A Sion College Seminar Supper With Rupert Shortt

The Eclipse of Christianity and Why It Matters

Tuesday 24th February, 2026 – 7 for 7:30pm (please do not arrive before 7pm)

Bow Wine Vaults, 10 Bow Churchyard, London EC4M 9DQ

The mainstream Churches are faltering – or even at risk of dying out – in their Western and Middle Eastern heartlands. Surveys confirm that only a minority of people in a country such as Britain now claim Christian allegiance. The pattern is being matched in neighbouring societies. At the same time many opinion formers preach secularist ideology with a fervour shading into dogmatism. Others, unsure of their moorings, feel some residual attachment to spirituality, while being sceptical about the existence of God and other articles of belief.

Rupert is a Fellow Commoner of St Edmund’s College, Cambridge and was formerly religion editor of The Times Literary Supplement. His books include Rowan’s Rule: The Biography of the Archbishop, God Is No Thing: Coherent Christianity, Outgrowing Dawkins: God for Grown-Ups, and Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack.

If you have not yet registered for online payment you will be asked to do this and your registration will need to be validated by the Administrator before you can use the facility. You will only need to register once, and for any applications for subsequent events you will need only to log in. Payment is taken by PayPal, but you do not need a PayPal account. 

Please note

• Successful applicants will be sent further information by Wednesday 11th February, 2026
• Cancellations after Monday 16th February will not be refunded
• Applicants are expected to attend the whole event and not to arrive before 7pm
• Attendees will be expected to honour any food choices submitted in advance
• It is Sion College policy that no events are recorded

Sion College events are often over-subscribed and each place is generously subsidised. If you are offered a place but are unable to attend for any reason, please let the office know so that your place may be offered to another. In the event of failure to attend without notice after being reserved a place, the Court will require a refund of the subsidy. Application for a place at any Sion event constitutes acceptance of this proviso.

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