Sarum College is an ecumenical study and research centre with an international reputation for excellence in theological education and spiritual reflection.
Sarum College offers a distinguished location for meetings, conferences, events and functions with full catering services.
Sarum College Bookshop is Salisbury's most established independent Christian and theological bookshop.
The Sarum College Library has an outstanding academic theological collection of more than 40,000 books covering all denominations.
Sarum College hosts a variety of public events throughout the year, including lectures and conferences.
View all forthcoming lectures and conferences »
Sarum Symposium
The Sarum Symposium is the exciting new direction for the annual Sarum Lectures.
The event brings together a panel each year to discuss truth and narrative from diverse perspectives, reflecting on questions such as:
- How do stories help us to understand the world?
- What are the stories we tell ourselves and others?
- In what way is theology a narrative of truth?
Previous Symposiums
Sarum Lectures
The Sarum Lectures was an annual series of evening talks designed to make accessible to a wide audience the work of specialists in a variety of fields in the study of theology. Organised in partnership with Salisbury Cathedral, they generally formed the basis of a book published subsequently by Darton, Longman & Todd.
Previous Lectures
- 2017 – Jane Shaw: Origins of Modern Spirituality – The Forgotten Anglican Innovators
- 2016 – Bishop Nicholas Holtam: Renewing Hope – Pray, Serve, Grow
- 2015 – Magna Carta Lectures in association with Salisbury Cathedral
- 2014 – Christopher Southgate: Glory and Longing
- 2013 – Paula Gooder: Encountering God with the Whole of our Being (link to book)
- 2012 – Giles Fraser: The Morality of New War
- 2011 – Tom Wright: Why We’ve All Misread the Gospels (link to book)
- 2010 – Sarum College’s 150th Anniversary Celebrations
- 2009 – Richard Harris: Faith in Politics (link to book)
- 2008 – Keith Ward: The God Conclusion (link to book)
- 2007 – Esther Reed: Work, For God’s Sake (link to book)
- 2006 – Richard Bauckham – The Bible and Ecology (link to book)
- 2005 – Vernon White – Life Beyond Death (link to book)
- 2004 – France Young – Brokenness and Blessing (link to book)
- 2003 – Rowan Williams – Why Study the Past? (link to book)
- 2002 – Brian Thorne – Infinitely Beloved (link to book)
- 2001 – Grace Davie – Europe: The Exceptional Case (link to book)
- 2000 – David Catchpole – Resurrection People (link to book)
- 1999 – Mary Grey – The Outrageous Pursuit of Hope (link to book)
Niblett Memorial Lecture
The lecture was held annually in honour of Professor Roy Niblett CBE and a fellow at Sarum College, who died in 2005.
A distinguished and influential presence in British higher education for more than 50 years, Professor Niblett’s contribution to Christian thought and the life of the churches in this country was also considerable. A person of deep conviction, his work was distinguished by rigour, reason and a willingness to listen and exchange, which he regarded not as a potential hazard to faith, but as an essential expression of faith.
Niblett’s presence among Sarum Fellows was a powerful reminder to the College that at the heart of Sarum’s purpose is the promotion of dialogue on the profound religious, social and moral issues of our times.
Niblett Memorial Lecture speakers were drawn from some aspect of public service and invited to reflect on the place of faith and/or ethics in their particular area of service.
Previous Lectures
- 2018 – Steve Chalke – Reimagine: The Role of the Church in the 21st Century
- 2017 – Elaine Graham – How to Speak of God? Some Challenges for the churches in a world ‘troubled’ by religion
- 2016 – Frances Young – Reading Scripture Today
- 2015 – Richard Topping – Troubling Context: Christian Witness in Canada
- 2014 – Musa W Dube – Living in the post-HIV and AIDS Apocalypse
- 2013 – John Guillebaud – Sex And The Planet: A Christian Perspective on Population And Sustainability
- 2012 – Frank Field – Can we Prevent an Intergenerational Cycle of Disadvantage?
- 2011 – Lord Brian Griffiths of Fforestfach – A Christian Reflection on the Financial Crisis
