Welcome to the Festival of Preaching
The Festival of Preaching aims to inspire, nurture and celebrate all who are called to proclaim the gospel today.
Featuring outstanding speakers, it offers a stimulating and varied programme of worship, lectures and workshops.
Festival of Preaching: Preaching Truth to Power
Saturday 13th September 2025 | Southwark Cathedral, London
Join us for Preaching Truth to Power — a transformative gathering of bold voices, prophetic vision, and Spirit-led conviction. In a time when truth is often silenced and justice delayed, this conference will equip clergy, lay preachers, church leaders, and communicators to preach with courage, clarity, and conviction. Learn from seasoned preachers and thought leaders as we explore how the pulpit can be a platform for justice, truth, and transformative hope.
Stand firm. Speak boldly. Preach truth to power.
Speakers include:
Bishop Mariann Budde, Sam Wells, Mark Oakley, Selina Stone, Natalie Collins, Steve Chalke and David Runcorn
Programme
Morning
Festival Eucharist – with Bishop Mariann Budde (Bishop of Washington) preaching: Mark Oakley and Sam Wells.
Lunch break
Afternoon
Preaching Across the Divide: David Runcorn
Preaching Truth to Power: Panel with Steve Chalke, Selina Stone, Natalie Collins, Charlie Bell – Chaired by Mark Oakley.
Closing Evensong
Our venue
Join us in the glorious surroundings of Southwark Cathedral – a first for the Festival of Preaching. The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie stands at the oldest crossing-point of the River Thames at what was for many centuries the only entrance to the City of London situated across the river. It is well served by public transport and London Bridge tube and railway station are only a few minutes walk. ‘I walked over the fields to Southwark ... and I spent half an hour in Mary Overy’s Church, where are fine monuments of great antiquity, I believe, and has been a fine church.’ Samual Pepys, 3 July 1663
Please note: we will have sole use of the Cathedral for the entire day.
Refreshments
Tea and coffee served on arrival, mid-morning and mid-afternoon: delegates are free to bring own lunch or visit one of the many local catering options.
Live stream
We hope to live stream the day for online broadcast; more details in due course.
Festival bookshop
Church House Bookshop will be on-site all day with speaker and related books – many at a discount.
Save the date
A full residential Festival of Preaching will return to Cambridge – 13th – 15th September 2026 – full details will be announced soon. Be first to hear – make sure you join our email alert service.
A message to the festival from Walter Brueggemann
"We preachers have an opportunity to declare that there is another narrative out of which we can live our lives. It is a narrative of generosity, and freedom, and forgiveness, and hospitality, and justice. It is the narrative of the future, and I am very glad that we share it."