Music and Spirituality

Music and Spirituality Series

We have short talks that form part of Choral Evensong every last Wednesday of the month. The service will be accompanied with the professional Choir of Holy Sepulchre.

January 28th 2026 - “Tune Your Heart” - Rebecca White, Communications Director, Trustee VOCES8 Foundation.

February 25th 2026 - Silas Sanders, HTB Academy

March 25th 2026 - tbc

April 29th 2026 - “Representation an Embodiment: The spirituality of Olivier Messiaen” - Tom Bell, Concert Organist

May 27th 2026 - tbc

June 24th 2026 - tbc

July 29th - Dr Paula Gooder, Canon Chancellor, St Paul’s Cathedral

September 30th 2026 - Rev. Dr James Hawkey, Westminster Abbey

October 28th 2026 - Rachel Staunton, Founder and CEO, London Youth Choirs

November 25th 2026 - tbc

December 16th 2026 - tbc

“Encounters Through Music.” A half-day retreat with Fauré’s Requiem, 16th May 2026

Do you need some time out in your busy life?

  • Do you want to grow in prayer?

  • Do you want to deepen your relationship with God?

  • Do you love music?*

    This is a half-day retreat, led by Peter Asprey, which will include reflections , time to hear the music and space for personal prayer and reflection, all in the beautiful surroundings of the National Musicians' Church. Take some time out for yourself to be quiet, reflect, go deeper, and experience the healing power of encounter with God through wonderful music.

    When Gabriel Fauré began work on his Requiem in 1887, he envisaged composing something "quite new," a departure from previous settings of these texts. Above all, he wanted to convey an image of a merciful, forgiving God. His iconic music invites us into deep relationship with the One who loves us. It calls us to a fuller surrender, to place ourselves into the loving arms of one who longs to raise us up to life with Him.  

    Peter Asprey is a conductor, singing teacher. He is the Director of Music at Holy Sepulchre and has a degree in Music from Clare College, Cambridge and a Masters in Spiritual Theology from Maryvale Institute. He gives talks regularly on prayer and the spiritual life, given retreat days on music and has written and delivered an eight-week course on prayer, Heart Speaks to Heart.

    Encounter God in a different way

    *You do not need to be a musician or an expert in music to enjoy this retreat. 

    To book, please visit Encounters through Music


Music and Spirituality Conference 2025

Please be in touch (peter@hsl.church) if you would like access to any of the following talks from our 2025 conference:

Musical Style, Liturgy, Culture, Mission and Evangelism, Rev. Dr Matthew Salisbury, Director of the Institute of Sacred Music

A Prayerful Dynamic: Contemplation, Music and the Mystics, Peter Asprey, Director of Music, Holy Sepulchre

Lift Up Your Hearts: Encountering the Mystery of the Incarnation in the Music of Worship, Dr. Joel Clarkson, Theologian, poet, composer, author

Other Talks and Articles

Now and Not Yet: Music and The Promised Land: 

Peter Asprey, Director of Music, Holy Sepulchre

10th July 2024. 

Music our Companion

Euan Tait, Librettist, Poet and Retreat Leader

30th October 2024.

Love Came Down At Christmas

Peter Asprey, Director of Music, Holy Sepulchre

18th December 2024

'The Song was Raised in Praise to the Lord.’ Why does God love music so much? 

Ruth Haines, Director of Opera Press, Royal Opera House

Wednesday 29th January 2025

'The Song was Raised in Praise to the Lord.’ Why does God love music so much? 

Hesitations: Changing One’s Mind About Church Music

Ewan King
Wednesday 27th February 2025