Washington National Cathedral stands in an unparalleled position at the intersection of religious faith and public life in America, and has been called the "spiritual home for the nation." Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III occupied its massive Canterbury pulpit as dean during an often- turbulent period in the nation and rapid changes in American religious life.

In Sermons from the National Cathedral, Dean Lloyd provides a compelling vision of an intellectually alive, publicly engaged Christian faith, a vision of the Christian life rooted in ancient teaching. Readers will find the sermons engaging and appreciate that Dean Lloyd takes seriously the experiences of doubt and searching that are so much a part of the modern religious experience of our time. He successfully demonstrates the positive role faith can play in public life and addresses the questions and challenges faith must face in the twenty-first century.

These soundings, as Lloyd calls them, illumine the full spectrum of Christian belief while also addressing such issues as the difficulty of faith, the relationship between science and faith, the mystery of suffering, the necessity of forgiveness, the meaning of the cross, the urgency of reconciliation, and the call to care for the earth. These reflections will appeal to traditional Christians seeking spiritual enrichment and are accessible to those seeking answers to how their faith fits into our modern world.

Samuel T. Lloyd III is a priest of the Episcopal Church in the United States who served as the ninth Dean of the Washington National Cathedral, having been installed there on April 23, 2005, and serving until September 18, 2011. Before his tenure as Dean, Samuel Lloyd previously served as rector of historic Trinity Church, Copley Square in Boston, Massachusetts, one of the largest Episcopal congregations in the United States. He returned to Trinity after leaving the National Cathedral. Lloyd has taught in seminaries and has frequently spoken at conferences and conventions. He has preached on the "Protestant Hour" on radio and offered courses in the area of Christianity and literature, including Flannery O'Connor, Dante, contemporary fiction, C. S. Lewis, and the parables. He served as a regent of the University of the South. His writing and reviews have been published by the Sewanee Theological Review, Forward Movement, Anglican Digest, and Journal of Religion, among others.