Inspiration: The Influences That Have Shaped My Life

St Martin-in-the-Fields’ Autumn Lecture Series 2024 brings together a group of inspirational speakers to share their own sources of inspiration. What are the influences that form our identity, our faith, our beliefs, our creativity and the values by which we live? What are the things in our own lives that mark us, change us, challenge us and make us who we are? Leading figures from the world of politics, art, culture, history, media and faith talk about the formative influences of their lives and challenge us to reflect upon our own sources of inspiration and the values for which we live or long.

When we breathe in we inspire and when we breathe out we expire. We’ve gathered an enthralling group of people known for the excellence, fascination and importance of what they have ‘breathed out.’ But what have they ‘breathed in’ that has shaped their imagination and stimulated their thoughts, ideas and passions? And did they realise it at the time or can they only identify these things in retrospect? These lectures and talks offer us a privileged insight into the hearts and souls of people who shape our public consciousness today, and offer us opportunities to ponder and feel gratitude for our own sources of inspiration. Revd Dr Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields.

The series takes place at St Martin-in-the-Fields with a live audience in the church. The lectures are also live-streamed. The suggested price for tickets is £10 to cover our costs, but free tickets are also available so as not to exclude anyone who would like to come. All are welcome.

In Partnership with 

2024 Lectures

Inspiration: Music, Poetry and Revelation

Monday 9 September

7pm

Speakers: Lucy Winkett, Ruth Padel, Claire Gilbert

Inspiration: A Quest for the Sacred

Monday 23 September

7pm

Speaker: William Dalrymple

Inspiration: Theatre – Innovation, Access and Community

Monday 30 September

7pm

Speaker: Kwame Kwei-Armah

Inspiration: Moments of Truth

Monday 7 October

7pm

Speaker: Revd Sam Wells

Christian Aid Lecture: Genocide and Other International Crimes: Protecting the Individual and the Group Now and Tomorrow

Monday 14 October

7pm

Speaker: Philippe Sands KC

Inspiration: Soul Friends

Monday 21 October

7pm

Speaker: Rowan Williams

Inspiration: Living with the Gods

Monday 4 November

7pm

Speaker: Neil MacGregor

Inspiration: An African History of Africa

Monday 11 November

7pm

Speaker: Zeinab Badawi

Inspiration: People and Ideas

Monday 18 November

7pm

Speaker: Zadie Smith