The Tale of Three Spiritual Cities

Historian Dr Bettany Hughes will deliver this year's Candida Lycett Green Lecture

Join us this November as our Vice President, acclaimed historian and broadcaster, Dr Bettany Hughes, weaves a tale of one the world’s greatest - and most ancient - cities.

The city with three names - Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul - resonates as an idea, as well as a place. Standing as the gateway between the East and West, this city has served as the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman Empires.

Bettany’s lecture is based on the extensive research undertaken to write her epic biography of Istanbul from 6,000BC to 1924. In particular, she will investigate the story of religion and faith in this, the centre of Christendom, and civilisation’s desire to understand the world in spiritual terms.

The audience will have a chance to ask Bettany their questions, purchase a copy of her latest book Istanbul and enjoy light refreshments during a drinks reception included in the ticket price.

Our Annual Lecture is held each year in celebration of the life and work of the late Candida Lycett Green, a passionate champion of historic English churches and former Vice President of The Churches Conservation Trust.