Previous Lectures

Listed below are the lectures from previous years.

2024

Faith in Place (19/11/24)
The Rt Rev'd Dr John Inge (Bishop of Worcester)
Listen to the Lecture »

Continuity, Change and Faith (15/10/24)
Dame Janet Trotter (Lecturer)
Listen to the Lecture »

Is there a God? (14/09/24)
Keith Ward

Providence: a necessary but impossible doctrine? (07/05/24)
The Rev'd Canon Vernon White (Lecturer)

Spirituality, The Gospel of John and the Incarnation (19/03/24)
Prof Andrew Lincoln (Lecturer)
Listen to the Lecture »

2023

A Culture of Encounter - Synodality and women in the Catholic Church (16/11/23)
Sr Gemma Simmonds (Director of the Religious Life Institute, Cambridge & Chair of Trustees of the Community of St. Anselm, Lambeth)

Science and Faith Faithful to Science: The Role of Science in Religion (12/10/23)
Prof Andrew Steane (Professor of Physics, Oxford University)

Theodicy, - "Tarantulas, Tsunamis and Tsetse flies: Why?" (25/05/23)
Rev'd Dr Michael Lloyd (Principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford)
Listen to the Lecture »

'The Long Shadow of "Holy Russia": the Background to the Ukraine Crisis' (14/03/23)
Dr Rowan Williams (Baron Williams of Oystermouth, PC, FBA, FRS - 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, 2002 to 2012)
Listen to the Lecture »

2022

'Can we still believe in a Soul' (16/11/22)
Prof. Conor Cunningham (Associate Professor of Theology and Philosophy, University of Nottingham)

'Being Interupted: re-imagining the Church's Mission from the Outside In' (13/10/22)
The Rev'd Al Barrett (Rector of Hodge Hill Church, a Local Ecumenical Partnership in the Diocese of Birmingham) & The Rev'd Ruth Harley (Curate of Watling Valley, a Local Ecumenical Partnership in Milton Keynes within the Diocese of Oxford)

'Jesus and the Incarnation' (05/05/22)
Dr Crispin Fletcher-Louis (Department of Theology & Religious Studies, University of Gloucestershire)

'The Sacred Task of Black Religion: Speaking Black Truth to White Power' (23/03/22)
Prof. Anthony Reddie (Director of Oxford Centre for Religion & Culture at Regent Park College, University of Oxford)
Listen to the Lecture »

2021

'Can we still believe in a future? Pope Francis' 'Laudato Si' as a platform for action and hope' (10/11/21)
Martin Davies (Convener of the Cheltenham Green Christian Group and a Laudato Si Animator)
Listen to the Lecture » | Read the Transcript »

'The Church: A movement of hope within a fractured and often lonely humanity' (12/10/21)
Rev'd Dr Julie Gittoes (Priest & Theologian, Vicar of St Mary's & Christ Church Hendon)

'Spot the atheist - the imperial cult's observer? Polycarp? Or the 2nd century Apologists?' (18/05/21)
Rev'd Dr Alwyn Pettersen (Canon Theologian Emeritus of Worcester Cathedral)

'Using the Bible Constructively' (09/03/21)
Rev'd Prof John Bartion (Oriel and Laing Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture, Oxford University [1991-2014] and Fellow of the British Academy)
Listen to the Lecture »

2020

'Can we still believe in a soul?' (18/11/20)
Professor Conor Cunningham (Associate Professor of Theology & Philosophy, Nottingham University)

'Ecotheology for the fix we are in' (20/10/20)
Professor Christopher Southgate (Professor of Christian Theodicy at Exeter University)
Listen to the Lecture »

'Internet Worship, Personal Presence, Communion, Sacraments; Exploring the Zoom Ecclesiology' (15/09/20)
Professor Paul S. Fiddes (FBA, Professor of Systematic Theology, University of Oxford), Dr John Bradbury (General Secretary of the United Reformed Church)
Listen to the Lecture »

'God and Covid-19', 'The different Christian Responses across the World' & 'Gesticulating with wrath: why we need traditional language to find God's Wisdom after COVID' (23/06/20)
Members' Debate with Bishop Christopher, Philip Averay & Sam Norton (Vicar of Parkend & Assistant Director of Ordinands, Gloucester Diocese)

2019

'Communicating the Prophetic Voice of the Church and the New Media' (12/11/19)
The Reverend Canon Rosie Harper (Chaplain to Bishop of Buckingham)
Listen to the Lecture »

