St Wilfrid Lecture to highlight the importance of childhood

A free lecture taking place at Ripon Cathedral on Thursday 13 September will address a common issue of debate - the ethics of guardianship. 

Dr Elaine Storkey will discuss the topical subject ‘Ethical Guardianship: Giving Childhood a High Priority’, speaking under the St Wilfrid Lecture 2012 series theme of ‘Questions of right and wrong: The role of faith in contemporary society’. 

Dr Elaine Storkey has lectured at Stirling University, Kings College in London, and Oxford University.  She has been a member of the General Synod since 1987 and President of Tearfund since 1997.  She is also President of Anglican think-tank Fulcrum and Chair of the Church and Media Network.  As a broadcaster and author for 25 years, she has made documentaries, written hundreds of newspaper and journal articles and is the author of eight books, including Created or Constructed: The Great Gender Debate (2000).  Dr Storkey was named as one of the 100 women public intellectuals by The Guardian, and made a Templeton Journalism Fellow in 2009.

Speaking in advance of the lecture, the Very Revd Keith Jukes, Dean of Ripon Cathedral said: “Childhood is the foundation upon which the rest of our life is built.  For this reason alone, childhood needs to be given a high priority, and there is much to be thought about concerning the way we welcome children and accept their invaluable contribution to society.  There are also clearly issues of protection and safeguarding.  We are delighted to welcome Elaine Storkey to address us on ‘Giving Childhood a High Priority’.  Her deep insight will lead us into the rich territory with fruitful debate and action.”

The annual St Wilfrid lectures, named in honour of Ripon Cathedral’s founder, have been running since 2009.  They are jointly organised and sponsored by York St John University, Ripon Cathedral, the Methodist District of York and Hull, and Ripon and Leeds Diocese.  Previous lectures have ranged widely over questions of faith and public life, with high profile speakers including the Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu, Lord Inderjit Singh, Ruth Gledhill, Baroness Estelle Morris, Professor Terry Eagleton, and Professor Mona Siddiqui.

Dr Elaine Storkey’s lecture will take place at 7.00pm on Thursday 13 September at Ripon Cathedral.  Admission is free but by ticket only.  To book a ticket email judithbustard@riponcathedral.org.uk or telephone 01765 603462.