I am a philosopher, writer and priest.
Use the links above or here to find out more about me and my work. I’ll be updating this site regularly. In addition to the Black Woods Journals blog, there will be samples of both published and brand new poetry and prayers.
Across all my work, there is a central concern: to sense how the divine is embodied and expressed in Christ, in creation, and in all the different bodies that make up the community of creatures.
‘The Word of God, who is God, wills always and in all things to work the mystery of his embodiment’ (Maximus the Confessor)
‘Hail, nobly born, hail, honored and inviolate/you Maiden are the piercing gaze of chastity, you the material of holiness—the one who pleasèd God.
For heaven’s flood poured into you/as heaven’s Word was clothed in flesh in you.’ (Hildegard of Bingen, Hymn to the Virgin ‘Ave generosa’)
Come Holy Gift, my new book of poetry for the Christian year, is out now
‘Steven Shakespeare’s deft and mellifluous poetry is in touch not only with the riches of Christian scripture and liturgy but also with the earlier creation spirituality of these islands…. This will be an excellent resource for any church whose liturgy follows the pattern of the Christian year.' Malcolm Guite, poet, writer and songwriter
The Black Wood Journals
Follow my blog for the latest news and reflections on spirituality, nature and writing, as I explore my local woodlands throughout the year.
Discover
Follow the links for some of my recent projects
The Earth Cries Glory
Daily prayers with creation: a beautiful and simple way of following the natural seasons.
Art Disarming Philosophy
An innovative collection of essays at the intersection of art, performance and philosophy. Co-edited with Niamh Malone and Gary Anderson.
Romancing Nature: Philosophy of Religion in an Age of Ecological Crisis
My inaugural lecture as Professor of Continental Philosophy at Liverpool Hope University, drawing on the lessons of German Romantic philosophy for today.