6 November 2025
Listening to the Music of the Soul by the Rt Rev'd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford, is the Archbishop of York's chosen Advent Book for 2025 and this year's Big Church Read for Advent.
About Listening to the Music of the Soul
Drawing inspiration from Mary’s Magnificat — “My soul magnifies the Lord” — Listening to the Music of the Soul explores how faith, beauty and courage shape our response to life’s joys and sorrows. Born in Iran and forced into exile after the Revolution, Bishop Guli reflects on her own story of loss and hope, connecting it to the themes of Advent: exile, fear, and the transforming power of grace.
Each chapter links to a piece of music, inviting us to consider the melodies that sustain us as our lives unfold.
Bishop Guli introduces this Advent's Big Church Read
The Big Church Read has published a series of 4 videos to guide church groups, organisations and individuals through this Advent journey.
