St Paul's Cathedral

The founding of the first universities in the early 13th century led to the establishment of theology as an academic discipline. This had a profound impact not only on how we understand theology, but also on particular topics such as ordination. In this talk, Lydia Schumacher explores the impact this had on women’s ordination, how women were ‘defined out’ of ordination, and how their prior roles in ordained ministry were soon forgotten. Join us to dive into this history and explore what it means for us today. Lydia Schumacher is Professor of Historical and Philosophical Theology at King’s College London. She is a specialist in medieval theology and church history and has published six monographs in this field, including Divine Illumination (2011), Theological Philosophy (2015), and Early Franciscan Theology (2019).

Friendship, with a few exceptions, is the human relationship that has received the least theological attention over the centuries. Friendship, both in Greek and Roman philosophy, and in some theological writings, has been treated with suspicion. Steffan Mathias explores friendship in a positive light within the Bible, in theological tradition, and in the contemporary church. Steffan proposes friendship as a site of divine life, as something which can offer the church new avenues to think about community, discipleship, and human relationships. Revd Dr Steffan Mathias is Vicar of St Peter’s Streatham, and an independent scholar focusing on Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, with a PhD from King’s College London focusing on afterlife and memorialisation in the Old Testament. He is an external tutor at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, and St Augustine’s College of Theology in the South East. His PhD was published as Paternity, Progeny, and Perpetuation Creating Lives after Death in the Hebrew Bible in 2020.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Cumberland Lodge and the St Paul’s Cathedral Institute, The Rt Hon Rory Stewart OBE takes on on some of the most pressing questions of our time. A former UK Cabinet Minister, diplomat, and bestselling author, Rory brings a unique perspective to the table from extensive experience across the Middle East, and as the MP for Penrith and the Border. His acclaimed books, including 'Politics on the Edge' and his latest, 'Middleland: Dispatches from the Borders', explore the complexities of governance, community, and identity. This conversation is held in partnership between Cumberland Lodge and The St Paul’s Cathedral Institute.

To mark Refugee Week 2026, Paula Gooder chats to Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani about her life, her faith, and her own experience as a refugee. Bishop Guli was born in Iran and fled to the UK when she was a teenager following the murder of her brother during the Islamic Revolution. In this conversation, Bishop Guli reflects on her experiences, on the history of Christianity in Iran and the theme of migration in Scripture. She traces the importance of faith in her life and uncovers what it means to have courage and hope in God. The Right Reverend Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani is Bishop of Chelmsford and a member of the Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords. She previously served as the first Bishop of Loughborough, in the Diocese of Leicester, from 2017 to 2021. Guli arrived in this country as a refugee from Iran, aged 14. Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, a Biblical Scholar and the author of many academic and popular books on theology, faith and the Bible.

The story of William Tyndale and Cardinal Wolsey is a fascinating tale of spies and espionage. Tyndale was a wanted man – working in exile to complete his translation of the New Testament. In order to supress his work, Henry VIII and Cardinal Wolsey dispatched a diplomat-spy to make sure Tyndale’s writings were never imported to England. Yet Tyndale and his contacts found ways to smuggle his New Testament into England anyway, all whilst Wolsey’s man was on their trail. Charlotte Gauthier unravels this daring cat-and-mouse game, which culminates in Tyndale’s betrayal and death in 1536. Dr Charlotte Gauthier is an historian of religious conflict and diplomacy with a PhD from Royal Holloway, University of London. She is Assistant Director of Discipleship for Southwark Diocese and a Visiting Tutor at St Augustine's College of Theology and City St George’s, University of London. Charlotte has written numerous articles on history and ideas for leading publications, and has appeared on television, radio, and podcasts.