*ONLINE* National Secular Society: Bradlaugh Lecture 2020 – The Ultimate Blasphemy: Disestablishing the Church of England

** This event will be held ONLINE. Please register using the “Book Now” link. **

** Conway Hall is a charity and we politely ask you to add a donation of at least £5 when registering. **

For more than a century the National Secular Society has actively campaigned for separation of church and state – specifically, disestablishment of the Church of England. But today, the Church still retains considerable influence and power within the UK’s political arena. The UK is the only country besides Iran to have religious leaders in the legislature by right, and the head of state is also head of the Church. Is disestablishment a lost cause?

In this online lecture, human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson QC explains why disestablishment is essential for democracy in the 21^st century, and how it might be achieved. He will recall the struggle to abolish England’s blasphemy law, and looks forward to the effort  to disestablish the Church of England before the coronation of Charles III.

For the first time, the National Secular Society will be holding the Bradlaugh Lecture online, and in partnership with Conway Hall Ethical Society.

The lecture will be followed by an audience Q&A. Tickets are free, but donations to Conway Hall Ethical Society are encouraged.

About Geoffrey Robertson QC

In addition to being the founder and joint head of Doughty Street Chambers, Geoffrey Robertson QC is a human rights barrister, academic, author and broadcaster. He is also an NSS honorary associate. During his distinguished career, he defended Gay News for publishing a poem by James Kirkup, and Salman Rushdie for his book The Satanic Verses.

About the National Secular Society and the Bradlaugh Lecture

Founded in 1866, the National Secular Society campaigns for the separation of religion and state and equal respect for everyone’s human rights, so no one is either advantaged or disadvantaged because of their beliefs. Find out more about the NSS and how you can become a member at www.secularism.org.uk.

The Bradlaugh Lecture was launched on the day of the 151st anniversary of the NSS‘s foundation, in recognition of our founder Charles Bradlaugh. The lecture provides a space for a distinguished speaker to explore a secularist topic in depth.

Find out more about the Bradlaugh Lecture here: https://www.secularism.org.uk/bradlaugh-lecture.html

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** This talk will be held online using the Zoom application (available for PC, Mac, iOS and Android). A link to join the talk will be sent to ticketholders on the day of the event. **