'Did Jesus Found a Church?' (15/10/19)
Revd Canon Professor Loveday Alexander (Emerita Professor of Biblical Studies, University of Sheffield, Canon Theologian, Chester and Chichester Cathedrals)
Listen to the Lecture »

'The Institutional Church in the West: Help or Hindrance' (11/06/19)
Members' Debate with the Very Reverend Stephen Lake, (Dean of Gloucester) and Pastor Martin Pearson, (Stroud Christian Fellowship)
Listen to the Lecture »

'Brexit and Identity: a Theological Perspective' (02/04/19)
The Reverend Dr Keith Clements (Former Secretary General of the European Conference of Churches)
Listen to the Lecture »

'Faith & Culture' (26/02/19)
The Very Reverend Professor Martyn Percy (Dean of Christ Church, Oxford)
Listen to the Lecture »

2018

'Church Music Today: Is Henry VIII really responsible?' / (Powerpoint Version) (16/10/18)
Greg Abrams (Organist and Choir Master, St Michael's Church, Bishops Cleeve)

The Place of Christian Mission in the present Age of Multiculturalism (05/06/18)
Dr Rosalee Velloso Ewell

'The Beauty and the Horror' searching for God in a suffering world (17/05/18)
Richard Harries

Reading in Critical Times: 'Hearing the Voice(s) of Scripture in a divided world' (24/04/18)
Dr Meg Warner

'The Freedom of Religion or Belief' what does human rights law really have to say about it?' (27/02/18)
Professor Sir Malcolm Evans

2017

'Atonement - Not At One' (09/11/17)
Members Panel Discussion

'The Church and the Media' (03/10/17)
Angela Tilby (Writer and Journalist)

The Montgomery Lecture for 2017: 'Waiting for the End of the World' (13/06/17)
Edward Adams (Professor in New Testament Studies, King's College, London)

'R. S. Thomas and The Hiddeness of God' (27/04/17)
Mark Oakley (Canon Chancellor, St. Paul's Cathedral, London)

'Is the winter of ecumenism's discontent towards its close?' - A view of ecumenism today (21/03/17)
Bishop Christopher J Hill (His Inaugural Lecture - Chairman of the Severn Forum)

2016

The Montgomery Lecture: 'Justice for Animals - What does Christianity mean for the animals we eat?' (13/10/16)
David Clough (Fellow of Professor of Theological Ethics, University of Chester)

'Christianity and Islam: Similar Problems, Different Solutions. How do we handle texts and what are the limits of compromise?' (03/05/16)
Chris Ewer (Advisor on Interfaith Relations to the Bishop of Birmingham, St Ethelburga Fellow in Christian and Moslem Relations)

'All That You Have Done . . . Has Been Fully Told To Me'. The Power of Gossip and the Story of Ruth (12/04/16)
Philip Esler (Portland Professor of New Testament Studies University of Gloucestershire)

'Seeing more clearly with the eyes of love'. A liturgy of voices based upon "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (17/03/16)
Revd Andrew Taylor (Chaplain of Downe House School, Cold Ash, Berkshire)

2015

The Montgomery Lecture: 'Rediscovering the Bible as the People's Book' (13/10/15)
Revd. Dr. John Bell (Church of Scotland Minister and Member of the Iona Community)

'Human Rights Today - 800 years after Magna Carta' (18/06/15)
Roger Ruston (Fellow of the Centre of Law and Religion, Cardiff)

'Constructing Death as a form of failure: addressing mortality in a neo-liberal age' (21/05/15)
Professor Beverley Clack (Chair in Philosophy of Religion, Oxford Brooks University)

'Conceiving Jesus: re-examining Jesus' conception in canon, christology and creed' (05/03/15)
Andrew Lincoln (Former Portland Professor of New Testament Studies, University of Gloucestershire)

2014

The Roy Niblett Lecture: 'Relationships at the Heart of Education' (15/10/14)
Professor Bart McGettrick (Dean of Education, Liverpool Hope University)

'The Just War Tradition and Human Rights: the place of Human Rights on the battlefield' (10/06/14)
Rev'd Nicholas Mercer (Curate since 2011 at St Mary the Virgin, Gillingham; formerly Lt. Colonel)

'Future of Ecumenism in the UK' (13/05/14)
Dr David Cornick (General Secretary of Churches Together and sometime Principal of Westminster College Cambridge; Fellow of Robinson College Cambridge)

'Old Testament Conceptions of Israel and Perspectives on Israel-Palestine today' (20/03/14)
Professor Gordon McConville (Professor of Old Testament Studies, University of Gloucestershire)

