The Ritual Movement Three plain sermons preached at St. John the Evangelist's, Hammersmith

Delivered from a modest London parish in the 1860s, this trio of sermons offers a vivid snapshot of a church wrestling with its own identity. Drawing on the Apostle Paul’s admonition to “let all things be done decently and in order,” the speaker frames his message as both a reminder and a challenge for believers navigating the tensions of their time.

The heart of the collection is a candid examination of the controversial “Ritual Movement” that was stirring the Anglican community. With equal concern for those who cling to tradition and those eager for change, the preacher urges careful reflection on worship space, liturgical detail, and the deeper purpose of reverence. Listeners will hear a thoughtful, historically grounded appeal to balance reverence with reason, inviting a fresh appreciation of how 19th‑century debates still echo in today’s conversations about faith and practice.