Spy Stories and the Relevance of Cathedrals: Durham Book Festival Fringe events at Durham Cathedral
Added about 7 years ago by Sacristy Press
PRESS RELEASE: In association with Sacristy Press, Durham Cathedral will host two events as part of the Durham Book Festival Fringe. On 10 October the Dean of Durham and others will take part in a lively debate on the relevance of cathedrals in the modern world, and on 11 October novelist David Lowther will give a talk on spy stories in the twentieth century.
Cathedrals in the modern day are facing growing financial pressure and criticism from all sides that they have become irrelevant in the modern day. However, as cathedrals have diversified, they increasingly attract visitors who would otherwise have little contact with Christianity. Durham Cathedral perfectly illustrates these debates, and The Dean of Durham, Andrew Tremlett, and the Dean of Chelmsford, Nicholas Henshall will join other guests for a lively debate on the role of cathedrals in an increasingly secular age. This first event, Are Cathedrals Still Relevant? will be held in the Prior’s Hall on Tuesday 10 October at 7pm. A new collection of essays about cathedrals in the twenty-first century, Holy Ground, will be launched at the event.
The second Sacristy Press event is ‘The Thrill of the Chase: Spy Stories in the Twentieth Century’, a talk by novelist David Lowther in the Prior’s Hall on Wednesday 11 October, 7-8pm. A Second World War novelist, David will share his insights into why twentieth century espionage tales intrigue authors and are a rich seam for storytellers, discussing authors such as John Buchan, Eric Ambler and John le Carre who have shaped his own work. David’s new novel The Summer of ’39 will be launched at the event.
Founded in 2011, the Sacristy Press is a Durham-based independent publisher specialising in works of history and theology, including historical fiction.
Richard Hilton, of Sacristy Press, says:
Sacristy Press is once again proud to be representing the North East publishing scene at the Durham Book Festival. The events we are co-hosting with Durham Cathedral promise to be entertaining and eye-opening – definitely two evenings for the diary!
The Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett, Dean of Durham says:
Durham Cathedral is delighted to be taking part in the Durham Book Festival, an outstanding and immensely valuable literary and cultural event in North East England. The Sacristy Press events hosted by the Cathedral provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate literary and cultural heritage, and to ask hard questions of ourselves and our institutions to discover their true value to modern society. I’m delighted to have been asked by Sacristy Press to speak on the relevance of cathedrals, and I’m looking forward to a stimulating and thoughtful debate.
Tickets for both events are £5 (£4 concessions) and are available online via www.durhamcathedral.co.uk, by phone on 0191 338 7178, or in person at the Cathedral’s visitor desk.
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Media Contact at Bannister Blake:
Caroline Blake at team@bannisterblake.com 07721 859847
Media Contacts at the Cathedral:
Head of Marketing and Events, Ruth Robson on 0191 3744054
Media and PR mobile contact, including out of hours, for Durham Cathedral is 07841 444048
Please note: Sacristy Press does not necessarily share or endorse the views of the guest contributors to this blog.