“Our sound is our wound”: an address by the Revd Canon Lucy Winkett

Paul writes – Today is a Lucy Winkett day! My good friend Maggi Dawn introduced me (in a virtual sense, you understand), in 2003, to Lucy Winkett. If I’m not mistaken it was in connection with an article in the Guardian just before Christmas. Maggi was highlighting different ways and understandings of being Anglican – comparing the ‘small’ (and seeming lack of success) with the large (and ‘successful’ – St. Thomas’s, Sheffield, I think). Ah, found the article in question Maggi was referring too – the sleek shall inherit the church – It continues to be worth a read, accompanied by a cup of tea of course. 

'Does it matter if dying churches close?' asks Lucy Winkett. 'All my instincts tell me it matters very much. Even one person is enough. Perhaps they will tell their priest something that they have never before discussed with another human being. That is the Church, and that is enough - profoundly enough.'

A month or so ago, Maggi mentioned an address Lucy gave – see here (“Canon Lucy Winkett was on top form at Greenbelt, speaking about four ways (martyr, virgin, mystic, wife) in which women have shaped the Christian tradition…”). Also worth a read is this wise little sermon by Lucy – Confession and Absolution (an Anglican understanding of “confession”). When did you last hear a sermon on this topic? Certainly it’s a first for me.

Anyway, over the weekend (just gone) I listened, a couple of times to the address that Lucy recently gave at the recent Drenched in Grace Conference. A nice contrast I must say to my actual circumstances. I was in the process of collecting top soil for our garden so did a lot of driving and was filthy. Can’t say I’ve listened to an address before in quite that kind of state. The Inclusive Church blog describes Lucy’s address in the following way:

“Here is audio of a stunningly powerful address by Lucy Winkett, precentor of St. Paul's Cathedral, London. Winkett's topics span a range from liturgy, relevance of the church, sexism, sexuality, and the core message of Christianity. If this sounds like too many topics for one speech, just have a listen to this rhetorical tour de force.”

I can’t disagree. I was moved, and my hope was nourished. Have a listen.

“…Lucy …spoke of the need to “forge relationships on the anvil of profound disagreement.” “The worry that we have as Anglicans is that our faith can be so driven by fear that our liturgy is tedious and our public pronouncements shrill and irrelevant.” In a powerful and wide ranging address she called for engagement with others across the theological spectrum…” There were other great sound-bites, including on the boringness of the church. I had hoped the full text of her talk would be available, but as yet, it isn’t.

Meantime, here’s a link to some of her sermons (text only).

Comments

[aj]

A very interesting post. the message on the sound of our wounds is inspiring - thanks paul

[Paul]

thanks for the heads up :)