exploring through songs and readings the great classical music of our religious heritage.
A Service of Commemoration for those who have died homeless
A Service of Commemoration for people who have been homeless who have died in the past year.
Bread for the World (08.11)
A service of Bread for the World, an informal Eucharist led by Revd Richard Carter.
Autumn Lecture Series 2023: Death and Dying
One thing is sure – one day we will face our own mortality and the dying and death of those we love. But where do we stand in relation to death, and how do we approach the dying and loss of those we love?
Sermon (05.11)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 5th November 2023, The Fourth Sunday before Advent , by Revd Dr Sam Wells.
Parish Eucharist (05.11)
Service of Eucharist for The Fourth Sunday before Advent with preacher Revd Dr Sam Wells.
Contemplative Prayer (04.11)
Nazareth Contemplative Prayer on Saturday 4th November 2023, with Revd Richard Carter.
Morning Song (03.11)
Sung Morning Prayer led by Revd Richard Carter with music performed by The Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields directed by Phoebe Tan Man Chow.
Great Sacred Music (02.11)
A sequence to speak to heart, head and soul, exploring through songs and readings the great classical music of our religious heritage.
Bread for the World (01.11)
A service of Bread for the World, an informal Eucharist led by Revd Catherine Duce.
Autumn Lecture Series 2023: With God
Known as one of the most creative theologians writing today, Sam Wells has become most associated with the practice of being with, as distinguished from three other ways of relating – working for, working with and being for.
Sermon (29.10)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 29th October 2023, All Saints’ and the Last Sunday after Trinity, by Revd Dr Sam Wells.
Parish Eucharist (29.10)
Service of Eucharist for All Saints’ and The Last Sunday After Trinity with preacher Revd Dr Sam Wells.
Contemplative Prayer (28.10)
Nazareth Contemplative Prayer on Saturday 21st October 2023, with Jolley Gosnold.