Book Launch – Psalmody by Toddy Hoare

Ripon Cathedral is delighted to host the launch of Psalmody, a new collection by Toddy Hoare.

Toddy is a retired rural parish priest who first trained as a sculptor and has continued to use the visual arts throughout his ministry and beyond. His creative approach has always sought to open up scripture and invite deeper reflection — something which lies at the heart of Psalmody.

This book is not a commentary on the Psalms, but a companion to them. In penning a sonnet on each psalm, Toddy has sought to reduce them to a manageable form — a “taster” for those who may feel daunted by their scale, but are inevitably drawn to their power. He supplements these with a further fifty-five sonnets, many inspired by seminars he attended in Oxford between 2007 and 2023, exploring wider themes of peace, prayer and spirituality.

Psalmody is intended as a resource for anyone engaging with scripture — whether for personal devotion, study, or professional ministry. It aims to assure, encourage and inspire, offering a format that can prompt reflection, stimulate prayer and shape spiritual life, as the Psalms once shaped the life and ministry of Christ himself.

We warmly invite you to join us for this special occasion, as Toddy introduces his book, reads from his work, and reflects on how scripture, art and spirituality continue to intersect.

Praise for Psalmody

“From decades of living close to farmers, and the clay he molds into sculptures, Toddy knows God’s creation intimately. Now he fashions the psalms into poems of direct, blunt, cries of longing which speak of God’s abiding presence in the chaos of our lives. Both as poetry and spirituality, the psalms speak here afresh as only his rich life could make possible.”

Peter Sedgwick, former principal, St Michael’s College, Llandaff, Wales