Praying by Heart: The Lord's Prayer for Everyone

by Stephen Cottrell

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell argues that the first two words of Christianity's most famous prayer - the Lord's Prayer - encapsulate the radical heart of the Christian that we belong to each other, and that we all have access to God. And if we could understand both these ideas they would truly change our lives - and the world.

Unpacking each clause of this ancient prayer both for those who want to encounter it afresh and those beyond church circles, this is the Lord's Prayer recast as a manifesto for the 21st-century church and all who are searching to belong.

176 pages, Paperback

Published September 8, 2026

About the author

The Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell is Church of England Bishop of Chelmsford, and a prolific and much-loved author. He is a co-creator of the Emmaus course and a co-author of the Pilgrim course.

Reviews

[Hannah Moore]

Helpful book about the Lord's Prayer

This is a really helpful book to deepen ones understanding of the Lord's Prayer. Very readable and accessible. It can be used for self-study or group discussion.

[C.t.ryan.98]

A powerful and beautiful reflection and sermon on the Lord's Prayer. Sometimes the flow of the writing meant the grammar became difficult for me. Sometimes my knowledge of Greek kicked me into argument, but that was a positive engagement with why SC had enriched my understanding.