Radio 4 personality Lucy Winkett is one of the most stimulating thinkers in the Church of England today. A powerful advocate for the role of women’s ministry in the church, she broadcasts regularly on religion, gender and contemporary culture and is well known for her talks on Radio 4’s Thought for the Day. She is rector of St James’s, Piccadilly, a lively church active in debating new ideas, but also in caring for the poor and marginalized.

One of the stated aims of St James’s is to ‘cherish Creation’ and the subject of Lucy’s talk is ‘The Glorious Universe: What can Thomas Traherne teach us today about the ecological crisis?’

‘In a year when there have been wild fires in California, Greece, Northumberland and Australia, not to mention dust-storms in Arizona and devastating floods in India and Japan, it is important to establish principles on which to base a responsible reaction to climate change,’ said Richard Willmott, chairman of the Traherne Association. ‘Traherne’s writings on Creation provide a good starting place for the necessary discussion.’

Thomas Traherne (1636/7 – 1674) was a spiritual writer and poet. He is best known for his Centuries of Meditations and his poetry. This is the 15th Jeremy Maule Lecture in memory of the shrewd scholar who discovered Traherne’s The Kingdom of God and other works in Lambeth Palace Library in 1997 and who died tragically early.

Hear Lucy Winkett's talk at Hereford Cathedral on Saturday, October 13 at 7pm. This will be preceded by choral evensong at 5.30pm followed by refreshments in College Hall.

Tickets for the lecture and refreshments are available in advance (£5) by contacting the Treasurer (01432 761588), or on the door (£6).