26 September 2008
30th ANNIVERSARY LECTURE
THE DIVINE SPARK OF MUSIC JAMES MACMILLAN
1 OCTOBER 19.30 IN THE JARVIS SUITE OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH
ARCHITECTS 66 Great Portland Street London W1B 1AD
Has our culture finally given up on religion? Can a religious artist still be understood and
affirmed in our pluralist culture and media? Can a religious person be celebrated for what he
or she brings to our common humanity and society, because of their worldview, or is he or
she now destined to be marginalized or derided?
In a lecture marking the 30th anniversary of the Sandford St Martin Trust, The Divine Spark of
Music, James MacMillan argues that religious people in the arts, culture and media confront
ignorance and prejudice about their beliefs on a daily basis because, according to the new
secular, liberal orthodoxy, to be religious is to be reactionary, bigoted and narrow.
“The time has come”, he argues, “for Christians in the public square to be more forthright in
resisting the increasingly aggressive attempts to oust them from it. To do this they must
continue to speak truth to power and express their insights and creativity from a firm and
confident understanding of their traditions and their beliefs.”
For 30 years, the Sandford St Martin Trust has made awards to innovative, high quality radio
and television religious programmes that engage with the key issues of the day. The
Chairman of the Trust, Bishop Nigel McCulloch, said: “In his lecture, James MacMillan asks
whether our culture has finally given up on religion. I for one hope not! The programmes we
have recognised in our awards have consistently shown the importance of religious belief
and expression in our diverse and sometimes frightening world. And we hope that our annual
awards will encourage broadcasters to continue to take seriously their engagement with the
world of faith.”
Chaired by Dame Joan Bakewell, James MacMillan’s lecture will also give an opportunity for
the audience to question his premise and explore the understanding of religious experience
in the arts, culture and media
The Divine Spark of Music is being recorded by BBC Religion & Ethics for transmission on
BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday 22nd October at 8.00pm with a repeat on Saturday 25th October
at 10.15pm
ENDS
For further information contact David Craig on david.craig@c-of-e.org.uk (mobile
07939068724)
Background information for editors:
The Sandford St. Martin Trust has been involved in promoting innovative, high quality
religious programming since 1978. It presents awards to programmes which reflect on the
wide range of beliefs and faith traditions. Since its beginnings in 1978, the Trust has sought
to support the highest standard of thoughtful, rigorous, skilled media engagement with moral,
ethical and religious subjects. Primarily through annual religious broadcasting awards, the
Trust has encouraged the participation of people of faith in the media and has promoted
quality religious content in broadcast programming at the local and national level.
The Trust was established through the generosity and vision of Anglican layman, the late Sir
David Wills. Over the years it has attracted many distinguished figures to chair its judging
panels: Sir Huw Wheldon, Baroness Warnock, Gerald Priestland and Bishop Crispian Hollis
– to name but a few. While just a small sample of those who have presented its Awards
includes the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Sue MacGregor, Lord Griffiths, Patricia
Routledge and Terry Waite.
The Trust takes its name from the Oxfordshire village where its founder, Sir David Wills,
lived.
More information at www.sandfordawards.org.uk