2013

The Roy Niblett Lecture: 'Glittering Prizes: the Mosaics of Ravenna' (15/10/13)
Rt Rev Dr Christopher Herbert (Former Bishop of St Albans and Chairman of The Council of Christians and Jews)

'Scripture and the financial crisis' (13/06/13)
Donald Hay (Emeritus, Department of Economics and Jesus College, University of Oxford)

'Ageing and Spirituality' (14/05/13)
Rev Rob Merchant (Director of Dispersed Learning at St Mellitus College, Former Deputy Director for Ageing and Mental Health)

'Love and Romance in the Song of Songs, the Bible's only love poem' (15/10/13)
Professor Cheryl Exum (Professor Emerita of Biblical Studies, University of Sheffield, Director, Sheffield Phoenix Press)

2012

The Roy Niblett Lecture: 'An exploration of the challenges facing a Christian University in a secularised society' (16/10/12)
Gerald Pillay (Professor Gerald Pillay FRSA is the Vice Chancellor of Liverpool Hope University and sometime Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of South Africa)

'Reclaiming Revelation' (19/06/12)
Jeremy Duff (Director of Lifelong Learning for the Liverpool diocese, and a canon at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral, and sometime lecturer at Oxford University, Wycliffe Hall, and Liverpool Hope University. Published books include, 'The Elements of New Testament Greek', and 'Meeting Jesus')

'Poetry as a means of theological exploration' (10/05/12)
Nicola Slee (Research Fellow & MA Programme Leader at the Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, Birmingham. She has a longstanding passion for poetry and has published three collections of poetry and prose, the most recent being 'Seeking the Risen Christ' - 2011)

'Divine Glory Danced: Jewish History and the Theological Imagination' (06/03/12)
Melissa Raphael (Professor of Jewish Theology, University of Gloucestershire. Currently the Hussey Lecturer for The Church and The Arts, University of Oxford)

2011

The Roy Niblett Lecture: 'Do we have faith in education?' (20/10/11)
Very Reverend Dr John Hall (Dean of Westminster)

'Through the Gate: reflections on prisons in the Big Society' (03/05/11)
Reverend Christopher Jones (Policy Adviser for Home Affairs in the Mission and Public Affairs Division of the Church of England)

'Is Christianity dying in the West? The secularisation thesis revisited' (03/03/11)
Dr Elaine Storkey (Director of Education for the Church of England Church Army and President of Tear Fund)

2010

The Roy Niblett Lecture: 'Natural Law and its relevance for today' (19/10/10)
Professor Tina Beattie (Professor of Catholic Studies, Roehampton University, London)

'Is turning off the aid to poor countries the right Christian response' (16/06/10)
Reverend Professor Michael Taylor (Emeritus Professor of Social Theology, University of Birmingham)

'Where does authority lie? How scripture is used for contemporary dilemmas' (12/05/10)
Reverend Professor Richard Burridge (Dean of King's College, University of London)

'Authority and orthodoxy in Islam' (16/03/10)
Dr Arzina Lalani (Institute of lsmaili Studies, London)

2009

The Roy Niblett Lecture: 'John Henry Newman and the Idea of a University' (13/10/09)
Reverend Dr Ian Ker (Faculty of Theology, University of Oxford)

'Suffered under Pontius Pilate: who really killed Jesus?' (23/06/09)
Dr Helen Bond (School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh)

'Hearing the whispers of divinity: reading great literature for Christian truth in the post-modern world' (12/05/09)
Miss Lucy Beckett (Poet, writer and teacher)

'Christians and Jews: Competitive siblings or the Israel of God?' (17/02/09)
Reverend Dr John McDade (Principal of Heythrop College, University of London)

2000 - 2006 Highlights

'The private protection of human rights: an ethical evaluation of private military companies' (2006)
Professor M Frost

'The ritual year and contemporary culture' (2006)
Bishop Michael Perham

'Fleshing out the incarnation' (2005)
Mrs Jane Williams

'Christianity and other religions: promise or threat' (2005)
Dr Gavin D'Costa

'Issues in human sexuality' (2004)
Bishop Richard Harries

'Judaism and the universe of faiths' (2004)
Professor Dan Cohn-Sherbok

'A global faith in a global market' (2003)
Bishop Peter Selby

'Is Jesus among the prophets?' (2003)
Professor David Catchpole

'The international ecumenical scene' (2002)
Dr Mary Tanner

'On Christian Theology' (2001)
Archbishop Rowan Williams

'Theology in the 21st century' (2000)
Professor Maurice Wiles