Finding inspiration in the Psalms : a Church Times one day festival

Thursday 2 October 2025 | 10:00 - 16:30

De Grey Rooms, York

 Introduction

A one day event exploring the gift of the Psalms through poetry, art, liturgy and music. 

The rediscovery of the Psalms as a source of songs of lament, praise and hope was notable during the pandemic — and as a welcome ritual when churches were closed — and has not waned. This renewed appetite will be the focus of a one day event appreciating and deepening understanding the Psalms, and their application today. Through poetry, art, music and liturgy, expert contributors will explore topics including the role of Psalms of praise and exaltation, how Psalms helps us to express pain and suffering with honesty and still find the words and the inspiration to praise God, the place of the Psalms in the lived and living theology of the church, and more.  

Speakers include: Malcolm Guite, Victoria Johnson, Megan Daffern and Roger Wagner. 

The event will finish in time for anyone who wishes to attend Evensong at York Minster (five minutes' walk away) at 5.30pm. 

Speakers 

Malcolm Guite is a poet and priest, and Life Fellow of Girton College, Cambridge. His books include David's Crown: Sounding the Psalms and Sounding the Seasons; Seventy Sonnets for the Christian Year both published by Canterbury Press, and Mariner: A Voyage with Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Hodder 2017). In 2023 he was awarded the Archbishop Lanfranc Medal by the Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Victoria Johnson is Dean of Chapel of St John’s College, Cambridge. She grew up singing in the Anglican Choral tradition and read Theology and Religious Studies at Cambridge University and the Institute of Sacred Music at Yale University, USA.  After parish ministry in Manchester, she was made a Residentiary Canon at Ely Cathedral and in 2020 was appointed Canon Precentor of York Minster, overseeing the music and liturgy in that place. She is Canon Theologian at St Edmundsbury Cathedral and still sings as a cantor at St John's alongside the world-famous College Choir.  Victoria has recently published her first book, On Voice: Speech, Song, Silence, Human and Divine (DLT, 2024) 

Roger Wagner is an artist and poet and Honorary Fellow of Lincoln College Oxford. Among his recent exhibitions was Stanley Spencer/Roger Wagner at Cookham, and The Farther Away at the Museum of Modern Art in Machynlleth. There is a permanent collection of his work at The Faith Museum in Bishop Auckland. His books include The Penultimate Curiosity (with Andrew Briggs), and several books of poetry including The Nearer You Stand, and The Farther Away. Thirty years ago he began translating and illustrating the psalms, and a selection of these was published by Canterbury Press as The Book of Praises in 2020. 

Megan Daffern was installed as Canon Chancellor of Wells Cathedral in September 2023. After being ordained in 2006 she spent many years in student welfare, teaching and research in Oxford University as Chaplain of Jesus College, and in Cambridge University as a tutor at Lucy Cavendish College.  Latterly, she was Acting Dean and Director of Studies in Theology at Gonville and Caius College.  She also supported many vocations candidates and ordinands coming into ministry while she was Diocesan Director of Ordinands in the Diocese of Ely. 

 She continues to teach Hebrew Bible/Old Testament courses online for the Eastern Region Ministry Course and is committed to keeping up her research in the Psalms through speaking engagements as well as publications, including her book Songs of the Spirit:  A Psalm a Day for Lent and Easter. At Wells Cathedral she is responsible for the schools' work, for resourcing lifelong learning, and for the Library and Archives.  She is also Keeper of the Fabric and supports the breadth of volunteer ministry.   

 Programme

Venue

The De Grey Rooms, built 1841-42, is an important example of Early Victorian public architecture built by private subscription, contributing to our understanding of public buildings. The site is also an example of urban military architecture, and a comparatively rare example of a high status military entertainment building.

Refreshments

Refreshments are included in the ticket price. Tea and coffee will be served on arrival; mid-morning and mid-afternoon plus a lunch buffet including some hot items and desserts.

Tickets

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If unable to attend an in-person event, HA&M will refund in full the amount paid if cancellation is at least three months prior to the event date: 50% of the amount paid will be refunded if cancellation is at least one month prior to the event date. No refund is possible after that date.