Maundy: Leadership and identity in life and death

In Andrew Watson’s final book before his death from terminal cancer, he presents a decade’s worth of Chrism sermons at Guildford Cathedral – the Maundy Thursday sermons he gave as Bishop of Guildford. With characteristic humour and warmth, he reflects on these Lenten Bible passages, bringing gentle challenge and deep insight. This book also contains Andrew’s ‘four last songs’, his final writings after receiving his terminal cancer diagnosis. This includes his two pastoral letters to his beloved diocese, a confirmation sermon on knowing who you are, and a Lenten reflection on wilderness.

Church Times 25.09.26 Review by Paul Davies, Bishop of Dorking and Acting Bishop of Guildford.

ANDREW WATSON’s mobile phone rang during a meeting that he was chairing on 5 February this year. Uncharacteristically, he told those present that he needed to answer it. He slipped out of the room, to be informed by his consultant that he had pancreatic cancer. He died in office on 3 March.

It is remarkable that in these last few weeks of his life, Andrew managed (as he told me) to 'cobble together' a book. In this beautiful parting gift, he gathers some fragments of his addresses and writings over 11 years as Bishop of Guildford, providing some context and commentary.

Maundy opens with his inaugural sermon in Guildford Cathedral. He preached on a favourite text — Ezekiel’s dream of water flowing from the restored Temple. Coming from the most deprived diocese in the Church of England to the least deprived, Andrew brought a passion for transformation of church and lives through “the river of grace”. Love of God and of people was at the heart of his ministry in every place he served. Mandatum novum: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another'.

The main part of the book consists of the ten sermons that Andrew preached at the annual chrism eucharists in the diocese. In them we glimpse the character of this disciple and bishop: one who felt deeply called to proclaim the gospel afresh and inspire his clergy to do so, and who was generously equipped through his encyclopaedic knowledge of scripture, his maturity as a seasoned watchman, his deep love of all those committed to his care, and his boyish self-deprecating humour.

As Stephen Cottrell suggests in his foreword, the most powerful part of the book is the Four Last Songs. Andrew was an exceptionally gifted musician and it’s unsurprising that he turns to Richard Strauss’s 'most tender of all swansongs' as an inspiration in offering his own: his last confirmation sermon, a reflection for Ash Wednesday, and two final pastoral letters to the diocese. They might be named identity, hope, grace, and faith. They are variations on songs that I heard Andrew sing throughout the time I knew him, but none as powerful as they are sung here — through the tenderness of his own vulnerability.

Andrew confesses that he has avoided listening to the Four Last Songs during these last weeks, lest they 'over-exercise the tear ducts at a time when they’re already engaged in a once-in-a-lifetime workout'. Maundy has been sure to over-exercise my tear ducts: in grief for the loss of a precious friend and episcopal mentor, but primarily in gratitude for a life which powerfully reflected the Jesus whom he loved and followed, and which taught me so much about living and dying.

The Rt Revd Paul Davies is the Bishop of Dorking and Acting Bishop of Guildford.