I’m Paul, and I wear a few different hats: poet, writer and priest. Home these days is Bournemouth, on the south coast of England, where I live near the beach with my wife Cathy, our dog Hope, and the joyful chaos that comes with four adult sons and ten grandchildren. Most of my life has been spent listening for the right words to make sense of faith and the very ordinary moments that fill our days.
Poetry was my first love and it still sits at the centre of everything I do, helping me find language for joy, doubt, grief and hope. Over the years I’ve written thirteen books (with number fourteen on the way): collections of poetry, a novel, and books on leadership for both adults and young people. I’ve also written a wide range of spiritual reflections for people who are trying to live thoughtfully and honestly, whether or not they’d ever use the word “religious” about themselves.
Alongside the page, I’ve also spent time behind the microphone, including several years as part of the BBC Radio Pause for Thought team of presenters. Whether I’m working on a poem, a book, a talk on leadership, or a short radio reflection, my hope is the same: to bring faith, language and everyday life into honest conversation, and to offer a bit of space for reflection, honesty and, always, hope.
Paul Canon Harris 