Peter Atkinson has made a highly distinguished and much respected contribution to the Church of England—the last principal of Chichester Theological College and the dean of Worcester for 16 years. He is widely acknowledged to be one of the ablest preachers of his generation.

To mark his retirement and honour his ministry, this volume distils the very best of his sermons for the lasting benefit of the Church as a whole.

Drawn from over 25 years of ministry, the collection combines rich reflection on Sundays of the Christian year together with original insight into festivals and saints’ days of the liturgical calendar, and wisdom relating to key occasions of national and international importance.

The sermons are bold and courageous, tackling subjects of pressing contemporary concern, such as sexual abuse in the Church, English patriotism, and truth in political speech. They are topped and tailed by an introduction to the art of preaching by two theological educators, Michael Brierley and Georgina Byrne, and an afterword by the archbishop of York.

A case study in the skill of preaching, this volume will be of considerable interest to preachers, and to all those seeking to deepen their spiritual life.