Debating the role of Christianity

The lectures will take place in the nave of the cathedral

The Bath and Wells Diocese has been marking its 1100th anniversary and has run a series of events throughout the year to celebrate.

Each year the diocese runs a series of lectures and this autumn, the theme is what the future holds for the church over the next 25 years.

The topics range from climate change, poetry and the worship of other faiths.

A total of five free lectures are planned which will run every Tuesday from 15 September to 13 October, 2009.

Andrew Featherstone, chancellor of Wells, said: "It's a very changing time and attitudes to the church's institution have weakened enormously over recent years and so, how do we face that?"

Each week will see a different speaker take the stand: The Very Rev. Nick Bury, the Dean of Gloucester, Professor Grace Davie from Exeter University, London based theologian, Theo Hobson, The Very Rev. John Clarke who is the Dean of Wells, and the Bishop of Bath and Wells, The Rt. Rev. Peter Price.

"We have these series each year on different topics and we get people from right across Somerset, and through into Bristol and up towards Gloucester," said Andrew.

"Some of them are church goers, many of them not, who are curious and seize the opportunity to listen in the context of Wells Cathedral."