The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr Rowan Williams, gave a major public lecture at Swansea University at the weekend (October 13).In his first significant speech in his home city since his enthronement in 2003, Dr Williams focused on what he sees as some of the most common mistakes made by contemporary opponents of religion in books such as Dawkins’s The God Delusion and God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens.

The lecture – entitled How to Misunderstand Religion – was given to one of the largest audiences ever to attend one of the University’s Theology Public Lectures.

Dr Williams spoke to an audience of around 330 in the theatre in the Taliesin Arts Centre, with around another 700 attendees watching the lecture on large screens in the Taliesin building and in the nearby Faraday Lecture Theatre.

The lecture’s organiser, the Reverend Nigel John, Anglican Chaplain at Swansea University, said: “There was unprecedented interest in Dr Williams’ lecture, which was a magnificent success.  He gave a wonderful lecture, which was hugely appreciated and well received by those who were present.”

If you have Media Player, you can access a media stream of the Archbishop's Lecture here. 

Rowan Williams was born in Swansea, the son of a mining engineer.  He spent his early years in Ystradgynlais and Cardiff before his Welsh-speaking family moved to the Mumbles.  He was educated at Dynevor Secondary School in the city centre.

After a career in academic and parochial work, he was enthroned as Bishop of Monmouth in 1992 and Archbishop of Wales in 2000.

Dr Williams was the first speaker in a new series of Theology Public Lectures on religious issues given at Swansea University. The new 2007/08 series includes speakers who will be addressing inter-religious/inter-faith issues.

Previous speakers have included the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey of Clifton; the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor; and the Archbishop of Wales, The Most Reverend Dr Barry Morgan.