Cathedral announces a second series of Wilfrid Lectures for 2010

Following on the success of the first series of St Wilfrid’s Lectures at Ripon Cathedral this year, a second  series of lectures has been announced for 2010.

Among the speakers will be the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt. Revd James Jones (pictured) (February 18), the Times religious correspondent, Ruth Gledhill (June 17), and the former Education Minister, Estelle Morris (September 30).  

With the 2010 St Wilfrid lectures taking place during an election year, the overall  theme will be  ‘Religion and politics – the role of the church in contemporary society’.

The tradition of inviting speakers from other faiths to give their perspective continues. Aaqil Ahmed, the BBC’s Muslim  ‘Head of Religion and Ethics’ and Commissioning Editor for TV, caused controversy when his appointment was announced. He will give the St Wilfrid lecture on  Thursday July 8th.  And the leader of the Reform Synagogues in the UK, Rabbi Dr Tony Bayfield, will speak on Thursday November 18th.  Professor Roger Trigg of Oxford University completes the series of six lectures, speaking on Thursday April 22.  

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd Keith Jukes, said the decision to hold a second series of lectures followed the success of the inaugural series with large numbers coming to hear speakers of the calibre of the Archbishop of York and Dr Inderjit Singh. “Following the outstanding success of the initial Wilfrid Lecture series in 2009, I am delighted that the Cathedral Chapter have decided to make the series an annual event”, said the Dean.  “In publicising the details of the 2010 series, it seems timely that the overall theme is around the issue of ‘politics’, not least because 2010 will be a year in which a General Election takes place.”  

Dean Jukes added that it was important to hear from those of other faiths “Following on the visit of Dr Inderjit Singh during the 2009 series, it will be a particular pleasure to welcome Aaqil Ahmed and Rabbi Dr Tony Bayfield.  Our understanding of these great themes is substantially enabled when we consider the perspective coming from those of other faiths.”  

The full list of 2010 lectures is as follows:  

• Thursday February 18: Bishop James Jones - Bishop of Liverpool - ‘My Kingdom is not of this world’ - Really?  

• Thursday April 22: Professor Roger Trigg - Academic Director of the Centre for the Study of Religion in Public Life, Kellogg College, University of Oxford  - ‘Does ‘Equality’ Override Religious Freedom?’  

• Thursday June 17: Ruth Gledhill - The Times, Religion Correspondent – ‘Don’t Shoot Me I’m Just The Messenger: Media, Church, State and Politics’.  

• Thursday July 8:  Aaqil Ahmed - BBC Commissioning Editor, Religion & Ethics – ‘Religion, Politics and Public Broadcasting’  

• Thursday September 30: Baroness Estelle Morris - House of Lords – ‘The Church, the State and our Schools: is it a relationship that can still work?’  

• Thursday November 18: Rabbi Dr Tony Bayfield - Head of the Reform Synagogues of Great Britain – ‘Politically Engaged Religion: Faith in the Public Square’.  

Read or download the St Wilfrid 2010 Lecture Programme by clicking here

All the lectures begin at 7pm and are free but by ticket only from the Cathedral Office, (01765) 603462  

ENDS

More information from Ripon Cathedral Office, (01765) 603462