Events Calendar...
Course: Liquid Faith
25 April @ 5:00 pm - 27 April @ 1:00 pm
Liquid Faith, led by Ian Bradley
Friday 25th – Sunday 27th April 2025
Please contact Reception to book your place – 01244 532350 / enquiries@gladlib.org
Water plays a central role in Christianity and in all the world’s religions – it has often been taken as a metaphor for faith – flowing and yet still, yielding and yet in full spate. Ian Bradley leads a weekend which asks what message the booming interest in wild swimming might have for the churches, and explores holy wells, sacred watery sites and spas in Wales and elsewhere. ‘Watery’ images and metaphors in the Bible, in poems and in theological texts will be shared and discussed, as will examples of liturgical innovations making use of water.
The weekend will include a visit to Holywell, a unique and evocative place of pilgrimage based around an early medieval holy well.
Ian Bradley is Emeritus Professor of Cultural and Spiritual History in the University of St Andrews and well known as a preacher, retreat leader, writer and broadcaster. He is the author of 46 books, including Water: A Spiritual History; Health, Hedonism and Hypochondria: The Hidden History of Spas and Water; and Water Music: Making Music in the Spas of Europe and North America and five best-selling studies of Celtic Christianity.
Please note there is an optional visit to the National Shrine of St Winifrede at Holywell on the Saturday afternoon. Once you have made your booking we will be in touch regarding this. There may be a (hopefully small!) additional cost.
Residential rates
- One delegate in a single ensuite: £407 (or £359 with a student, clergy or Society of Authors discount)
- Two delegates in a twin or double: £627 (or £565 with discounts)
- One delegate in a double or twin occupancy: £477 (or £415 with discount)
- One delegate and one non-delegate guest in a twin or double: £577 (or £515 with discount)
Includes breakfast, two course lunch with tea or filter coffee on Saturday and Sunday and a two course dinner with tea or filter coffee on Friday and Saturday.
Non-residential rate: £220 (including breaks, lunches and dinners)
Please contact Reception to book your place – 01244 532350 / enquiries@gladlib.org
Liquid Faith - Course Programme
5pm: Welcome and introductions
6pm: Dinner
7.30pm: Session 1: Heeding the wild swimmers and the water drinkers: An Introduction to Liquid Faith
9.45am: Session 2: Water in the Bible and in world faiths
11am: Coffee break
11.30am: Session 3: Holy springs and wells in the Celtic and Welsh tradition with a special focus on St Winifrede’s Well, Holywell
12.45pm: Lunch
2pm: Optional Visit to Holywell
5.45pm: Dinner
7.15pm: Public Lecture: The Last Enchanted Places? The Mid-Wales Spas
9.45am: Session 5: Water as a metaphor for death and what lies beyond it
11am: Coffee break
11.30am: Session 6: The Age of Aquarius – looking to the future
1pm: Lunch and departure
Please note, tickets cannot be refunded or used for another event if ticketholders are unable to attend. All ticket purchases support us to care for the Library building and the collections it holds. As a charity, Gladstone’s Library receives no government funding, so all purchases, Gift Aid and donations, are deeply appreciated.
Please note that tickets for this event are e-tickets. Book online and have your ticket emailed directly to you.
A print and collect service is available to those without access to email facilities for a small charge to cover our admin costs. Call 01244 532350 or email enquiries@gladlib.org for more information. Printed tickets will be available to collect from Reception before the event.